The words are seared into the memory of every human that has had the joy of driving through Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” That simple, yet striking, phrase adorning the Roosevelt Arch defines what has become known as America’s Best Idea: a national park. I write this…
The artist formerly known as Jefferson Expansion National Memorial became a full-fledged national park under controversial circumstances in 2018. Incredible views of Mississippi from on high and a nice river walk aside, this is the least natural of the 63 national parks. Let’s dive in to the good, bad, and ugly surrounding this most interesting…
There is way more to be said about the hike to Angels Landing then I could put in a lil’ blurb. So let’s chat that beautiful, rocky cliff you see above: A Lil’ Backstory I spent two days in Zion National Park in 2023. After the first, I was grubbing by myself at the incredible…
A Note From the Author The following is a research paper I submitted for an American Environmental History class back in 2018, unedited except for the section subheadings and photographs. It covers a fight still raging today within environmental circles: should natural resources of significant beauty be left in a pristine state for people to…
Hebrew for “Holy Place” (and you thought this wasn’t an educational site!), Zion National Park was controversially renamed by the Mormons from its original, native name: Mukuntuweap. It is hard to disagree with their assessment. What is it? A red Yosemite (or is Yosemite a green-and-granite Zion?!) Fast Facts: Location: Southwest Utah Founded: 1919 (prior,…
Somehow the only national park in the Northeast, Acadia National Park sits pretty on Mount Desert Island in Eastern Maine. The first place in the United States to see the sun rise every morning, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the tranquility that abounds here. What is it? Peaceful lakes, rugged mountains, rough oceans,…
So imposing it can be seen 60 miles away from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park surprises in scale and in beauty. What is it? Snow-capped splendor with a potpourri of alpine forests, flower-laden meadows, and splendid waterfalls. Fast Facts: Location: Washington, on the western side of the Cascade Range Founded: 1899 Size: 369.35 square miles…
It’s the bridge between the Moab-adjacent and Vegas-adjacentish Utah parks: Capitol Reef. Tucked in southern Utah far away from major civilization, let’s talk Capitol Reef National Park. What is it? Certainly not the Capitol and the Reef is on it’s side! A zany, rocky wilderness with a Mormon history and a heckuva dark night sky….
Time for some Ohio representation: Cuyahoga Valley National Park is up on the docket to get the Ridley Review treatment. What is it? The suburban national park – what it lacks in scenery, it makes up for with a rich history and a reclamation success story. Fast Facts: Location: Eastern Ohio, just south of Cleveland…
The second national park near Moab is more remote and mysterious. It’s time to chat Canyonlands! What is it? Mars on Earth. Fast Facts: Location: Southeast Utah, outside Moab Founded: 1964 Size: 527.50 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it is in your budget – full access…
A forgotten gem tucked all the way up in rural NoCal: Redwood National and State Parks. Together comprising the largest collection of redwood trees remaining, let’s dive into this unique park. What is it? Good woods. Imposing trees. Peaceful prairie. Beautiful beach. Fast Facts: Location: Northern California, on the coastline Founded: 1968 Size: 217.33 square…
It’s time to talk about Moab’s crown jewel and a license plate inspo: Arches National Park. What is it? Arch Madness! Fast Facts: Location: Southeast Utah, just outside of Moab Founded: 1971 (previously a National Monument from 1929) Size: 119.81 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it…
The deepest (and arguably blue-est) lake in North America: Crater Lake. Do the pictures tell the whole story? What is it? A lake that is very deep and very blue. Fast Facts: Location: Southern Oregon Founded: 1902 Size: 286.29 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it is…
Bryce Canyon sits high in the Utah desert. Often paired with a trip to its big brother Zion, how does this park rate? What is it? High amounts of elevation, high amounts of Hoodoos, high amounts of fun! The Ridley Review: For soccer/football fans of a certain age, the name Rory “The Delapidator” Delap will…
Pinnacles. Sweet, rocky Pinnacles. A park most likely forgotten when one tries to list every national park, how does it stack up to the rest? What is it? A gruff exterior with a heart of gold. The Ridley Review: I feel like everyone knows that person: a tough, complicated, difficult to get to know person….
What is it? It’s Indiana Dunes: a beach day, a history lesson, a swamp, good woods, and some folksy small towns a stone’s throw from the Windy City. The Ridley Review: During the 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC was showing live primetime coverage of the Women’s Super G Alpine Skiing event. After the first 20 or…
What is it? John Muir, although a controversial figure, busts it down best: “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter” The Ridley Review: Wow! That is, with 99% likelihood, your reaction upon first entering Yosemite Valley. The pictures don’t do justice to the…
What is it? Mountains! Lakes! Rainforests! Beaches! Hot springs! Ocean! A little slice of heaven within a day’s drive from Seattle. The Ridley Review: My vote for super-sleeper national park: if by a miracle I am privileged enough to visit all 64 full-blown National Parks in my lifetime, I am confident this will stay in…
Fast Facts: Location: Western Virginia in the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Mountains Founded: 1935 Size: 311.2 square miles What it is: A narrow-shaped, quirky blend of history, mountainous overlooks, forests, meadows, and rivers with a road that makes the whole park extremely accessible. Visited: 2010, 2013, 2021 The Ridley Review: Shenandoah National Park…