Living in New York City, it is difficult to appreciate nature in its pure form. City parks offer great weekend fun, but it’s hard to escape the hustle and bustle of the urban setting. It’s no surprise that most teenagers are more interested in their gadgets than the great outdoors. However, one great way to foster a passion for Mother Nature is to visit America’s national parks.
During the past few summers, my parents and I have visited some of the beautiful and unique parks around the country. It’s something that we all enjoy, because we love the scenery and change of pace. Not to mention, we get to bond over experiencing something new together. It’s become a tradition to spend our summers hiking, canoeing, animal-watching, and exploring in national parks.
My first parks
On our first trip, we visited three national parks in Washington. Maybe it was just my awful luck, but the first few days were nothing but a drippy, rainy mess. Isn’t it supposed to be sunny in the summertime? Despite the conditions, we proceeded on to North Cascade.
Known for its glaciers that melt into magnificent waterfalls, North Cascade was surprisingly dry. Located in the rain shadow — a region sheltered from rain-bearing winds by a range of hills — the park was a sanctuary from the weather. My first taste of a national park couldn’t have been sweeter. We walked through the trails and couldn’t stop taking pictures of the majestic mountain ranges wrapped in the fog.
Then, we headed to Olympic, which was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Walking through the moss-covered forests was like walking through a rainforest. The drizzle barely fazed us. We drove up to Hurricane Ridge to view the mountains, but, on our way down, it started to pour. It was a bumpy ride down, but a memorable one all the same. Best of all, we had pleasant weather for the rest of our trip.
Our third stop was Mount Rainier, where the sun lit up the snow-capped mountains, and little wildflowers dotted the green meadows.
Explore and experience
There are so many activities for families, kids, and teens at these parks. My fondest memory is when we went canoeing at Jenny Lake at the Grand Tetons. It was serene and so much fun to paddle through the pristine water on a summer day. The city’s architecture is a far cry from the natural edifices of the parks.
We also enjoy having a picnic lunch whenever we can. All national parks have designated picnic areas, many with breathtaking views. When we visited Yosemite National Park, we had a relaxing picnic lunch by the meandering river. It was absolutely stunning. Many parks also offer a maze of hiking trails. Grab some water and your family, and explore the more intimate enclaves of the park. When my family and I visited Joshua Tree National Park, we took a long hike through the desert-like environment to see some ancient caves with pictographs on them.
Additionally, many offer special programs and activities for everyone. On our trip to Hawaii, we visited active volcanoes. The park hosted a nighttime walk through the rocks to see the lava flow. It was completely pitch black, and my parents and I stumbled through the rocks with only one flashlight among us. Nevertheless, it was worth it. Not only was the lava flow like nothing I’ve ever seen before, but we really bonded while there.
Learn and discover
National parks aren’t just fun vacation spots, they are educational, too. You can learn so much by experiencing wildlife in its natural environment. And park rangers are friendly and eager to share their knowledge about the park’s history, the animals that live there, and the plant species.
Often, you get to meet naturalists or environmentalists. While at Yellowstone, we met a couple who were documenting a nest of birds. They allowed us to look through their state-of-the-art binoculars and showed us the babies who had just hatched and were learning to fly. It was like living in a nature documentary, and it was rewarding when the birds finally took flight.
Appreciating nature
Throughout my experiences, I’ve found that nature has so much beauty and excitement to offer us. I learned that there are no souvenirs or even photos that can match the grandeur of an actual memory. For example, the towering trees at Sequoia cannot be taken home with you. It is also impossible to capture the immense scale on camera. I just had to take in the “Land of the Giants” and cherish the moment.
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National parks were founded in order to preserve some of America’s most unique and beautiful regions for future generations. Nothing is better than sharing these magnificent locations with your family. Plan your next vacation at one of America’s great national parks. There are so many to choose from!
Aglaia Ho is a 16-year-old student from Queens who enjoys writing. Her work has been published in Creative Kids, Skipping Stones, Daily News-Children’s Pressline, and The State of the Wild.
