Essential Park Guide, Summer 2014

Published Date

May 14, 2014

Summertime, for many, equates with beach time, and there’s no shortage of that in the National Park System. From the 10 national seashores that line the country’s coasts to the four national lakeshores that rim the Great Lakes, the park system offers you plenty of freshand saltwater options when it comes to escaping the heat. You can take a sea kayak out, pitch your beach umbrella, or go in search of shells to add to your collection.

But summer vacations also encourage exploration out on the open road, and we’ve highlighted some great trips that allow you to take in several parks during one excursion. Ever consider visiting Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in New Hampshire, or Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah? This story that begins on page 26 will encourage you to add those to your checklist.

We also take a look at how the Millennial generation views the national parks and the outdoors, family hiking at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state, and even turned over a new card – National Park Trading Cards, that is.

Of course, what would a national park visit be without a hike? To come up with some ideas for family hikes, we reached out to Traveler’s 100,000+ Facebook followers and came away with a rich list that starts on page 40.

Traveling to the parks means finding great places to stay, and our summer guide takes a look at the gateway towns of Estes Park, on the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park, and Bryce Canyon City, the front door to Bryce Canyon National Park. With so much to do in the National Park System in summer, it’s a shame that the season is so short.

Where should you head in these months, what activities await you? Traveler's Essential Park Guide, Summer 2014, has some answers for you.

You can read the content as we roll out the stories on the Traveler, open the 48-page flipbook below and start reading the entire publication now (refresh your page if it doesn't automatically appear), or order your own printed copy for $13.95 from HPMagcloud.

Essential Park Guide, Summer 2014

By Kurt Repanshek in National Park Advocates, LLC

48 pages, published 5/15/2014

Where should you travel in the National Park System this summer? Traveler's Essential Park Guide, Summer 2014, provides overviews on 10 national seashores and four lakeshores, visiting Rocky Mountain and Bryce Canyon national parks, and points out some great family hikes. And there's a gear guide, too!

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Essential Summer Guide 14

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