What National Park would you MOST LIKE to go to?

[AustinBoston]

I've been to Yellowstone so I would have to pick the Grand Canyon. The only problem I see would be dealing with the crowds.

Two words: North Rim.  It's a bit more difficult for most people to access the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but IMHO, the North Rim has the better views.  It is also modestly cooler, and much more heavily treed.  Oh, and 90% of the people who visit the Grand Canyon only go to the South Rim.

Austin

[AustinBoston]

OBX is definitely a NC treasure.

OK, I'll bite.  What is OBX?

Great Smokey Mountains National Park is another treasure shared with TN. With all the interest in Yellowstone and Yosemite, Great Smokey Mountains NP actually has the most visitors each year of any NP in the U.S.

This is because of it's location...draw a 300 mile circle around it, and you will find hundreds, if not thousands, of times as many people than places like Glacier or Yellowstone.  

I don't want to minimize it, though; I have seen GSMNP, and it is a real treasure, whose value will only grow as the country grows.  I would say the same about Shenandoah, Acadia, and Everglades.  Though they may not be as spectacular as Yosemite, Redwoods, or Grand Teton, they are protected and preserve unique things when few other things in the east are protected.

Austin

[aw738]

Posted by AustinBoston
OK, I'll bite. What is OBX?

Outer Banks.

[fallsrider]

This is because of it's location...draw a 300 mile circle around it, and you will find hundreds, if not thousands, of times as many people than places like Glacier or Yellowstone.  

I don't want to minimize it, though; I have seen GSMNP, and it is a real treasure, whose value will only grow as the country grows.  I would say the same about Shenandoah, Acadia, and Everglades.  Though they may not be as spectacular as Yosemite, Redwoods, or Grand Teton, they are protected and preserve unique things when few other things in the east are protected.

Austin

Oh, I agree. I read somewhere that something like half or 60% of the US population lives within a day's drive of GSMNP. Few other parks have that advantage.

While I love the GSMNP, in part because I can be there in 4-1/2 hours, for sheer beauty, based on pictures I've seen, several parks have more to offer. Those parks are out of reach, though, for us right now because of school, work, finances, etc.

BTW, many people here in NC drive around with their black and white oval plates that say OBX. I have one myself, but I haven't put it on another vehicle since I sold my 4wd truck.

[Chez Way]

We've been to quite a few national parks in the last couple of years: Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and enjoyed them all. We recommend the Junior Ranger program for the kids.
 
I'm interested in seeing Denali but just to be different, I'm thinking that I'll place my vote for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which "displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution

[MomboTN]

We've been to quite a few national parks in the last couple of years: Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and enjoyed them all. We recommend the Junior Ranger program for the kids.
 
I agree the Junior ranger program was very educational and fun for the kids.

[DoubleD]

Denali, in Alaska, the final American frontier.  Plus I love road trips...
Total Est. Time: 54 hours, 17 minutes     Total Est. Distance: 3202.98 miles

Gotta love mapquest!

[dthurk]

This is going to be a banner year for me, I'll have the opportunity to visit 4 National areas in one year.  
April-  Assateague Island National Seashore, 6 nights
July- Independence National Historic Park, Philadelphia, 3 nights
August-  Acadia National Park, 6 nights

And now, I'm planning on taking Veterans Day weekend, driving to Shenandoah National Park and hiking about 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail.  I'll start early Sat. morning near Luray, VA and hope to be back at my car near Front Royal by lunchtime on Mon.  I will be trail camping along the way.  This will be true dry camping, I've got to carry everything on my back.

So, I'll change my vote now to Shenandoah National Park!