Due to the creativity, foresight, and hard work of so many men and women beginning over 100 years ago up until now and hopefully proceeding much longer into the future, we have the opportunity to Explore America through recreation. As much of a gift as the National Park system is to the American people, that does not mean it is only for us to enjoy. Each year millions of visitors from all over the world travel thousands of miles just to experience our National Parks. Although it is estimated that over 100 countries have areas which are designated as national parks, ours are the most visited. What America lacks in historical sites (compared to the rest of the world) we make up for in wide-ranging, natural beauty which has been preserved for the betterment of the people. HistoryThe National Park Service (NPS) was officially created on August 25, 1916, after President Woodrow Wilson signed the act into law. This was known as the Organic Act which placed the National Park Service under the United States Department of the Interior. Since their creation and the aid of additional legislation, they have been given areas which at one point were under the control of other U.S. Federal Agencies such as, the War Department and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. As it stands today, the National Park Services scope of responsibility includes more than 400 areas which is encompassed in the following categories:
Today all of the land that is deemed natural, cultural, historical, and recreational falls under the control of the National Park Service, but that was not always the case. Since America is still relatively young, balance and control of certain areas has been - and still is a work in progress. Before 1916 some state and federal lands were split up amongst several different controlling entities, which made it difficult to manage and protect. Now, it is a more streamlined process which makes it easier for the government to preserve and more importantly, the visitors to enjoy. To see a full list of units under the control of the National Park Service, please click here: List of the United States National Park System official unites National Park Service AbroadTaking it one step further, the United States National Park Service has also assisted in the creation of other counties national parks and protected areas. This has happened more through guidance and consulting help rather than physical or financial aid. Although that may not seem like a lot, to the people who are currently appreciating beauty in their country, that is! It is all part of a larger picture. The world is filled with amazing areas and due to the efforts of the U.S. National Park Service and people all across the globe, more and more areas are being preserved than ever before in recorded history. Some of these countries include, but are not limited to:
The FirstYellowstone National Park is the first National Park created in the United States and was signed into existence by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. This was known as the Yellowstone National Park Act and is the foundation of which all U.S. National Parks would be "built" on. It is also considered by many as the first National Park in the world. However, there is some controversy regarding which park or even country holds this distinguished title as the Mongolian government is said to have established Bogd Khan Uul National Park in Mongolia in 1778. Whether it is the first or second National Park, there is no denying that it plays an import role in our nation's history as it helped set a precedence of what would become of America's magnificent natural and man-made wonders. As mentioned above, Yellowstone National Park is considered the first U.S. National Park. However, the Yosemite area was the first time land was set aside with the intent of preservation. This was known as the Yosemite Grant which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864. Although the Yosemite Grant predates Yellowstone by almost a decade, it did not officially receive the National Park designation until October 1, 1890. Therefore, Yellowstone holds that esteemed title while Yosemite technically is the third oldest National Park in the United States. It should be noted, out of the more than 400 parks in the National Park System, there are only 60 with the designation of "national park". The rest fall into the other categories which were mentioned above. Here is a list of the 10 oldest National Parks in the United States:
The BiggestThe United States of America, to include its territories is the third largest country by land mass covering approximately 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million square kilometers). Although America does not have as much protected land as other countries, that does not mean it makes the U.S. National Park Services job any easier. They are responsible for approximately 131,250 square miles (339,935 square kilometers) of land located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, America Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It takes an estimated 20,000 National Park Service employees and several hundred thousand VIPs (Volunteers-In-Parks) to help keep those areas in tip-top shape. Here is a list of the 10 largest National Park in the United States by size:
If You Build It, They Will ComeIn 1983, an American novelist and historian by the name of Wallace Stegner stated this, "national parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst." As someone who has an affinity for our National Park system myself, I could not agree with his statement more. What started as a bold idea has turned into a lifestyle and one that draws people in from all walks of life, cultures, and locations from around the nation and the world. People are willing to drive or fly thousands of miles just to wait in lines to enter our National Parks and walk with crowds of people just to experience the beauty of America which has been so tirelessly preserved. This speaks volumes and helps to solidify the suggestion that in fact, this was Americas best idea! It is estimated that in 2017 approximately 330 million domestic and international visitors walked through the gates of our National Park System. This number is up from years past and is expected to be even higher in the years to come. Since recreation visit records started being kept in 1904 up until now (2017), approximately 13,918,617,696 people have visited. In my opinion, the National Park Service does a phenomenal job of accommodating and educating such a large number of people. At the time of writing this article, the 2018 numbers were not published on the National Park Service website. Once they are, this section will be updated. Here is a list of the 10 most visited National Parks in the United States:
It's All About The MoneyEach year the National Park Service, as part of the Department of the Interior, submits their budget to Congress for their review and approval. Although the National Park Service is funded by the United States Government, that does not mean that is their only source of revenue. They receive additional money through the use of park entrance fees, recreational fees, and partnerships. The entrance fees can vary based on the Park and other factors to include, per vehicle, per person, per motorcycle, and Park-specific annual passes. To view these fees and options, please click here: Entrance Fees by Park If you live near or frequently visit National Parks or other areas associated with the National Park System or National Park Service, an annual pass might be right for you. They also offer annual 4th grade passes, senior passes, volunteer passes, access passes, and U.S. Military passes. To learn more about these and other passes, please click here: America the Beautiful Passes If you time your visit just right, you can take advantage of enjoying the National Parks for free. Typically, these days and dates change yearly so be sure to check before going. To learn more about this, please click here: Free Entrance Days in the National Parks To learn more about the National Park Service, please click here: NPS ConclusionWe here at Bourn Adventure have been fortunate enough to visit 20 National Parks (some more than once) and more than 100 of the 418 total other areas associated with the National Park System. The majority of these areas we have visited can be found on our website under the "ADVENTURES" tab. All of them have pictures from our time there and most have a story or stories of the adventure we had during our visit. With all due sincerity and respect, I thank all the men and women who work for the National Park Service and strive each day to make these areas and this country even better. Without their efforts or the efforts of volunteers, there is no telling what the American people along with those of other countries would be missing. Our goal is to continue to grow our collection of sites visited within the National Park System and deliver that content to you via our website, social media pages or emails. Although there is a world of information on the internet, it is not always easy to navigate. Our desire is to bring all of our travels, adventures, and experiences together into one, easy to find place, which could help identify locations for a future trip. Our hope is; by using information found on our website it makes your next adventure that much easier to plan, execute, and enjoy. There is no better time than now to get out there and Capture the Journey as you Explore America and Live Your Freedom!  Sources: NPS.gov | Wikipedia.org | Worldatlas.com | Theculturetrip.com | Budgettravel.com | Tripsavvy.com - Please help us reach more people by liking and sharing this article on social media! - Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Author: Baker Gallery
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We would like to give 2018 a proper farewell before getting too comfortable with 2019. Just like in years past, 2018 had its ups and downs, but just like anything else, its all about how you handle that rollercoaster ride. For us at Bourn Adventure we try to always look at the positive side of things and 2018 was filled with plenty of them! I would say Bourn Adventure (formally Bakes FJ) is better known for our massive road trips across the United States, some more than 10,000 miles long. On those adventures, our main focus was to Explore America and encourage others to do the same, even if it was just a short drive down the road. Adventure is everywhere and often times we overlook the closest opportunities to experience one. For so many of those road trips, our old Toyota FJ Cruiser was the focus and inspiration behind the journeys. After the loss of the FJ due to a roll over and following rebrand from Bakes FJ to Bourn Adventure in 2017, we have strived to expand our adventures. Here are the highlights from 2018! Petra, JordanDead Sea, JordanJerash, JordanAmman Amphitheater, JordanBaptism Site, JordanAmman Citadel, JordanBelize Cozumel, Mexico Muscat, OmanSinkhole Park, OmanWadi Tiwi, OmanAl Hazm Castle, OmanTropic of Cancer, Oman New Orleans, LANational WWII Museum, LAAbita Brewery, LAPensacola, FLNairobi, KenyaThe David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, KenyaNairobi National Park, KenyaMt. Longonot, KenyaEquator, Kenya Chicago, ILThe Morton Arboretum, ILSt. Louis, MO Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Author: Baker Your ticket to adventure is here! While on our GX Winter Road Trip: 2018 we visited The Morton Arboretum which is located off of Route 53 in Lisle, IL. Their property sits on a sprawling 1,700-acre plot of land and is home to more than 222,000 plants. They stay busy hosting events and their doors are open 365 days out of the year, which means there is always an adventure to be had and something to explore. One of the events The Morton Arboretum is most known for is the Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum. Although they are open year round, this Illumination event typically begins mid-November and run until the first few days of January. This is an entrance time controlled and ticketed event. They recommend purchasing tickets online and doing it in advance due to them selling out frequently. This was the first time experiencing a show like this and to be honest, I figured it was just trees with lights on them. Well, it was much more than that. Not only is it trees with lights, but it is a full-on production with several different themed sections. Throughout the mile-long walking path, you are greeted by dazzling light displays which use trees, bushes, and grass as the canvas to paint beautiful scenes. One such display takes a life of its own due to the use of tall trees, lights, shadows, and audio. We did the 6:30 pm show in mid-December. It was dark, cold, and misty that night, which in my opinion made for a much better display as the lighting bounced off the misty air. It was without a doubt an adventure and one we would gladly do again if we are there that time of year. To learn more about The Morton Arboretum, visit their website by clicking here. Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Author: Baker GalleryNot only do we document our travels, but we also sell rad stickers, patches, and other products as a way to help others show off their adventures! Going to the mountains? We have a patch for that! Going camping? We have a sticker for that! Sun beating down on your head? You guessed it; we have a hat for that! Since we launched our store in 2012, we have shipped products all over the United States and to more than 25 countries. To see all the places our products are in use, please click here: BAG Products World Map. We are blessed to have so many people around the globe rocking Bourn Adventure Gear. We wanted a way to personally thank them for their order. Our solution was to create Bourn Adventure postcards. This allowed us the opportunity to give each order a personal touch while continuing to share adventures from all over the world. We breathe new life in our postcards by periodically changing destinations and showcasing new locations. Each postcard series is assigned a number and runs for a limited time. Once that particular postcard is gone, it is done! So far all of the postcards have been a big hit and some people even started collecting them! Aside from that, customers have told us of conversations generated by the postcards hanging on their refrigerator or in their office. Hearing that something so simple could spark curiosity and encourage adventure brings a smile to our faces. To place an order and get your Bourn Adventure postcard, please visit our retail site: Bourn Adventure Gear Postcard AdventuresThank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Author: Baker |
AuthorsBaker and Ashlie are the owners of Bourn Adventure. They enjoy traveling and meeting new people. Each of them has a different and unique background, which helps to shape their articles. Guest AuthorsCheyenne Izaguirre Categories
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