Category: National Parks

New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge NP

Did you know that there is a new national park?

Located in southern West Virginia, the New River Gorge National River was officially designated as New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in early 2021. The park includes 70,000 acres of land, as well as the 53 mile long river, that provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The gorge is the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. The surrounding forest contains some of the oldest and most diverse flora and ecosystems in the world, where many endangered animals live.

Learn more about the newest national park here.

Visit a National Park

Alaska’s Kenai Fjords

Right now, many National Parks are still closed or have certain access restrictions in place. So, the best way to visit them is to travel virtually. Here’s a great article that summarizes all the different ways you can visit a National Park without actually visiting it! Stay safe!

Memorial Day Weekend

Normally, Memorial Day Weekend here in the United States is the start of the summer travel season. There are always stories on the news about the biggest travel days of the year and how crowded the highways and airports are. However, this year will likely be quite different. Many shelter-in-place orders are still in effect and public places are mostly still closed. Even if they’re open, there are restrictions and limited resources. Make sure to do your research ahead of time.

I’m sure many folks are itching to go somewhere for a change of scenery after being stuck at home for two months, though. We are too! However, make sure to abide by your location’s rules and guidelines. Know what they are beforehand so you can bring masks and whatever else you need and not be caught by surprise. Obviously, even if it’s allowed, you have to decide if your health and the health of those you’re in contact with can take the risk as well. Use common sense and keep yourself and others safe.

There are many virtual activities that you can do to create a little staycation, though. Check out several of my previous posts where I’ve listed a bunch of links to various activities. You can even take a virtual trip!

Here are some other relevant articles that I’ve come across.

Most importantly, we should remember why we even have this three day weekend in the first place. Let’s make sure to take a moment to remember and honor the men and women who served and died in the Armed Forces protecting us. Here are some virtual Memorial Day events.

Have a safe weekend!

Explore National Parks

National Parks list

Even though National Parks Week is coming to an end, it doesn’t mean we should stop supporting our glorious parks. We should continue to explore the National Parks from home and plan some possible future trips virtually. There are many great resources online to help us learn about these treasures. Here are just a few that I’ve come across.

Earth Day

April 22, 2020 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Staying at home has already improved the environment in many ways. While we’re home, we can plan to travel sustainably in the future, and participate in other events to continue playing our part to protect our planet. These are just some that I’ve come across. There many more online.

National Park Week

National Park Week 2020 is celebrated from April 18th to 26th. This is a great time to learn more about the beautiful parks throughout the United States. Start exploring here!

There are many virtual activities for you to participate in now to help you discover where you might want to travel in the future. It’s never too early to start planning your next trip virtually so that you can be ready to book it once it is safe to travel again.

If you would like to discuss the parks that we’ve been to, or want help with your plans, feel free to contact me.