National Parks Of America 1

TocelebrateAmerica'samazingnationalparks,LonelyPlanet,theworld'sleadingtravelpublisher,takesyouonaninformativeandgorgeoustourofall59parkswithourlavishlyfinishedhardcovergiftguidepackedwithdetaileditinerariesandpracticaltipsonwhattodoandseeineachparktogetyoustartedplanningyournextadventure.America'snationalparksarefulloftimelessmarvelsthatstillrejuvenatethesoul:theworld'slargesttreesinSequoia;itsmostspectaculargeothermalsiteinYellowstone;thegrandestcanyon.Perhapsthemovement'smosteloquentdescriptionthatisstillresonatescamefromnationalparksadvocateJohnMuir:'Thousandsoftired,nerve-shaken,over-civilizedpeoplearebeginningtofindoutthatgoingtothemountainsisgoinghome;thatwildnessisanecessity...'Fortunatelyforthenerve-shaken,over-civilizedpeopleofthenandnow,PresidentWoodrowWilsoncreatedtheNationalParksService(NPS)onAugust25,1916,thoughthedrivetoprotectsomeofAmerica'smostremarkablewildspaces,tobe'usedandpreservedforthebenefitofmankind',beganinthe1860s.FromAcadiatoZion,thisbeautifulintroductiontoAmerica'spreservednaturaltreasuresispackedwithlandscapephotography,originalwildlifeillustrations,andpracticalinformation.Youwillsurelybeinspiredtorediscovertheseincrediblespacesandfindoutwhythey'reworthcelebratingandyou'llhaveallthetoolstoplanthefirstofmanyexcitingtrips.ThisbookisintendedtobeapracticalintroductiontoeachofAmerica's59nationalparks,distilledbyLonelyPlanet'sexpertauthors.Wehighlightthebestactivitiesandtrails,explainhowtogetthereandwheretostay,showyouthewildlifetowatchoutfor,andsuggestidealitineraries.Whetheryou'reluckyenoughtohaveaparkonyourdoorsteporneedtotravelfurther,wehopethatthefollowingpagesinspireyouboththeiconicandlesser-knowngemsthatmakeuptheUSA'sdiverselybreathtakingexpanses.Coversall59USNationalParks:AcadiaAmericanSamoaArchesBadlandsBigBendBiscayneBlackCanyonoftheGunnisonBryceCanyonCanyonlandsCapitolReefCarlsbadCavernsChannelIslandsCongareeCraterLakeCuyahogaValleyDeathValleyDenaliDryTortugasEvergladesGatesoftheArcticGlacierGlacierBayGrandCanyonGrandTetonGreatBasinGreatSandDunesGreatSmokyMountainsGuadalupeMountainsHaleakal?HawaiiVolcanoesHotSpringsIsleRoyaleJoshuaTreeKatmaiKenaiFjordsKingsCanyonKobukValleyLakeClarkLassenVolcanicMammothCaveMesaVerdeMtRainierNorthCascadesOlympicPetrifiedForestPinnaclesRedwoodRockyMountainSaguaroSequoiaShenandoahTheodoreRooseveltVirginIslandsVoyageursWindCaveWrangell-StEliasYellowstoneYosemiteZionAboutLonelyPlanet:Startedin1973,LonelyPlanethasbecometheworld'sleadingtravelguidepublisherwithguidebookstoeverydestinationontheplanet,aswellasanaward-winningwebsite,asuiteofmobileanddigitaltravelproducts,andadedicatedtravellercommunity.LonelyPlanet'smissionistoenablecurioustravellerstoexperiencetheworldandtotrulygettotheheartoftheplacestheyfindthemselvesin.