Hey guys, I'm looking for U.S. National parks (or other similar places to visit-state parks etc) that have easy access to a major airport. Any suggestions? I'm open to just about anything! Just looking for neat places to visit with the family (without driving too much)
FYI: If you want to know what type a certain bear is, sneak up behind it and kick it. Then,
run like crazy and climb up a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and eats you, it's a black
bear. If the bear just pushes the tree over and eats you, it's a grizzly bear : )
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either, just leave me alone.
--unknown
There are a few National Forests within a couple hours of Denver International. You can get to a couple within an hour from the airport in Colorado Springs.
Trust nobody!
If you feel like coming down to steamy Florida, there are a couple of choices.
Ocala National Forest is located about an hour and an half from Orlando International. The Florida Trail runs through here for 73 miles, and it's fairly well-kept. Water is an issue, but because of that mosquitoes aren't quite as bad as other places down here. I've done the Ocala South section, and it's very pretty. There are numerous other activities, including several cold-water springs, kayaking, even a shooting range. Ocala is one of the most easily accessed outdoors-friendly places in the Southeast.
Osceola National Forest is even closer to Jacksonville International. The FL Trail runs through here, as well--though, I've not done this section of it, so my commentary is limited to what's available online. It is 38 miles and change, linearly, so this section might be a little more do-able in a short period of time. There're also front-country campgrounds, the Olustee Battlefield historical monument, and Ocean Pond--one of the larger freshwater lakes here in Florida.
Note, though, that if you do either of these areas from April to October, you're very unlikely to meet anyone else on the trail. It's just too darn hot to sleep on the ground through these areas over that period. In a hammock, as long as there is a breeze, well...
Hope it helps!
Mount Rainier National Park is about two hours from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Tons of things to do in the Seattle area too!
http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm
your best bet: check out some of the amazing-ness near mt hood and the Columbia gorge. Less than 40 min from Portland international airport. I m throwing the gauntlet, I'd be surprised if somebody finds a better area closer to a major airport.
A close second in my book. Gorgeous but fartherOriginally Posted by jayf124
It doesn't get the credibility that your more "glamorous" NP get, but Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, OH is only 30 minutes away from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport...
However, it is consistently a top-10 most visited NP in the States, even though most have never heard of it.
Tons of trails, my favorite is the Buckeye Trail, which is well over 1000 miles in total length and circumnavigates the state of Ohio.
for info on this park and all other NP's, go to: www.nps.gov
A couple that come to mind is:
Seattle- Olympic NP, Mount Rainier NP, and Cascades NP
Salt Lake City- Zion NP, Arches NP, Capital Reef NP
You can also fly into Jackson Hole, Wyoming for Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone.
"We don't stop hiking because we grow old,
we grow old because we stop hiking."
-- Finis Mitchell,
Acadia N.P. is about 90 minutes from Bangor International. The combination of mountains & sea always kept my kids entertained
This was one of the best trips that we ever had as a family! My kids loved riding bicycles on the carraige trails.
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