My Passion for Parks: A Blog Action Day Rewind

On this “Blog Action Day“, the topic is the environment. I believe that part of good environmental stewardship is preserving our National Parks. Granted, they are a very small part of our eco-system, but they are a very special part.They show Mother Nature in all of its glory, inspiring great awe and wonder (like those Tetons over on the left). They MUST be protected and preserved.

Here is what I wrote in January 2006 (when this blog was in its infancy - you probably missed it the first time):

Today as I was writing a check for my annual contribution to the National Park Foundation (NPF), it occurred to me how pivotal all my visits to many of these Parks have been to keeping my glass half full all these years. There’s something about the sense of awe one gets when seeing these landmarks of nature that always manages to put me in a very good place - a good case in point is Grand Teton in Wyoming (see the picture on one of my earliest posts). Every time I visit there (which is about annually) I feel calm, renewed and revitalized. I can’t really explain exactly why - but I do think it’s spiritual.

In any case, here’s my Top 10 National Parks that I’ve visited:

1. Grand Teton (see above); best vista in the US, bar none

2. Glacier- just awesome; a must see in one’s lifetime

3. Yellowstone - the grandaddy of them all; nature’s Disneyland

4. Grand Canyon - oh yes; spend the extra time and go to the North Rim

5. Acadia - Maine is a beautiful state, and this is a centerpiece

6. Zion - rugged adventure

7. Rocky Mountain - the highest place to take your car in the US; 12,000 feet!

8. Arches - “arid redness” in great rock formations

9. Mesa Verde - cool place near a wonderful Durango

10. Bryce Canyon - great companion to Zion in Utah

The sad thing is, government funding for these parks and all the rest of them I’ve yet to visit is pretty inadequate - roads are going unpatched, buildings are in a state of disrepair, and fewer Park Rangers roam the parks. If you can spare it, I highly urge a contribution to the NPF - not to mention a call or letter to your congress person.

I also have pledged to donate all my proceeds from the Google ads on this page to the NPF - so please click away for the Parks when you get a chance.

Please also check out Joanna’s wonderful Blog Action Day post on Joyful Jubilant Learning - “How Much Can We Learn in a Day?”

Plenty Joanna, plenty.