This year the National Park Service (NPS) is celebrating its centennial! On August 25, 2016 the NPS turns 100. To celebrate we’re doing a national park post series and starting with the top ten national parks to visit based on number of visitors. Stephanie’s on a quest to go to all the national parks and has been to eight of the ones on this list. Enjoy these ideas of which top 10 national parks to visit for the 100th anniversary!
A couple of articles I read on Afar and CNN recently inspired this roundup of bad versus good reviews about iconic sites on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Are these reviewers even talking about the same place? I have to laugh at some of these otherwise they’d make me cry! Here are some epic site reviews!
Bad: Just make sure you go with someone you love, or buy your tickets online, in advance – because you are going to be spending a hell of a long time with them in a queue that moves at a snail’s pace.[…] I’m gonna do it, and maybe this is the period talking, but I’m actually giving the Tour Eiffel THREE STARS. That’s it!
Good: I live in Ohio and they have a tiny version at an amusement park called kings island .. it was much more impressive to see the real thing. It’s so big you see it from all over Paris .. at night is my fav.
[Yelp]
Bad: This is the most expensive tourist destination I’ve been to, after Antarctica. Train, bus, entrance fee, small place, expensive food… Sure great view, same as what you see on guidebook and website, thats it. I made revisit and things have gotten only worse (better 7 years ago). I recommend this place only if you have so much money to waste.
Good: Visiting Machu Picchu was a lifelong dream, and the trip far exceeded my expectations. Pictures cannot capture the beauty and majesty of the site. Getting there is quite a journey, involving multiple planes, trains and buses, but the experience is worth the effort.
[TripAdvisor]
Bad: Some rocks in the middle of nowhere. Was part of a tour and we immediately vacated to go somewhere more interesting. The story is intriguing. The physical artifact not-so-much. I suggest the Roman Baths in the City of Bath as a sightseeing alternative. If you really, really, really love Stonehenge then look at the pictures.
Good: How do you not give this amazing cite 5 stars. WTH, this place is amazing, gorgeous and just something that makes you feel history.
[Yelp, Photo credit: Laura Brown]
Bad: “Expensive and same same” Temple, temple and temples again. There all the same and it’s really expensive. 400 bahts (10 euros!). Plus, it’s unaccessible with public transport. Requires tricycle or taxi.
Good: “Bejeweled temple heaven” The most beautiful manmade place we have ever seen. It’s a must see if you are in Bangkok – not to be missed. Gorgeous Thai architecture and design. We didn’t have this on our bucket list, so we added it just to cross it off. We had no idea. Crowded but glorious.
[TripAdvisor]
Bad: Whoopity do, Grand Canyon. You are a giant hole in the ground. You were caused be erosion. You don’t have roller coasters or dippin’ dots. Jeeesh. Can you say “overrated?”
Good: Who knew that a big hole in the ground could be so cool! That is so for the biggest highlight in my life. They do it if you can go lower every time you walk down. You can also touch the rocks and see the different reds oranges and colors of rocks! I loved the trails and the different was that you could go, I loved how it was built out, my one tip it can get boring after 4-5 hours spending time at the same place but, at first it is amazing!
[Yelp, Photo credit: Laura Brown]
Please leave any thoughts in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
I grew up camping with my family and enjoy being in the great outdoors, hiking, viewing wildlife, and stargazing. I have a National Parks of the West guide on my bookshelf that I peruse often for inspiration. If you’re planning your next adventure, don’t miss these top 5 National Parks for camping out west!
I loved that everywhere you go in Grand Teton National Park you see the Tetons mountain range. Our first night we stayed at the Gros Venture campground, which does not accept reservations, but there were plenty of sites still available even though we arrived late. We also stayed at Jenny Lake and woke up early for the breakfast boat tour to Elk Island from the Colter Bay Village Marina, which should not be missed. Camping when you fly to your destination presents a unique challenge, but when one in our party lost their luggage, we found out the hard way that sleeping bags are available for rent at some of the campgrounds.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular parks in the US and is pretty darn fantastic. I will forever remember a comment by a British woman in the bathroom in one of the campgrounds as we were getting ready. She said that if she was American she’d never leave the US because of all the natural beauty there is to see. It has stuck with me because it reminds me to balance my desire to see the world with taking advantage of seeing my own country. I’ve stayed at Grant Village, Mammoth, Canyon and Bridge Bay campgrounds but Mammoth stands out because the elk graze near the sites. Bridge Bay was also a favorite because of its proximity to Yellowstone Lake. Beware of the bears and do bring bear spray!
Zion National Park was one of my top Utah parks to visit. We stayed at the South Campground near the entrance to the park. There are a few cottonwood trees in some sites but it is in the desert. One of the most famous hikes in the park is The Narrows, where you’re hiking on a riverbed with the canyon walls on both sides of you. It’s pretty spectacular and worthwhile even if you can only do a section of it. Walking sticks and shoes for hiking in the water are available for rent at the general store near the visitor’s center. If you want a challenge hike and you like heights, don’t miss Angel’s Landing Trail which includes the Walter’s Wiggles switchbacks.
Hoodoos, the limestone formations in Bryce Canyon, are majestic and make for a unique, fun hiking experience a Navajo/Queen’s Garden Loop. The 18 mile scenic drive is perfect if you are short on time but want to see all that the park has to offer. The two campgrounds, North and Sunset, are both near the visitor’s center just after the park entrance. The stargazing is spectacular- I even saw the Milky Way!
I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon since I was twelve years old, but I’m putting this one of my list for nostalgia’s sake. And it’s the Grand Canyon! I do remember being amazed by the canyon and my favorite activity was a rafting trip we took on the Colorado River. I hear that Mather Campground is a nice option and accepts reservations depending on the time of year. I’m hoping to go back in the near future and tackle hiking Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the canyon. [Photo: Laura Brown]
If you want more inspiration, also check out a few more national park posts: National Parks & Seashores of the East, 2 National Parks of the West to Visit, and National Historical Parks. Also take a look at the Find Your Park site for stories and more about all the parks nationwide!
