I have been to at least 30 of the National Parks listed, however since I can only write about one, I have a story to tell about Yellowstone. When I was a kid, my folks always took my sister and I to a National Park. I remember being in awe of Yellowstone because of all the unique landscapes and all the campfire ranger talks that were so informational. I still remember how one ranger taught us how to find out what an animal ate by checking the scat.
Most of the time, we traveled in a station wagon and parked for the night at one of the many camp grounds. At that time, bears were free to roam and to pillage through the unchained garbage cans. Many times the bears came very close to our car, but since we had no food in it, the bear went away. Sometimes when driving through Yellowstone, we’d encounter a bear who was looking for something to eat. This bear got on the side of the car and was looking in. You could see how huge his paws were and so were the claws!!
Also on that trip, there was a bear on the side of the road who was rummaging in the garbage can. To my horror, there were a couple guys who threw stones at him with their kids by their sides. I wanted to yell at them to STOP, but I was a kid against adults, but I didn’t like them doing that to bears who only wanted something to eat. I’ve been to Yellowstone with my own sons and we would walk trails and see the different foliage along the way and enjoy the cool rushes of the streams. Many times, we packed peanut butter sandwiches and eat them at a waterfall or pond…..while watching the animals who would frequent the water areas. We also loved checking out animal tracks, claw marks on the tree trunks and looking for fresh signs of bears…..that was the point we’d leave.
No matter what season you go or what you’re looking to find, a trip to Yellowstone will always stick in your memories. The National Parks are rich in historical and cultural significance in addition to just knowing that every animal you see is germane to the park you are visiting…..the different parks have different animals, different trails to walk, different foliage and different things to learn. They are an outdoor classroom never to be duplicated!!
Sincerely,
Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is named after the river that runs through it. Within the park's massive boundaries, visitors can find mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and some of the most concentrated geothermal activity in the world. The park has 60% of the world’s geysers, as well as hot springs and mud pots. It is also home to diverse wildlife with the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48 states, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk.
State(s): Idaho Montana, Wyoming,
Established: 1872
“Because these places hold the key to learning first hand about science; botany and zoology in an outdoor lab and because there is so much beauty and so many things to do and enjoy!! ”
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Greetings from Yellowstone National Park
The joy, beauty, serenity and amazement of the natural world, readily accessible, is wonderful. I wanted to have my son who is part of the next generation explore and appreciate the beauty of what our parks have to offer. We protect what we love and appreciate. It feels so harmonious…
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