I am so happy to welcome National Geographic back to the blog today with two National Park travel guides. I can’t express how much I love, love, love their books like Visual Galaxy and Drives of a Lifetime. Today I bring you two more books celebrating our National Parks thanks to TLC Book Tours. I was sent the books at no charge for my honest opinion.
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About National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States
• Publisher: National Geographic; 9th edition (February 2, 2021)
• Paperback: 528 pages
There’s simply no better getaway in the United States than a visit to one of the country’s 62 national parks from Alaska to the Virgin Islands, from Maine to America Samoa. Profiled in this all-new ninth edition of National Geographic’s enduring and informative guide, you’ll find expert travel advice, candid tips for hiking and wildlife spotting, and detailed maps to help navigate your way through America’s great outdoors. Updated throughout with the latest information from park rangers and National Geographic’s own acclaimed travel writers, this fully revised and comprehensive guidebook includes the newest additions to the United States park system-Indiana Dunes, White Sands, and Gateway Arch national parks. Whether you’re looking to explore the underground world of Mammoth Caves or make your way through the mangroves of Everglades National Park, you’ll find a destination that suits your needs, and inspiration to plan your next wild adventure. In addition to park details and descriptions, this sparkling new edition features week-long regional road trip itineraries s so you can visit multiple parks in one vacation. Filled with more than 300 dazzling photographs and 80 full-color maps, this inspiring book reveals the best the United States has to offer-right in its own backyard.
My Opinion:
When we were traveling around in our fifthwheel we tried to visit as many National Parks as we could. The ability to visit them in the off season with no time limits was really wonderful. Of course this left us missing out on some aspects – for example, we didn’t get to see the bats fly at Carlsbad Caverns because we were there in the winter – but we did get to explore the Parks with less people about so that was a wonderful way to see them.
This book offers you just what it says – a guide to our National Parks. It is broken down by region; East, Midwest, South Central, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. For each region you will find all the National Parks with information on each Park, its history, a small map, key information, what is available to do while there, camping and lodging availablilities and more. This being National Geographic there are also some stunning photos to help entice you to visit each location.
The book is a convenient size to keep in your car as you travel so you can refer to it on a driving or RV vacation. Giving the current times a driving vacation is perhaps the safest one right now. Our national parks are our national treasures and if you can’t visit them right now at least you can use a book like this and dream.
Rating:
5
About National Geographic Secrets of the National Parks, 2nd Edition
• Publisher: National Geographic; 2nd edition (December 15, 2020)
• Paperback: 288 pages
The iconic landmarks in America’s national parks draw hundreds of millions of visitors every year, from Yosemite’s famous Half Dome to Yellowstone’s Old Faithful. But beyond these well-known wonders lies a world of hidden treasures–if you know where to look. This exceptional guide reveals these lesser-known gems, along with insider knowledge about the parks” main attractions. With vital tips from rangers, experts, and travelers, readers can have Acadia’s massively popular Sand Beach and Jordan pond to themselves, or be one of the 10 percent of Grand Canyon visitors who go beyond the rim. Fully updated and redesigned to include the newest national parks and featuring expert advice from rangers, park managers, frequent visitors, and locals, this authoritative book will help you get out of the parking lot and off the beaten path to find interesting outlooks, challenging hikes, wildlife watching, and more. With brand-new entries for Pinnacles National Park, Gateway Arch, Indiana Dunes National Park, and Denali National Park and Preserve, this book will be your go-to guide on road trips, camping getaways, and day hikes, allowing you to enjoy the rich opportunity in the country’s vaunted national parks.
My Opinion:
This book delves a little deeper into each National Park than its companion, National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States. It too is broken down by region and is full of photos that will either remind of the places you have been and long to return to or will spur your dreams to head out and explore our National Parks.
The books shows you the places to visit, as it notes – beyond the tourist trail. Little places to go that perhaps are off the beaten trail but full of history or beautiful scenery. The glory of our National Parks is that they are there for us even in times of trouble. Places of beauty and history for all of us to share and enjoy.
So read this book, get excited about visiting the beautiful places in this great country of ours. Whether you can get out to escape to a National Park or just read and dream about doing so this book will get you excited about travel yet to come.
Rating:
5
