Top 10 national parks, thanks to TripAdvisor

by Tom Johansmeyer on

More than 3,000 TripAdvisor readers in the United States have selected the top 10 national parks. Big shock: nine out of 10 are out west. Only Maine made it onto the list. But, let’s face it – if you want big, impressive national parks, you have leave the East Coast.

These readers are definitely interested in the national park scene. More than 70 percent plan to visit one this year, up from 62 percent in 2008. And, searches on TripAdvisor for “national park” and “national parks” are up 21 percent for the first five months of 2009 (relative to the same period last year).

So, what are the top spots?

  1. Zion National Park, Utah
  2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
  3. White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
  4. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
  5. Redwood National and State Parks, California
  6. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada
  7. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
  8. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
  9. Yosemite National Park, California
  10. Acadia National Park, Maine

“As Americans look for inexpensive travel ideas this summer, many are seeking out the amazing natural beauty that lies in our country’s own back yard,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “National Parks can offer travelers an active, affordable and often awe-inspiring escape outdoors.”

Gadling + BootsnAll – Picks of the Week

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Starting today, we’re unveiling a new weekly feature here at Gadling. Each Friday we’ll be highlighting the most interesting content from our friends over at BootsnAll, one of the best resources on the web for independent travelers. For those that have never taken a look, BootsnAll features a huge range of great travel content – everything from travel stories and blogs, to a built-in travel booking engine to one of the more robust communities of travelers anywhere on the web. Here’s what got us clicking this week:

  • Asian Temples Galore – Sure, you probably know about Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, but what about the Paro Taktsang in Bhutan or Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan? BootsnAll writer Deanna Hylund takes a closer look at some of Asia’s best temples. Let me tell you, looking at these makes me want to get back to Asia as soon as possible!
  • Unknown National Parks – Unlike Asian temples, we’re probably all familiar with the most famous U.S. National Parks. Who could forget the first time they saw the Grand Canyon? Or gazed up in awe at a 300 foot-tall Redwood in Northern California? Cherrye Moore thinks these sights are great but there’s a couple others you might have missed. Check out her article to see her list of “Six National Parks You’ve Probably Never Visited.”
  • Guilty Pleasures – Travel is supposed to be all about new experiences. Eating new foods, meeting new people and getting “out of your comfort zone.” But you know what? Bootsnall writer Lucy Corne knows that every once in awhile you need to indulge yourself with a taste of home, especially if you’ve been on the road awhile. I’m the first to admit: I love blasting my iPod pretty much wherever I go…
  • Eiffel Tower, Redux – Gadling writer Aaron posted some interesting thoughts on taking photos of the Eiffel Tower earlier this year. Sure, there’s a million pics out there, but as writer Jessica pointed out on Bootsnall’s WhyGo blog this week, there’s also a million ways to take some more interesting photos of this iconic landmark. Let’s get creative people!

When you’re done with the highlights, make sure to take a lap around the rest of BootsnAll’s site. There’s some great content on there, whether you’re looking to research a round-the-world trip or just looking for some good tips for that next trip to Vegas. Catch you next week!

Gun-friendly national parks possibly coming soon

by Jamie Rhein on

I’ve been in national parks from Acadia in Maine to Glacier in Montana to Zion in Utah to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. (You can start humming “This Land is Your Land” if you like.) I’ve always felt safe–aggravated sometimes by over-sized RVs, but safe.

I even felt safe when I was hiking in Glacier with my husband, then boyfriend, when we saw a mother grizzly bear and her cub in the distance. We were far enough away from them that they looked like dogs. Even when my husband, then boyfriend, said, “All I have to do is out run you if they come for us,” I felt safe.

Evidently, I may not have been as safe as I thought. If I had had a gun, I’d feel safer. That’s the general idea of the proposal that is on the table to allow guns in the national park system. The people who think this is a good idea must have seen the “The River Wild’ several times over. That’s the flick when Meryl Streep‘s character takes on Kevin Bacon’s character–the bad guy, during a family raft trip down a river in some western state. It was filmed in Montana and Oregon.

There are people that think this idea is about as dumb as they come. According the this article in The New York Times, The national parks are supposed to be family-friendly. Family-friendly places don’t have guns. Look at this picture taken in Yosemite by James Gordon. Is there any place that looks more family-friendly than that? Plus, there is a chance someone feeling threatened might kill an animal when there isn’t a threat at all.

Personally, I’m on the side of folks who aren’t happy with the idea of guns in national parks. I’m a fairly calm person, but I know what it feels like to not find a parking space because some large vehicle pulling another large vehicle is taking up more than one space–or what it’s like to not be able to get around a large vehicle pulling another large vehicle on a windy road. Add summer heat, limited vacation time and you have to pee, but can’t stop because there’s no room to pull over, and you’ve got trouble. “Road Rage at the Grand Canyon” coming to a theater near you.

Photo of the Day (05/12/08)

by Iva Skoch on

Grand Canyon National Park is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic places. Even though I have seen hundreds of Grand Canyon photos, I never get tired of them. (OK, I will admit that sometimes, I get tired of those same old sunset pictures.)

This shot by emland particularly struck me: with its hard line somewhere “between heaven and hell.” Incredibly dramatic.

***To have your photo considered for the Gadling Photo of the Day, go over to the Gadling Flickr Pool and post it. Make sure it is not copyrighted, otherwise we can’t post it here.***

Seven (new) natural wonders of the world: cast your vote!

by Catherine Bodry on

The seven wonders of the world were one of my earliest inspirations for travel and learning. Seven is a manageable number, and it seemed plausible to see them all. Well, evidently there’s more than seven wonders, since earlier this year seven new ones were chosen. Over 100 million people participated in selecting the new destinations. Among the new person-made structures are Machu Picchu, Peru, and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue. (The pyramids of Giza are the only structures carried over from the original list).

Now it’s time to nominate the seven new wonders of the natural world. Currently there are around 300 suggestions from 6 continents. Beginning in January 2009, people will be able to vote via mobile phone, Internet or telephone.

Original wonders include the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Everest, and the Grand Canyon. What would you choose?

Thanks to munkeygirl on Flickr for the photo of the Great Barrier Reef.