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As the US National Park Service celebrates its centenary, Malcolm Davies, product manager for Funway Holidays, presents his guide to matching different clients with a park that suits their needs.
Yosemite – California
California’s most popular national park, Yosemite is the mother of all parks. There are almost 1,200 square miles of valleys and peaks, with giant sequoia trees, waterfalls and soaring granite outcrops. Nature lovers may want to spend as many hours as possible outdoors trying to spot wildlife, but it’s important to remember the shadows cast over Yosemite Valley about two hours earlier than the sun sets, so advise clients to take layers to wrap up when they’re not in the sunshine.
In winter, Yosemite is buried under several feet of snow but in summer it’s busy with visitors. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons when the waterfalls are in full flow and most trails are open. Yosemite works well twinned with San Francisco – the drive from shore to mountains takes about four hours.
Grand Canyon – Arizona
This place is for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors and iconic landscapes. Rocks found at the bottom of the canyon have been dated at about two billion years old.The canyon is 18 miles wide and more than one mile deep.
Standing on its rim literally took my breath away! It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the natural world, a Unesco World Heritage Site and at the top of any bucket list.
There are a variety of ways to experience the canyon. Clients could take a helicopter tour, white-water raft along the mighty Colorado River, or hop aboard for the two-hour trip on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona.
If you have clients staying in or around the canyon rim, they can walk or drive between viewing points and they can also take advantage of free buses.
Bryce Canyon and Zion – Utah
Bryce Canyon and Zion form part of the “Grand Staircase”, a series of colourful cliffs stretching between Bryce and the Grand Canyon on the Colorado Plateau.
Both are perfect for any couple looking for an adventurous honeymoon from white water rafting to hiking. From sun up to sun down, this area is beautiful. Couples can watch the early morning light over the hoodoos from Sunrise Point, or take an evening stroll along the rim and watch the nightfall from Sunset Point. If hiking hand in hand is requested, full moon hikes are one of the most romantic ways to explore the park, and with some of the clearest air in the country, stargazing is a must.
Suggest a stay in the honeymoon suite at the Zion Mountain Ranch, which features a large jetted bathtub and a cosy fireplace making it a perfect option for evenings together whilst on honeymoon.
Spring and autumn are prime times to visit these two national Grand Canyon national park parks.
Yellowstone – Wyoming
Yellowstone is made up of big, blue skies and wide open spaces. It is the oldest national park in the US, a recreation area of 3,500 square miles covering a bubbling super volcano.
One of the world’s most famous geysers, Old Faithful, jets boiling water into the air every 35 to 120 minutes and is a fascinating watch.
This national park is full of animals and adventure. Try boating, hiking, and bicycling. In the winter, go skiing and snowshoeing. Yellowstone has about 61 different types of mammals— including more than 500 grizzly bears, gray wolves, moose, elk, bison, badgers, otters, and foxes.
Everglades – Florida
The largest subtropical wilderness in the US, the Everglades national park covers over 2,300 square miles and is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site. The classic way to experience the mangrove swamps is via airboat but clients can also walk, take a tram ride through Shark Valley (popular with children), or hire a kayak. Visitors may even glimpse wading birds, deer, Florida black bears, the endangered Florida panther or alligators.
Make sure you suggest time to treat the kids to a couple of hours in the Splash Park at the “Robert Is Here” Fruit Stand and Farm, plus trying one of the legendary Key Lime milkshakes. I always recommend this fun-filled park to families as it can be easily twinned with a trip to Orlando or any of the Florida beaches. November through to March are recommended times to visit.
Great Smoky Mountains –Tennessee and North Carolina
This is a good park for first-timers as there’s so much to see and do. Along with great hiking and fishing, there’s also the chance to spot bears and other wildlife. On the North Carolina side, the town of Asheville makes a good base, while in Tennessee many people stay in Pigeon Forge for a fun day out at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park.
There are streams, rivers and waterfalls that feature along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. There’s an observation tower at the top of Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the park, which offers fantastic views – especially in the fall season when the foliage turns red and orange.
A great way to travel from Asheville to the Great Smoky Mountains Park is to drive the final section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which ends at the southern edge of the park. There are fabulous views over the surrounding hills and mountains, and the Fall colours are awesome if you time it right.
Denali – Alaska
Denali is one of the most accessible of Alaska’s national parks so it’s not surprising that it is popular. It is also an adrenaline junkie’s dream with zip-lining, hiking, rock climbing, dog sledging and white water rafting all on the menu.
The fact that nearly half of Alaska’s residents live in only one city, Anchorage, means that the state’s mostly uninhabited terrain of dramatic mountains, wide-open spaces, lakes, forests and stunning coastlines is a nirvana for explorers, adventure-seekers and people who simply want to get away from it all for a week or two.
Some of the park’s highlights include the Nenana River, with its rafting; the endless hiking opportunities around Denali are a big draw; and of course Denali itself (formerly known as Mount McKinley), the tallest mountain in North America, at 20,310 feet (6,190m). It is said to be even tougher than Everest to climb!
From May to October is the recommended time to visit.
