Military Officer - April 2008 - (Page 64) M ANY N AT IONA L PAR KS offer a week’s worth or more of exploring plus close access to fun in nearby towns. So consider slowing down your next family getaway with some scenic drives, hikes, wildlife watching, and biking, and rediscover some of America’s favorite parks. Acadia National Park At Mount Desert Island, Maine, home of Acadia National Park, the mountains meet the sea, making for a rugged landscape of ocean-carved rock and wild waves. Known for 45 miles of broken-stone carriage trails developed by John D. Rockefeller Jr., the park has endless opportunities for hiking and biking. With mountains that extend no higher than 1,600 feet above sea level, Acadia’s highest peaks are accessible to many, often via short hikes. Most visitors begin their tour of Acadia at the 27-mile Park Loop Road, which opens April 15 and traverses the island’s east coast as well as its wooded interior along Jordan Pond. Along the way, visitors can hear the pounding roar of the sea hitting rock at Thunder Hole or search for creatures like barnacles and anemones under the rocks at low tide along Sand Beach. Tea and popovers at the Jordon Pond House make a nice afternoon treat, and as evening draws near, the perfect spot for watching stunning sunsets or sunrises is at the top of Cadillac Mountain, accessible from a winding access road toward the end of the one-way driving tour just outside Bar Harbor. Acadia has more than 125 miles of hiking trails, ranging from level hikes through woods to steep climbs up rocky mountains and along scenic cliffs. For those traveling with children, the one-mile Jordan Pond Nature Trail, which winds along the pond through the forest, is an easy hike. Those interested in a more intense hike should consider the Acadia Mountain Trail, which offers breathtaking views of Somes Sound. Many of the higher-elevation trails are closed in spring and early summer to protect peregrine falcon nesting areas, so it’s best to check with park rangers before preparing for a hike. Those who want to bike or ride horseback can do so on the park’s system of carriage roads. In the evenings, the bustling village of Bar Harbor offers plenty of distractions for visitors, with a mix of New 64 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2008 England bed-and-breakfasts, quaint and cozy restaurants, and a variety of gift and craft shops. From Bar Harbor, you can catch a ride on the CAT, a high-speed car ferry offering day trips across the Gulf of Maine to Nova Scotia. Many charter boat companies also offer whalewatching trips from Bar Harbor, and outfitters provide guided kayaking trips along Frenchman Bay. Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 — making it the oldest national park in the U.S. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, Yellowstone is home to a variety of large mammals, including bison, elk, and moose, that are commonly seen along roadways throughout the park. The biggest draw for visitors are the geysers and hot springs that bubble, creating a landscape of eerie steam and pockets of heat. In fact, Yellowstone is home to more than 300 geysers — totaling 60 percent of the world’s geysers. The most famous of these is Old Faithful, which erupts with regularity every 60 to 90 minutes, spewing thousands of gallons of boiling water into the air, sometimes spraying as high as 184 feet. As park spokesperson Al Nash points out, however, Yellowstone isn’t the kind of park one can cover in a day, maybe not even a week. For those who want to do more than take in Old Faithful and snap pictures of bison, Yellowstone offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including a variety of hikes through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The canyon is 20 miles long with a depth of 800 to 1,200 feet and is bisected by the Yellowstone River, which has carved two stunning waterfalls in the golden rock. Those interested in seeing the park’s most famous predators might have to head off the beaten path. Mount Washburn is one of the best places in the park for spotPHOTOS: RIGHT, JOHN ELK III/GETTY IMAGES; PREVIOUS SPREAD, TIM FITZHARRIS/GETTY IMAGES
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