Although I had visited several national parks before 2016, I did not keep track of them. When we moved from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States in 2016, we drove across the country and had the opportunity to visit several national parks. I bought a large Collector’s Edition of the National Parks Passport and started keeping a record of the parks I visited. Whenever I visited a national park, I felt like an excited child. I would go to the bookstore or gift shop at the visitor center to find the cancellation stamp for my passport. The name of the national park and the date of the visit are on the stamp. Once I got my passport stamped, it became part of my visit record. It has been fun to watch the collection grow.
My stamina is not very strong and I don’t camp, so based on my experience, I can only provide some general tips and suggestions for visiting national parks.
Tips
- Always check the information on the National Park Service website for your specific park before you go. It will show park hours, alerts, weather conditions, and information about park features. Although they are all national parks, each one has its own operational policies, so do not assume they are the same. Some popular parks require reservations during high season, so it is important to check the website before planning your trip.
- There are many viewpoints and trails in each park. If you have limited time, you can also check travel sites such as TripAdvisor or USA Today Travel for ideas about what to do or where to go. What to see and things to do can also depend on the season, so keep the time of year in mind when planning your trip.
- If you have time to stop by the visitor center, try to watch the park film, which gives an overview of the park. I have found it very enjoyable.
- Many national parks are in very remote areas. There may be no cell service, no gas stations, and no food services. Before driving to the park, I recommend filling up your gas tank and bringing your lunch and/or dinner with you. If possible, download the map, or bring a paper map.
- If you plan to visit several (at least three) national parks in one year, it may be cost-effective to buy an annual pass during your first visit. You can check the entrance passes section on the National Park Service website for other options.
- Wearing appropriate clothing and shoes and bringing the right gear are half the battle. Here are some items you might want to consider bringing: a water bottle or hydration pack, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, lotion for dry skin, lip balm, walking stick, hiking shoes, snowshoes, windbreaker, raincoat, and a heavy jacket.
- For popular parks, you may want to consider visiting early to avoid long lines.
- Most national parks do not allow pets on the trails, which is something for pet owners to keep in mind.
雖然我在 2016 年之前去過幾個國家公園，但我並沒有做記錄。 2016 年，我們從美國東岸搬到西岸，一路自駕橫越美國，有機會遊覽了好幾個國家公園。我買了一本好大的國家公園護照的收藏版，開始記錄我去過的公園。每次去個國家公園，我都像個興奮的孩子。我會去遊客中心的書店或禮品店，找給護照的紀念章去蓋章。印章上會顯示國家公園的名稱和到訪日期。護照蓋上章後，就成了我旅行紀錄的一部分。看著印章越來越多，真是件很興奮的事。
我的體力不太好，也不露營，所以根據我的經驗，我只能提供一些遊覽國家公園的一般提示和建議。
小撇步
- 出發前請務必查看國家公園管理局網站上關於您計劃遊覽的公園的資訊。網站上會顯示最新的公園開放時間、警報、天氣狀況以及公園設施資訊。雖然所有公園都屬於國家公園，但每個公園的運作政策各不相同，因此不要想當然地認為它們都一樣。一些熱門公園在旺季時需要提前預約，所以出發前請務必查看公園網站。
- 每個公園都有許多觀景點和步道。如果您時間有限，查看其他旅行網站，例如 TripAdvisor 或 USA Today Travel 等旅遊網站，以了解做什麼或去哪裡。景點和活動也會因季節而異，因此在規劃行程時請務必考慮季節因素。
- 如果您有時間，不妨去遊客中心看看，那裡會播放公園宣傳片，提供了公園的概況。我覺得非常值得一看。
- 許多國家公園都位於非常偏遠的地區。那裡可能沒有手機訊號、沒有加油站，也沒有餐飲服務。我建議您在開車前往公園之前，加滿油箱，並帶上午餐和/或晚餐。如果可能的話，把地圖下載，或帶紙本地圖。
- 如果您計劃一年內遊覽多個（至少三個）國家公園，那麼在第一次遊覽時購買年票可能更划算。您可以在國家公園管理局網站的門票部分查看其他選項。
- 穿著合適的衣物和鞋子，攜帶合適的裝備，也很重要。以下是您可能需要攜帶的一些物品：水壺或水袋、帽子、太陽眼鏡、防曬霜、防曬衣物、潤膚露、潤唇膏、登山杖、登山鞋、雪鞋、防風衣、雨衣和厚外套。
- 對於熱門公園，建議您儘早出發前往，以避免排長隊。
- 大多數國家公園不允許攜帶寵物進入步道，寵物主人需要注意這一點。
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