National Parks - 5 Ways to Get More Enjoyment Out of Your Next Trip
Author: J Green

Going to this nation's wonderful national parks can be a lot of
fun. However, a lot of planning can be required even for short
trips.

In this article you'll get 5 tips on how to have a smooth trip
the next time you go to a national park.

1. Plan adequately - Trying to just toss some equipment in your
backpack or car and go at the last minute is a recipe for a trip
that has to be cut short. Even when going on a two day trip, it
helps to plan out all of your gear an menus. You should also
look to find what permits, if any you will need. Fortunately,
this can be accomplished in a few hours by using the internet
and contacting the national park service ranger station at the
park you intend to go to.

2. Consider other forms of transportation - If trying to get to
a distant park, you might find good local buses or even trains.
Two examples are in Central California, there is a public bus
that goes down the coast and can take you to several great
parks. There is also Amtrak, which can be a lot of fun to travel
on with a backpack. It is very comfortable and goes near many
great outdoor destinations.

3. Keep track of all contact information for the people who are
going - It is frustrating when you have planned an outdoor
adventure, but due to poor logistics, you are being stalled at
some boondocks gas station, because of miscommunications with
other people in the group who are arriving by different
means. By thoroughly planning out details and being able to
contact people as you go, you should avoid these problems.

4. Don't overpack - The boy scout motto is 'be prepared'. This
is good advice for most things, except it is possible to be
over-prepared, especially when you have to carry those
preparations in a backpack! If you have 3 pairs of pants for
every contingency, a dutch oven to 'prepare' lasagna, and other
such frivolous items, the quality of your outdoors adventure
will drastically decrease. Instead, I suggest bringing only the
bare essentials (enough to make absolutely sure you can
survive), but not much more...then buy what you need as you go.

5. Research different areas to find the trip which is best for
you. You don't have to choose the first trip that is suggested.
There are literally hundreds of national parks to choose from
such as Yellowstone national park, Glacier national park,
Yosemite national park, Zion national park, Rocky Mountain
national park, Arches national park, Sequoia national park,
Grand Canyon national park and Denali national park. You might
find it fun to experiment with something new. You can visit
http://www.nationalparkfun.com to find a list of national parks
in your area.

So follow these tips and you'll definitely avoid some of the
mistakes I've made when backpacking, such as bringing way, way,
way too much stuff. The less things you bring, the better (as
long as you don't put yourself in danger). If you find you need
extra provisions along the way, you can always buy them at a
mini-mart or supermarket near the park.


About The Author: J Green is an experience backpacker who has
done dozens of multi-day trips. For more information on all
national parks, visit the http://www.nationalparkfun.com
information web site.