Fun Friday: Visit a National Park

In sharing about the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program earlier this week, you might have figured out that we’re big fans of our U.S. National Parks.

The National Park system comprises 401 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.

As I see it, the National Park system pretty much has something for everyone.

But if you need a little more convincing to visit a national park with your family this summer, take a look-see at this – what happens when a 5-year-old meets the wonders of nature in Zion National Park. (Thanks to the National Park Service for their great series of YouTube videos about America’s wilderness.)

Why visit a national park now?
Summer may mean hotter temperatures, but it also means a slower pace of life and the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend away. Although some park crowds swell during the summer months, there’s enough room out there for everyone to explore and enjoy.

During your national park visit, you might want to go camping, take a hike, see a waterfall, discover wildlife, swim in the wild or watch a sunset. But most of all, just let yourself be.

For more about U.S. National Parks:

• Find a park near you;
• Learn more about the Junior Ranger program;
• Peruse my U.S. National Parks Pinterest board, which is updated regularly with ideas for family friendly activities at many national parks;
• Read up on posts I’ve shared here about the U.S. National Parks we’ve visited.

Looking for more ways to get the kids outside and into nature this summer? Check out 50 ideas for your summer outdoor bucket list.