National Parks – A United States Heritage Site

Did the economy get you down? Are you considering canceling your vacation or are you looking for a cheaper alternative to expensive amusement parks? If you need to find a way to have a great vacation, but do it while stretching your money as much as possible, take some time to research the United States National Park System.

In the United States, the National Park Service controls and provides for the National Park System. This agency was created by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 when he decided that it was necessary for the government to assume some responsibility for the protection of our beautiful national forests, deserts, mountains, lakes, and canyons. The purpose of this protection was to ensure that these areas would be available for future visitation by United States citizens.

The first recognized national park was Yellowstone National Park located in northwestern Wyoming and the first national monument, also located in Wyoming, was Devil’s Tower. Although the system started small, that is no longer the case.

This small government agency has now grown to the point where it oversees more than 390 separate protected areas and employs almost 22,000 federal workers. As part of the 390 protected areas there are almost 60 National Parks, ranging in size from 13,200,000 acres in Alaska, to National Historic Sites that are less than 0.02 acres.

There are national parks in over 50% of the states in the United States, so chances are that no matter where in the country you live, there is a national park somewhere nearby.

Maybe you live in the Four Corners area of ​​the Southwest, if so then you can visit Mesa Verde. If you live in Northern California, check out Sequoia, Yosemite, or Redwood. If you live in Utah try Arches or Zion. Shenandoah is a short drive for anyone who lives near North Carolina, and last but not least, if you live in the United States, you should make sure to see Yellowstone National Park.

In addition to their proximity, another big advantage of the national parks is how affordable they are. You can pay a small admission at each park, which usually ranges from $5 to $25 per vehicle, or you can buy an annual national park pass for $80 and avoid paying admission at all national parks.

We hope this short article has motivated you to take some time to consider visiting at least one of our national parks. If you want, it can only be a short trip, lasting less than a full day, or you can spend more time, even weeks, backpacking and camping in the backcountry (permit required). Whatever you decide, we wish you the best of luck.