Preparing for Park Travel
ParkChat
59NationalParks
31✔
Q1 #ParkChat What kind of Park travel planner are you? Do you just wing it? Wait until the last minute? Start a few weeks in advance? Or do you make your plans month in advance? Why does such an approach work for you? Does your planning approach lead to any hiccups? @Wild_Tribute
mjn126
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: I do a little research on the https://t.co/HeKAkKz3na website, talk to some people who have been there, and the rest is just wingin' it! #ParkChat
MattsRoadTrip
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1. Funny enough, even though I'm hosting the planning chat, I usually wing it before it get to the park, but do all sorts of planning in the mornings while I'm there. Coffee planning is awesome! #ParkChat
Wild_Tribute
A1. We teeter on thorough to excessive. To avoid dwelling, must have best of the best plan within allocated time to tackle an adventure. #ParkChat
unconpeace
A1 I like to stay at the National Park lodges, so I started making reservations for next year's trip in 1987 #parkchat
mdeichlerauthor
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: Lately I haven't planned very far out. However when the family starts planning our next Yellowstone trip, that will probably begin a year before departure (we like staying in the lodges in the park and that really helps with getting reservations) #ParkChat
theRangerLife
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1. I am very much a planner, months in advance. I want to make the most of our trip! #ParkChat
tthrash
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1 A little of everything. Most of it is planned/sketched in my mind well in advance, but I also absolutely wing in on other occasions. Maybe 65-35. #parkchat
BarnetteJason
A1 I start planning a few weeks, sometimes months, in advance but then usually change everything at the last minute and just wing it. True story. #ParkChat
Stars252525
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1 Months in advance, almost down to the minute. Hubs is a great planner and is very organized. I go along for the ride. #ParkChat
EverybodysNPs
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: it depends on the trip. We live far from all national parks so we are required to plan how we will get there, where to stay/camp. we look at website, guidebooks, all of you lovely folks. for recommendations. #parkchat #everybodysnationalparks
carfreerunner
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1 When we went Yellowstone NP, we planned out quite a bit. Trips closer to home, we often wing it, sometimes leaving for nearby State parks on a whim. #parkchat
t_jh2009
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1) If I'm familiar with a park like Yosemite I'll usually just check about the road conditions beforehand. If I'm going to a new park like Mammoth Cave was last year I'll do a fair amount of research ahead of time. #ParkChat
ParksandPoints
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1) Plan, plan, plan, but more on the 6-12 month scale as we usually travel on points so have to book airfare rather far out. Unless there's a government shutdown, seems to work pretty well. #parkchat
WildWithinHer
A1. Plan which parks in advance, check out online alerts, and then generally get advice from rangers once there. Always start at the VC. Will make campground reservations well in advance if we know our travel dates. #ParkChat
coasthikergirl
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1 #ParkChat I’m a bit of a winger. It’s often a last minute weather-window decision to visit our nearby NPs. If it’s a full-blown road trip adventure then I plan a bit more to make sure reservations are in place. I winged it in Yosemite once. Never again.
OutdoorAdv360
A1: plan way ahead. We rv so we need to make reservations early in all campsites. NP cmspsites fill up especially fast for our rig size. Winging it would mean no spot for us. #ParkChat
RCGibby73
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: I start planning at least preliminary stuff mo this in advance, keep an eye on sites, apply for Permits when needed but not too late. I can’t be last minute when it comes to Permits in our Parks. #ParkChat
louisbink
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute a1 - With hella crazy kids sports and team schedules - we have to be diligent planners and fight for the right to have some time away to travel #parkchat
iStefPayne
A1–Both! Sometimes winging it prompts really cool experiences; some adventures require smart planning. Guess it depends on how bold your exploration goals are. #ParkChat
e_terren
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1. Planning is part of the fun, so I'm always thinking about trips. I may know for certain about plans 2 or 3 months ahead, other times just 2 or 3 weeks. I used to call ahead to parks to ask for every scrap of paper info they could send. Now, websites. #parkchat
JulesHalvy
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: I do a lot of research on hikes. I think it’s important to choose a hike that’s suitable for your skill level and make sure you know what you are getting into. #ParkChat
DryTortugasFilm
replying to @mjn126 @mjn126 @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1) #Parkchat a bit of both but the 2020 tour will be very well planned, since others will be depending on me to be exactly where I say I am to screen the film! Of course. there will be cushioning between each stop so we can explore, I've started planning more than a year out.
Parkasaur
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1. We generally plan things a few weeks in advance. Too many things tend to change any further out than that. And of course, the latest info may always keep plans in flux. #ParkChat
publiclandlvr
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1: We make a general plan that allows for spontaneity. For example, we had to plan many months in advance to float the Missouri River, but we camped when we were ready to camp not because we had a specific destination in mind. #ParkChat
naturetechfam
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute #parkchat A1 I have spreadsheets with lots of tabs and all the options laid out. Where to stay, eat, what to do, stops on the way. Then a week ahead I let my family have SOME say in the plan. Some. 😉 But we also leave room for spontaneous fun too.
rscottjones
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1 #parkchat Since I'm usually visiting a number of parks in a single trip, I schedule the broad outlines of my trips months in advance—sometimes even years. But when it comes to the day-to-day itinerary, I often schedule as I go. It's worked well so far.
Todd_the_Hiker
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute A1. Months in advance! I made the backcountry campsite reservations for our September @PicturedRocksNL backpacking trip in January to ensure we got the itinerary we wanted. #ParkChat
terragalleria
A1 #parkchat Both. For the solar eclipse of 2012, I planned only a few days before the event: https://t.co/phxsnRfVSx 1/2
terragalleria
A1 #parkchat But for the solar eclipse of 2017, it was almost a year in advance https://t.co/hwXHdufOV2 2/2
MattsRoadTrip
RT @terragalleria: A1 #parkchat But for the solar eclipse of 2017, it was almost a year in advance https://t.co/hwXHdufOV2 2/2 https://t.co…
59NationalParks
RT @terragalleria: A1 #parkchat But for the solar eclipse of 2017, it was almost a year in advance https://t.co/hwXHdufOV2 2/2 https://t.co…