A Reputable Travel Agent
If you are not good at making reservations of any kind, (i.e. flights, hotels, tours, etc.) call a
reputable Travel Agent. They are good at what they do and, for a very small fee, can find you some great travel discounts. We have had our Travel Agent, Kathy Gvildys at Beach Travel of Treasure Island,
142 Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island, FL, 33706, (727-367-1933) for at least 30+ years! She is totally awesome and we highly recommend her for any trip you may want to take in the future. We use
her services every time we travel!
See Kathy with one of her clients and what they have to say about her!
General Park Suggestions
Most of the National Parks also have newspapers available for your use.
The newspapers are complimentary and can be very informative regarding current events happening at the park. So, pick one up with your National Park Map when you are at the Visitor's Center.
We buy a 24 – 32 pack of bottled water after we get our rental car and leave the airport. We keep the bottled water in our car and take out bottles every day that we think we will need hiking the next day. We cool the bottles in our hotel refrigerator overnight and then pack them in our backpacks in the morning before leaving our hotel. That way, we always have enough water in our car for our entire vacation trip and cool water bottles in our backpacks for a day while hiking trails.
You may want to join some hotel clubs like Best Western, IHG (Holiday Inn), Choice Hotels, Bonvoy (Marriott), etc. to start accumulating points so that you can get some free nights at hotels the next time you travel. We have been able to stay at some hotels for free using the points we racked up from previous trips.
Grand Canyon-Suggestions
Bringing small children and/or pets with you on hiking trails to parks in the wilderness. (This is my opinion only on this subject.) We have seen a lot of crazy things while hiking in 40 National Parks in America. Once, we encountered a little child (she had to be around 5 years old) on the Laurel Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We stopped and looked around because we did not see her parents anywhere. As we stood, watching the little child, we became concerned because it was at least a couple of minutes before we finally heard voices coming from still a good distance away. We assumed the voices belonged to her parents. You may not know much about Great Smoky Mountain National Park (but I can tell you right now) it is right in the middle of black bear territory near Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Needless to say, I was more than a little upset after going through that disturbing encounter. To let a small child wander away at any National Park (or anywhere, for that matter) is totally irresponsible, extremely reckless, and just plain crazy! If you plan on bringing small children or pets with you on your trip to a wilderness park, please do not let them wander any distance away from you when hiking any trail. You are in the wilderness and there are a great many things that can happen in a split second. At most of the parks we have visited and on trails we have hiked, I would be very uncomfortable bringing a small child or pet with me. Some of the National Parks do not allow pets. You will have to check with each National Park to find out their pet policy before you visit each park. Also, some of these parks have so many deep canyons
(that do not have walls or guard rails – just drop offs), slippery waterfall areas, sheer cliffs, narrow paths, steep climbing stairs and high bridges. I do not recommend taking any young children (or pets) with you to many of the parks we have visited. If a small child will sit in a carrier on your back, then
and only then, it is probably alright to bring them along with you. You will, however, need to be extremely careful not to trip over rocks, roots, uneven terrain, and other obstacles you will likely encounter on the hiking trails in the parks. As for bringing older children, it is totally up to you. Just make sure they completely understand some of the dangers and perils that may exist at some of the National Parks. The National Parks are not anything like your local neighborhood parks! The hiking trails
are sometimes not easy to navigate; they are rugged and rough. If you bring your children with you to these parks then stick to the much easier, wider scenic trails that are available. There are still a lot of wonderful things to see and do at the National Parks in America without hiking narrow and dangerous
(moderate to strenuous) trails.
Securing (hiding) your valuables left in your locked vehicle while visiting any National Park:
Please remember to always lock your vehicle at all National Parks. Also, remember to hide your valuables (i.e., purses, backpacks, tablets, billfolds, cameras, etc.) left in your locked vehicle when you visit any National Park. Put them under your seat (if you are not taking them with you), in your trunk, or
just hide them under a jacket you are not going to wear that day. You are in a National Park, so you think everything is wonderful, and no one will “smash and grab” anything from your automobile. You are wrong! We have seen smashed windows at two National Parks where someone must have jumped out of their car for just a few moments to take a quick picture down a trail. Unfortunately, when they returned to their vehicle, they found a smashed window and stolen items. It is not something you think too much about in a National Park setting, but it does happen! So, please remember to hide all your valuables left in your locked car before you jump out of it for a few moments to take that once-in-a-lifetime picture!
Summertime / May & September
We travel to many National Parks (especially out West) in May and September each year. We find that the weather in May and September is much nicer, and more importantly, the parks are less crowded than in the Summertime. Most schools are still in session and that is a great time to go visit
any National Park. There are some parks you have to visit in the Summer months because they usually have too much snow in the park until June or July each year. Some roads or sections of the park may be closed due to ice and snow accumulation. You can go on-line to check the average weather history of
each park you want to visit. That way, you can make sure that you will not encounter any road closures in the park due to accumulated ice and snow that has not yet melted.
General "BEAR" Suggestions
We always pack some quart and gallon-size Ziploc bags when we travel.
They are great for storing food we do not eat while on our trip (especially on hiking trails). They are also great for icing down those sore areas back in your hotel room after a long day of hiking those trails! Remember, you do not want any food smells in your backpack when you are hiking because bears and other wild animals may be attracted to those delicious smells. So, make sure you pack your uneaten food in a Ziploc-type bag just in case a bear is hanging around in the area and decides it wants a snack, too!
And, since we are talking a little about BEARS…When we travel in black bear territories, we often do not hike by ourselves on any trails. Especially remote trails! We usually book a tour or two and let the tour company take us to all those safe, scenic locations we simply cannot miss while we are visiting a park. Note: If the National Park/territory we plan to visit is known to have grizzly bears (i.e. Alaska, Wyoming, or Montana), we make it a policy to never hike a trail by ourselves. We always book tours with a local tour company in the area! If you decide to hike in bear territory, please do a lot of research before you go to find out what the experts recommend you do if you encounter a bear in the wilderness. Most of all, please remember you are never supposed to run away if you encounter a bear in the wilderness (even though your first instinct will probably be to RUN)! The information you take time to read about bear encounters (before you go on that great adventure) may actually help save your life when you are in the great outdoors! For your information, My husband and I have only encountered two black bears on our travels to 40 national parks in America. One bear had just crossed the road in front of us (while we were in our car) entering Kings Canyon National Park in California, and the other bear was on a roadside while we were on a tour (in a van) in a very remote portion of Alaska.
And, yes, some crazy people asked our driver if they could get out of the tour van so they could take a better picture of the bear…Our driver, of course, told them NO! (There really are some crazy people out there!) My husband and I have been very fortunate to be in vehicles both times we encountered a black bear and not alone on a hiking trail in the wilderness.
TIMED ENTRY TICKETS FOR SOME NATIONAL PARKS:
If you plan on visiting any of the following National Parks in America between April 1 – Oct. 31, 2024, (according to the National Parks website), you will be required to pay the Park Entrance Fee (unless you have an “America the Beautiful” Lifetime Senior Pass, an Annual Park Pass, etc.), and also pay for a pre-purchased “Timed Entry Ticket” into that park (or certain areas in the park):
- Acadia National Park (Cadillac Summit Road only) – cost $6
- Arches National Park (entire park)
- Glacier National Park (Going to the Sun Road, North Fork and Many Glacier areas)
- Haleakala National Park in Hawaii (Sunrise viewing at Summit) – cost $6
- Mt. Rainier National Park (Paradise Corridor and Sunrise Corridor areas)
- Redwood National and State Parks (Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon areas) – cost $12
- Rocky Mountain National Park (entire park)
- Shenandoah National Park (Old Rag Mountain Trails)
- Yosemite National Park (entire park)
- Zion National Park (Angels Landing Trail)
Most of the Timed Entry Tickets cost between $1.00 - $6.00 (except for Redwood National Park - $12). You can purchase your Timed Entry Tickets on-line (up to three months ahead of your vacation month) at www.Recreation.gov. Therefore, you will need to know exactly when you plan to visit each park (well in advance). If you do not purchase the tickets in advance, you may not be able to enter the Park on the date and time you planned because those dates (and times) may be sold out, (especially at some of the very popular parks)! (A big down-side to the Timed Entry Ticket system! Covid really messed up a lot of things!!) Also, all Timed Entry Tickets purchased on-line are non-refundable. So, if your trip is canceled for any reason, you just donated your money to the National Park you were planning to visit! (That is not such a bad thing…the Parks can use more funds for beautification and upkeep!) Also, you will not be able to purchase Timed Entry Tickets if you just show up at the park entrance gate. All Timed Entry Tickets must be pre-purchased before you visit the park(s). You will not be allowed into the National Park (or into the locations listed above in each National Park) without that Timed Entry Ticket!!
If you are a super early riser (or a “late in the afternoon” type of person) and can get to most of the parks before or after they require the Timed Entry Tickets, then you do not have to pre-purchase a ticket at all. You will have to look on-line for the times that each Park allows you to enter without having a Timed Entry Ticket. (Usually, that is before 6 a.m. and after 4 p.m.) I know all of this sounds confusing, so please go to the National Park website and look up each of the above National Parks you plan to visit this year to see the times they do not require you have a Timed Entry Ticket.
FYI: The only time we purchased (two) $2.00 Timed Entry Tickets (3 months in advance) was when we visited Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago. We went on two private jeep tours instead of driving into the park in our own vehicle, therefore, we did not use our pre-purchased Timed Entry Tickets! So, we ended up “donating” $4.00 to Rocky Mountain National Park! (When you take a private jeep tour, you do not need Timed Entry Tickets.) Oh well…We did not mind donating the money to Rocky Mountain National Park at all! It is an awesome National Park to visit!!
Alma's Travel Suggestions
Just as a reminder:
After hiking 43 of America’s 63 National Parks and traveling to 22 countries, my husband and I have some standard things we always pack before any trip. However, if it is a hiking trip, we always make sure we take the following items:
- Hiking shoes (or “rough soled” sneakers) with comfortable socks
- Hiking poles
- Wind breaker or a lightweight jacket
- Hats and sunglasses
- Camera (of course…for awesome photos of incredible scenery out there!)
- Backpack filled with the following items: Compass, sunscreen, duct tape (small roll), sharp pocketknife; flashlight and extra batteries; rain ponchos; small amount of twine or rope; antiseptic for cuts, some paper towels; bug spray; plenty of water for yourself and each person hiking with you, plenty of power bars for snacks; Ziploc type bags for anything uneaten on the trails; bear spray (if in bear territory); some band aides for blisters or cuts; paper maps of the park trails (if available); your billfold with identification and insurance cards, your car keys and cell phones (even though a cell phone may not work in certain areas of the park).
As a reminder, if you plan to really get out on the hiking trails (like we do), please remember to always wear the proper attire. A good, comfortable pair of hiking shoes or “rough-soled” sneakers are a must (see above)! (Do not wear flip-flops or sandals!) If possible, wear bright-colored clothing. And, before hiking any trail, take a backpack filled with the items mentioned above. Make sure you layer your clothing so you can always be comfortable in different weather conditions. It is always much cooler in higher elevations. If it warms up later in the day, it is always much easier to remove a jacket and/or long-sleeved shirt on a hiking trail than to totally change your clothes out there in the wilderness! Wear hats to help keep the sun off your head/face, and take those hiking poles (mentioned above) with you to help maneuver on rocky terrains and difficult trails. We are an older couple, so we take only one hiking pole for each of us on hiking trails. They have been very handy in several of the National Parks we have visited.
Remember to be ready for anything out there in the wilderness. Check the weather conditions in your area before going on any hike. Flash floods can happen in some areas of the National Parks very quickly and lightning is not something you want to deal with while hiking a trail. And…please make it a policy to NEVER HIKE ALONE! Even if you tell someone where you plan to hike. And, just for your information, do not rely on the GPS on your cell phones. We have noticed (quite often) that our cell phones do not work because most of the National Parks are in very remote areas. In some National Parks, the only signals we have been able to get on our cell phones have been when we were on the top of one of the mountains.
Be Smart and you will enjoy every minute you are hiking in the Great Outdoors!
Death Valley
There is one National Park that you absolutely do not want to visit in the Summertime: Death Valley National Park.
(Unless, of course, you want to experience feeling very hot temperatures.)
The highest temperature, on record, was 134
degrees!! When we visited Death Valley it was in the month of February and the weather was absolutely
fabulous! So, before you head out on that trip you planned, do some research before you visit the
park(s) to make sure you do not encounter any weather surprises!
Black Bears
Grizzly Bears
Alma’s Travel Suggestions:(For North Dakota (Part 2) Article:)
“AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL” – THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS LIFETIME SENIOR PARK PASS:
My husband and I have had a Lifetime Senior Park Pass: “America The Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands” for several years. I believe when we purchased the Pass it only cost around $60. Now, to purchase the lifetime pass, it will cost you $80. If you are 62 years or older and a United States citizen (or permanent resident) you can buy this park pass at any National Park or online (if you buy it online, you will have to pay an additional $10 processing fee). At the time of purchase, you must provide documentation showing your age and residency or citizenship. This lifetime pass allows the pass holder (and three adults) in one vehicle free entrance into any National Park in America. If you arrive at the National Park on a motorcycle, the Pass is good for you and one other person on the back of your motorcycle. A separate person riding a motorcycle will have to have their own park pass!
The 'America The Beautiful' Senior Lifetime Pass is a ticket to endless exploration. It has no expiration date – it's good forever (or until you lose it)! If you happen to misplace or lose your lifetime pass, unfortunately, you will have to buy another one. But if you keep your card in a safe place (like we do), it never expires! It's a small investment for the freedom to visit many of the National Parks in America. We've lost count of how much money we've saved over the years using this Pass (so far, we've visited 43 National Parks)!!
Also, this Pass allows the passholder other great benefits. You can receive discounts for camping, swimming, boat launching and guided tours in all the National Parks. I have also used our Pass at “National Monuments” to receive some discounts on tickets and parking.
In 2017, the “America The Beautiful Lifetime Senior Park Pass” replaced the “Golden Age Pass.” However, if you still have a Golden Age Pass, do not throw it away! The Golden Age Pass is still honored at all U.S. National Parks and will still get you into the Park for free!
If you do not want to buy the $80 Lifetime Pass (America The Beautiful), you can save some money if you just purchase an “Annual Senior Pass” for $20.00. This Pass is only good for one year, however, if you plan on visiting a bunch of National Parks in 12 months, it is a great deal!