The VFMS Spark Spring Edition 2014 | Page 72

Next up is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Here you can have your breath taken away by the world’s largest collection of geysers. The park has twelve campgrounds so that visitors can become closer to nature during their stay. The site has campfires, so tourists can roast marshmallows and enjoy their soft, goopy goodness while staring up at the stars or watching a geyser blow its top in the distance. Other recreational activities encourage visitors to be active, such as rafting, horseback riding, fly fishing, tubing, and zip lining. The park offers several combinations of activities, including one called Zip and Dip. This package includes a three-and-a-half hour zip line tour and a three-hour raft trip. It is fun that the whole family can enjoy!

Five more seconds. Four. Three. Two. One. Finally! Summer vacation is here at last! With a calendar clear of homework and school, students should consider spending their newly earned free time not inside in the dark, but taking pleasure in the beauty that Earth offers. Visiting U.S. national parks is a fantastic way to become one with our planet while taking advantage of the warm weather, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

First stop: the Great Smoky Mountains. Located between Tennessee and North Carolina, this site has a definite wow factor, and the nearly ten million visitors that tour the park each year recognize that. In fact, the Great Smoky Mountains are the most visited national park in the United States. This park is rich with plant and animal life that makes the park even more beautiful. There are tons of activities to participate in during visits. To get more in touch with nature, a variety of options are offered for visitors young and old. Some choices are fishing, viewing the waterfalls, touring the site by car or bike, hiking, and camping. If tourists are tired they can relax while taking in the view as they are driven through the park or watch the orange glory of a sunset. However, if they are up for a challenge, tourists can hike up a mountain or work up a sweat pedaling through the magnificent sights. The Great Smoky Mountains truly has enough activities for everyone in the family to find something they love.

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