Getaway Guide To National Parks
Here's a tough choice. We can spend thousands to stand in lines hoping for a glimpse of people in cartoon character costumes or we can take the kids into pristine historic areas to canoe, kayak, scuba dive and walk in the steps of pioneers who carved out a nation, surrounded by majestic backdrops of waterfalls and snow capped mountains. Most of that is free. If you're planning a summer getaway, take a good look at national parks and recreation areas from coast to coast - even to the Caribbean where an underwater scuba trail can be found off St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. By the way, this week we celebrate 100 years of National Park Service discoveries. Some of the best known are right here, within easy reach for a weekend or day trip ramble into the pages of history.-- Jay Lloyd
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH HISTORIC TRAIL
Remember reading about Captain John Smith? You know, launched the Jamestown settlement over 400 years ago - took up with Pochahontas - angered her father. That John Smith. What he's less known for is an extensive exploration of the Chesapeake bay, detailing over 3,000 miles of coast line from a boat that could be rowed on winding creeks and rivers or sailed on open water. The Captain John Smith Historic trail is largely a water trail leading to many still pristine locations touched by Smith in the 18th century from the James River in Virginia to the Eastern Neck Wildlife Preserve on the Maryland eastern shore. I've sailed the bay from one end to the other and find it rivaled only by the wilderness spectacle of the Straights of Juan de Fuca in Washington state. You can rent boats and kayaks to explore the Captains path, including Eastern Neck at the mouth of the Chester River. Find a boat and prices online: www.eastneckboatrental.com/rates.html. And look for the fascinating National Park Service Smartphone App, "Chesapeake Explorer."
GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
A comfortable weekend getaway trip from the Philadelphia area, the Gettysburg National Park is a sprawling memorial to one of the most significant battles of the Civil War. It encompasses the spot where Abraham Lincoln delivered his stirring, Gettysburg address. There are a number of ways to explore locations that played key roles in the battle and its aftermath. We chose the do-it-yourself tour where you simply pick up a map at the visitor center or download it here: www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/GETT%20brochure.pdf
Then just drive yourself from point to point. But guides are also available to ride in your car and explain the finer points of historical significance or take a group guided tour on foot or by bus. Stop at the site of Pickets Charge, Cemetery Hill, Little Round Top and National Cemetery where Lincoln spoke. The town of Gettysburg is rich in restaurants and accommodations. The Fairfield Inn outside of town was a confederate hospital during the war and today hosts dinners that reflect the 19th century traditions. Best visiting time is spring and fall, before and after the summer crowds take over.
ELLIS ISLAND
New Jersey holds one of the true gems of American history. I have a soft spot for Ellis Island. It was the immigration gateway for my own ancestors, and I was stationed here in 1952 when the island was headquarters for the New York Harbor Port Security unit. The Great Hall which saw the arrival of millions of immigrants and refugees to be processed for entry into the United States has been faithfully restored. Visitors can tour the island. Many just want to absorb a sense of their ancestors first experience on American soil. The museum here chronicles the history of American immigration through records, artifacts and photos. Ellis Island and the neighboring Statue of Liberty can be reached by ferry from Lower Manhattan or from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. If you have no reason to go into New York, take the easy way out and grab a boat on the Jersey side. Here's how: www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/directions.htm
DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
This expansive, federally protected wilderness straddles the Delaware River from the water gap to Milford. It offers a pristine setting for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and biking along more than 100 miles of trails. But the key waypoints are marked by a series of dazzling waterfalls that tumble from mountain streams to the river. More than half-dozen spectacular waterfalls can be found in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The must-see spots include Silverthread Falls and Bushkill Falls. Falls throughout the park are reachable on marked hiking trails that range in difficulty. Bushkill just on the park edge is a commercial enterprise, but has been fascinating visitors for generations. I made my first visit nearly 70 years ago. Canoeing and kayaking on the Delaware River is one of the most popular activities here. Rentals can be found at Milford and Dingman's Ferry
INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AND VALLEY FORGE
www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm
The National Parks we are most familiar with are right here at home in Philadelphia and neighboring Valley Forge. They are now even connected by a network of bike trails and have been favorite day trip and class trip destinations for generations of us. The centerpiece of Independence Park is considered the birthplace of the nation, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Pavilion. The founding document that created these United States is chronicled at the nearby Constitution Center. The sacrifice and dedication that brought about a new nation is illustrated at George Washington's encampment at what is now, the Valley Forge National Park. Washington's home and headquarters has been faithfully restored, soldiers huts line the roads and fields and monuments to our revolutionary war history can be found throughout the walkable terrain. Bus tours, audio tours and drive-yourself maps are available to fully enjoy a uniquely American experience.
There are over 2,000 National Park Service properties, large and small to explore for scenic beauty, recreation or immersion into history. These are just a few in our own region to be enjoyed year round.
Look for discount passes including a $10 lifetime senior pass, a free fourth-grade pass, a military pass and an $80 pass that provides free admissions and deep discounts to events, programs and tours.
Enjoy!
