Tag Archives: National Parks

Scaling the sands: Toughest dune hikes trekked to date

As one who loves to scale to new heights, whether it be mountains, hills, ridges, lighthouses, dunes, or towers, I’ve got to admit some of the toughest treks have been trying to hike/climb sand dunes. While the other climbs involve … Continue reading

Posted in deserts, ecosystems, environment, fun, geography, Geology, health, hiking, history, land use, logistics, mountains, natural history, nature, pictures, place names, planning, Skies, Statistics, topography, toponymy, tourism, trails, Travel, walking, water, weather, Wilderness, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten planning lessons from our national parks

Provided below are ten planning lessons garnered from having the honor and pleasure of visiting countless national parks, monuments, historic sites, battlefields, lakeshores, seashores, trails, and preserves across our nation. The lessons are not necessarily presented in order of importance, … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Alternative energy, Alternative transportation, Animals, archaeology, architecture, art, Astronomy, bicycling, bike sharing, Biking, branding, Bus transportation, Cars, charities, Cities, civics, climate, culture, deserts, diversity, economic development, ecosystems, education, electric vehicles, energy, entertainment, Environment, EVs and hybrids, family, fitness, geography, Geology, government, Green roofs, health, hiking, historic preservation, history, land use, mountains, natural history, Nature, parking, placemaking, planning, politics, recreation, rivers/watersheds, solar, spatial design, sprawl, sustainability, third places, topography, tourism, traffic, transit, Transportation, Travel, Uncategorized, urban planning, walking, water, water conservation, water trails, waterfalls, Wilderness, Wildlife, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Places that should be National Parks

The photos speak for themselves, but the list below are some of the beautiful and inspiring places in the United States (and one in Canada) that this author believes should be National Parks. Some are already part of the National … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, culture, deserts, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, hiking, historic preservation, history, land use, landscape architecture, Native Americans, natural history, nature, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, recreation, rivers/watersheds, scenic byways, States, topography, toponymy, tourism, trails, Travel, volcanoes, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

These places NEED to become one National Park!

Of all of America’s national parks, three (3) tend to stand out as pre-eminent showcases of outstanding natural beauty. Those are Yellowstone, Zion, and Yosemite. However, there is a fourth location that currently consists of a national monument, a national … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Animals, archaeology, climate, culture, ecosystems, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Geology, government, health, historic preservation, history, land use, Maps, Native Americans, nature, peace, pictures, planning, recreation, rivers/watersheds, scenic byways, Statistics, topography, toponymy, tourism, trails, Travel, waterfalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Favorite national park system sites visited – UPDATED

  Alaska – Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, AK Alberta – Banff National Park, Banff, AB Arizona – Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ Arkansas – Pea Ridge National Military Park, Pea Ridge, AR British Columbia – Kootenay National Park, Radium Hot … Continue reading

Posted in archaeology, Canada, culture, deserts, ecosystems, entertainment, environment, Europe, fun, geography, Geology, government, hiking, historic preservation, history, humanity, infrastructure, Ireland, land use, landscape architecture, Native Americans, nature, North America, placemaking, planning, Portugal, rivers/watersheds, Science, spatial design, States, Statistics, technology, third places, topography, tourism, transportation, Travel, UK, walking, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Awesome Acadia turns 100

I have had the distinct privilege of visiting 72+ of our national parks, historic sites, battlefields, lakeshores, memorials, seashores, trails, and similar units of the National Park Service. Similarly, I have had the pleasure of visiting a variety national parks … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, bridges, civics, culture, environment, fun, geography, Geology, government, hiking, historic preservation, history, land use, nature, peace, placemaking, planning, recreation, spatial design, sustainability, topography, tourism, trails, Travel, walking, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The UK’s ten busiest national parks

Below is the list of the ten busiest (most visitors) national parks in the United Kingdom. This data would include national  parks in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (none currently designated there). 1.     Lake District (designated in 1951) – 14.8 … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, Animals, bicycling, Biking, entertainment, environment, Europe, fitness, fun, geography, Geology, government, health, hiking, historic preservation, history, holiday, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, nature, spatial design, Statistics, sustainability, tourism, trails, Travel, UK, walking, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

If Yogi Bear named national parks – UPDATED

Given his home in Jellystone Park (Yellowstone), I thought it might be fun to give new names to national parks that Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo would prefer given their taste for “pic-a-nic” baskets. Remember, he’s smarter than the average bear. … Continue reading

Posted in advertising, Animals, branding, Communications, entertainment, Food, fun, government, history, land use, Television, tourism, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paying homage at a planning and landscape design shrine

This past Sunday, a few hours prior to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy and my quick departure back to Michigan, I had the profound honor of visiting one of the ultimate shrines of the planning and landscape design professions – the Frederick … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, architecture, art, cities, civics, civility, culture, education, entrepreneurship, environment, fun, geography, health, historic preservation, history, Housing, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, nature, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, psychology, revitalization, spatial design, sustainability, third places, tourism, Travel, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Yosemite National Parking Lot

I visited the lovely, but very hot Yosemite National Park for the first time today (Monday). Despite it being a Monday (second least busy day on average) and a number of school systems starting classes around the nation, the park … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, Animals, bicycling, civics, environment, geography, history, infrastructure, land use, nature, North America, planning, sprawl, sustainability, tourism, transit, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments