I came to the National Parks late in life. I was 48, and my new wife-to-be was enthusiastic in her descriptions of her experiences in Yellowstone and Grand Teton (she had worked in Wyoming for awhile). So, in the spirit of togetherness, I agreed to a joint trip to be introduced to those parks. It was a momentous, life-altering journey together, in more ways than one.
Now, after 20 years of joyful marriage and yearly vacations to about 20 National Parks together, I cannot imagine life without a week or two each year hiking, watching wildlife, scenery appreciation, and fishing in our National Parks. Although it’s only a week or two, I spend much of my time year-round in the parks - in my mind.
The look, the feel, the smell, the touch of nature in all her beauty, stays with me from trip to trip, and the pleasure of planning for the next visit is with me all year. My wife and I are lucky in that we both share the same kind of reverence for our National Parks. The sense of adventure and sharing special moments, like sighting a wolf mother and her pups, or having a deer jump over our heads while hiking a valley trail, cements our relationship.
Our National Parks have become an essential part of my life.
Sincerely,
Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is named after the river that runs through it. Within the park's massive boundaries, visitors can find mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and some of the most concentrated geothermal activity in the world. The park has 60% of the world’s geysers, as well as hot springs and mud pots. It is also home to diverse wildlife with the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48 states, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk.
State(s): Idaho Montana, Wyoming,
Established: 1872
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