Page 24 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – October/November 2020

Parks offer healthy physical activity for all ages. We all know that the overall health benefits of exercise are tremendous.
It can help protect us from things like heart disease and stroke, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis, just to name a few. It also can help us sleep better, think more clearly and boost our energy. With so many positive outcomes, it’s clear that we should all make getting our exercise a priority.
People of all ages can enjoy being active
in a national park. Many of the parks offer activities such as hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding and biking, while some even offer things like horseback riding, bird watching, fishing, yoga and tai chi. No matter what level of activity you’re comfortable with, you’ll find something in a national park that fits your preferences perfectly.
Being in nature is good for your mind
Have you ever gone for a walk in the park and come back feeling refreshed, not just physically but mentally, too? Everyone has experienced a happier mood, reduced anxiety and quieted mind that even just
a short time spent outside can provide. Imagine how centered you might feel after several days?
Studies show a strong correlation between our mental health and spending time outside. We are fundamentally connected to nature, so it makes sense that being around beautiful scenery and hearing sounds like moving water and singing birds can bring us a sense of deep comfort and well-being. It helps us get out of our minds and back into the world around us.
National park adventures with AAA MCV
You don’t have to travel very far to encounter unparalleled landscapes and enriching cultural experiences that will surely take your breath away. With all of the exciting guided tours AAA Member Choice Vacations offer, it’s safe to say that we’ve discovered some pretty incredible spots on this globe and America’s national parks rank among the best. Read on to learn about some of our favorite national parks tours.
Canyon Country
The Canyon Country tour is a journey of a lifetime that ushers you into a colorful world of stunning southwestern vistas, the likes of which many have never seen up close and personal. The unique topography experienced is surely every photographer’s dream and the three national parks you visit will wow you at every turn. The national parks traversed on this tour are Zion, Bryce and the world-renowned Grand Canyon. Grand indeed, because on this tour you will behold the absolutely breathtaking views on a drive along its East Rim. It is a little-known fact that Theodore Roosevelt, upon visiting the Grand Canyon, is quoted as saying, “This is one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, must see.” That’s a hefty endorsement.
America’s Cowboy Country
America’s Cowboy Country allows you to experience the Wild West as it once was at Yellowstone National Park, home to an incredible array of wildlife including free-ranging herds of buffalo. Check off one of life’s must-dos as you thrill upon seeing Old Faithful erupt. Spend two nights in the cowboy town of Jackson, Wyoming, the crown jewel of the Northern Rockies. Experience rugged Badlands National Park along the famed Loop Road. Feel as though you are in the Old West while visiting Deadwood, a National Historic Landmark, where a local guide will introduce you to the history of the South Dakota city. Marvel at Grand Teton National Park’s towering peaks, marked with mountain glaciers and soak in stunning views of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
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