Preparing for Park Travel
ParkChat
mjn126
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2: Sometimes it depends on where I can drive in a period of time. other times it depends on the cheapest flights to a major city. If I get a cheap flight, I rent a car and kinda wing it to whatever is open. #ParkChat
WildWithinHer
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @theRangerLife @Wild_Tribute Call?! Heck, my mom WROTE AWAY for reservations in the late 1970s because long-distance calls were prohibitively expensive. #parkchat
MattsRoadTrip
replying to @JulesHalvy @JulesHalvy @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute Agreed, Julie! Thanks fo joining #ParkChat!
Stars252525
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2 Hubs asks me, what is the main park or 2 you want to visit? I tell him, and he gets to work. When I said Crater Lake, it turned into a 6 wk trip to the PNW. #ParkChat
Wild_Tribute
replying to @iStefPayne @iStefPayne Totally agree. Must leave wiggle room for some ebb and flow...and for those moments when plans are made to be changed :) #ParkChat
RCGibby73
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2: is it close? How will I get there? How long do I have to visit? What season is it? Lots of variables go into a choice. #ParkChat
BarnetteJason
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip Dang @59NationalParks. Somebody created some spiffy images for these questions in #ParkChat. Well, half the questions.
Wild_Tribute
RT @MattsRoadTrip: Q2 - When preparing a trip, how do you choose which parks to visit? #ParkChat https://t.co/VRfsTKMO1N
59NationalParks
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip @ParksandPoints @Wild_Tribute @GalsWander Wait for it. #ParkChat She was joking in the spirit of the fun announcement.
MattsRoadTrip
replying to @ParksandPoints @ParksandPoints That's how I do it, too! I love visiting new parks! #ParkChat
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
unconpeace
A2 Nowadays, I have to find parks that I can visit in only a six-day span, because that is generally the max length for my trips now #parkchat
WildWithinHer
A2. For the last several years, trips have been a few days before or after hubs' business trips. So, whichever parks are nearby! It's worked really well; we've seen a bunch of new-to-us parks. #ParkChat
mdeichlerauthor
replying to @MattsRoadTrip
@MattsRoadTrip A2: If the trip is not specifically to a park, I look to see which ones are near my main destination (and near could mean 2-3 hours...)
#ParkChat
Wild_Tribute
replying to @DryTortugasFilm @DryTortugasFilm @mjn126 @59NationalParks Nice! #ParkChat
tthrash
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2. Often choosing is tied to some sports stadiums I want to see or, it's because I look at an area of a map and see a swath of land I haven't traveled to at all or in a while. Then I map out a route (maybe ballgame-schedule driven) that let's me see parks in the area. #parkchat
59NationalParks
replying to @carfreerunner @carfreerunner @Wild_Tribute State parks make for great whim trips. #ParkChat
MattsRoadTrip
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @ParksandPoints @Wild_Tribute @GalsWander Haha! Duped. ☺️ #ParkChat
BarnetteJason
A2 I usually choose which #nationalpark to visit based on where my #roadtrip takes me. Lats year the #RoadtoTBEX took me to 6 NPS units. #ParkChat
https://t.co/h7hwbDbGlh
t_jh2009
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2) If the park is in the region of the country I'm visiting that greatly helps narrow down the selection process, then if it's a park I haven't been to yet & interest me the search narrows down even more. #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
louisbink
replying to @Wild_Tribute @Wild_Tribute @59NationalParks Nice of you to say - as we all know time is precious & especially with kids the clock moves at a blistering pace. #parkchat
MattsRoadTrip
RT @BarnetteJason: A2 I usually choose which #nationalpark to visit based on where my #roadtrip takes me. Lats year the #RoadtoTBEX took me…
EPCOTExplorer
replying to @59NationalParks
@59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute Plan and happily so. I like to know where I’m going to be and when.
And then have a gov shutdown happen and you have to change all your plans while you’re waiting for your connecting flight in ATL.
Not like I’m speaking from experience, or anything.
#findyourpark #ParkChat
theRangerLife
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2. We usually start with one park in mind and see what’s nearby #ParkChat
BarnetteJason
replying to @OutdoorAdv360 @OutdoorAdv360 I see big ole RVs in the Walmart and truck stop parking lots all the time! And every once in awhile I'll see them walking their dog haha. #ParkChat
59NationalParks
replying to @ParksandPoints @ParksandPoints @Wild_Tribute With points planning farther out is definitely a must. #ParkChat
carfreerunner
replying to @OutdoorAdv360 @OutdoorAdv360 Do they all take reservations? I know when we went to Sleeping Bear number of years ago, we had to get there early to get campsite & we were tent camping. #parkchat
DryTortugasFilm
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2) #Parkchat ALL of them! Hahaha, really though! So I can pick out the ones I'd like to explore more in depth later, plus it's our target audience because most people visiting a National Park would be interested in learning about the Dry Tortugas and seeing a film about it.
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.
ParksandPoints
replying to @59NationalParks @59NationalParks @MattsRoadTrip @Wild_Tribute @GalsWander #ParkChat
MattsRoadTrip
Q3 - When you visit a park for several days, do you prefer to camp within the park, stay in a park lodge, or stay in local hotels? #ParkChat
iStefPayne
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip Q2—I categorize. Whether I want to paddle, photograph, camp, climb a mountain, or just wander in a really peaceful setting...the adventure comes first. Then the park. For me. #parkchat
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.
BarnetteJason
RT @MattsRoadTrip: Q3 - When you visit a park for several days, do you prefer to camp within the park, stay in a park lodge, or stay in loc…
coasthikergirl
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2 #ParkChat The next one on the list! We’re sort of working out in larger and larger concentric circles. Need to venture into Idaho next. I’m also trying to collect Wilderness areas.
OutdoorAdv360
A2: In our travels, we hit every NP on our journey and the best state parks as well. I bought a NP book when in college and I began trying to visit everyone shortly there after...20 and counting...lots more to go #ParkChat
MattsRoadTrip
replying to @MattsRoadTrip A3. I absolutely prefer to camp in my Airstream. I prefer backcountry campsites if they're available, or more primitive developed campgrounds. #ParkChat
naturetechfam
replying to @Stars252525 @Stars252525 @59NationalParks @Wild_Tribute I like him. He's my kind of guy! 😁 #parkchat
EverybodysNPs
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A2: My kids made a list so we are trying to work through it based on what works for our logistics and schedules. Nothing is close to us sadly, but we try get to a few every year. #parkchat #everybodysnationalparks
Wild_Tribute
A2. Nothing like checking out a park’s best of the best views and day hikes to only go back at a later date and do the best Backcountry adventures within #ParkChat
ParksandPoints
replying to @MattsRoadTrip @MattsRoadTrip A3) For us, it's a mix of camping and hotel (lodges are lovely but tend to be expensive and not bookable on our hotel points.) We often move around the park, rather than saying in one place for multiple days. #ParkChat
Wild_Tribute
RT @MattsRoadTrip: Q3 - When you visit a park for several days, do you prefer to camp within the park, stay in a park lodge, or stay in loc…