National Parks Week Is April 21 To April 29

The United States celebrates National Park Week in the year 2012 from April 21 to April 29. This is the perfect time and a chance for people to hike, learn, share, and give back in America's 397 National Parks. The U.S. has 84 million acres of the world's most popular scenery, historic landmarks and cultural treasures.

National Park Week is a chance for Americans, non-Americans, foreign visitors and tourists to explore and get active while experiencing the amazing places and great wonders of mother nature that can only be found in America.

The following National Parks offer some great deals, promotions and discounts to enter the Park from April 21 until April 29, 2012.

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Mt. Rainier National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Acadia National Park
• Shenandoah National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Rock Creek National Park
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
• National Capital Area National Parks
• Independence National Historical Park

So what are you waiting for? Hit the above parks now and enjoy them with your family and friends!

National Parks' Visitors Tip

At any park, especially the big national parks, your first stop should be the the visitor center, where the staff generally have on-the-scene knowledge of the nature and state of the attractions. They can tell you where wildflowers are blooming, elk are rutting, and waterfalls are surging, and can provide an up-to-the-minute weather forecast and the exact time of sunrise and sunset. They can inform you about campsites and road closures, too. Spend some time at the bookstore browsing picture books, calendars, postcards, and posters to get a feeling for the park's overall surroundings and conditions. This will not only inspire you but also help you formulate your park visit.

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend offers stunning scenery, gorgeous flora in all seasons, easily approached wildlife, pleasant weather, and no crowds except during holidays. Its varied terrain includes the rugged Chisos Mountains soaring to nearly eight thousand feet, expanses of cactus and creosote-studded Chihuahua desert spread over tilting planes, and dark canyons of the Rio Grande. Plan to visit there in late winter or early spring when temperatures are mild and wildflowers at their peak.

Badlands National Park

Badlands' undulating expanse of native prairie spreads over nearly quarter a million acres. Its name derives from the impassable jumble of gullies, buttes, pinnacles, and spires that gouge its surface. The exotic landforms, rich colors, and changing skies beckon the landscape. Badlands offer easy access to two adjoining parks: Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park. These are strongholds for prairie megafuna--bison, pronghorn, mule and white-tailed deer, and coyote, plus a plethora of playful prairie dogs.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge winds four hundred sixty nine miles through a spectacular collection of well-preserved Appalachian Mountain habitat. The road follows the ridges for mile after peaceful mile, for the elevated views of the surrounding terrain at frequent, regular intervals. There are campgrounds and numerous pullovers to capture the many spectacular sceneries. Trails lead into the valleys to waterfalls, streams, wildflowers, and more.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley's airy wilderness is furnished with tinted mudstone hills, wind-sculpted dunes, twisting canyons, snow-clad peaks, green oases, and table-flat stretches of sand and gravel, perhaps offering the greatest variety of scenery of any park. When conditions are right, the spring bloom of desert wildflowers can be outstanding. Death Valley is hot, so plan on going there from November through March during warm, blue-sky days and cool, starry nights.

Denali National Park

Alaska's Denali National Park has breathtaking arctic wilderness with abundant wildlife, but travel is necessarily restricted. No foot travel is allowed near denning animals nor anywhere frequented by bears. The most dramatic views are in the Wonder Lake area. Mount Denali, the park's showpiece, can be obscured by a cloud for a month or more. The best time to go is when tundra vegetation is in fall color. You can stay at Camp Denali or North Face Lodge, private lodges with liberal vehicle access into the park.

Arches National Park

The geology of Arches is a hallmark of true natural wonder. The park boasts of more than two thousand of the largest concentration of
natural stone arches in the world. These formations make good subjects in themselves, but also serve well as foreground and framing
elements for views of the greater landscape, filled as it is with red rock canyons, pinnacles, domes, and snow-capped mountains. Nature

enthusiasts will be greeted by an assortment of desert subjects--wildflowers, cacti, lizards, and small mammals.

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier's isolated, ice-clad profile dominates the landscape for 100 miles in every direction. Its 25 major glaciers comprise the largest mass of permanent ice on any mountain in the lower 48 states. Below its shining photogenic crown, the slopes are carpeted by lush subalpine meadows renowned for their displays of wildflowers during the month of August.  Adding to this singular attraction are old-growth temperate rain forests, whitewater streams and rivers, cascades, waterfalls, reflecting lakes, and a confiding menagerie of alpine birds and mammals.

Top 12 National Parks

National Parks are natures wonder that attract millions of people around the world. It offer recreation, relaxation, and education to most people, while being so close to mother nature. The United States and Canada are home to some of the most beautiful, biggest, and picturesque National Parks in the world. The following are the top 12 popular National Parks combined for both the U.S. and Canada:

1. YELLOWSTONE - located in Northwestern Wyoming, with portions extending into southwestern Montana and eastern Idaho. It measures 2,221,766 acres.

Headquarters:

Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
(307) 344-7381
www.nps.gov/yell

Entrance Fees:
$20.00 per vehicle for 7 days
$15.00 per snowmobile or motorcycle
$10.00 per walker, cyclist, or skier

Must-See Attraction:
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

Visitor Centers:

Albright Visitor Center - Open all year.
Faithful Visitor Center - Open mid-April to late October and mid-December to mid-March.
Canyon Visitor Center - Open mid-May through September.
Fishing Bridge Visitor Center - Open mid-May through September.
Grant Village Visitor Center - Open mid-May through September.
Thumb Information Station - Open early June to September.

2. YOSEMITE - located in East-central California. It measures 747,956 acres.

Headquarters:

Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
(209) 372- 0200
www.nps.gov/yose

Entrance Fees:
$20.00 per vehicle for 7 days
$10.00 per walker, cyclist, or bus passenger

Must-See Attraction:
El Capitan and Merced River

Visitor Centers:

Yosemite Valley Visitor Center - Open all year.
Wawona Information Station - Open May to September.
Big Oak Flat Information Station - Open June to August.
Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center - Open during the summer.


3. ZION - located in Southwestern Utah. It measures 146,559 acres.

Headquarters:

Zion National Park
State Route 9
Springdale Park, UT 84767
(435) 772- 3256
www.nps.gov/zion

Entrance Fees:
$20.00 per vehicle for 7 days
$10.00 per walker or cyclist

Must-See Attraction:
The Peaceful Virgin River

Visitor Centers:

Zion Canyon Visitor Center - Open all year except major holidays.
Kolob Canyons Visitor Center - Open all year except major holidays.
Watchman Campground Visitor Center - Open from April to October.

4. ROCKY MOUNTAIN - located in Northern Colorado. It measures 265,727 acres.

Headquarters:

Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-1206
www.nps.gov/romo

Entrance Fees:
$15.00 per private vehicle
$5.00 per walker or cyclist

Visitor Centers:

Headquarters Visitor Center - Open all year.
Kawuneeche Visitor Center - Open all year.
Alpine Visitor Center - Open May to mid-October.
Moraine Park Museum and Visitor Center - Open May to mid-October.