When visiting Seattle Washington, it is
probably quite impossible not to notice the beautiful scenery that surrounds
this great town. I can think of few cities in America that are so strategically
located to take advantage of the best of nature. Not only are the surroundings
lovely, but the climate is also very mild for most of the year. The drawback
for some is the rain as it rains about 50 percent of the time in this city. I
suppose that I could sacrifice humidity and stifling high temperatures in
exchange for a few rain showers, but that's just me.
It would seem that I am not the only one that
has noticed the beauty that seems to surround the Seattle area as there are
several national parks in these areas that are a sure sign someone else has
noticed. In fact, that is what I'll be discussing. The national parks that are
within easy driving distance of Seattle Washington. If you love nature, any of
these parks has a great deal to offer and if you are really adventurous, you
can try visiting them all (though I really feel you would be hard pressed to
get the most out of your experience in a national park after just one day).
The first national park on my list is the one
that comes first to my mind when I think of Seattle even though it is a
monument rather than a park. It is called the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic
Monument and was created for the purposes of research, education, and
recreation. Within the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument the environment
is left to its own devices in recovering from the disaster. The last time Mt.
St. Helens erupted was in 1980.
The next national park on my list is indeed a
national park it is called Mt. Rainier National Park and is only a short drive
from Seattle. Mt. Rainier is an inactive volcano and the park was founded in
1899. This park receives visits from nearly two million people each year. There
are many activities that can be enjoyed here from camping, hiking, horseback
riding, mountain climbing, and fishing to taking simple nature walks in order
to enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is one park that I really don't recommend
trying to conquer in a day, there is simply too much ground to cover and you
might miss something really cool if you rush through. I understand that time is
limited and you may not have the time to properly explore all the park has to
offer on one vacation. If that is the case, I seriously recommend finding one
or two things to do and see while there and concentrating all of your efforts
on those things.
Located about two hours outside of Seattle,
Washington is the North Cascades National Park. Often referred to as the North
American Alps, this mountain range is spectacularly beautiful. There are many
activities available within the park such as camping, hiking, mountain
climbing, fishing, and float trips along the Skagit and Stehekin rivers. For
me, simply enjoying the stunning views of this national park would be enough
without the benefit of the other activities that are available. This is a great
way to spend a day, two days, or even an entire vacation. I especially
recommend river floating if you have children. It is a great way to enjoy your
time together and fairly enjoyable for everyone. You may even be able to get
them to take the headphones off for a little while.
Everyone has certain things that appeal to
him or her most about a prospective vacation location. For me, a great amount
of appeal comes in the things I can see, touch, smell, and experience. Nature
is one of the things that we can't always experience at home or if we can, we
simply take it for granted. While on vacation, the ability to experience the
best that nature has to offer is a wonderful thing. I hope you will visit at
least one of these parks during your visit to Seattle.
No comments:
Post a Comment