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Health & Fitness

Our National Parks are a Great Family Vacation

Summer Vacations with the Family

Summer vacation is just around the corner--What are your vacation plans?  One of the great vacations in the States is to visit one of our many national parks.  There are currently 58 National Parks in 29 states from Alaska to the US Virgin Islands.  Depending on how extensive of a vacation you want to take, there are several small and large national parks and recreational areas within easy driving distance of Massachusetts. 

Some of the most popular national parks are Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park.  A great national park right in our area of the country is Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine.  Acadia National Park is only 264 miles from Boston so it makes a great long weekend getaway to a beautiful national park. The Park has many activities and sites to offer, including the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast. There is a 20 mile loop road in the park that you can drive and see the coastline, mountain peaks and the forest.  There are many trails to hike of various difficulties and a 45 mile carriage road to bike along.

One thing to keep in mind when planning a trip to one of our great national parks is what time of year you want to visit.  Many offer activities for all seasons.  The busiest time of the year for the national parks is summer so when planning, it is best to plan well in advance if you want to stay within the park. Many of the national park lodgings book a year in advance for the summer season.  There are numerous other options for lodging outside of the parks, with many offering shuttle service to the park so you can enjoy your visit without the need for the extra driving. 

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This year there are many opportunities to get free entrance to all of our national parks.  These dates include:

  • June 9
    Get Outdoors Day
  • September 29
    National Public Lands Day
  • November 10-12
    Veterans Day weekend

We are blessed to have some great parks in this country. When planning your next summer vacation, give me a call and I can help you plan the best vacation for your family—and maybe a trip to a true U.S. treasure. 

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