| What could be more American than our | | | | across the canyon to Mexico! Retrieving |
| National Park Service? People everywhere | | | | your ball and scoring the hole is |
| express interest in exploring these | | | | difficult since there is no physical |
| symbols of our national heritage. The | | | | connection to the green. |
| parks range from large and well-known, | | | | Little Bighorn National Monument - This |
| like Yosemite and Zion, to small and | | | | Park gets our vote for the best ranger |
| obscure, like The Golden Spike National | | | | talk. The site of Custer's last stand |
| Historical Park and Moore's Creek | | | | presides over the valley below with such |
| National Battlefield. | | | | visual splendor that one can easily |
| The parks are divided into several | | | | imagine the Indians camped below and the |
| categories including National Parks, | | | | obedient men under the direction of |
| National Historic Parks, National | | | | General Custer being led to their |
| Monuments, National Seashores and more. | | | | slaughter. As the wind blows over the |
| The difference is not just the | | | | site, the rangers do an incredible job |
| significance of the park, but also the | | | | of setting the mood, the facts and the |
| funding and, therefore, staffing and | | | | story of Little Bighorn. Armed with the |
| amenities of each location. In all, | | | | knowledge of the battle, an audio tour |
| there are over 400 locations maintained | | | | is available as you head out through the |
| by the National Park Service and they do | | | | actual battlefield. |
| a great job keeping everything | | | | Dry Tortugas National Park - On of the |
| maintained, accessible and enjoyable for | | | | least accessible of all our parks is Dry |
| the millions of annual visitors. The | | | | Tortugas, 67 miles off the tip of Key |
| parks are truly one of the gems of our | | | | West. Best reached by several companies |
| tax-supported services. | | | | who offer "fast Cat" service to the |
| Each park, monument, seashore and more | | | | island, the history and the remains of |
| was designated due to some unique | | | | Fort Jefferson mix with the wonderful |
| characteristic worth preserving and | | | | snorkeling to make for a great day trip, |
| showcasing. From the intricate lacework | | | | or a multi-day stay for the adventurous, |
| of Wind Cave in South Dakota, to the | | | | since there are no improved campsites on |
| fragile eco-system of the Florida | | | | the island, no lodging, no bathhouses |
| Everglades, the park rangers are well | | | | and no drinking water available. Fort |
| informed and eagerly teach visitors | | | | Jefferson dates to the early 1800s, when |
| about their park. The Junior Ranger | | | | it was constructed to protect the Gulf |
| program for kids in some of the larger | | | | of Mexico. This is one of the parks |
| parks is better than a year of science | | | | that has fallen victim to the loss of |
| and history back home. | | | | Park Rangers, partly due to the desolate |
| So what are some of these lesser known | | | | conditions there. Fortunately, our |
| locations of special significance? Here | | | | guide for the boat trip had become |
| are three that you might want to include | | | | knowledgeable about the history of the |
| in your next trip. | | | | fort and provided excellent "ranger" |
| Big Bend National Park - Located in far | | | | descriptions for our group. |
| south Texas, this park is visited by | | | | The National Parks website at is a |
| less than a million people a year and | | | | treasure trove of information, whether |
| stretches over 800,000 acres, with three | | | | your visit is to a famous or |
| distinct eco-systems. The Chisos | | | | not-so-famous park. If your goal is to |
| Mountains loom from most every vantage | | | | visit many of the national parks, be |
| point in the park. In the spring, the | | | | sure to pick-up your personal "Passport" |
| desert portion of the park is alive with | | | | at your first park - a clever and unique |
| wild flowers and animals of every | | | | way to catalog your visits. The |
| description. And finally, the canyons | | | | National Parks Pass is a bargain at $50 |
| of the Rio Grande make a spectacular | | | | a year for unlimited access to the parks |
| trip via rubber raft or canoe. The | | | | with a 50% discounts on use fees within |
| Santa Elena canyon is spectacular with | | | | the park. The Golden Age passport is |
| the canyon walls rising 1500 feet on one | | | | available to those 62 and older and is |
| side to Mexico and the same distance on | | | | good for a lifetime. Our disabled |
| the other in the US. The nearby town of | | | | citizens are also entitled to Golden |
| Lajitas (outside the park) boasts the | | | | Access Passes, regardless of age. See |
| only "international" golf course in the | | | | the website for complete details. |
| US when one hole has an optional green | | | | |