National Parks – American Treasures

Use your imagination … what if you and your family had the opportunity to:

• Hike or bike miles of trails that span rolling hills, flat lands, rugged terrain or steep inclines.
• Take a nature walk, observe wildlife, learn about the ecosystem, or just enjoy clean fresh air.
• Climb rocks, repel mountainsides, or search caverns deep within the earth’s surface.
• Swim with exotic fish, explore coral reefs or dive for sunken treasure.
• Sail a boat, paddle a canoe or kayak, or go whitewater rafting down a river.
• Admire the natural scenery of mountain or volcanic formations, green meadows, colorful flowers, desert blossoms, waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, spouting geysers and shifting sand dunes.
• Observe wildlife like mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders and birds, all living in harmony.

These activities and more are available at America’s National Parks, and there’s still time to visit a park before school begins.

Over the years National Parks have grown in number to 59. Fifty-seven are found across the U.S. in 27 different states, and two in the U.S. Territories of American Samoa and the Virgin Islands. This growth requires all visitors to follow rules and regulations set up by the Park Service, not only to protect the park and its inhabitants but park visitors as well. On that note, Amazon.com is offering a new book: National Parks – Signs and Symbols Guidebook that provides 23 informative, fun activities to guide you and your family through any one of the parks and to make sure you’re an expert visitor even before you get there.

America’s National Parks have truly been set aside to give us pleasure and protect our natural, historical and cultural heritage. They have been created to last forever. If you follow the rules, respect the land, animals and things within the park’s boundaries, know where everything is and what you can and cannot do, you automatically become proactive in protecting and preserving these natural treasures for future generations.

Nothing but adventure awaits you and your family if you consider a visit to one of America’s National Parks. Keep in mind the words of naturalist John Muir: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.”

Check out this chart of signs & symbols. How many do you recognize at a quick glance?
These and many more signs are found throughout the National Park.
From the National Parks – Signs and Symbols Guidebook.

State by State List of America’s 57 National Parks + 2 in the Territories of American Samoa & the Virgin Islands.

For detailed information visit http://www.nps.gov.

• Alaska (8) – Denali National Park and Preserve; Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve; Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve; Katmai National Park and Preserve; Kenai Fjords National Park; Kobuk Valley National Park; Lake Clark National Park and Preserve; Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve.
• American Samoa (1) – The National Park of American Samoa (U.S. Territory).
• Arizona (3) – Grand Canyon National Park; Petrified Forest National Park; Saguaro National Park.
• Arkansas (1) – Hot Springs National Park.
• California (9) – Channel Islands National Park; Death Valley National Park (also in Nevada); Joshua Tree National Park; Lassen Volcanic National Park; Presidio National Park; Sequoia & Redwood National Parks; Kings Canyon National Park; Yosemite National Park; Pinnacles National Park.
• Colorado (4) – Rocky Mountain National Park; Mesa Verde National Park; The Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park; Great Sand Dunes National Park.
• Florida (3) – Biscayne National Park; Dry Tortugas National Park; Everglades National Park.
• Hawaii (2) – Haleakala National Park; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• Kentucky (1) – Mammoth Cave National Park.
• Maine (1) – Acadia National Park.
• Michigan (1) – Isle Royale National Park.
• Minnesota (1) – Voyageurs National Park.
• Montana (1) – Glacier National Park.
• Nevada ( 1) – Great Basin National Park.
• New Mexico (1) – Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
• North Dakota (1) – Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
• Ohio (1) Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
• Oregon (1) – Crater Lake National Park.
• South Carolina (1) – Congaree National Park.
• South Dakota (2) – Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park.
• Tennessee (1) – Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
• Texas (2) – Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
• Utah (5) – Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion National Park.
• Virginia (1) – Shenandoah National Park.
• Virgin Islands (1) – Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Territory).
• Washington (3) – Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park.
• Wyoming (2) – Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park .