Mount Rushmore: Favorite National Park Sites

[WSUCougar]

Since it’s National Park Week, this is appropriate (and a little ironic, since Mount Rushmore is a National Park site).

National Park sites include anything in the National Park Service system, including National Seashore & Lakeshores, Recreation Areas, National Monuments, National Battlefields & Military Parks, National Historic Sites, and of course National Parks.

My four, in no particular order:

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
A wonderful blend of nature, history, and recreation. Lighthouses, shipwrecks, and lifesaving stations. Awesome fishing and ocean activities. Pristine beaches and outstanding interaction with nature. Go there during a winter nor'easter if you really want a treat (seriously!).

Antietam National Battlefield
Of the Civil War battlefields I’ve visited (and that’s a lot), this one still captures the historic “feel” the best. Looking out over the bloody cornfield or the Sunken Road remains one of the more meaningful personal “connections” I’ve ever made with a historic resource.

Olympic National Park
Among the crown jewel Washington national parks, it’s a close call between this, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier. But the Pacific Coast, rain forest, and mountain tri-fecta pushes Olympic over the top for me.

Boston National Historical Park
Specifically, the Charlestown Navy Yard and even more specifically the U.S.S. Constitution. This is right down my alley in terms of favorite eras in history, and waltzing around on the deck of probably the most famous frigate in the world is something I’ll never forget.

[Wolfpack]

(No particular order)

Yosemite National Park
Nothing like an early morning walk in Yosemite Valley, with the sentinels of Half Dome and El Capitan looming on either side of you. Throw in a short visit to the Sequoia Grove at the south end of the park and you begin to feel real small, indeed.

Badlands National Park
Just the sheer uniqueness of the area, especially coming out of the prairie in South Dakota, makes it something to see. It's even a little trippy if you come in late at night to stay at the lodge as these bizarre lunar formations sweep through your headlights along the way. Sunrises and sunsets are particularly outstanding here.

Bryce Canyon National Park
It's not something I can put my finger on, but the ununsual nature of the place, not to mention its ease of accessibility (don't need burros to get down into it), make it a memorable and enjoyable place.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park
The closest national park to where I grew up, we visited it and Gatlinburg just about every summer when I was a boy. Cades Cove, The Chimneys, Newfound Gap, Clingman's Dome.... Definitely the prettiest real estate in the southeast US (then again, I have a strong affinity for mountains).

[Tigercat]

Yosemite. Easily first. There is something special about a natural area made by phenomenon that don't exist in that part of the country anymore(glaciers) full of new wonders like waterfalls which are discovered every year. They are always charting and finding new things in Yosemite, so for me it kinda offers a feeling of the old western frontier that doesn't exist anymore elsewhere. Its just a really wonderfully beautiful and magical place for me.

Everglades. An amazing natural place. You have such a clash of different environments. From the endless yellow grass of the saltwater prairie to the mangrove swamps, the diversity is quite a thing to see. You can stop by one lake and take a picture of an alligator, cross a road or a trail and take a picture of a crocodile. I once hiked their experiment station trail in the middle of the glades, and we literally were stepping around alligators bathing in the sun. Most exciting and scary experience of my life.

Yellowstone. Something everyone should see once in their lives, even if it doesn't hold the diversity of wonders of the parks above. Still amazing to the ways in which our planet works that we don't see in our daily lives.

Mammoth Cave. I wanted to put a cave site here, so why not the longest cave system in the world? A variety of tours with many different types of cave formations to see.

[henry296]

When I graduated from college, myself and 2 friends did a cross country trip and visited many national parks. Here are my 4 favorites

Yellowstone. From the geysers to the hot springs to the wildlife just incredible.

Grand Canyon - we hiked 1/2 way down the canyon and every picture I took from the rim is spectacular.

Carlsbad Caverns - something you don't see every day and we watched the bats leaving at dusk to return in the morning.

Yosemite - Wonderful. The falls are great and some of the land formations were great too.

[WSUCougar]

Boy, do my Mount Rushmore threads ever suck.

(This will be the last one, of that you can be sure.)

[Joe]

Boy, do my Mount Rushmore threads ever suck.

(This will be the last one, of that you can be sure.)


the last sucky one? or the last one, period?

[Huckleberry]

I would just like to add Sequoia to those that have been named.

[Craptacular]

(in alphabetical order)

Jewel Cave (South Dakota) - Only one of the big caves I've been too, so I won't dispute that Mammoth or Carlsbad are better. Still, a very cool place.

National Mall & Memorial Parks - Too many things to mention. Add in the Smithsonian Museums, and you'll need a couple of weeks to see it all.

(tie) Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, Olympic - I can't choose any of them over the others. They were all spectacular in different ways. I read a lot more about Rainier and Olympic, and visited those first, but North Cascades really surprised me.

Zion - The view when you come out of the tunnel from the east is just incredible. We might be going back this year.

[clintl]

Mount Rushmore is getting snubbed in its own category!

[st.cronin]

Is Rocky Mountain a state or national? Well, anyway, the greatest day of my life was spent there, with my girlfriend, with amazing snow formations all around us.

[Fonzie]

Bryce Canyon NP - As Wolfpack mentioned, this is one of the most unique national parks around. The eerie stone formation (hoodoos), the intimate locations of the campgrounds (we camped about 100 feet from the edge of the canyon), and the accessible trails make this my all-time favorite.

Zion NP - Also beautiful, but a far larger park than Bryce with a lot more visitors. Wonderful trails, including a water hike. The wind howling through the canyon at night is awe-inspiring.

Arches NM - yet another beautifully unique locale - the red rock formations and natural arch structures are breathtaking.

Grand Canyon North Rim - Better than the South Rim in nearly every respect. Far fewer people, better trails, higher elevation (thus cooler), and cabins available for rent. The extra drive is well worth it.

Yes, I spent a lot of time in the southwest. :)

[WSUCougar]

Is Rocky Mountain a state or national? Well, anyway, the greatest day of my life was spent there, with my girlfriend, with amazing snow formations all around us.
It's a national park. And it's probably #5 on my list. :)

[st.cronin]

It's a national park. And it's probably #5 on my list. :)

I think it's the only one I've been to. But, man, what visuals...

[Castlerock]

1. Denali National Park - Alaska has the only true wilderness left in the United States. I sat in the middle of a herd of caribou on the open tundra. Saw brown bears chasing caribou. Dall Sheep, eagles, moose, wolf, and much more. North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley rises from a 3000 foot base. 17,000 vertical feet and includes a 10,000 foot (nearly vertical) ice wall. It is one of those rare places which can only be experienced in person.

Since this is Mt Rushmore, I have to come up with 3 more but Denali is in a class by iteself.

2. Grand Canyon
3. Yellowstone
4. Cape Cod National Seashore

[Wolfpack]

Not to threadjack, but what parks have posters never been to that they'd want to visit?

Mine's a pretty long list, but if I had to give priority, I'd say Denali, Olympic, Death Valley, Zion (the main part, I've only been to the little corner that abuts I-15), and Isle Royale. I've also had a recent urge to visit west Texas for Big Bend, Guadalupe Mts, and Carlsbad Cavern. Unfortunately, the limitation is (as it usually is) money and time.

[judicial clerk]

Wow, Mt. Rushmore can't make Mt. Rushmore.

Yellow Stone

Yosemite

Grand Canyon

I don't know if Big Sur contains any national parks or not, but that is an impressive place.

Now I want to go to Denali National Park.

[WSUCougar]

No love for any historic sites or battlefields?

[Wolfpack]

I wish I could pick one. I've been to Gettysburg and Sharpsburg and Spotsylvania, but never stayed there long enough to truly *absorb* the place (family vacations were always of the "tag" variety). I've gained more of an appreciation about Spotsylvania since reading Rhea's book on the battle, though.

I also enjoy a place like Williamsburg, but technically that's not part of the National Park system.

[thealmighty]

1. Denali National Park...It is one of those rare places which can only be experienced in person.
Amen.

1. Denali when the weather is perfect and all the peaks are visible (we got lucky- I took some kick ass pictures, if I do say so myself, and I do- on our visit), which is not often.

2. Denali when the high peaks are enshrouded in the weather it makes for itself.

3. Denali on a crappy, rainy, miserable day- wild animals, some of them, love to strut in the rain.

4. Grand Canyon stuff- I guess this would be better than Denali in a blizzard. ;)

[Craptacular]

Bryce Canyon NP - As Wolfpack mentioned, this is one of the most unique national parks around. The eerie stone formation (hoodoos), the intimate locations of the campgrounds (we camped about 100 feet from the edge of the canyon), and the accessible trails make this my all-time favorite.

Zion NP - Also beautiful, but a far larger park than Bryce with a lot more visitors. Wonderful trails, including a water hike. The wind howling through the canyon at night is awe-inspiring.

Arches NM - yet another beautifully unique locale - the red rock formations and natural arch structures are breathtaking.

Grand Canyon North Rim - Better than the South Rim in nearly every respect. Far fewer people, better trails, higher elevation (thus cooler), and cabins available for rent. The extra drive is well worth it.

Yes, I spent a lot of time in the southwest. :)
Geez, those are the four (and only four) National Parks we visited on our honeymoon (and we did go to the north rim of the GC, not the south) Are you my wife?

[Craptacular]

Amen.

1. Denali when the weather is perfect and all the peaks are visible (we got lucky- I took some kick ass pictures, if I do say so myself, and I do- on our visit), which is not often.

2. Denali when the high peaks are enshrouded in the weather it makes for itself.

3. Denali on a crappy, rainy, miserable day- wild animals, some of them, love to strut in the rain.

4. Grand Canyon stuff- I guess this would be better than Denali in a blizzard. ;)
I haven't been there, but we named our second Siberian Husky after the park. Definitely want to go there sometime.

[finkenst]

Not to threadjack, but what parks have posters never been to that they'd want to visit?

Mine's a pretty long list, but if I had to give priority, I'd say Denali, Olympic, Death Valley, Zion (the main part, I've only been to the little corner that abuts I-15), and Isle Royale. I've also had a recent urge to visit west Texas for Big Bend, Guadalupe Mts, and Carlsbad Cavern. Unfortunately, the limitation is (as it usually is) money and time. uhhh..

carlsbad caverns is in New Mexico, and it is quite the experience to walk into the cavern...

1. Hawai'a Volcanoes National Park.

2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

3. Petrified Forest.

4. Rocky Mountain National Park.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I love Mt. Rushmore. Going there in 2002 was a real awe inspiring experience.
Also visited the Crazy Horse monument, though barely done its already an awe inspiring experience.

[Fonzie]

Geez, those are the four (and only four) National Parks we visited on our honeymoon (and we did go to the north rim of the GC, not the south) Are you my wife?

Yes, now quit posting on a stupid internet message board and go take out the goddamned trash like I asked you to do THREE DAYS AGO!

Did you even hear me ask you to take out the trash? Christ, I'd swear you never listen to me anymore. Do you have any idea how it hurts me to be ignored while you spend so much time "chatting" or whateverthehell it is you do on this stupid message board? Don't you see that I suffer? Why can't it be like it was at Zion?

Yes, I know I've put on a few pounds since then, but its only because I keep turning to food to console my aching heart. Chocolate IS a happy drug, you know. Not that you've cared about making me happy since...well, since that night at Arches, come to think of it.

I feel like I don't know you anymore. Where is this relationship headed? I have needs too, you know, and if you won't satisfy them then I'll find someone who will. Like this guy who uses your little football forum thingy and goes by the nickname "Fonzie" - he's a sweetheart (and is great in the sack!). You probably didn't even notice that I left the house to go visit him (I'm on his computer, obviously) - if you cared more you might have heard all the doors slamming on my way out.

Anywho, I'd better get back to "The Fonz," but I think we need to talk sometime. Soon.

-Craptacular's wife

[Wolfpack]

uhhh..

carlsbad caverns is in New Mexico, and it is quite the experience to walk into the cavern...



I'm aware of this, but since it's right over the line practically from Guadalupe Mountains NP, I mixed it in on purpose.

[finkenst]

I'm aware of this, but since it's right over the line practically from Guadalupe Mountains NP, I mixed it in on purpose.

yeah, things like this lead to the following dialogue:

Circa summer 1990:

my mom: We need a rental car.
agent: where are you going?
my mom: New Mexico.
agent: You can't take the car out of the country.

[Craptacular]

blah blah blah
-Craptacular's wife
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