Description:
There are hundreds of natural playgrounds scattered across the U.S.--from Cape Hatteras to the Great Smoky Mountains, from Cape Cod to Bryce Canyon, not to mention Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Grand Tetons. They're spread out like giant economical, ecological family resorts of unsurpassed beauty--with free entertainment like hiking and swimming and horseback riding, and various accommodation options, from hike-in campsites to the relative luxury of park cabins. And they invite great family vacations, if you plan for it. Unplanned, the family camping trip can become the nightmare of a lifetime, stuck in the dark with no reservations, inadequate equipment, and a hungry carload growing crankier by the moment. This is where Wohlforth's guidebook comes in. Section one is devoted to planning the trip, choosing the park, and deciding when to go. Then come the national parks, first those on the Eastern Seaboard, followed by the Great Smoky Mountains, the Southwest, the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada sites, and the West Coast. For each, Wohlforth provides maps, phone numbers, addresses, and Web sites to contact, and insights into the region's natural history. Each park is described fully, from its terrain and animal and plant life to special attractions (like geysers, peaks, and waterfalls) and all the lodging options. Wohlforth tells how far in advance you need to reserve, when to go, how much time you might want to spend, and what to pack. He explains how to get there, what facilities the park provides, what the entrance fees are, and which activities are available, as well as any other details you might wish you'd known about in advance, enabling you and your family to plan and then enjoy the trip you envisioned. --Stephanie Gold
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