1st Place Image from Last Conference Category, 2017 Photo Contest
Is the social isolation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic driving you nuts? One escape is to America’s national parks. (The photo to the right was taken at Bryce Canyon National Park.)
The National Park Service has announced a phased reopening of properties under its management, including national parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national seashores, and so on.
However, not all facilities at each park are open and restrictions vary by property, so be sure to check each park’s website before starting out. Conditions change frequently, and there are also restrictions and recommendations from state and local governments. Access to websites for all National Park Service properties can be found at www.nps.gov.
And our suggestion is to head to one of the lesser-known parks, where there will be fewer people, making social distancing easier.
For you cheapskates, there is free admission to all National Park Service properties on Saturday, September 26, National Public Lands Day; and also Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day.
The American West is experiencing an especially bad fire season this year, so travelers to western states should research wildfire conditions when planning their routes. One good starting place is https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.
Travelers may also want to check on travel restrictions in states they plan to visit or cross. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has a list of Coronavirus-related restrictions by state. See https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2020/coronavirus-state-restrictions.html.