Ok we are angry, I get it but can we maybe talk about something that we like?

[FSUTribe76]

Fair point. We didn't make the green or red beach, but did see quite a bit of the big island, including driving through clouds up and down the the middle of the island to/from Hilo. Snorkeling with the manta rays at night was probably the most vivid memory I will have of the trip, but the beauty of Pololū Valley took the cake for me aesthetically.

I do think maybe I was being too harsh on the Hawaiian NPs so I bumped both up a point. If all you did was fly into the National Parks and then back to boring mainland city USA, you’d be absolutely amazed. So I shouldn’t ding them too much just because the rest of Hawaii is amazing as well. Instead I tried to rate them as completely standalone.

 

[Tenacious E]

This you?

View embedded media

I've been outed!

 

[StormHawk42]

 

[LesClaypool]

Been to 24 so far. Hope to get to more.

I think it would be cool to go to all of the National Parks that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are all of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the US. A lot of them are National Parks:

Cultural (11)​

• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (1982)
• Chaco Culture (1987)
• Independence Hall (1979)
• La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (1983)
• Mesa Verde National Park (1978)
• Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (1987)
• Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (2014)
• San Antonio Missions (2015)
• Statue of Liberty (1984)
• Taos Pueblo (1992)
• The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (2019)

Natural (12)​

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1995)
• Everglades National Park (1979)
• Grand Canyon National Park (1979)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1983)
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1987)
• Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979,1992, 1994)
• Mammoth Cave National Park (1981)
• Olympic National Park (1981)
• Redwood National and State Parks (1980)
• Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (1995)
• Yellowstone National Park (1978)
• Yosemite National Park (1984)

Mixed (1)​

• Papahānaumokuākea (2010)

 

[Tenacious E]

 

[HawCory]

These two are both "auto-likes" for me. Doesn't matter what the subject matter of the thread is.

 

[LesClaypool]

My answer is European Travel. Incidentally, Rick Steves is my idol. I can't believe the life that guy has gotten to lead! I've only been to 12 European countries so far, but I choose to view it as "I've been incredibly lucky enough to have visited 12 European countries so far!"

My favorite places in Europe (sort of) in order:

• Prague (2x)
• Florence (2x)
• Galway
• Lucerne
• London (5x)
• Barcelona
• Bruges
• Budapest
• Stockholm
• Brussels

Surprisingly not that great (to me):

• Munich
• Helsinki
• Dublin
• Zurich
• Paris
• Rome (2x)

Going to Munich, Innsburck & Salzburg in December, God-willing and Covid-willing. Giving Munich another try, and have never been to Austria. Can not wait!!!

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

My answer is European Travel. Incidentally, Rick Steves is my idol. I can't believe the life that guy has gotten to lead! I've only been to 12 European countries so far, but I choose to view it as "I've been incredibly lucky enough to have visited 12 European countries so far!"

My favorite places in Europe (sort of) in order:

• Prague (2x)
• Florence (2x)
• Galway
• Lucerne
• London (5x)
• Barcelona
• Bruges
• Budapest
• Stockholm
• Brussels

Surprisingly not that great (to me):

• Munich
• Helsinki
• Dublin
• Zurich
• Paris
• Rome (2x)

Going to Munich, Innsburck & Salzburg in December, God-willing and Covid-willing. Giving Munich another try, and have never been to Austria. Can not wait!!!

Did Munich (Oktoberfest), Vienna, and Salzburg in 2019. One recommendation in Salzburg is to try and do a Mozart dinner. It wasn’t the first thing on my list of things to do but we one of the things we talk about still. A unique/memorable experience. Also a good brewery in Salzburg on the outskirts that is a great time.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Don't be lazy. Laziness makes me angry.


Here is go, ya schmuck.

The way our defense just sucked the life out of their White-Out was sooooo satisfying. Like a python sucking the life out of its prey.

When they had the 22 play drive, with three or four 4th down conversions…and settled for a FG. I knew we had them.

 

[LesClaypool]

Did Munich (Oktoberfest), Vienna, and Salzburg in 2019. One recommendation in Salzburg is to try and do a Mozart dinner. It wasn’t the first thing on my list of things to do but we one of the things we talk about still. A unique/memorable experience. Also a good brewery in Salzburg on the outskirts that is a great time.

Please tell me more about the Mozart dinner if you don't mind? I'm not sure what to do in Salzburg. The Eagle's Nest is closed during that time of year. And I'm going w/my vegan daughter, so any creative options would be greatly appreciated.

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

So we only did a day in Salzburg. Could’ve used an extra day though. We downloaded the Rick Steve’s walking tour audio guide and it was a great way to see the city. I’m not sure what dinner we did but will look it up when I get home.

The churches are great we did go in quite a few but towards the end it was a little monotonous (we also saw a lot of the same in Vienna so that played a part I’m sure). Do take the gondala up to the old castle and spend some time there. There’s also a walk you can do that on a ridge above the main city that offers great views.

There’s also a palace worth going to. They have a lot of cool gardens and one area has like 12 dwarf statues that are pretty funny.

Salzburg has a more tourist vibe but is really cool because there is so much history there. Let me know if you have any other specific questions!

 

[LesClaypool]

So we only did a day in Salzburg. Could’ve used an extra day though. We downloaded the Rick Steve’s walking tour audio guide and it was a great way to see the city. I’m not sure what dinner we did but will look it up when I get home.

The churches are great we did go in quite a few but towards the end it was a little monotonous (we also saw a lot of the same in Vienna so that played a part I’m sure). Do take the gondala up to the old castle and spend some time there. There’s also a walk you can do that on a ridge above the main city that offers great views.

There’s also a palace worth going to. They have a lot of cool gardens and one area has like 12 dwarf statues that are pretty funny.

Salzburg has a more tourist vibe but is really cool because there is so much history there. Let me know if you have any other specific questions!

Thanks a lot - on Tripadvisor now looking for Mozart dinners. Appreciate it!

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

Thanks a lot - on Tripadvisor now looking for Mozart dinners. Appreciate it!

Funny story about it - we spent the whole day sprinting through Salzburg to see everything. Spent too long at the brewery because a local was buying beers for us. Ended up running through the castle and then didn’t have time to get to the hotel before the Mozart dinner.

We went to the dinner in our travel clothes and walked into a room full of people in formal dress code. My wife (no pic) ran out to do her hair and left me to take the brunt of stares from people who couldn’t believe we just walked in off the street. The best was taking a big drink from my water bottle and seeing the glares from a hot little euro chick who was disgusted I would consider doing such a thing. 😂

 

[baddog25]

I like Puppies

 

[Pepperman]

I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but in Salzburg we did the Sound of Music bus tour. You see some awesome landscapes and end up at the church at the end of the movie. That area of Austria is very neat.

the old part of the city is neat to just walk around and see the shops too. There’s a cool beer hall (I think) about 2 km west of it that has a bunch of concession stands for food and drink. Can’t remember the name now but I could perhaps find it on a map. Salzburg blew us away.

wish you were seeing Vienna too- it’s awesome. Innsbruck we only drove past on the way to Seefeldt (sp? - a mountain town) and then on to the Neuschwaunstein Castle which I enjoyed more than I thought I would as well.

 

[prlyles]

My answer is European Travel. Incidentally, Rick Steves is my idol. I can't believe the life that guy has gotten to lead! I've only been to 12 European countries so far, but I choose to view it as "I've been incredibly lucky enough to have visited 12 European countries so far!"

My favorite places in Europe (sort of) in order:

• Prague (2x)
• Florence (2x)
• Galway
• Lucerne
• London (5x)
• Barcelona
• Bruges
• Budapest
• Stockholm
• Brussels

Surprisingly not that great (to me):

• Munich
• Helsinki
• Dublin
• Zurich
• Paris
• Rome (2x)

Going to Munich, Innsburck & Salzburg in December, God-willing and Covid-willing. Giving Munich another try, and have never been to Austria. Can not wait!!!

I love Europe also, I’ve made to all but maybe 3 or 4 countries.

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but in Salzburg we did the Sound of Music bus tour. You see some awesome landscapes and end up at the church at the end of the movie. That area of Austria is very neat.

the old part of the city is neat to just walk around and see the shops too. There’s a cool beer hall (I think) about 2 km west of it that has a bunch of concession stands for food and drink. Can’t remember the name now but I could perhaps find it on a map. Salzburg blew us away.

wish you were seeing Vienna too- it’s awesome. Innsbruck we only drove past on the way to Seefeldt (sp? - a mountain town) and then on to the Neuschwaunstein Castle which I enjoyed more than I thought I would as well.

This is where went too and loved it. Cool outdoor area too. A monk brewery iirc.

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

My answer is European Travel. Incidentally, Rick Steves is my idol. I can't believe the life that guy has gotten to lead! I've only been to 12 European countries so far, but I choose to view it as "I've been incredibly lucky enough to have visited 12 European countries so far!"

My favorite places in Europe (sort of) in order:

• Prague (2x)
• Florence (2x)
• Galway
• Lucerne
• London (5x)
• Barcelona
• Bruges
• Budapest
• Stockholm
• Brussels

Surprisingly not that great (to me):

• Munich
• Helsinki
• Dublin
• Zurich
• Paris
• Rome (2x)

Going to Munich, Innsburck & Salzburg in December, God-willing and Covid-willing. Giving Munich another try, and have never been to Austria. Can not wait!!!

Sorry not to keep bombarding this (stuck on a runway in DSM sweating my ass off)... did you listen to the rick Steve’s; how I built this podcast? Was great to hear how it built up his company and how passionate he is about travel

 

[Jerome Silberman]

I really like Costco beef and salmon.

Some time ago, @FSUTribe76 had mentioned that sometimes the beef at Costco was SO fresh that it actually was better if you don't prepare it the same day. However, I don't usually plan that far ahead, so I almost always buy it and grill it the same day.

However, recently circumstances fell that I ended up buying some steaks on Wednesday that I didn't grill until Saturday. In fact, I might have cracked the package a bit because when I pulled them out to prep on Saturday, I was just starting to get a slight browning oxidation on a couple of their edges that I had to trim off.

I swear, I really like Costco steaks, but those were like 25% better than usual. Like really, really fantastic, and I immediately thought of that suggestion. I don't know if it was just getting some extra fine steaks by luck, but I'm going to try to plan ahead a couple days going forward and see.

This is unnecessary. The browning isn't anything to worry about.

 

[LesClaypool]

Sorry not to keep bombarding this (stuck on a runway in DSM sweating my ass off)... did you listen to the rick Steve’s; how I built this podcast? Was great to hear how it built up his company and how passionate he is about travel

I haven't...but I will! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Nole Lou]

This is unnecessary. The browning isn't anything to worry about.

Oh, I wasn't worried about it. I know the deal. I still trim it off though, mostly for the benefit of the wife, because it was just a tiny bit on the edge.

 

[LesClaypool]

This is where went too and loved it. Cool outdoor area too. A monk brewery iirc.

the old part of the city is neat to just walk around and see the shops too. There’s a cool beer hall (I think) about 2 km west of it that has a bunch of concession stands for food and drink. Can’t remember the name now but I could perhaps find it on a map. Salzburg blew us away.

Could it be the Stiegl Brewery? I'm seeing that pop up as an option, and it looks pretty cool.

 

[FSUTribe76]

My answer is European Travel. Incidentally, Rick Steves is my idol. I can't believe the life that guy has gotten to lead! I've only been to 12 European countries so far, but I choose to view it as "I've been incredibly lucky enough to have visited 12 European countries so far!"

My favorite places in Europe (sort of) in order:

• Prague (2x)
• Florence (2x)
• Galway
• Lucerne
• London (5x)
• Barcelona
• Bruges
• Budapest
• Stockholm
• Brussels

Surprisingly not that great (to me):

• Munich
• Helsinki
• Dublin
• Zurich
• Paris
• Rome (2x)

Going to Munich, Innsburck & Salzburg in December, God-willing and Covid-willing. Giving Munich another try, and have never been to Austria. Can not wait!!!

I’m shocked you love London and hate Paris. For me, one trip to London was sufficient. I did like the musicals and plays of the East End even over their Broadway equivalents, but the museums and other tourist attractions were nowhere near as good as those in NYC, Rome or Paris. So other than to fly in for a cheap destination and maybe see a couple of plays, I have zero interest in going back to London. But Paris, I could go back every year and I doubt I would get tired of it (other than the incessant gypsy problem).

What about Edinburgh? I absolutely loved Edinburgh and the surrounds. Other than Paris it’s probably my favorite European city.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I think it would be cool to go to all of the National Parks that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are all of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the US. A lot of them are National Parks:

Cultural (11)​

• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (1982)
• Chaco Culture (1987)
• Independence Hall (1979)
• La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (1983)
• Mesa Verde National Park (1978)
• Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (1987)
• Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (2014)
• San Antonio Missions (2015)
• Statue of Liberty (1984)
• Taos Pueblo (1992)
• The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (2019)

Natural (12)​

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1995)
• Everglades National Park (1979)
• Grand Canyon National Park (1979)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1983)
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1987)
• Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979,1992, 1994)
• Mammoth Cave National Park (1981)
• Olympic National Park (1981)
• Redwood National and State Parks (1980)
• Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (1995)
• Yellowstone National Park (1978)
• Yosemite National Park (1984)

Mixed (1)​

• Papahānaumokuākea (2010)

Interesting! I wasn’t trying to clear this list but the only ones I’m missing are:

Chaco culture (but I’ve done a lot of similar parks like Petroglyph National Park, Bisti Badlands, Shiprock, Taos, Montezuma’s Castle, etc…)
La Fortelaza
Poverty Point
Their specific Frank Lloyd Wright collection (but I’ve been to Florida Southern College which has the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in one spot)
The Alaska NPs
The Glacier part of Waterson Glacier joint parks as I did the Canadian side as part of a Banff and Jasper trip where I flew into Calgary and out of Seattle)
Papahānaumokuākea

So I’m missing 7 and “really” just 4.

 

[LesClaypool]

I’m shocked you love London and hate Paris. For me, one trip to London was sufficient. I did like the musicals and plays of the East End even over their Broadway equivalents, but the museums and other tourist attractions were nowhere near as good as those in NYC, Rome or Paris. So other than to fly in for a cheap destination and maybe see a couple of plays, I have zero interest in going back to London. But Paris, I could go back every year and I doubt I would get tired of it (other than the incessant gypsy problem).

What about Edinburgh? I absolutely loved Edinburgh and the surrounds. Other than Paris it’s probably my favorite European city.

Haven't been to Scotland yet and can't wait to get to Edinburgh when I do!

London: 3 of those 5 trips were work trips. I love London largely b/c my favorite soccer team is there and I've been lucky enough to see them play twice. I do love the city though, but I recognize it doesn't have the charm of most European capitols. I grant you that. I won't ever try and persuade anyone to love London, and to be sure there are better places in Europe...plenty of them.

Paris: Dirty, graffiti everywhere, unfriendly people, substandard metro AND I was unlucky enough to be there the day of the Charlie Hebdo attacks - Didn't help. I'll try it again someday for sure. I feel largely the same about Rome too. I mean you have to go to Rome, don't get me wrong. And I've actually been twice w/plans to go back a 3rd time w/my better half (she's Catholic and has to visit St. Peter's and the Vatican.) But it's such a massive city, with massive city traffic, dirty, everyone trying to sell you something, etc. It's not for me.

 

[DooBi]

Don't be lazy. Laziness makes me angry.


Here is go, ya schmuck.

Thanks! It's not laziness, it's ignorance.

 

[Red Hills Nole]

I think it would be cool to go to all of the National Parks that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are all of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the US. A lot of them are National Parks:

Cultural (11)​

• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (1982)
• Chaco Culture (1987)
• Independence Hall (1979)
• La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (1983)
• Mesa Verde National Park (1978)
• Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (1987)
• Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (2014)
• San Antonio Missions (2015)
• Statue of Liberty (1984)
• Taos Pueblo (1992)
• The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (2019)

Natural (12)​

• Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1995)
• Everglades National Park (1979)
• Grand Canyon National Park (1979)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1983)
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1987)
• Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979,1992, 1994)
• Mammoth Cave National Park (1981)
• Olympic National Park (1981)
• Redwood National and State Parks (1980)
• Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (1995)
• Yellowstone National Park (1978)
• Yosemite National Park (1984)

Mixed (1)​

• Papahānaumokuākea (2010)

Again how can one not have been to Crater Lake? I get the fact that it is hard to get to since both roads are closed for nearly eight months of the year. but how many times in your life will you get a chance? Oh well then shutting up now sirs.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Again how can one not have been to Crater Lake? I get the fact that it is hard to get to since both roads are closed for nearly eight months of the year. but how many times in your life will you get a chance? Oh well then shutting up now sirs.

I haven’t been to Oregon or the true Northern California other than a quick pop into Portland a long time ago. I’ve done several trips to what the average person considers “Northern California” ie San Fran, Sausalito, Yosemite, Muir Woods, Napa and Sonoma. But I’ve always stayed in that area or gone down to Big Sur and back up (twice including my engagement trip). And that area is only really about 2/3s of the way up California. I need to go up into Eureka and Crescent City and then into Oregon before flying back from Portland or Seattle.

That’s why I haven’t done Redwoods, Larsen Volcanic and Crater Lake NPs. And if it weren’t for the pandemic I would probably have already done that. It’s in my list of things to do. Next up is Glacier and Badlands NP though.

 

[markfromj]

Nice reply, The Ones I see you missed were Lassen Volcanic N.P. and amazingly Crater Lake !

Also missed American Samoa NP.

 

[TylerJ76]

So far I’ve been to and I’ll give it a ranking of 1-10 for parks with 10 being mind blowing must do’s, 9 being some of the best parks in the US, 8 being well worth doing, 5 being mediocre/not much more than a typical state park in the area and there’s not going to be anything below 5 that got National Park Status.

Acadia 9/10
Arches 9/10
Big Bend 10/10
Biscayne 8/10 (but requires snorkeling or scuba diving to enjoy, without it this is a 5/10)
Black Canyon 7/10
Bryce Canyon 10/10
Canyonlands 10/10
Capitol Reef 8/10
Carlsbad Canyons 9/10
Channel Islands 8/10
Congaree 5/10
Death Valley 5/10
Dry Tortugas 8/10
Everglades 9/10
Gateway Arch 6/10 (the museum at the arch as well as the ride to the top are great but the rest is lacking)
Grand Canyon 10/10
Grand Teton 8/10
Great Basin 7/10
Great Sand Dunes 10/10
Great Smoky Mountains 8/10
Guadalupe Mountains 5/10
Haleakala 10/10
Hawaiian Volcanoes 9/10
Hot Springs 7/10 (9/10 if you do a spa on site plus nearby Garvan Gardens with the famous open glass chapel)
Joshua Tree 6/10
Mammoth Cave 7/10 (the caves themselves have very little formations compared to Carlsbad, Luray and other great caverns in the word like Glowworm and Jenolan but they are big….just empty)
Mesa Verde 7/10
Mount Rainier 8/10
New River Gorge 7/10
North Cascades 7/10
Olympic 7/10
Petrified Forest 7/10
Pinnacles 6/10
Rocky Mountain 8/10
Saguaro 7/10
Shenandoah 8/10
White Sands 10/10
Yellowstone 10/10
Yosemite 10/10
Zion 7/10 (The most overhyped NP IMO. It’s hyped to be as amazing as Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canton but it’s either the worst of Utah’s NPs or at most just ahead of Capitol Reef but well behind Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and GC plus Goblin Valley, Dead Horse, Antelope Canyon and Grand Staircase are all better as well).

The following list of state and federal protected areas I’ve been to deserve to be upgraded to National Parks as the “worst one” would be in the middle of the pack of the actual National Parks: Dinosaur National Monument (CO & UT), Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA), Grand Staircase National Monument (UT), Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL & AL), Florida Keys National Sanctuary (FL), Goblin Valley State Park (UT), Niagara Falls State Park (NY), Valley of Fire State Park (NV not NM), Craters of the Moon National Monument (ID) and DuPont State Forest (NC).

Give me one NP to visit next year for a week, Grand Canyon?

 

[RunRonnieRun]

The ocean. The beach. It amazes me to stand at the edge of a continent and stare at the endless ocean. It looks like nothing but it’s everything. It’s incalculably massive. The extent to which it’s unexplored is mind boggling.

And in the grand scheme of things it’s nothing. It’s an atom in a drop of universe. As people we don’t even register in the balance. Be it god or be it science, our existence is nothing short of a miracle.







So, yeah, I like getting high

 

[FSUTribe76]

Give me one NP to visit next year for a week, Grand Canyon?

Yellowstone is by far the most special because you’re essentially getting three separate parks in one. You’ve got the various hot springs and geysers that the park is famous for and of course the Grand Prismatic Lake (which really only looks amazing from drone height) and that will take you two days or more to do properly. The best part of that area honestly is the Old Faithful Inn. If you can’t get reservations you should still visit and eat in the main dining room as the slow smoked prime rib, trout three ways and huckleberry chicken are all amazing. There’s certain National Park foods that iconic like the elk chili at Big Bend NP, the strawberry popovers at Jordan Pond House in Acadia Np and cherry pie in Capitol Reef NP, well in Yellowstone it’s the smoked prime rib and trout three ways (and to a lesser extent huckleberry chicken and huckleberry ice cream) at the Old Faithful Inn that is iconic.

The “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone” area is a really underrated part of the park and needs to be seen. It’s not QUITE to the level of the real Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon from afar, but if you go hiking into it, it honestly may be nicer.

But it’s the two valleys, Hayden and Lamar which make Yellowstone truly special. That’s where you’re going to see the enormous herds of bison and elk mixed in with the smaller herds of pronghorn and deer plus the odd Moose or two. And as a result that’s where you’ve got a great chance of seeing brown and black bears in large numbers plus the rare wolf packs (sidenote while 2/3s of the wolves are standard gray and pewter color, while the rest is black). The animal interactions are the best part of Yellowstone.

And of course you’ve got to drive around the lakes and up into the mountains to see moose and bighorn sheep respectively. But really the two valleys and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are the nicest spots.

To see everything easily, I’d spend one or two nights in the Old Faithful Inn, 4 nights or so in Cooke City or Silver Gate Montana as it’s on the outskirts of Lamar Valley and going in and out of Lamar Valley during sunrise and out during sunset are going to get you some amazing pics and animal interactions. And then I’d spend a day or two in West Yellowstone Montana (I highly rec the Wild West Pizzeria and Saloon for pizza and local brews). You should also spend your first day in Jackson Hole so you can get Grand Tetons NP out of the way so you can focus on Yellowstone.

Now if you go “Yellowstone is the expected answer and boring”….I can tell you haven’t been. It’s the expected answer because it’s the best National Park bar none (at least of those I’ve been to, maybe some of the Alaskan ones are even better).

For an unexpected answe, I do highly rec the Big Bend NP at least when it’s cool enough to enjoy and the pandemic hasn’t shut off access to the hot springs (just saunas no geysers) or to the little Mexican towns across the Rio Grande. It’s got everything Zion has and more. Plus fishing for enormous alligator gar and giant flathead catfish. And there are usually only a small amount of people compared to other National Parks.

The Great Sand Dunes and White Sands NP are two of my favorites as well but they are smaller parks. They’re not weeklong parks, they’re more like one to two day parks.

 

[MikeyHawk]

Just returned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
The Grand Canyon at Yellowstone is spectacular. Lot of cool sites to see.
Was at Grand Teton for a short amount of time and the smoke limited the views. Really nice area and beautiful views. Jackson looks like a great town to visit and explore

 

[flyfishstout_CO]

Could it be the Stiegl Brewery? I'm seeing that pop up as an option, and it looks pretty cool.

We didn't go to the Stiegl... it was this one: https://www.augustinerbier.at/platzln-garten.html


Also, here's a link to the dinner we did (not sure if there is one better than the other but it was a family member suggestion): https://www.mozart-dinner-concert-salzburg.com/?ref=logo

 

[lucas80]

Give me one NP to visit next year for a week, Grand Canyon?

Redwood, and the adjoining California state parks. Fires are going to start taking a heavy toll on them. Plus, you get a little ocean time.

 

[lucas80]

DDD restaurants. I just hit number 55. The pandemic slowed me down, but it’s a fun pursuit. I’ve only really had one substandard meal at a DDD place. I hope to knock off 3-4 new ones in October on a trip to Minnesota.

 

[ANYCHawk]

 

[HawkRugged17]

The ocean. The beach. It amazes me to stand at the edge of a continent and stare at the endless ocean. It looks like nothing but it’s everything. It’s incalculably massive. The extent to which it’s unexplored is mind boggling.

And in the grand scheme of things it’s nothing. It’s an atom in a drop of universe. As people we don’t even register in the balance. Be it god or be it science, our existence is nothing short of a miracle.







So, yeah, I like getting high

 

[StormHawk42]

Just returned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
The Grand Canyon at Yellowstone is spectacular. Lot of cool sites to see.
Was at Grand Teton for a short amount of time and the smoke limited the views. Really nice area and beautiful views. Jackson looks like a great town to visit and explore

Yellowstone is wonderful but it’s so damn crowded now I could go a long time without going back. Grand Tetons I would go back tomorrow. We loved it there.

 

[Red Hills Nole]

Yellowstone is wonderful but it’s so damn crowded now I could go a long time without going back. Grand Tetons I would go back tomorrow. We loved it there.

Translation = Middle finger to the "poors".