What is your favorite national park and why?
Jul 16, 2015, 10:57 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: T82
Programs: AA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,845
Yellowstone for me...there is such varied landscape, you feel you're in a far bigger place, although it is already quite large. The area around Mammoth Hot Springs is quite enjoyable (and only a short distance to the North entrance gate) where you can drive to Gardiner, MT, do laundry, check your email, and have a nice lunch. Then it's completely different scenery at Lake Yellowstone and at Old Faithful. Would love to go back again soon.
May 4, 2018, 9:00 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Jacksonville, AR
Programs: Hilton - Diamond; SPG/Marriott - Gold
Posts: 245
Been to about 20 national parks; loved Denali, Grand Canyon, and Acadia; however, my favorite is the Redwoods. It doesn't seem to matter how many other people are hiking there, I quickly get lost in the forest.
May 8, 2018, 11:52 am
#19
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
After touring a number since I last posted here in 2015 I'm going to say Great Basin. It's a gorgeous park high in the Nevada Mountains (at times over 11,000 feet) with Alpine Lakes and incredible views and hiking. It's also virtually ignored so unlike Zion you have the place essentially to yourself.
May 28, 2018, 12:32 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YXS
Posts: 160
Top three for me:
Death Valley - Went there last year in June, had temperatures of 130F/53C. I wanted the desert experience, and I got it! Absolutely otherworldly beauty, especially driving Titus Canyon.
Bryce Canyon - Great weather in September for hiking, and the hoodoos are just gorgeous.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Not sure what it'll look like once Kilauea settles down, but a beautiful park that really shows the power of nature.
Death Valley - Went there last year in June, had temperatures of 130F/53C. I wanted the desert experience, and I got it! Absolutely otherworldly beauty, especially driving Titus Canyon.
Bryce Canyon - Great weather in September for hiking, and the hoodoos are just gorgeous.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Not sure what it'll look like once Kilauea settles down, but a beautiful park that really shows the power of nature.
Oct 29, 2018, 6:18 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,663
Yosemite & Denali NPs - my favorites
Been to only a few NPs. Most memorable ones are Yosemite and Denali. Both I’ve visited more than once. I found Yosemite at her best in the winter, and Denali during fall foliage season and the wild life.
Here are a few shots from each NP.
From Yosemite: The “Firefall”
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite: The tunnel view
From Denali NP:
Denali: Fall foliage
Denali NP: She was OUT!
Denali NP: A brown bear
Just outside of Denali NP: Crazy sunset
Just outside of Denali NP: Aurora Borealis (northern lights), despite much nearby light pollution!
Here are a few shots from each NP.
From Yosemite: The “Firefall”
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite: The tunnel view
From Denali NP:
Denali: Fall foliage
Denali NP: She was OUT!
Denali NP: A brown bear
Just outside of Denali NP: Crazy sunset
Just outside of Denali NP: Aurora Borealis (northern lights), despite much nearby light pollution!
Apr 27, 2023, 1:46 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,247
Yosemite's vistas are truly stunning.
Denali is memorable.
Loved hiking Zion in 2020 when it was open but the buses were not running and there were relatively few people around.
May 2, 2023, 3:14 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,819
In no particular order ...
Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP.
The Utah 5 - including the most beautiful drive through Utah on Hwy 89, plus Grand Staircase Escalante. And I have to add Valley of the Gods in southeast Utah, near Monument Valley.
Grand Tetons
Grand Canyon, north rim preferred, but south rim at sunset is stunning
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Many we still have to see, like Crater Lake, Kings Canyon and Sequoia that are hopefully on our list for this year.
Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP.
The Utah 5 - including the most beautiful drive through Utah on Hwy 89, plus Grand Staircase Escalante. And I have to add Valley of the Gods in southeast Utah, near Monument Valley.
Grand Tetons
Grand Canyon, north rim preferred, but south rim at sunset is stunning
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Many we still have to see, like Crater Lake, Kings Canyon and Sequoia that are hopefully on our list for this year.
May 5, 2023, 10:13 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,567
For natural / wildlife scenery the western parks cant be beat - but there are others that can't beat for other reasons. One of my favorites is Wolf Trap Nat Park for the Performing Arts. For performers and listeners, it has world class acoustics (I have heard some techs say the acoustics are functionally perfect) and amenities. It is famous for being one of the rare venues where attendees can bring and enjoy all of their own food and drink (including wine/alcohol in glass) INSIDE the venue during the performance (in the lawn area anyway - not the pavilion).
Not so much known is that a complete symphony orchestra can be performing/rehearsing at full volume in the backstage rehearsal space (which is directly behind the main stage) at the same time as a full symphony orchestra is performing on the main stage without one interfering with the other. The downstairs backstage greenroom spaces are equally first rate. (I was lucky one summer that a college buddy was one of the lead rangers and he assigned me some choice volunteer positions).
If you are ever in the DC during the spring/summer, do try to catch a show there - they always have something for everyone (from the NSO to the Violent Femmes).
Not so much known is that a complete symphony orchestra can be performing/rehearsing at full volume in the backstage rehearsal space (which is directly behind the main stage) at the same time as a full symphony orchestra is performing on the main stage without one interfering with the other. The downstairs backstage greenroom spaces are equally first rate. (I was lucky one summer that a college buddy was one of the lead rangers and he assigned me some choice volunteer positions).
If you are ever in the DC during the spring/summer, do try to catch a show there - they always have something for everyone (from the NSO to the Violent Femmes).
