Connecting to nature at one of these awe-inspiring places on a family road trip is a great way to reduce stress and boost everyone’s mood. Here are 10 reasons to take your family on a national park road trip this year:
#10 Experience awe
The experience of awe has a powerful effect on our body and mind. It allows us to transcend the ordinary, tests our concept of time and scale, gives us the sense of being small in a grand universe, and helps us to truly be in the moment. Awe can make us happier and healthier in a number of ways by helping us build social connection, pique curiosity, expand creativity, and reduce anxiety and depression. National parks have so many incredible natural features that will “wow” you and your family.
#9 Experience something exciting & out of your comfort zone
Stress reduction is one of the most important benefits of travel. When you take your family on a national park road trip, you are getting everyone out of their comfort zone and daily routine to experience something new and exciting, which helps reduce stress and boost happiness.
#8 Move your body
A visit to a national park abounds with opportunities to move your body. A family hike, a bike trip around the park, or paddling around the water in a kayak or canoe lets everyone to see nature up close and get some healthy exercise.
#7 Find peace and quiet
A huge benefit of visiting a national park is the peace and quiet you feel out of the hustle and bustle of your daily life. Just being out in nature helps clear your mind of the usual chatter and stress. Challenge yourself and your kids to quietly sit and be for a few minutes, without deadlines or must-do lists.
#6 Be inspired
Being in and around nature is the perfect inspiration for artwork. You can take photographs of the scenery or sit quietly and draw. You can also use those pictures and work together as a family to create a collage to hang up in your home or a slideshow set to music. A trip to a national park may also set the stage for your children to write a story or poetry about what they experienced during their visit. By recreating nature experiences through art, we feel calmer and happier.
#5 Learn about nature, history & science
By spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty and awe that our natural environment provides, our children will feel better emotionally as they are excited and curious about their surroundings. There are endless opportunities to turn a national park trip into a learning experience. Many of the parks have visitor centers that share the history and science of the area. Your children will love learning about the animals and plants in the park and how the park was formed.
#4 Learn about helping the environment
A trip to national park can help everyone realize how important it is to preserve and protect nature and be inspired to do more to help the environment when they return home. Your family can make a big difference year-round by volunteering outdoors in nature doing activities like beach cleanups, planting trees or working with animals.
#3 Focus on the positive
Gratitude plays a critical role in happiness. Focusing on the positive boosts body, mind and spirit. It gives us energy, inspires us and transforms us. In a nutshell, it provides life with meaning by thinking of life as a gift. The incredible aspects of nature can help us all step back and be grateful for the beauty and mystery of our planet. A trip to a national park helps us escape our daily routines and experience the natural environment. It’s important that we take a moment to be grateful for what we find.
#2 It’s fun family time
Just simply having fun spending time together as a family does wonders for boosting all of our mood. It’s even better when you get to travel and experience new places together. Even the journey to the national park can be filled with enjoyable, inspiring learning opportunities.
#1 It’s FREE!
On several days in 2022, all national parks that charge an entrance fee are offering free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these free entrance dates in 2022:
Saturday, April 16 – First Day of National Park Week
Thursday, August 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 24 – National Public Lands Day
Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Learn more about National Parks throughout the country at http://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/fee-free-days-2022.htm
Posted in: Out & About
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