Picture a little boy leaning back to survey the towering residents of the aptly named Giant Forest. A sea of giant sequoias—each dressed in brilliant shades of red—fills his eyes and imagination. Is there another place on earth like this, he wonders?
I was just 6 years old when I experienced that while visiting Sequoia National Park. Five decades later, snapshots of that special family vacation spring back to life, thanks to this month’s feature story on national parks.
At a time when many of us are eager to explore the great outdoors again—Hello, family road trip!—writer Cheré Coen offers a practical guide to some of the nation’s most popular national parks. Cheré takes us from Denali to Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains to the Everglades and beyond. Each national park description includes information on cost, camping options and what not to miss, along with a weblink for further exploration.
Are you ready to make memories of a lifetime with your loved ones? If you do plan to explore our nation’s natural wonders, be sure to check out this issue’s Before You Go on page 30. We tap the insights of several seasoned road warriors from our staff, including our recently retired publishing administrator, Linda Wiseman.
Linda and her husband, Randy, just completed a 28-day road trip of their dreams, exploring Route 66. Linda and others offer helpful tips and lessons of the road to make your travels easier.
The mountains and more are calling. Explore the natural wonders with your own adventure.