Page 5 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – May/June 2016

WITH YOU ON
THE ROAD OF LIFETM
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National Park Service CELEBRATES 100 YEARS!
On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100!
In celebration of the upcoming National Park Service Centennial, the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service kicked off the Find Your Park movement to inspire all people to connect with, enjoy, and support America’s national parks. Join the movement at FindYourPark.com. Here’s some information about the top four national parks to help you...”Find Your Park!”
The number one most visited national park in the country is the Great Smokey Mountains. Located
in western North Carolina (near Cherokee) and shared with Tennessee, the Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that clings to them. The Appalachians, including this part of the chain, are thought to be among the oldest mountains
on Earth. The Smokies are a great area to drive through. The scenery is both relaxing and striking at the same time. Visit in the spring or early fall when the crowds are a bit thinner.
There are various accommodations in the Smoky Mountains area. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort opened last summer, providing guests with spectacular unobstructed views of the mountains. Guests have the opportunity to explore the park’s beauty via hiking and biking trails, auto tours, wildlife viewing areas and educational programs. Contact an AAA counselor for more information.
The second most visited park is none other than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
No matter what you’ve heard about its legendary beauty, the first time you see the Grand Canyon you’ll be amazed. An immense landscape spreads below your feet, dropping cliff by cliff into a winding, ragged gorge. In the distance, imposing walls and towers of stone rise to a green line of forest. About 5 million visitors view the Grand Canyon each year, the majority of them visiting the
canyon’s popular South Rim. It’s one of the most-visited natural wonders in the world.
At the South Rim, there are hotels, several lodges, two campgrounds and a recreational-vehicle
area. If you plan to spend the night, make your arrangements at least six months before your trip and as much as a year in advance if you’re visiting during the popular summer months.
Third on the list is Yosemite National Park, located 180 miles east of San Francisco. It is one of the most sublime and beautiful places in the U.S. Those who have seen the park’s natural wonders captured in the photographs of Ansel Adams – the soaring heights of Half Dome, the rugged outcroppings of El Capitan – will find that these structures are every bit as massive and awe-inspiring in person. Free shuttle-bus service is available year round throughout the eastern portion of Yosemite Valley. A wilderness experience in the valley requires planning. Reservations for camping and lodging in the Yosemite Valley’s Curry Village should be made several months in advance.
Outside the park there are a variety of accommodations within an hour’s drive. One of the largest and closest is Marriott’s Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, a luxurious resort complex 2 miles from the southern entrance to the park.
Within the valley, look for the familiar formations of Half Dome and Cathedral Spires. El Capitan is the largest pure-granite outcropping in the world and has absolutely sheer walls. Other points of interest include Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls and
Bridalveil Falls. Outside the valley, be sure to visit either the Tuolomne Grove or Mariposa Grove of sequoia redwoods. The largest tree, the Mariposa Grove’s Grizzly Giant, measures more than 25 feet in diameter and is at least 2,700 years old. Before leaving Yosemite, make a stop at the Ansel Adams Gallery and gift shop offering photographic workshops and exhibiting some of Adams’ wonderful black-and-white photos of the park. The gallery offers camera walks, photo classes and five-day intensive workshops. Visit http://www.anseladams.com.
Yellowstone comes in at number four on the popularity poll. Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world – and still the most famous. It
has gorgeous mountains, abundant wildlife and placid lakes set within a multicolored land of steam and waterfalls. The unique qualities of the area were recognized when Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, 18 years before Wyoming became a state.
Yellowstone is best known for its large number
of geothermal features – steaming mud pots, fumaroles, hot springs and active geysers, including Old Faithful. Yellowstone Park also contains fossil forests, a volcanic-glass mountain and dozens of spectacular waterfalls. The breathtaking scenery and the possibilities of unforgettable wildlife encounters make this a must-see area.
Many visitors find a trip in late spring or early fall gives them a great Yellowstone experience without the crowds. Consider a stay at the famous Old Faithful Inn. A national historic landmark, Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodging facility in the park. Built in 1903-1904 with local logs and stone, the Inn is the largest log structure in the world.
Ask your local AAA counselor for assistance in planning a vacation to celebrate the National Parks Centennial. Of the numerous national parks in the U.S., let us help you “Find Your Park.”
MAY/JUNE 2016
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