Creating a Summer of What's Important: Visit a National Park

Jellystone Has Never Been Finer

If you are sure as I am that the present money woes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, people dying in hospital waiting rooms, salmonella tainted tomatoes/peppers, algae in the Yellow Sea is not your fault. If you are really sure, you have been driving the same miles to and from the same low-paying job with equally low paying health benefits. If you are kind of tired of hearing from the same political figures that you are either addicted to oil or just don't get it. It's time to take a break at one of our United States National Parks. It's time to really focus on the family, enjoy our great outdoors, give our children or grandchildren a chance to experience our America.

Our National Park Service has done a fabulous job on a shoe-string budget to show each and every one of us how to make the most of a Summer or Fall weekend or week. Anyone reading this article may access the clickable map to find a national park close to home or within easy driving distance. Here is the link to the National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/. From this point you and your family can start a journey of exploration and plan a visit to our Wondrous United States.

Some Ideas:

Before setting out on a weekend or longer trip with children, check out the Junior Ranger Program. The National Park Service lists all the parks in the United States with the program. There are hundred of Junior Ranger programs located from Padre Island to Yellowstone Park. The program allows children to earn a Junior Ranger certificate by observing and doing various activities while vacationing in the park. A child can also become a Web Ranger if this is more convenient.