Celebrate 106 Years of the National Park Service
August 25th will mark the 106th anniversary of the National Park Service Act. Signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, this Act created the federal agency responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments that were established at that time. Today, the National Park System encompasses more than 400 areas, including the Stonewall National Monument. The celebrate the occasion, here is a brief roundup of some of the leading National Park sites in the US.
Yellowstone National Park (Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho)
Established as the first national park in 1872, Yellowstone encompasses 2.2 million acres where visitors can observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half of the world’s active geysers, and view geological wonders such as Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Although the park suffered from historic flooding in late June, more than 90% of the backcountry and roads have now reopened for guests to explore the great outdoors.
The park is the perfect destination for taking a guided tour or for activities like hiking and fishing. What most travelers don’t realize, however, is that the area is also rich in culture and history with more than 25 sites, landmarks, and districts recorded on the National Register of Historic Places. Additional trip inspiration and itinerary suggestions can be found at ExploreBetter.com.
Presidio Tunnel Tops (San Francisco)
LGBTQ+ travelers may need to add a stop on their next trip to the queer capital of San Francisco.
Presidio Tunnel Tops officially opened to the public on July 17 of this year, kicking off an opening season of free family-friendly events and activities that will take place through October. The programming was led by the Partnership for the Presidio and the Presidio Activator Council—community leaders, advocates, and artists representing the talent and energy of people across the Bay Area. Having been built over the tops of the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels, the Presidio Tunnel Tops site comprises 14 acres of new national parkland—an iconic must-see San Francisco destination for all tourists.
Thoughtfully designed by James Corner Field Operations (the firm behind New York’s High Line), shaped by community input, and funded by philanthropic gifts, the Presidio Tunnel Tops features scenic overlooks with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the City, paths and gardens, a welcome plaza with food and visitor services, a campfire circle, picnic grounds, a nature play area, and more.
Big Bend National Park (Southwest Texas)
Big Bend National Park is one of Texas’ natural treasures. In remote West Texas, Big Bend National Parks boasts breathtaking night skies, beautiful canyons, the rushing Rio Grande River, the expansive Chisos Mountains, and swaths of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its diverse climate is home to a wide variety of diverse fauna and wildlife, including hundreds of bird species. The size of Rhode Island and several hours away from any big city, Big Bend National Park makes for excellent camping and outdoor adventures in areas with such little light pollution that you can see the full splendor of the Milky Way, planets, and galaxies in the night sky. Visitors should take a stop at Panther Junction Visitor Center and enjoy some of the park’s most popular hikes like The Window Trail, Balanced Rock Trail, South or East Rim Trail, the Los Mines Trail, Santa Elena Canyon, and Hot Springs.
Padre Island National Seashore (Corpus Christi, Texas)
The Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi, Texas, protects more than 66 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats, and is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The protected seashore is an ideal destination for beachgoers wanting to escape crowded shorelines since there are limited amenities.
It is a great destination for adventurers with many sporting activities available to try like windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Nature trails throughout offer guests the chance to explore and spot native wildlife including several varieties of bird species, deer, and coyotes. During the summer months, sea turtle hatchlings can be found making their way to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors looking to really commune with nature can make reservations at one of the five campsites found throughout the area whether they prefer to pitch a tent or park their RV.
Cape Lookout National Seashore (The Crystal Coast, North Carolina)
The National Park Service and the International Dark Sky Association recently announced that Cape Lookout National Seashore has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the night skies of the park and the opportunities it provides for astronomy-based experiences for park visitors. Cape Lookout National Seashore is the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Place in the NPS to receive this certification.
In support of the Dark Sky Park designation, Cape Lookout National Seashore and Crystal Coast Stargazers regularly present astronomy programs throughout the year for the public to experience The Crystal Coast’s exceptional stargazing. One of the most popular experiences is a stargazing cruise to Cape Lookout Lighthouse. While you are at the lighthouse, a laser-pointed tour of the night sky will be provided.
If you’re interested in learning about more National Parks not covered here, be sure to check out Vacationer’s list of 7 National Parks You Should Visit.
