December 22nd, 2010
This gorgeous forest is situated twenty miles on the east of Portland city in Oregon extending along the Willamette River valley in the North and the Columbia River on the south. Spread across 60 miles of lakes, streams and mountainous forests extending to around 1,067,043 acres the forest serves various purposes. This natural setting has gained much recognition from visitors from all walks of life to the Mount Hood National Forest.
This cascading forest reserve was started in 1893 and in 1908 it was divided into several national forests with a portion that got merged with the Oregon National forest or the Bull Run forest. This name was changed once again in 1924 to Mount Hood National forest.
Visitors to this forest enjoy a lot of snow sports during winter, hunting, camping, hiking, fishing and boating during fall and summer. Mushroom collecting and berry picking form the most popular adventures for the visitors and the area residents of the mount forest. A yearly and long standing tradition for the residents of the area is the cutting of the family’s Christmas tree.
A few of the most important and must visit places are the Timberline Lodge that stands high on the Mount Hood since 1937 when it was built, Timothy Lake, Lost Lake, rock Creek Reservoir, Trillium Lake and a few parts of the Oregon Train which includes the Barlow road. Visitors to the forest can never miss these places especially those who are on packaged tour trips.
The Mount Hood National forest is home for thousands of rate species of butterflies, amphibians, mammals and birds who migrate here for breeding. Most of these species make the mountain range their habitat and fill the place with happy sounds. They are protected by the forest staff.
The forest’s harvest besides trees for lumber other products like evergreen boughs, Christmas trees, cones, bear grass, edible berries, common minerals like rock, salal and firewood are also harvested with the required permits so these products are not misused by residents or commercial vendors.
The Mount Hood National Forest is an exclusively beautiful place and the forest service people would love to have your cooperation and support to keep it always beautiful and attractive. They love to accept your voluntary services for the many activities that could help maintain the serenity of the forest. You can read up what are the activities that you could help with and offer voluntary services which would be readily accepted.
Categories: National Forests
Tags: Mount Hood, Mount Hood National Forest
December 19th, 2010
Make sure you include the Grand Canyon National Park in your vacation planning list this summer as this is a must visit scenic beauty. It’s exciting and powerful landscape engulfs its visitors’ sense mainly because of its huge size spreading 446 kms in length and 29kms wide with a depth of 1.6 kms.
The Park is divided into two parts the North Rime and the South Rim. However, during winter the North Rim is covered with snow and hence is closed for visitors. This usually is closed until the mid of May when the snow melts and the climate changes making it accessible to visitors once again.
The temperature in the Grand Canyon National Park during summer is very pleasant on the higher elevation but much hotter at the lower ranges. Monsoon climates with thunderstorms are experienced in the months of July to early September. Winter is extreme at both the Rims but however the North Rim is always closed to visitors during winter.
One of the many places of interest that visitors must not miss is the Skywalk. This is under the control of the Hualapai tribe. It is in the shape of a horse shoe with steel frame and glass floors. The beauty of this construction is that is projects 70 feet out of the canyon rim where you find that you are walking in the air. This is where it got its name the Skywalk. This wonder is a must on every tour package planned for the canyon.
Though the North is completely closed during winter you can enjoy a few sightseeing and adventure trips at the South Rim. You can go ranging and learn a bit about the culture, history, science and nature of the Grand Canyon Park; visit one or two museums; you can visit the desert drive which has a great scenic view. You can climb up to the top of a 70 feet tall watchtower and take a look at the panoramic views from there. Besides these hiking and biking, mountain ranging, mule trips and river trips and picnicking are of great interest for most of the visitors.
The most amusing discovery at the Grand Canyon Park is that there has never been a single skeleton of more than twenty species of amphibians and reptiles on the sand, but no whole bones or teeth of fossilized reptile, not even a single bone of a reptile.
Categories: National Parks
Tags: Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park
December 16th, 2010
Just 315 miles away from Los Angeles, covering a vast area of 1,169 square miles and boasting of being designated with 95% wilderness the Yosemite National Park is one of the best attractions which was declared the World Heritage Site in the year 1984. Noted for its famous waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, granite cliffs and a biological diversity the park attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.
Though the Park is open 24 hours a day for 365 days of the year the entrance station is open only during the day time and a few roads get blocked with snow during the months of November to May and sometimes June as well. Since the water falls are mostly fed by snow melt by August the place is dry since there is no snowfall, then when the winter snow begins to fall again. One should check the climate conditions when making plans to visit the Yosemite National Park.
The Yosemite waterfall that is from a height of 2,425 feet is North America’s tallest waterfall attracting thousands of tourists each year. It has many other waterfalls too that attract visitors in abundance. Yosemite is considered to be a laboratory of glaciology, geology and hydrology among other scientific wonders.
The Yosemite National Park is home to hundreds of species of reptiles, mammals, birds, fish and amphibians. It also boasts of a recent discovery of a further two more species that does not exist in any other place in the world. It is the home of various plants and trees that makes it a place of research for many scientists who visit here to study individual plant life.
Tourists to the Yosemite National Park can take a bus tour around the entire park; you can go hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching, horse riding, picnicking, backpacking, rock climbing and even take part in the many water activities and the winter sports. There is wide range of boarding and lodging places to make visitors comfortable during your stay. One can enjoy great picnic spots on the vast spread of forest land in the Yosemite.
Yosemite National Park has its own set of efficient and courteous staff to maintain and manage the valley. However, during special days like Thanksgiving Day, Labor Day and Memorial Day they do expect a few volunteers who could help for a few hours with guiding the hundreds of tourists who visit this picturesque park to spend the day. You can help as a guide or just in your own way.
Categories: National Parks
Tags: Yosemite, Yosemite national park
December 13th, 2010
When planning for a day out people always choose a rendezvous that has water, shade, flora and possibly fauna and a perfect climate. Hence water is the main attraction of picnic planners because it makes up the best part of the day besides food and beverages. There are many water games that people play and enjoy being in the water. However, not when the temperatures are freezing that people like to play in the cold water! The Hot Springs National Park is an answer to this. The water here is naturally hot.
Fondly known as “The American Spa” this national park encircles the entire northern end of Arkansas known as the city of Hot Springs. The water from these springs is considered not only to be refreshing but medicinal too. Dating back to more than 200 years ago people from all walks of life come here to have a bath to be relieved of all illnesses.
It is interesting to know that the water that runs down the hot springs is heated when it is at a depth of about a mile before it starts its journey towards the surface passing through a fault. The flora and fauna form an interesting part for the park’s visitors. You can enjoy sights of animals like chipmunks, possums, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and foxes with a wide variety of birds like woodpeckers, cardinal, blue jays, mockingbirds and warblers. During spring a wide array of attractive colored flowers like may apples; wild roses, spiderworts and wild iris don the forest amidst the dogwood trees, redbud trees, pine and oak trees and many more.
The climatic conditions at Arkansas City are split into four seasons ranging from humid to hot summers and mild temperatures in fall and spring with varying temperatures during winter ranging from extremely freezing to a high of 60 in humidity. However, visitors should be prepared for very cold weather during winter at the Hot Spring National Park.
Since 1912 visitors have been having a bath at the Buckstaff Baths and even today this traditional bath is the peak attraction for visitors who can’t resist having a bath here on their visit. The Buckstaff Baths is considered the park’s concessionaire or the modern spa of America.
You can take a tour of the entire park on your own or engage a guide but don’t miss the many attractions like the park’s museum, the Fordyce Bathhouse and a lot of activities for children. They can earn Junior Ranger badges by taking part in many activities mentioned in the booklet’s program.
The park operates on all days of the year with exceptions on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year day, from 9a.m. to 5p.m. The best summer visit months are from May 28th to August 7th when the closing hours are extended from 5p.m. to 8 p.m. for the convenience of visitors.
The Hot Springs National Park at Arkansas City invites you to join their friends club that has been functioning since 1987. The purpose of this is to sustain the rehabilitation of the splendid landscapes and the historic bathhouses. This is a non-profit organization and hence donations and fund raising events are conducted to raise funds for the park’s maintenance.
Categories: National Parks
Tags: hot springs, hot springs national park
December 10th, 2010
Covering almost 9000 kms equivalent to 96% of the area of Wyoming the Yellowstone National Park is reputed for its geothermal features maintaining approximately 10,000 examples. It has the largest number of geysers in the world amounting to around 300 in number and the famous Yellowstone River. The wildlife of the Park includes endangered and rare species of animals like wolves, wapitis, grizzly bears and bison. It was established in 1872 and still serves as the best tourist attraction of today.
The Yellowstone National Park forms the world’s leading site for study of the evolutionary history of the land. Its rich earth has more than 140 fossil plants of various species like rushes and small ferns to big trees and large Sequoia. A Caldera as long as 45km by 75km lies within this national park.
Spread across a sprawling 2,219,789 acres the Yellowstone National Park is bigger than Delaware and Rhode Island together. It is home to around 322 bird species, 1100 native plant species, 16 fish species and many species of wild animals. It has more than 250 waterfalls and 9 exclusive centers to visit. It also has 12 campgrounds to enlighten visitors.
The park is a major tourist attraction for visitors from across the globe. Since there is no public transport to this place during summer the roads are busy with heavy traffic congestion. The main attractions of the Yellowstone National Park are the Boiling River, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Gardner River Canyon. Besides this tourists enjoy hiking, boating, biking and ranging.
The drive to the park is a scenic sight with the picturesque landscape visible right from the vehicle you are in. There are many roadside picnic spots where visitors can spend time to relax before carrying on to the park. The grand loop road has most of the attractions for adventurous visitors.
Snow coach tours are a very exciting way to feel cozy in a heated cab while taking a tour across the park and enjoying its natural wonders. If you are very adventurous you can opt for one or more of the many guided tours that offer adventures like snowshoeing, skiing and a sumptuous lunch. This is a very pleasurable drive for the entire family.
However, though the Yellowstone National Park has been and is still an amazing tourist attraction the management feels that much justice has to be done for the continued sustenance of the park and its inhabitants if it should continue to be a family recreation center for many people across the globe.
Categories: National Parks
Tags: yellowstone, yellowstone national park
