Monthly Archives: April 2013

Craft – Zoo Animal Hand Prints

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 Zoo hand print - elephant 2 

While visiting a local zoo, I saw a cute idea for creating zoo animals with hand prints.  The items for purchase were expensive and I thought I could easily produce some animal prints at a relatively low cost at home and would be a fun project to do with the family.  Several handprints of the same animal are great for the whole family (create a herd of elephants walking across the savannah, a group of monkeys hanging from a tree or a group of ducks swimming on the water)  Be sure to include individual animal prints for separate family members that expresses their personalities. (maybe a lion for the father, a tiger for the mother, a monkey, zebra, giraffe, elephant or flamingo for the kids)  I suggest framing each print in a white mat and simple black frame which won’t distract from the colorful prints.  Take the time to label the prints with the names of each family member and be sure to include the year.   Several of these individual prints along with one group print would look great to create an interesting wall display in a family room.

Zoo hand prints - lion    Zoo hand prints - tiger    Zoo hand print - flamingo
Zoo Animal print – supplies

  • Washable tempera paint – select corresponding animal colors
  • Paint brush
  • Black marker – to write names and date
  • Set of markers in a variety of colors – for drawing animal details
  • White paper – several sheets
  • Paper towels or wipes for easy clean-up afterwards

Zoo hand print - monkey 1    Zoo hand print - fish
Zoo Animal print – instructions

  1. Decide which type of animal print to make.
  2. Cover the work surface with newspapers or plastic tablecloth
  3. Apply a very thin coat of paint onto the palm of the hand, a minimum amount of paint is preferred for a better hand print, an excess of paint can create one big blob!  Be sure to experiment to determine the correct amount for the hand print.
  4. Once the paint is applied onto the hand, press the hand firmly onto the paper, apply even pressure on the entire hand for a nice print.  When finished, lift hand straight up for a clean and clear print with no smudges. 
  5. Using the markers, create the animal details (such as: the lion’s mane, the giraffe’s spots, the tiger or zebra stripes, etc.)
  6. Using the markers, create the prints accents (such as: green grass on the ground, a brown tree and green leaves or blue water)  
  7. Be sure to write the name of the family member and also the year when the print was made.
  8. Let the print dry for at least 24 hours.
  9. Once the hand print is dry, mat and frame the print, hang on the wall and enjoy the new art work you created!

 

Travel – Zoos

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As you know from my blog’s other Travel posts, our family loves to travel and visit exciting place and have wonderful adventures.  Some of our favorite zoos that we have visited are the San Diego Zoo and the Santa Barbara Zoo.  The San Diego Zoo is very large zoo and would generally be an all-day event and we would stay overnight in San Diego since we lived in Los Angeles.  Larger zoos tend to have more animals and several hundred different types of species.  Smaller zoos, like the Santa Barbara Zoo, have fewer animals and a limited numbers of species.  When our daughter was a toddler we preferred the smaller zoos because we could see everything in a few hours which was the perfect amount of time for a young child with a short attention span and the need for afternoon naps!  We decided to purchase an annual zoo membership at the Santa Barbara Zoo and went every month, this turned out to be wonderful idea because our daughter became very familiar with the animals there and was able to watch the baby animals as they grew over the years.

Another advantage to having a zoo membership is the access to activities and special events.  Either way, if you choose a large zoo or a smaller one, consider a behind the scenes tour.  We highly recommend these types of tours because they go into areas that the general public does not normally get to see, like the zoo kitchen where the zoo staff prepares the animals food and sometimes behind the scenes into areas where you can see the animals off exhibit or in the animal hospital.

A trip to the local zoo can be great family fun and it can also be a wonderful learning experience for both children and adults.  Listed below are some tips and suggestions for planning a visit to the zoo.

Before the zoo visit

  1. Plan ahead and be prepared by checking out the zoo’s website for hours and  admission prices, also to familiarize yourself with the park layout and a list of the zoo’s current animals.  Most zoo websites will have some of the zoo animal details, such as: the animal’s names, new births, etc.
  2. If you or your children have an interest in a particular species of animal, do some research online for more information.  Check out the local bookstore or library for animal books to read before the visit to the zoo.
  3. Generally the best time to visit a zoo is when the zoo opens in the morning.  Most animals that live outdoors will have just come out of their night area, investigating their day area and sometimes the zoo keepers will add enrichment activities to stimulate the animals’ physical and mental behaviors.
  4. Check the weather report before you leave home for current conditions.  Dress in layers you can take off or put on since you may be moving indoors into air conditioned buildings or outside into the heat and sun.  Take along a jacket and wear comfortable shoes because chances are you will be doing a lot of walking.
  5. Most zoos offer some type of meal service, sometimes there are full service restaurants, ice cream and cotton candy stands.  Consider bringing healthy snacks and water or a better idea is to check ahead to see if there are picnic areas and take the time to pack a delicious lunch. Bring reusable water containers to stay hydrated during the hot summer days.
  6. Consider bringing a stroller because even the most energetic toddler can easily become exhausted walking around the zoo.  Strollers are also a great way to carry extra jackets, snacks and water bottles or even picnic lunches.  Be sure to tuck in a small first aid kit because you never know when there will be cuts or scraps as the children run around the zoo.

During the zoo visit

  1. When visiting the zoo, be sure to observe the zoo’s safety rules.  Check the zoo’s map/brochure for the rules and observe posted signs.  Don’t forget the animals in the zoo are wild and are kept in the enclosures for the visitors safety as well as their own.  Be sure to teach your children not to feed the zoo animals and explain they are on special diets and other food could make them sick.
  2. Be sure to supervise small children.  Zoos can become very crowded at times and children can easily be separated from their parents if they run ahead.  When we visited zoos when our daughter was small we purchased a small metal tag that had her name and our cell phone numbers in case she got lost.
  3. Consider a small backpack for holding items like a small first aid kit, snacks, a reusable water bottle, etc.  Be aware of the weight of the backpack when it is loaded and remember it will be carried around all day.  One thing that I carried in my backpack was a small light weight book about animals that I found in my local bookstore and we would read it throughout the day while looking at the different exhibits or while eating lunch.
  4. Some zoos have a petting area where animals can be seen up close.  This can be exciting for children as well as adults.  But with this direct contact of the animals it is possible to be exposed to harmful germs.  Consider tucking a small anti-bacterial hand sanitizer into your first aid kit or backpack.
  5. When visiting the zoo, take lots of pictures of the animals.  We took of our photos from the Santa Barbara Zoo and put them into a scrapbook with printed information from the zoo’s website.  Some zoo websites have information and statistics on their individual animals or other online sources can be used for additional information of a specific species.  It takes a little time to assemble one of these scrapbooks but the cost of supplies can be relatively inexpensive.  My daughter enjoyed looking at her “zoo scrapbook” and even now that she is older and we have moved away from the area she still looks at it from time to time.

The following are the two of our family’s favorite zoos –

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San Diego Zoo

We highly recommended the world famous San Diego Zoo if you are ever in the southern California area, it is the located in Balboa Park in San Diego.  This zoo is one of the best that we have ever visited and it is huge!  The Zoo, located near downtown San Diego, has 100 acres with over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species.  The San Diego Zoo was started with the exotic animals that were abandoned after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.  In 1916, the Zoological Society of San Diego was founded by Dr. Harry Wegeforth and when a permanent home was established in Balboa Park in 1921, by mutual agreement it was decided that the city of San Diego would own all the animals and the zoo would manage them.

The zoo was one of the first in the nation to create “cageless” exhibits in which the animals were contained within their areas by deep moats; the lion exhibit was the first.  Exhibits are often designed around a particular animal habitat which features many different animals found normally living within the same locations in the wild.  The zoo is very large and is definitely an all day visit.  If visitors are not up to walking, have very small children or have physical restrictions; the zoo offers a guided tour bus that covers about 75% of the park.  There is also a Skyfari ride that provides aerial views over the zoo with some amazing sights of Balboa Park and beyond.

The Australian Outback area of the zoo has the largest number of koalas outside of Austrailia.  The Panda Trek area is one of only four zoos in the U.S. with giant pandas and has a very successful panda reproduction program.   The Ituri Forest exhibit has many animal species from this region of Africa but my favorite is the hippo exhibit.  (While visiting the zoo, if possible time a visit to this area when the zoo staff feeds whole watermelons to the hippos)  Polar Bear Plunge is home not only to the polar bears but to over 30 species of animals from the arctic region.  These are just a few of the areas that are found in the world famous San Diego Zoo.

 

BOOK SUGGESTION:  “It Began With A Roar” by Harry M. Wegeforth and Neil Morgan.

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Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara Zoo sign 1This smaller zoo is located on the coast of California in the wonderful seaside town of Santa Barbara.  Formerly known as Child’s Estate, this property was deeded to the Santa Barbara Foundation upon the death of Lillian Childs, a long-time resident of the community.  In 1963, the 30 acre Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens was opened to the public and is considered one of the nation’s best small zoos.  There are over 600 animals on exhibit and visitors are first greeted near the entrance by several capybaras and a couple of river otters.  The African Veldt area has several giraffes and a nearby smaller exhibit has meerkats. The Forest’s Edge area of the zoo currently houses two gorillas and the Elephant Walk area has both a large land area and small pool for the zoo’s two Asian elephants.  The Cats of Africa opened in 2003 and is built into a small hillside and houses several lions. Eeeww! is a building which houses all kinds of creepy crawly bugs, lizards, spiders and snakes.  California Trails is the newest exhibit to the zoo and houses several California condors and Channel Island foxes.

One of the zoo’s most popular animals was Gemina, the “crooked-necked giraffe”.  (born: July 16, 1986  died: January 9, 2008)  She was a female Baringo giraffe born with a straight neck at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and acquired by the Santa Barbara Zoo shortly after her birth.  At the age of three she developed a bend in her neck and despite her deformity she was treated as a normal member of the herd of giraffes and appeared to be in no discomfort.

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Here is a craft suggestion after a day at the zoo check out the Craft Post, Zoo Animal handprints.

Decor – Not Your Normal Wall Art!

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When decorating our home, we have purchased several lovely landscapes by renowned artists but we also have many inexpensive pieces of art work hanging on our walls.  I think this balance of both types of art work keeps our home very interesting for visitors but more importantly these inexpensive and unusual wall art pieces express our family history and varied interests.

When decorating your home consider special photographs to add a personal touch.  In the hallway on the second floor of our home are several framed photographs.  These types of wall art are a very traditional alternative to formal landscape or floral paintings.  When my husband and I married, it was a second marriage for both of us so we had a small intimate wedding ceremony and catered reception at our home in California.  Before our wedding, my husband and I had a series of formal pictures taken.  We had one of these photographs framed in an ivory mat with a brass plate engraved with our names and wedding date.  Instead of a guest book, our family and friends signed the mat and it is a wonderful remembrance of that special day.  Since our wedding was so small, about 50 guests, we decided that during the wedding reception we would have the photographer take our picture with each group of guests sitting at the reception tables. Hanging next to our wedding photograph is a collection of the family group photographs in an ivory mat and golden frame.  These photographs are an important way to remember our wedding day which was celebrated with our family and friends.  Recently these photographs have taken on a very sentimental purpose since my mother, my husband’s grandparents and his young nephew have passed away over the last few years.

Hallway wedding photos    Hallway baby photo

Further down the upstairs hallway, near her room, are several photographs of our daughters taken over the years.  These photographs will change from time to time but one that always remains and my personal favorite is a photograph taken when she was just a baby.  This cute photograph shows her wearing a pair of angel wings, but the best part is the expression on her face.  Tucked into the frame is a sweet memento of her hand print taken when she was in preschool and it is the perfect finishing touch to add to the frame.

Not all art work or photographs need to hang on the walls of a home.  In our master bedroom, on our lovely dark wood dresser, are two framed wedding photographs.  These photographs rest against the dresser’s mirror and as a sweet touch I added childhood photographs of both my husband and me.  All these framed photographs are flanked by two bronze lamps with ivory lampshades decorated with amber beading.  As I mention in another Décor post this month, Floral Arrangements, on the master bedroom dresser there is a beautiful floral arrangement of green and white hydrangeas with pale pink roses in an ivory vase tied with a pale green ribbon.

Bedroom photos 1    Bedroom photos 2

In our daughter’ bedroom I used this same technique of resting framed pictures on a piece of furniture instead of hanging them on the wall.  On her dresser are framed copies of two Marty Bell paintings, the Hansel and Gretel Cottages, with ivory mats and beautiful golden frames which rest against the dresser’s mirror.  In two different ivory frames are childhood photographs of our daughter and between them is a lovely porcelain doll that bears a striking resemblance to our daughter.  There is more unusual art work in this room and hanging over the bed are two very special framed pieces.  These two pieces commemorate our daughter’s baptism and her first birthday.  In the scrapbook aisle of the local craft store I found special paper for both events, for the baptism I used a scrapbook paper designed with a sweet baptism dress and for her first birthday I used a Winnie the pooh themed scrapbook  paper.  At both of these events, guests signed the paper and wrote sweet messages to her.  Later, after the parties, my intention was to frame both for her bedroom.  I started by centering the papers onto two matching antique gold mat boards and then framed them both in matching dark wood frames.  Both of these special pieces commemorate two of the important events in our daughter’s life and add the perfect personal touch to her bedroom.

Childhood events framed

In the dining room of our home there is a mixture of both traditional and unusual art work.  On either side of our china cabinet are two Marty Bell rose paintings.  When I first hung them on the wall above the two chairs flanking the china cabinet they looked so small on the dining room’s large wall.  To add a more substantial presence to these paintings I decide to pair them with framed sheet music that I found in an antique store and with these two pieces I was hoping to add a unique personal touch to the room.  The first framed sheet music is of the song “My Kind of Town” sung by Frank Sinatra, the song is better known and often referred to as the Chicago song.  My mother was born there and my parents met, married and lived in Chicago before my family moved to California.  At weddings and special events my mom would always request her “hometown” song. The second framed sheet music is of the song “San Fernando Valley” sung by Bing Crosby.  After my parents and their growing family moved to California, they settled in San Fernando Valley.  This is where I was born and raised during the 1950s and 60s.  I have very fond memories of spending my childhood there, so this piece honors my personal history.

Dining room framed sheet music 1    Dining room framed sheet music 2

On the other side of the dining room is an antique tea cart and on the wall above handg two framed art works.  The first is a copy of a Marty Bell painting called, “Sweetheart’s Gate”, this is a nice complement to the two Marty Bell rose paintings across the room.  (During the Christmas season I replace this print with a framed sheet music of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer decorated with several pine boughs and red berries)  Hanging below the Marty Bell print is a framed personalized label from the wine we served at our wedding.  Before our wedding we took a pre-honeymoon trip to Napa Valley in northern California and when we were there we ordered the wine and champagne for our wedding reception from one of the wineries that we visited.  It is a very sentimental memento of that special day and this personalized piece represents a special event in our lives and is always a great conversation starter at our dinner parties.

Dining room framed wedding label    Dining room framed sheet music 3

The library room is our home is filled with several bookcases of books and travel souvenirs from our trips around the United States and Europe.  As mentioned in a previous Décor post, Decorating with Plates, this room is also filled with different collections from nature, such as our National Park plates, a couple of other wildlife plates as well as my husband’s rock collection, ostrich and emu eggs, abandoned bird nests, etc. are displayed in the library bookcases.  (Don’t laugh about the rock collection, I know it sounds like very strange items to collect, but my husband has done several presentations at our daughter’s school for her science class.  He does a very informative lecture on all the different types of rocks and minerals from his collection and he has become known as the “rock guy”!!)  Anyway, on one wall of the room there is a framed painted feather that we got at the Illinois State Museum and a framed owl butterfly that was a birthday present for my husband a few years ago.  Recently on a road trip to North Carolina, we stopped in West Virginia at an artist studio and bought a framed bear painted on bark.  All these items reinforce the nature theme of our library room decor.

Library butterfly and painted feather    Library Hawaii print and sheet music

On another wall of our library near the bookcases are two framed souvenirs from our trip to Hawaii a few years ago.  The first is a framed sheet music cover of “Aloha Oe” I had at the small gift shop at the Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii.  This song was written by Princess Lili’uokalani in 1877 and has become synonymous with Hawaii.  The second piece is hung below and is a beautiful print of the Hawaiian Islands (formerly known as the Sandwich Islands) that was purchased at the Polynesian Cultural Center located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.  Tucked under the framed “Aloha Oe” music cover is an interesting item from one of the demonstrations at the Polynesian Cultural Center, it is an intricately woven palm leaves shaped into a bird.

Travel items purchased during our road trips make wonderful and unusual art work to hang in our home.  Downstairs in our basement, which we call the “California Room”, is a framed print of a map showing the 21 California Missions which was purchased in one of the mission gift shops.  When we lived in California and during our travels throughout the state we loved stopping at these iconic and unique destinations.  At each visit to a mission I would purchase a small metal mission charm.  These charms grew into a collection and when I framed the California Mission map I thought it was a great opportunity to displays the mission charms.  As you can see from the photo, we have visited 16 out of the 21 missions and we’ve got 5 more to visit on future trips back to California!

California Mission print   Fruit crate labels - framed

On the wall near our kitchen’s pantry are two California fruit crate labels.  The crate labels have become very popular collectible items and can be purchased easily online from Ebay or other websites.  The two framed labels are from a lemon packaging plant located not far from my childhood home near the San Fernando Mission in California. The packaging plant had been converted into retail shops and recently on our last visit the facility now stands vacate.  The crate labels are a nostalgic piece of California history and they make very interesting art work to hang in our home.

Finally, whenever I am antiquing during our road trips I always look for beautiful Audubon wildlife prints.  These can be relatively inexpensive depending on the size of the print so I always try to purchase a couple of them whenever I see them in the antique stores.  The art work is beautiful and the colors are usually very vibrant.  We have several of these Audubon wildlife prints hanging in our master bathroom.

Wildlife prints 1    Wildlife prints 2

Art work for a home does not always have to be expensive paintings or lithographs.  Consider unique items purchased during your travels or nostalgic items that have personal meaning or family photographs that mark special events in the lives of your family.

Travel – National Parks Travel Tips (Part Two)

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A trip to one of our national parks can be a wonderful vacation filled with amazing adventures for you and your family.  The United States National Park Service administrates the 59 National Parks, 108 National Monuments, 78 Historical Sites and hundreds of other sites throughout the United States.  Pull out a United States map and take a look, there are probably several national park sites within an easy drive from your home.

In this post, I am going to discuss one of my favorite topics in regards to the national parks … taking photographs.

National Parks have many scenic views of picturesque lakes, majestic mountains, magical forests and arid deserts, the photo opportunities are endless.  One of our family traditions is the classic photo at the national park sign.  (I can hear my children now complaining, “Not another picture by a sign, why do we have to do this?)  These are some of my favorite photos taken at the national parks and I am so glad we have them.  One wall in our home is filled with all of these photos displayed in white mats and simple black frames.  Below each photo, on the mat, I’ve written the date of each visit.  Looking at these photos I can see my children growing from year to year and the wonderful memories we’ve shared at those national parks.

Bryce NP 1992    Arches NP 2004
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When I am taking photos of the park’s beautiful landscape I usually take several photos of just the scenery but then I’ll take more with the family.  For example, everybody takes a classic photo the family standing with Mount Rushmore in the background.  It is a great photo but not a very original idea.  Now, look at the some photos taken during a visit to the Petrified Forest National Park in 2011.  The photo is of the petrified agate log bridge but look to the right and you will notice my husband standing there taking his own photo of the log.  I love taking photos like this because when I put them into the scrapbook I place them side by side and caption the photos as “my view and his view”.

Petrified Forest NP 2011 2    Petrified Forest NP 2011 5

When visiting the national parks one of our favorite activities, when available, is taking a cave tour.  Caves can be a difficult environment in which to take photos, generally caves can be dark with very limited lighting.  Using a flash would be helpful but you don’t want to distract the other visitors with a bright flash going off in a darken cave.  When we visited Mammoth Cave NP in 2010, we stopped to take a photo of my son and daughter in one of the larger caverns with the lights on.  When taking photos sometimes it is a good idea to tell the story of the experience.  Shown below is a photo showing one of the stairways used by the visitors to descend into the caves.  Another example of photos telling the story of a trip was taken in Rocky Mountain NP in 2012.  Driving through the park, visitors can climb to very high elevations and I took a photo of my daughter with an elevation sign that read two miles above sea level to explain how high we actually were.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   Mammoth Caves 2010 3   Rocky Mountain NP 2012 1

When we visit NPS sites we usually like to take tours and try to experience special activities.  One example of this type of photo was taken at Wind Cave NP in 2004 and shows my husband and daughter standing under a sign that reads “tour starts here”.  Another example is a photo taken in 2011 at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St Louis, MO.  There is a ride there that will take visitors to the top of the Gateway Arch and I took a photo of my daughter holding the tickets.  Another fun photo was taken at the Badlands NP in 2004, we had pulled into an area where we could watch the prairie dogs and I got out of the car and took the photo of my husband and daughter looking out into the prairie with their binoculars, a very cute photo.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    St Louis Arch 2011 1
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Sometimes the scenery with inspire a creative photo.  Usually when we are on vacation at the beach we write our names, location and date of the visit in the sand with a stick.  When we visited the White Sands National Monument in 2012 I took the classic writing in the sand photo.  Along with this photo I took some great action shots of my daughter running down the sand dunes, she was having a great time.

White Sands 2012 2

 

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Occasionally we take silly photos, like the one my husband took when we were visiting Saguaro NP.  It’s a funny photo of my daughter and I touching the prickly saguaro and we are making silly faces.  Sometimes shopping in the park gift shop will inspire a funny photo, like the one of my daughter wearing a stovetop hat at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Historic Site in Kentucky or the silly moose hat she is wearing at Rocky Mountain NP.

Lincoln birthpalce 2010 2    Rocky Mountain NP 2012 2

Have fun taking photos and send me some of your favorites – I would love to see them!

For additional ideas and tips when visiting a National Park please check out National Park Travel Tips (Part One).

Travel – National Park Travel Tips (Part One)

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Within the National Park Service there are 59 National Parks, 108 National Monuments, 78 Historic Sites and hundreds of other sites which they administrate and maintain.  The national parks in particular are popular travel destinations which offer beautiful scenery as well as offering hiking, camping, boating and other recreational activities.  Across the United States there are numerous opportunities to enjoy these magnificent parks.  So, get out a map and look for the national parks in your area or plan a longer road trip and visit several along the way.

The first thing to do when planning a trip to a national park is to book lodge or campsite reservations.  Sometimes accommodations within a national park can be very limited and popular destinations book far in advance, so researching the information regarding accommodations is very important.  Facilities can range from luxurious lodges to very rustic campsites and these decisions are determined by your personal preference.  Our family had stayed at all different types of accommodations and we have enjoyed every one of them.  Honestly, unless you are very particular about your sleeping arrangements, in the evening when bedtime comes around you can be so exhausted from the day’s activities that you are asleep before your head hits the pillow!  When we have been on past road trips and visiting several national parks in a period of time longer then a week, we have found that a combination of campsites and lodges accommodations can be a great balance because sometimes you want the luxury of a comfortable bed and a private shower or bath.  If the national park you are visiting is close to a city, sometimes the hotel accommodations are more plentiful and rooms are available in all price ranges.

Visiting a national park can be an exciting adventure for you and your family.  To make the trip a successful one a little advance research is a good idea.  Once you decide on a destination and have accommodation reservations made, try to gather as much information as you can regarding the area in which you are planning to visit.  The local library is a good resource for tour and guide books on a particular national park or check out online book sources like Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  I always like to read a book about the history of the area before visiting.  Then, when we are on the trip, sometimes it is a good idea to have something to read in the evening when you are back at the campsite or lodge.

When I first visited Yosemite National Park I purchased a book by John Muir.  Muir was a naturalist and author who wrote about his adventures in Yosemite and the importance of protecting and preserving areas like Yosemite throughout the United States.  His activism efforts lead to founding the Sierra Club which is one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States.  I really enjoyed reading about his adventures in Yosemite and then visiting the places he was talking about in his books.  I think I appreciated my time in Yosemite more when looking at the beauty of the scenery through the eyes of John Muir.

The next major decision when planning a national park trip is determining a schedule of activities and things to do.  Gathering information about the activities of the national park is a very helpful way to setting the trip budget because it allows for additional expenses such as: guided tours, rock climbing, horseback riding, raft trips, etc.  Once the trip dates are confirmed, I would advise booking any type of popular activities in advance.  Sometimes these activities fill up quickly especially during the peak summer vacation months.  Nothing can ruin a trip more than arriving at a destination and finding out that activity you were looking forward to experiencing has been sold out.  When we visited the Grand Canyon we wanted to take the mule ride on the Bright Angel Trail, so we booked the ride in advance and were able to pick the day and time that fit into our trip schedule.  On this same trip we also reserved a popular river raft tour on the Colorado River in advance so as not to miss out on this exciting adventure.  As early as possible, take the time to get these important reservations made and it will eliminate the stress so you can enjoy the trip knowing that your activities are confirmed!

Listed below are several additional tips and suggestions to help when planning a national park trip.

Tips and suggestions when planning a trip

  • When starting to plan a trip to a national park, a great resource is the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov  This website will have information regarding specific national parks such as: hours, fees, reservation, history, geology, animal, plant info as well as a special section for kids.
  • Be sure to involve the kids in the planning process, talk to them about what sites they would be interested in visiting.  Plan a balance of adult and children activities to keep everyone happy.  Be flexible in planning the activities and don’t over schedule, smaller child need time to simply play and run or maybe even take a nap.
  • When traveling, be sure to break up the trip with frequent stops at rest areas or for meal times.  Sometimes national parks are located far away from cities and facilities may be limited.  Be sure to check in advance for this type of information.  Plan ahead with extra snacks and drinks or perhaps pack a picnic lunch.  When on the hiking trails or outside the car, be sure to carry enough water for everybody and especially in the southwestern national parks in the summer it can get very hot and you will want to avoid dehydration.
  • Before leaving, consider purchasing a special map for the kids so they can enjoy following along during the trip.  This will answer that inevitable question of, “are we there yet”!  Also, when you know the specific national park you are visiting, check out the children’s section in your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com, sometimes you can find a fun book for them to read about that particular park.
  • If you are traveling to several national parks, consider purchasing the National Park Annual Pass.  The pass is $80 and valid for a full year from the month of purchase.  Do the math and see if this would be economical purchase for you.  If you are traveling with a senior citizen, consider the Senior National Park Pass which costs $10 and is valid for a lifetime.  The purchaser must be 62 years or older and the Senior Pass admits the pass holder and up to three additional adults traveling together in the same vehicle.  (Children under 16 are always admitted free in a national park)  We found out about this from a park ranger when we were traveling with my husband’s mother and we joked that from now on when we visit a national park we are taking her with us because basically we could get in for free!
  • When at the national park visitor center, consider purchasing the Passport to Your National Parks Stamp Book.  This is a great way for the kids to collect stamps from the parks they visit and a fun way to remember the places.  One of our first stops in any national park we visit is the visitor center for maps and current park info, while there our daughter always heads to the passport stamp section to get the park’s stamps for her passport book.
  • Another great idea for the kids is the educational Junior Ranger Program and it is totally free.  When you are at the park’s visitor center pick up a copy for your child.  Usually the booklet has activities and questions for them to answer while they are exploring the park.  When the book is completed return to the visitor center for them to participate in a quick ceremony administrated by the park ranger, the child will raise their right hand and repeat the Junior Ranger oath before receiving the park’s Junior Ranger patch.  We always try to do this with our daughter and it is a great photo opportunity!
  • Taking a pet, particularly dogs, on a trip may sound like a good idea but most national parks have rules and regulations.  Always check in advance for information regarding pet limitations as this will be helpful in determining whether to leave them at home and making alternative arrangements.
  • When visiting the national parks, be sure to observe all the rules and regulations such as speed limits.  Be sure to take into consideration any special safety signs such as bear warnings.  Respect the park’s wildlife and be sure to observe bear safety rules when on hiking trails and other areas of the park.  It is always a good idea to make a quick check of the weather report at the park’s visitor center and while there also check for road or trail closures.  Heat or high altitude conditions can effect visitor’s health, so take precautions and be prepared.  When we go on hikes in the national parks, we always carry a small backpack with a small first aid kit, flashlight and enough water for everyone.  Consider purchasing a couple of reusable water bottles prior to your visit for use while hiking, this is an excellent way to be green (earth) smart.
  • Since one of the goals of the National Park Service is protecting and preserving our national parks, be aware of your impact on the environment.  Consider parking your vehicle and walk, bike or take the park’s public transportation when available because these simple choices will reduce the carbon emissions into the environment.  Be sure to observe the recycling cans while at the visitor center, lodges, campsites, etc. while in the park.  Conserve water whenever possible while in the parks, such as washing dishes at campsites.  When at the campgrounds be sure to minimize your campfire impact, when leaving extinguish the fire fully and be sure to dispose of waste properly.
  • When camping in the park, before to check all camping equipment before leaving.  If the tent is new, consider setting up and taking down the tent.  Solve any possible problems and check that all equipment is functioning properly, such as the camp stove or lantern.  Be sure to have extra batteries for flashlights, etc.
  • Please stop and take a moment with your family to enjoy the national park with all the beauty and activities that are available.  If you have limited time when visiting the parks, be sure to stop at the visitor center. These facilities offer information and other services, excellent natural and historical displays and orientation movies as well as shopping and sometimes dining opportunities.  Be sure to take a drive on any of the scenic roads because it is a great way to explore the park.  Take the time to get out of your vehicle and walk even a short distance on one of the park’s hiking trails.  This is a great idea especially when a park can be crowded during the busy summer months.

Finally, I hope that you and your family consider a trip to one of our national parks.  There are so many diverse natural and historical sites to see and I’m sure any one of those chosen will provide you and your family with experiences and moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.

For additional ideas and tips when visiting a National Park please check out National Park Travel Tips (Part Two).