for my life list

Last night I visited my Pops for dinner (an extra yummy dinner actually - he is a great cook) and afterward we watched episode one of The National Parks: America's Best Idea on PBS. Honestly, I wasn't actually that excited to watch it but I was willing to because I knew Pops would really enjoy it (and heck, at least it wasn't more sports since he had previously been channel surfing between golf, baseball, football and NASCAR - I am a sports girl, but one at a time is enough for me).

Within moments of the show starting, we were looking for a list of all the National Parks on my iPhone. Pops told me about all the parks he had visited and I realized I haven't been much of anywhere. I have two official visits on my list - Rocky Mountain National Park and Redwoods National Park. Both visits were when I was quite young and I really don't remember much of either of them. I have driven through the Smokey Mountains and the Everglades, but never actually stopped to officially check them out.

So as a result "Visit more National Parks" goes on my life list. I am longing for a little exploration and adventure (of course with some modern conveniences mixed in) and would love to visit with a journal and camera in hand. Hopefully someday. I need to stop saying "hopefully someday" and actually start doing... but that is a post for another day.

If you like history, check out the remaining episodes of the documentary this week on your local PBS channel or online. The documentary isn't just all pretty pictures, it talks about the explorers, how the National Park systems came to be and how it has changed. It is really well done.

Comments

[Mary]

I checked it out last night. It's an amazing series! I recorded it on my DVR so I can watch them all. Thanks for the recommendation.

[kelli]

I do want to see more national parks. I feel like I've really celebrated nature in a new way this year and have loved every second of it.

[Lauren Lane]

I think the National Forests and all of Nature should be preserved, especially in areas where the building has gone out of control. We need some trees and "green" stuff around...or we will go totally mad.

[Colleen]

Dang it! I wanted to watch that. I never seem to remember until they're over, silly me. Thanks for the reminder and the good idea. I've been thinking that hubster and I should see some more parks, too. Maybe we could meet somewhere - the Colleens and a Cooper. That could be fun!

[Mary]

I love our national parks! That's a great thing to add to your life list.

Missouri also has some SUPER nice state parks that you should check out. Johnson's Shut-Ins is probably one of my favorite. I keep meaning to get out to some of the native prairies but haven't gotten there yet.

[Alli]

Oh, that sounds really neat! Like you, I haven't been to many national parks. Definitely one for the "someday" list...

[~Michelle~]

ha! we watched part of that last night too :) Visiting all of the national parks would be an amazing Bucket List accomplishment - I'm content for the moment to visit all 50 states. I've done a few parks on vacations as a kid, but only the Grand Canyon as an adult - definitely on the to-do list!

[Mary]

I was cleaning the kitchen and stuck the tv on for entertainment and it wasn't very long before I was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter watching this wonderful program! I've been to several parks, like you, as a child. But I was moved to tears with pride as they talked about teh history of how these great parks, in all their majesty came to be protected lands.... Now I want to read more about John Muir (SP?) as he seemed so extraordinary.... Don't know if my life's crazt pace with small children will allow me to watch others, but I know that eventually they will make it to DVD, which I fully intend to rent/borrow/buy in the future! Glad someone else enjoyed this great program too!