How many national parks have you visited?

[cedricandsophie]

33

 

[ralphie]

20 - there's so much to see in the USA!

 

[Karin1984]

Just one, Park Hoge Veluwe in the Netherlands

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I've been to one International -

• Brimstone Hill Fortress NP in St. Kitts.

For the US Parks, I have to do a list as I don't keep the number handy. It also gets confusing because we rope in all kinds of National Monuments, Memorials, Forests, Rec Areas, and Historical Sites on our national park trips. Here goes...

1. Mammoth Cave
2. Yellowstone
3. Grand Teton
4. Everglades
5. Badlands
6. Death Valley
7. Grand Canyon
8. Rocky Mountain
9. Arches
10. Canyonlands
11. Mesa Verde
12. Black Canyon of the Gunnison
13. Great Sand Dunes
14. Hot Springs
15. Great Smoky Mountains
16. Theodore Roosevelt
17. Glacier
18. Capitol Reef
19. Bryce Canyon
20. Zion
21. White Sands
22. Carlsbad Caverns
23. Guadalupe Mountains
24. Wind Cave

Some have had multiple visits. We usually visit RMNP whenever we're in CO, Yellowstone is a must if we're in that region no matter what, etc.

I'm hoping to add a few more of the California parks to this list over the summer. One day, I'll get to add my top three Alaska parks (Katmai, Denali, and Kenai Fjords) to this list.

I guess you've also got the National Historic Parks. Out of those, I've been to:

• Independence NHP in PA
• Morristown NHP in NJ
• New Orleans Jazz NHP in LA
• San Antonio Missions NHP in TX
• Saratoga NHP in NY
• Thomas Edison NHP in NJ
• Valley Forge NHP in PA

 

[rangerxenos]

We have done I think 16. The National Parks are amazing and a true treasure. They are all unique and awe inspiring. I wish every American could see them!

We will be in Acadia in a week or so on a cruise!

Acadia is one of my favorite National Parks, because it's within driving distance for us we've probably been there half a dozen times.

 

[rangerxenos]

I've been to 20 National Parks, and a lot of areas specified as National Monuments/Areas/Seashores. It's strange, because to me Mount St. Helens, Mount Rushmore, etc. are also part of the National Parks system.

 

[Boopuff]

22 but it's always a work in progress. I"m obsessed with collecting the stamps. So that includes a lot of national monuments, places. Love to visit historic places.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I have no idea. I live in one - the South Downs - so at least one! The Grand Canyon? Is that one? And Death Valley and Hoover Dam? I have no idea.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I have no idea. I live in one - the South Downs - so at least one! The Grand Canyon? Is that one? And Death Valley and Hoover Dam? I have no idea.

Grand Canyon and Death Valley yes. Hoover Dam is a no.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Grand Canyon and Death Valley yes. Hoover Dam is a no.

Interesting. I'd love to go on a tour around the US National Parks. America is such a beautiful and varied country.

 

[bcla]

I have no idea. I live in one - the South Downs - so at least one! The Grand Canyon? Is that one? And Death Valley and Hoover Dam? I have no idea.

Hoover Dam is more or less part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which is part of the National Park Service. However, it's administered together with the Bureau of Reclamation (an agency in charge of many federal water projects along with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Tennessee Valley Authority) which actually operates the dam. The logo on the exhibit hall says "DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - BUREAU OF RECLAMATION".

The National Park Service itself doesn't operate all these protected areas. The US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies are in charge of several national monuments and other sites.

 

[bcla]

22 but it's always a work in progress. I"m obsessed with collecting the stamps. So that includes a lot of national monuments, places. Love to visit historic places.

I've noted that many national monuments aren't necessarily operated by the National Park Service. I think some of them have similar stamps, like this one:

But there's this locally operated visitor center that's near the freeway. They have their own stamp.

 

[CdnCarrie]

5 American and 6 Canadian

 

[Funfire240]

I've only been to a few - but we did make it to the Dry Tortugas. If you are ever in the Florida Keys, I highly suggest the day trip from Key West. It's about a 2 hour boat ride but so beautiful.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Hoover Dam is more or less part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which is part of the National Park Service. However, it's administered together with the Bureau of Reclamation (an agency in charge of many federal water projects along with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Tennessee Valley Authority) which actually operates the dam. The logo on the exhibit hall says "DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - BUREAU OF RECLAMATION".

The National Park Service itself doesn't operate all these protected areas. The US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies are in charge of several national monuments and other sites.

Thanks, @bcla - I must say just seeing the dam is impressive in itself, but when you go right down into it via those amazing lifts to the generator rooms - WOW!

 

[bcla]

Thanks, @bcla - I must say just seeing the dam is impressive in itself, but when you go right down into it via those amazing lifts to the generator rooms - WOW!

It's not quite as massive, but the largest reservoir in California is Shasta Lake. I like the variety of signs they use for the Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation.

The US Forest Service has iconic and uniform signage. Basically level or tilted with part of the text in script form.

And of course the US Forest Service's most famous icon:

 

[bcla]

I've only been to a few - but we did make it to the Dry Tortugas. If you are ever in the Florida Keys, I highly suggest the day trip from Key West. It's about a 2 hour boat ride but so beautiful.

I made a reservation for a Fort Jefferson fast cat trip years ago but it got cancelled due to a storm. I mean - all my reservations in the Keys were cancelled and there was a mandatory evacuation for visitors. I booked with Sunny Days, which I understand is no longer in that business after another company was given the sole ferry contract. I wasn't sure what to do once the storm was over, but I went to a visitor center in Homestead and the employee there said that they'd appreciate visitors in Key West since they lost a lot due to the storm. It was either that or I'd go to Everglades NP (which I did later in the trip).

 

[Dakota731]

It’s on my bucket list as well, and my wish is to do one a year, God willing. I’m only up to SIX, but hoping to up my travel after retirement. I’m curious to everyone’s favorite since I’m always thinking about our next trip!

 

[bcla]

It’s on my bucket list as well, and my wish is to do one a year, God willing. I’m only up to SIX, but hoping to up my travel after retirement. I’m curious to everyone’s favorite since I’m always thinking about our next trip!

Yosemite.

 

[JaxDad]

I've only been to a few - but we did make it to the Dry Tortugas. If you are ever in the Florida Keys, I highly suggest the day trip from Key West. It's about a 2 hour boat ride but so beautiful.

I love Fort Jefferson. I used to go there every year or so with my Air Force Reserve squadron to maintain the rangers’ quarters and paint the lighthouse. This is an old (film) photo I took from a Blackhawk in formation.