Have you ever looked at something and felt an immense wave of gratitude, inspiration, and calm wash over your mind and body? All the stress from everyday life suddenly seems so minuscule. I am sure that I'm not the only one who gets this feeling, especially when immersed in the majestic beauty of nature. In fact, research shows that spending time in nature can be a powerful antidote to the stress of modern life. The tranquil landscapes, grandiose natural rock formations, lush green trees, pristine riverbeds, waterfalls, protected wildlife… the list goes on to describe the beautiful elements of nature (and allows us to channel our inner poet!).
Thankfully for us nature lovers, there are about 431 national park sites in the United States. Not only does the national park system include parks, but also preserves, monuments, memorials, historic sites, seashores, and battlefields. What's in a Name? Discover National Park System Designations provides some definitions of the different titles given to these sites.
The national parks system was established a little over 100 years ago, in 1916. But the first national park was created many years before that. Yellowstone was actually declared a national park four decades earlier, in 1872. The National Parks Service was not inevitable. It took a coordinated effort by preservationists to pressure the U.S. Government to create, fund, and staff a system to protect areas of national significance. We have a lot to be thankful for in the efforts to start preservation and education, as it set the stage for current efforts.
Speaking of preservation, our library actually includes a multitude of historical content on the national parks in its collection. On the Research Databases page, use the Subjects filter to view history-specific databases. Want to catch a glimpse of how national parks looked years ago? Use the Types filter to browse video databases (under multimedia). Animal Life of the National Parks was produced by the Department of the Interior in 1936! How cool is it to see how filmmaking looked then, not to mention the touches of humor incorporated into the intertitles? Great Smoky Mountains National Park features its creation as a depression-era effort by the Roosevelt administration to provide jobs and build infrastructure and showcases the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is not every day that one gets to see what the national parks looked like nearly 90 years ago!
Fast forward to today – whether you prefer to stay in a cozy cabin, drive an RV, or pitch a tent in the campgrounds, there is nothing quite like escaping the everyday routine of sleep, work, eat, repeat. A vacation to any national park is truly an experience of a lifetime and a privilege. National parks are spread throughout the United States, in 31 states and two U.S. territories. Interested in checking what national parks are in your area? The National Parks Service website has a handy tool for searching the parks by state.
Hopefully, this post inspired you to:
- See what national parks are close to your area and plan a mini vacation.
- Make a bucket list of the national parks that you would like to visit one day.
To help you get started on that list, we are highlighting a few national parks, specifically parks located in the states where our library staff reside. The great thing about working in a virtual library is that we have coworkers from all over the country! 
- Alabama: Russel Cave National Monument
- About: It's an ancient archeological site of the lives of prehistoric people that dates to 10,000 BCE.
- Things to do: Since it is an archeological site, you can't go inside the cave itself but only walk to the entrance. However, there are a couple of strenuous hikes up the mountain to work up a sweat!
- Interesting fact: Pets are welcome at Russell Cave, and they even host a BARK ranger program, where pets can earn their own special B.A.R.K. ranger tag.
- Arizona: Chiricahua National Monument
- About: Check out the rhyolite rock pinnacles, many that rise hundreds of feet into the sky, balancing on small bases! You can also find shallow caves, faults, mountain formations, ancient lava flows, and a giant volcanic caldera.
- Things to do: There a many easy, moderate, and difficult hiking trails within the rock pinnacles. You can even earn an I Hike for Health pin by hiking at Chiricahua National Monument!
- Interesting fact: Massai Point was built in 1934 as a major landscape viewing opportunity of the canyon lined with rhyolite rock pinnacles.
- California: Channel Islands National Park
- About: There are five different islands and one mile of ocean surrounding it in this national park .
- Things to do: Each island offers an assortment of recreational activities, such as whale watching, kayaking, snorkeling, and backcountry camping.
- Interesting fact: The pygmy mammoth, a smaller version of the Columbian mammoth, was found on the Channel Islands. It is the only location in the world where this type of mammoth has been found!
- North Carolina: Blue Ridge Parkway
- About: Enjoy a 469-mile drive that encompasses long-range vistas and close-up views of the Appalachian Highlands.
- Things to do: Cruise slowly down “America's Favorite Drive” for stunning landscape views. There are also camping and hiking opportunities throughout the parkway.
- Interesting fact: Despite some road closures during the winter season, it has become a coveted destination for ice climbing.
- New York: Fire Island National Seashore
- About: This 26-mile-long patchwork of seashore includes communities, historic places, and nature preserves, making it a getaway location for locals and visitors alike.
- Things to do: Fire Island has a handful of sites that offer endless recreational activities and opportunities to learn about maritime history. Explore the Fire Island Lighthouse, beach comb at the beach, and walk the Sunken Forest, to name a few.
- Interesting fact: The current Fire Island Lighthouse is the second lighthouse on the island, completed in 1858 with a revolving first-order Fresnel lens produced in France. The Fresnel lens, at 16 feet tall, included a first-order hydraulic lamp and five concentric wicks, and it used Colza oil (whale oil!). It emitted a five-second flash once every minute that could be seen from mariners at least 21-23 nautical miles at sea.
- Oregon: Crater Lake National Park
- About: This volcanic crater lake, which sits atop the Cascade Mountain Range, was formed 7,700 years ago. It's known for its deep blue color and is fed by rain and snow.
- Things to do: There are plenty of hiking trails, all of which begin at above 4,000 feet in elevation, boat and trolley tours, and self-guided walking tours.
- Interesting fact: At 102 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the United States. Floating in the lake is a 30-foot mountain hemlock log named The Old Man. This log has been bobbing vertically since 1896 and is believed to control the weather at Crater Lake!
- Texas: Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
- About: This 196-mile free-flowing stretch of the Rio Grande winds its way through desert expanses, canyons of stratified rock, hot springs, and overall quiet solitude in the Big Bend wilderness.
- Things to do: Plan a one- or multi-day extended float trip in the river, canoe, kayak, or explore the canyons.
- Interesting fact: Perhaps one of the most remote and primitive locations to visit, the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park is a popular vacation destination for locals and tourists. Many prefer to float through the canyons, however, there are also open waters between the canyons. Not many opt to float in the open waters, so it may be days without seeing another floater. Talk about true solitude!
How many national parks have you had the opportunity to visit? During what seasons do you prefer to go? Please share your experiences and recommendations in the comments!
Lyanne Garcia is a librarian that works with the reference and content development teams. She enjoys taking lunchtime walks and believes that crushed ice is superior to all other ice types.