Yellowstone Named Best For Kids

Above, one of Yellowstone 10,000 hydrothermal sites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before getting into the subject of this blog post, this coming Saturday, all national parks will be waiving entrance fees for all visitors as part of National Park Week.

Now for the topic of this post.

Travel + Leisure posted that The Family Vacation Guide named Yellowstone National Park as the best national park for kids.

They wrote:

America's national parks have long been a favorite for family road trips. So The Family Vacation Guide examined which of the country's 63 national parks is the most kid-friendly, looking at the number of hotels, trails, attractions, and landmarks suitable for young travelers. In its Best National Parks for Kids in the U.S. study, revealed last month, it determined that Yellowstone National Park rises to the top.

Mostly in Wyoming — with sections in Idaho and Montana — the country's first national park is having an especially big year, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in March. Its enduring appeal stems from its geothermal features, with more than 10,000 hydrothermal sites, including about 500 geysers — half of the active ones on the planet. The bubbling waters and sky-high eruptions, like the famed Old Faithful, are a thrill for kids and adults alike, and are among the 37 kid-friendly landmarks within the park that also include other favorites, such as Grand Prismatic Spring and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone also caters to its young visitors with five themed virtual adventures, accessible via online portal, that explains each in a kid-friendly manner. Children can choose their own adventure in geology, hydrothermal, wildlife, history, or preservation. Most importantly for parents: the park also cautions children to explore the park while keeping safety top of mind, stressing the importance of staying on the boardwalks and trails to keep away from the boiling waters.

To read the full article, go here. 

5 Places To Visit During National Park Week

Above, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National Park Week is coming soon which means that there will be free admission to all national parks on April 20 and special events will take place during that week in each park.

RV Life has spotlighted five parks that will have special events.

They begin with:

Every April, the National Park Service celebrates National Park Week in honor of the 419 protected sites countrywide, including the national parks, historic sites, and national monuments. 

This year, the National Park Week will be held from Saturday, April 20 through Sunday, April 28, 2019. Several parks will be hosting special programs and events to coincide with the scheduled themed days. The themes include: 

• Saturday, April 20: Junior Ranger Day
• Sunday, April 21: Military & Veterans Recognition Day
• Monday, April 22: Earth Day
• Tuesday, April 23: Transportation Day
• Wednesday, April 24: Wild Wednesday (Wilderness & Wildlife)
• Thursday, April 25: Throwback Thursday
• Friday, April 26: Friendship Friday
• Saturday, April 27: Bark Ranger Day
• Sunday, April 28: Park Rx Day 

To kick off the week, entrance fees to all national park sites will be free on April 20. Find a park near you by searching their website here, or check out these five sites where there will be lots of special events and exhibits.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Week 2019

Above, a view of Lassen Peak at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's another year and coming up is another "National Park Week".

It starts on April 20 with an entrance "fee-free day" and goes through April 28.

According to the Sierra Sun Times:

March 28, 2019 - WASHINGTON - National Park Week, running from April 20 through 28, has something for everyone! Join the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation for nine days of fun, including National Junior Ranger Day and National BARK Ranger Day. Visit www.NationalParkWeek.org for more information and a list of special events. 

“National parks are sources of inspiration, recreation, and education for everyone,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “During National Park Week, a wide variety of creative programs and events across the country will showcase these amazing places and encourage everyone to visit a park.” 

Park visitors can go on ranger-led hikes through hoodoos, prairies, caves, redwoods, wetlands, and sand dunes. There will be free guided tours of lighthouses, pueblos, battlefields, historic ships, forts, presidential homes, lower Manhattan, the French Quarter, and even a Nike missile site. Narrated bike, boat, train, and wagon rides are available. And it’s a great time to try out a new hobby such as bird watching, star gazing, painting, yoga, basket weaving, or hula dancing. 

National Park Week begins with an entrance fee-free day on Saturday, April 20. One of five fee-free days scheduled in 2019, April 20 is also National Junior Ranger Day. Almost every park will have booklets for kids loaded with activities that can be completed to earn a Junior Ranger badge.

To read more, go here.