Entry bubble Great Outdoors Month

By: Colleen | June 03, 2009 | Category: Travel

To be honest, when I hear the phrase "The Great Outdoors" my first inclination is to think of the 1988 John Candy movie.

While my mother and I are firm believers that the closest we come to camping is a three-star hotel, apparently there are plenty of you out there who enjoy snuggling up with mother nature.

Those willing to bond with mosquitoes and bears, you're in luck. June is Great Outdoors Month!

Getting outdoors, especially in our nation's national parks, is a great and economical way to see the natural splendor of our country. It is also a fun way to be active- doing recreational activities like fishing, biking, and hiking.

Visit Recreation.gov to find your perfect camping site.

Have any family camping trip stories to share? Tips on having a safe and fun time outdoors?

Leave your comments; I'll check them out while I'm doing my own version of "camping" - in Vegas.

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Entry bubble Your Backyard National Parks!

By: Editor | May 25, 2009 | Category: Travel

Carl Chitwood has been Web Manager for the National Park Service since December of 2003 and has traveled to 124 of the 391 parks in that time.

Of all the weekend and day trips I make, none is more refreshing than a day in the mountains. Whether that day is spent at Catoctin Mountain or Shenandoah, just one or two days hiking in the crisp, fresh mountain air refreshes and recharges me for the inevitable energy drain of day-to-day work. On longer vacations, as a self described “mountain man stuck in urbania,” I always try to get to the mountains and spend time with nature. For me there is nothing better than a late spring day spent above 8,000 feet with my family. However, not everyone is a mountain person . . .Logo for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Almost everyone thinks of geysers or wildlife when they hear “National Park.” However, what you may not know is there are parks in almost every state covering everything from American cultural and societal history to beautiful natural landscapes and recreational activities. If you have an interest in something “American,” you can bet that there is a park for you.

This country is blessed to have such a vast and diverse National Park System. With 391 places to visit, it is almost guaranteed that you have one near you.

Get out there, enjoy your public lands, landmarks and places . . . you own them.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: culture   editor   history   national_park_service   national_parks   nature   science   travel