Darren's US & Canadian Parks Blog

Seventy years ago this week, Fort Laramie was proclaimed as a national monument. The Wyoming fort was not only a station for the Pony Express and the transcontinental telegraph, but had a rich history associated with westward expansion that included Indians, trappers, traders, missionaries, emigrants, gold seekers, soldiers, cowboys and homesteaders. The park offers a variety of activities including bird watching, fishing, hiking, and interpretive programs. Plan your visit to the Fort Laramie National Historic Site here.

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, just west of Washington, DC, Shenandoah National Park stretches 105 miles north/south, passing through portions of eight counties. Take Skyline Drive along the crest of the mountains through the woods and past spectacular vistas. Hike the Appalachian Trail, which has 101 miles that pass through the park. Hopefully these photos of Shenandoah will inspire you to visit the park in the near future.

This week in 1909, Oregon Caves were designated as a National Monument by President William Howard Taft. Located on Mount Elijah in the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon Caves includes more than 480 acres where visitors can enjoy cave tours from late March through November, as well as hiking trails that weave in and out of the old-growth forest. You can see vast views, waterfalls, and the widest girthed Douglas fir tree known to exist in Oregon.

Located in both New York and New Jersey, the Gateway National Recreation Area blends history with outdoor recreational opportunities for all to enjoy. See the oldest operational lighthouse in the United States, and enjoy birdwatching, swimming, boating, hiking, and ranger-guided programs. Hopefully these photos of Gateway will inspire you to visit.

What better place to celebrate the July 4th holiday than at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, which commemorates and interprets many of the people, places, and events associated with American independence. The cornerstone of the park is Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and where the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. Many of the 391 National Park Service sites hold special events to celebrate the Fourth of July. Find a park in your area.

On this day in 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was established to preserve sites built by "Pre-Columbian Indians" on mesa tops and in canyon alcoves. The park, which in Spanish means "green table," offers a unique opportunity to see and experience 750 years of history (including the spectacular cliff dwellings) of the Ancestral Puebloan Culture. Plan a trip to this special park in southwestern Colorado.

On this day in 1876, in what is now Montana, a military engagement took place between a regiment of the Seventh United States Cavalry led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and a force of Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indians. The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument memorializes the events surrounding this battle. The park offers guided talks on the Battle of the Little Big Horn and related themes during the summer months.

In my opinion, Glacier National Park in northern Montana is the most beautiful national park in the lower 48 states, and recently I had the opportunity to review a video of the park produced by Earth VideoWorks in 2008. From the wildflowers in full bloom to the cascading waterfalls to the wildlife roaming throughout the park, the video brings to life magnificent images of this American treasure. Read the full review here.

Located on Maine’s Atlantic seaboard, Acadia National Park is one of the smallest, yet most popular national parks in the United States. Truly, a four-season park, Acadia and the surrounding area are full of scenic and historic destinations. Whether you are interested in hiking, wildlife viewing, biking, bird watching, or ranger-led programs, you should definitely plan a visit to this magnificent park. Enjoy the park’s splendor in photos.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the transfer of Rock Creek Park to the National Park Service. One of the largest urban parks in the United States, this wooded preserve contains a wide range of natural, historical, and recreational features in the midst of Washington, DC, including the Nature Center and Planetarium, and Old Stone House, the oldest house in Washington. Plan your visit here.