Summer vacations, good or bad, always remain a touch point of our childhood memories. Disney World, road trips across the Midwest, swimming pools, tennis courts, Civil War battlefields, camping. Our favorites? Hiking, camping, fishing and picnics! Below are a few resources to guide you and your family as you create summertime memories.
The National Park Service offers an online directory of all of its parks and trails
here. Some of Van’s favorites, by region, include:
In the Northeast: The Appalachian Trail extends 2175 miles from Georgia to Maine. Along the trail in New Hampshire is the White Mountain National Forest. From the rugged beauty of Mount Washington (home of the nation’s worst weather!) to the calm splendor of Echo Lake,
White Mountain National Forest offers canoeing, hiking, backcountry camping and fishing. Even an auto tour is hair-raising in this mountainous region.
In the Southeast:
Fort Sumter National Monument. Explore history on this site where the American Civil War erupted on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor.
In the Midwest: The
Apostle Islands National Park in northern Wisconsin. The park features 21 islands along Lake Superior, referred to as the “Jewels of Lake Superior.” Paddle, sail, hike, bike, camp or even cruise along Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes.
In the Rocky Mountains:
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Located in south central Colorado, this park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Hike, slide – even snowboard – down the dunes, splash in Medano Creek, which helped form the dunes, or hike the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that lie in the background.
In the Southwest: The Grand Canyon is a must see for any family, but the American southwest is also home to cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians, boating and fishing,
volcano craters, cacti and
caves.
In the West: Explore the same terrain as Lewis and Clark; watch for an orca whale; windsurf the Columbia River; or hike the western coast’s lush rainforests at
Lewis and Clark National Monument. The park encompasses about 6,000 acres of coastland and inland forests in southern Washington and northern Oregon.