RECONNECT WITH NATURE IN ONE OF THE USA’S NATIONAL PARKS
Glacier National Park is a vast wilderness in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It has over one million acres of protected land and within the park, there are over 130 named lakes, over 1,000 different plant species and hundreds of animals including grizzly bears,
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
mountain goats and even rare wolverines and Canadian lynxes. Visitors to Glacier National Park can enjoy over 1100 kms of hiking trails (amoung them a route to the photogenic Hidden Lake) the scenic mountain drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road and views of the glaciers that are still carving their way through the landscape.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK The name "Great Smoky Mountains" comes from the ever-present fog that looms over this mountain range situated along the North Carolina -Tennessee border. Established in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not just home to a diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna, it’s also home to a rich history of Appalachian culture, some of which can be explored at The Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Valley. Visitors to Greatt Smokyy Mountains M tains National Park k can see over er 100 waterfalls,, go boating on Fontana Lake e and hike the Appalachian ppalachian Trail.
Acadia National Park. Located in the state of Maine, this is one of the beautiful national parks on the east coast. It's home to a wide array of wildlife including black bears, bald eagles, bobcats, moose, beavers and porcupines. One of the most popular attractions in Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain, which sees the first sunrise in the United States during the autumn and winter months.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK The Grand Canyon is the result of over 70 million years of geological events. Tectonic plates lifted the ground creating the Colorado Plateau, glaciers and rifts created valleys, while the Colorado River carved its way through the gorge. Grand Canyon is not only scenic drives and dramatic views, but it’s also home to an impressive range of wildlife. Hiking is the most popular activity within the park and is open year-round. There are numerous year-round opportunities for those who like oppor well-maintained trails as hiking on w well as ffor those who prefer hiking more rugged and less-traveled on mor trails.
TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED AT ONE OF THESE NATIONAL PARKS Arizona - Petrified Forest The extensive petrified wood, fossils of the forests that once stood in the desert is what visitors come here to see. Not just of geologic interest; it’s also quite beautiful, the wood’s organic material replaced by minerals of varying colors. Don’t be tempted to tuck a piece in your pocket – the visitor center includes a display about the supposed “curse” on those who do, complete with letters of apology from those who claim to have felt its effects...and who mailed the wood back. Kentucky - Mammoth Cave The longest known cave system in the world, with over 600 explored kilometres. The Frozen Niagara section looks, as it sounds, as if the great waterfalls had been formed out of rock. The only way to visit the cave is by a ranger-lead tour.
Nevada - Great Basin This park offers unforgettable vistas and the opportunity to explore the region around Great Basin Desert. Wheeler Peak is a 3,962-metre mountain in the park that can be hiked or driven, making for stunning photographs. The park also offers underground exploration, in the form of the distinctive Lehman Caves. Florida - Dry Tortugas Almost 113 km west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life - great for snorkeling - and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area. Texas - Big Bend Deep in the heart of southwest Texas lies the well-known, but rarely visited, Big Bend National Park. The remote location is likely the reason, but Big Bend is worth the effort it takes to visit it. The entire Chisos Mountain Range, a portion of the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Rio Grande form spectacular scenery here.