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Park Ranger John

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US National Parks

Things to do Everglades National Park in Florida

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and is home to several threatened and endangered species like the American Crocodile, manatee and the Florida Panther. Planning is essential before visiting Everglades National Park as it is 1.5 million acres and can be accessed from several areas. Most people visit during the winter dry months of December through March as the wildlife is more abundant and the mosquitoes are tolerable during this time. Anyone who has been to the Everglades in the summer can attest to this after donating a couple pints of blood! Here is my list of favorite things to do Everglades National Park in Florida.

Fun activities and things to do at Everglades National Park Florida, pictures included. Ideas include Air Boat rides, sunrises and sunsets, hiking trails, boat tours, visiting Shark Valley and Flamingo, seeing alligators, crocodiles and bird watching.
Anhinga Trail…

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Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park is located almost 70 miles West of Key West, Florida. It’s a cluster of seven islands that first joined the National Parks System as Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935. The name and designation were changed to Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992 to protect scenic, cultural, marine and scientific values. Dry Tortugas is an adventure from the moment you leave Key West. Here is my list of things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park.


Getting to Dry Tortugas
Part of the fun of Dry Tortugas is the adventure of getting there. You can’t just drive to this park! The benefit for this kind of remoteness is that you don’t have to fight through crowds and search for parking once you arrive. You just simply walk off a boat or plane and start exploring! There are two options for most people getting to Dry Tortugas:…

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7 Epic hikes in Arches National Park

Arches National Park is home to the world’s highest concentration of natural sandstone arches with over 2000 arches identified within the park. This has made Arches one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. You can anticipate a line to get into the park and full parking lots once you do get in. The trails will be full of people and there will be photographers jockeying for the perfect spot. You may ask yourself if it is worth going? I will tell you the answer without a doubt Yes! I have visited Arches several times and hiked most of the trails and want to share with you the hikes not to miss! Here is my list of 7 epic hikes in Arches National Park.

Seven Epic hikes in Arches National Park Utah! Hikes include Delicate Arch, the Devils Garden, the Fiery Furnace, The Windows, Sand Dune Arch, Balanced Rock and Wall Street.
Park Avenue
Park Avenue is the first trail you will run into after entering the park. This is a 2-mile roundtrip moderate trail with epic views of monoliths, The Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, The Organ and Tower of Babel! You can make this a one-way 1-mile hike if you have someone that can pick you up at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint….

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Seven Things to do in Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is one of three designated U.S. National Parks in Arizona. It is also an extremely easy park to visit! The Park is located off Interstate 40 and is 1 hour and forty-five minutes East of Flagstaff, Arizona and three hours West of Albuquerque, New Mexico. From here you can take the park’s main road that goes 28 miles through the heart of the park with several pullouts and vistas along the way. Once you have finished the road you can simply return the way you came and see more sights or take Highway 180 North back to Interstate 40 at Holbrook. Now it’s time for my seven things to do in Petrified Forest National Park!

Seven Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park located in Arizona, Travel the park road to see sites including Historic Route 66, Desert Views, Blue Bentonite Mesas, petrified wood, petrified logs, petroglyphs and the Painted Desert Inn which is a National Historic Landmark
Stand on Historic Route 66
Petrified Forest National Park is the only U.S. National Park with a portion of the Historic Route 66. Route 66 is also known as the Will Rogers Highway, Main Street of America and the Mother Road that was established November 11, 1926. It was one of the original highways that began in Chicago Illinois and ended in Santa Monica, California covering a total of 2448 miles! It is marked in the park along the main park road with a 32’ Studebaker and several interpretative panels…

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10 Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park

Let me start off by saying that I love Joshua Tree National Park! There is just so much to see and do. The park is only an hour from Palm Springs, California and it is easy to get around. We were able to see so much in a short period of time making for a great experience. I would say that we just scratched the surface of this park and could have easily spent more time. I would suggest that you take the time to drive the Pinto Basin Road and see the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Here is a list of 10 things to do in Joshua Tree National Park.

Top 10 Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park just outside Palm Springs California including photography, hiking, climbing, tips, Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden and climbing!
Watch Sunset
Each sunset in Joshua Tree will capture your imagination! The brilliant reds and yellows cover the sky creating a background that looks magical, throw in some of the parks Joshua Trees in the foreground and you will have yourself an amazing photo that all your friends will be raving about….

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