ENP 14 National Park Week and Summer Travel Ideas

Description:

Becky Lomax is the author of The Moon Guidebook USA National Parks - The Complete Guide To All 59 Parks (https://moon.com/books/moon-usa-national-parks/). Just in time for National Parks Week, Danielle and Bryan talk with Becky about her favorite itineraries, tips for families planning summer trips, and her lifelong love affair with the National Park Service (NPS).

For summer travel, Becky recommends looking to the mountain parks because they can offer some cooler hiking, biking and scenic drives. Some favorites on the east coast include Acadia National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Other popular options are Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Parks generally to avoid in the summer and save for cooler months include Saguaro National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Big Bend National Park.

At Bryan’s request, Becky dreams up some wonderful road trip itineraries if you want to hit multiple destinations in one vacation.

East Coast:

Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains connected by the Blue Ridge Parkway (https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/)

Central Mountains:

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons with either Glacier or Rocky Mountain

California:

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park (https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm)

Washington State:

Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park (https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm)

To enjoy the beauty of the national parks without the crowds, visit lesser known destinations such as Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon,

Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. If you do find yourself in a crowded spot, remember to hit the trails early for the best experience.

Becky’s best recommendation is to take a deep dive into one park at a time.