Best National Parks In Illinois To Visit In 2023!

BY  Mashum Dec 29, 2021

Are you like me? Who loves the wilderness and the solitude. I am a solo traveler and I have visited a lot of national parks in the USA, the best of them according to me is Maine National Parks. If we share the same interest then Maine is the perfect getaway from everything.  The state is considered to be the place where the beautiful rocky coastline, pine forests, lighthouses, and the Appalachian Trail await you!.  When we talk about National Parks in Maine, there is only one National Park in Maine, but there are four sites that have been affiliated with the National Park services along with these there is also one National Trail that starts from Maine itself.  Acadia National Park is the main park in Maine. Maine National Parks that are affiliated are:  Maine Acadian Culture Centre. Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument. Saint Croix Island International Historic Site.  Roosevelt Campobello International Park.  In this article, I will be giving you a complete guide on how to enjoy Maine National Parks. Stay tuned! Acadia National Park Acadia National park is where the mountains meet the ocean. This beautiful spot is located southwest of Bar Harbor, Maine. This park embraces 47,000 acres that include half of Mount Desert Island, known to be the section of the Schoodic Peninsula. There are several small islands in between as well.  Acadia is known to be one of the 10 top National Parks in America, which attracts a lot of tourists.  Things To Do In Acadia National Park  Hiking hiking is the most popular and fun activity in Acadia National Park. For hikers they have 158 miles that are marked as hiking trails and your pets can accompany you there too. It is a great place to take your family with you and while walking you will be watching the ocean, flora, and wildlife.  Wildlife For many species, Acadia National Park is their home. Look out for otters, eagles, seals, painted turtles, deer, peregrine falcons, moose, black bears, and porcupines. Not just these but there are 338 species of birds that visit this place throughout different times of the year.  Water Activities To enjoy the ocean to the fullest, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating as well as exploring the tide pools are the right and fun choices to spend your afternoon. To spend some time with yourself you can also think about paddling around all the islands or maybe cam at some primitive sites. Solo Tours You can always explore the place by auto tours, or bus tours after a week of hiking when you just want to look around to find new interesting things. you can enjoy your own company as solo traveling. The night sky in Acadia gets stunning for being pitch black and some stars playing hide and seek. Other than this, in winter you can go ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow bowling, and dog sledding.  How To Get To Acadia National Park? From Mount Desert Island or Schoodic Peninsula, by car, it is really easy to drive to Acadia. The Rv campers must know that the historic bridges have high restrictions on roads. The rest of the roads do allow buses and long vehicles.  There are RV campsites that have a convenient bus system to drive tourists around the park. Therefore to explore po[ular locations you don’t need to hire a vehicle for that. Maine National Parks As I mentioned in the beginning, there are four affiliated sites that can somehow be considered National Parks in Maine. Let's see what they have to offer. Maine Acadian Culture Centre Maine Acadian Culture Centre is located in the U.S side of Saint John Valley. It shows the depth of the history of the Acadian settlers.  There are places for tourists to explore the intriguing architecture of the early 1900’s church, which is now home to Musee Culturel du Mont-Carmel. You can also just wander around all your own among the seventeen buildings of the indigenous Acadian settlement.  For those who would rather just stay outdoors than indoors and build memories to carry back home, have the Allagash Wilderness Waterway where angling, hunting, and canoeing are available.  Katahdin Woods And Waters National Monument  Possessing over 87,000 acres of Maine wilderness, this spot offers opportunities for outdoor roamers. This place is considered to be the hub for bird-watching and hiking. Katahdin is nominated as the international dark sky sanctuary.  Among the Maine National Parks, Acadia National park has a pristine National Monument whose location is perfect for date gazers and campers. To those who look for adventure during the wintertime as well, snow bowling is allowed in many areas,  and there are well-maintained trails for cross-country skiing. Hunting and fishing are also allowed here.  Saint Croix Island International Historic Site This place attempted to have a French Colonization, which now reminds historical events dating back to 1604. The trail is fine for visitors to leisurely walk and enjoys guiding themselves while they pass the bronze statues set in homage to French settlers and admire them.  There is a huge bird population and birdwatchers can easily report if they come across a new species of bird. Informal birds taking shadows are held through the entire summer.  Roosevelt Campobello International Park  This international park is to show respect to Franklin D. Roosevelt and his family.  This 2,800-acre island is full of forests, bogs, and beaches that offer an idyllic area, slow walks, and get-togethers.  People come across many cottages in the park including Roosevelt Cottage. This cottage is open to all tourists and provides guides that know how to answer the guests with politeness and information.  Appalachian National Scenic Trail  This Trail contains 2200 miles of habitual foot track. 281 of them are located in the state of Maine. It has ecosystems in the mountains that are quite picturesque. The tallest mountain in Maine, Katahdin, blemishes the starting of the trail and is the difficult mile on the route which is Mahoosuc Notch.  As the spot has a unique climate, it is also a hub for scientific research and studies. Workshops are available to educate people who wish to join the journey. There are plenty of exploration options for all skill levels, from friendly treks to thru-hikers. All the hikers that come from far places have to get a permit before starting their adventure.  Wrapping It All Up Here you go with everything you need to know before visiting the Maine National Parks. The place is considered to be the most beautiful National Park in America.  All ages can enjoy the view as well as the environment. You just have to take some time out of your busy schedule and visit the place with your family. I assure you the experience is going to be so good.  Read More: A Guide To National Parks In Alabama - Latest Guide A Guide To National Parks In Virginia - Latest Guide A Guide To National Parks In Wisconsin - Latest Guide Best Time To Visit Grand Canyon East National Park

BY  Mashum Oct 21, 2021

In these difficult times as well as the world where it has become so busy with work. People barely have time to chill and have some adventurous fun with friends. Running only behind money and work will not keep you healthy mentally.  For that, you have to hang out with your friends and do thrilling things that you can later tell your children, while you all sit in the same room. The most important thing you need for yourself is when you can say in the end after doing something crazy “ I am glad I did this, it was so cool”. Life is not all about serious things, they are part of life. The other part is where you can enjoy yourself with your favorite people and do incredible things like fly in a spitfire over some incredible landscapes. Let’s dive into the article where I will mention 25 crazy, adventurous things you can try with your friends. Go get a vacay and enjoy! Here are some adventure Ideas To Go With Your Friends 1. Go Ice-Cross Karting The chilling ice, provoking you to take the challenge of riding a kart, crisscrossing your way through. Imagine zooming down a smooth road. What is the fun in that? The real thrill is when the road will be full of frozen lakes. You and your friends waving at others saying ‘I'll race you is an amazing feeling. Though frozen lakes are pretty dangerous and can cause an accident anytime, that doesn't mean you will not take risks in life. This activity falls under adventure ideas. If you are up for the adventure. Continue reading. 2. Megavalanche Bike Racing Remember the song by Kaleo? ‘Way down we go’. There is only one way you can while participating in the Megavalanche bike ride….DOWN!. Imagine the freezing sharp pin-like air hits your face as you are on your bike just forward towards the bottom of the mountain.  The Megavalanche race is held every year in the French Alps at the Alpe D’Huez ski resort. Make a plan with your friends for fun adventures like this. Go ride that bike! 3. Upper Antelope Canyon When you think of American Canyon there is a usual picture that pops up in your mind, but if you are thinking something precise. The Upper Antelope Canyon in Arizona is the place you and your friends must visit. It has a narrow slot and a petrified sand dune. The sand dune got its beauty from the wind and water that has carved her for millennia. Get the guide of Navajo, they hold tours seven times a day. This is most desirable adventure ideas with your friends.  The best time is the morning when the rocks come alive by the kiss of the bright gleam of light. 4. World’s Largest Video Screen  Leave it to Las Vegas when it comes to doing the craziest thing. It has the biggest video screen turned into a giant disco where the Fremont Light Tunnel is about 460 meters long. Go get theta crazy sound and light show with your pals. They change the program every day but there is still a chance where you might find yourself in the world’s coolest and craziest LED block party!  5. Drinks And Axes Most of the beer bars have dart boards in there, but not in Louisville! They have something better and bigger, axes to throw at a dart-board-shaped board.  It is located in a warehouse, a huge space to do this activity as well as drink several beers.  Think of this scenario: you and your friends drinking beer and throwing axes on the dartboard! How crazy is that?. Don’t worry it’s a safe place, people don’t die there They have a strict ‘ no drunk people policy’, if they see that you are way too drunk, you won’t be allowed to do the activity.  Be careful about it and one of you from the gang, keep checking on others. 6. Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad For more than 120 years a tiny engine has been puffing through canyons of Colorado.  You and your friends can easily be on board and enjoy the beautiful jaw-dropping scenario of the one and only Durango and the railroad. This steam engine is the only engine in America that runs the Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, in the San Juan Mountains. Just like it used to in 1882. 7. Kayak With Orcas Kayaking in Johnstone Strait on Vancouver Island, Canada for weekend adventure ideas is going to be the best decision ever.  If you and your friends are into dolphins and orcas then better not leave this place out.  It is the most beautiful place to watch orcas in their natural habitat. Kayaking is the best way to explore the place as you will witness dolphins, seals, curious orca, and minke whales. 8. New River Gorge Bridge  It was established in 1977 and at that time it was the highest bridge in the world. Now, the world has many other high bridges to compare. So what, if the Gorge bridge is no longer the highest one? I am sure it has the same impressive sight. The bridge’s steel beams are nearly 300m upwards. Imagine standing together, holding hands, and promising each other to always live life to the fullest. You can’t appreciate the construction unless you are standing right under it. 9. Camp In Siberia The stunning nomadic tribe of reindeer herders named Nenet has lived for centuries. It is just above the Arctic circle on the Yamal Peninsula. 2018 was the first of the reindeer’s life when they allowed human interactions, they invited more travelers upon their land.  Plan a camp in the village of Labrovaya. Spend the entire night under the starry sky and find the beautiful beast just outside your tents, when you wake up.   10. Nepal’s Nubra Valley  Have friends and carry a bigger camera. Visiting Ladakh is not a big deal, it's just a tiny kingdom located in the Himalayas.  This compact scenario makes the Nubra Valley a special place that is surrounded by boulders and mountain peaks that also has a sandy expanse. There are few companies that provide the service of camels riding past tiny habitats and clear mountain streams. Together with friends, you can enjoy the place to its best. 11. Taiwan’s Sun-Moon Lake The location of sun-moon lake is just epic, it is nested high in Taiwan’s central mountain range. It is protected by jungle-covered slopes. But the magic begins at dawn, the blue water turns to gold because of the sun. Sitting there and talking about life among friends would be such a stress reliever. No wonder why CNN has ranked this place as one of the best on the entire planet. 12. Hang Son Doong This place is famous for its cave which is the biggest one in the world. No one actually knows the size of it. The cave has its own world inside of it, it owns a river and a jungle.  So huge that it can easily fit a 40 storey skyscraper inside. This place was not known by anyone until the British cave searchers found it in 2009.  You and your friends yelling each other's names which echoing, this feeling is like ‘top of the world’. This is worthful adventure ideas with your buddies. 13. Ras al-Jinz Have a love for animals? And curious about the endangered species? Pack your bags and Ras al-Jinz. Sea turtles are the main focus here. Hawksbill, Green and Loggerhead turtles call this place their home. They come to the sand from the sea, dig holes and lay eggs there. To watch this beautiful process of nature even in a better way, the Ras al-Jinz sanctuary is the best place to visit. Click pictures of the turtles and your gang together. 14. The Omo Valley  While many city people are busy in their fast-forward life, the tribes of Omo valley live their traditional way in peace. Goats are still herded on the dry, rough savannah scrub, the famous jumping of the bulls ceremony happens here as well as the Mursi warriors stretch their lips with lip palates.  This is one of the best adventures to go on with friends. On market days the tribes exchange goods using a barter system. This kind of scenario should not be missed, because we don’t have any traditional way to live life anymore.  15. Spirits In Chile A spiritual place is always a bit more exciting for adventure ideas. It’s normal for a group of friends planning to visit the mystical Chiloe.  The place has its own way of showing beauty, once you are in there it won’t feel like the rest of the world.  The morning starts with dense fog. The countryside can be heard whispering about myths, ghost ships, legends, and forest gnomes, Wow!. The place is so spiritual that the energy is very different there, so most people can’t connect with the place and therefore there is no crowd.  Conclusion  The article is for a bunch of friends who are planning a vacation together. It is no crime to ditch your work for a bit and enjoy life with the people you trust most. Here I am share top 15 adventure ideas. These are the places for an adventurous trip and adventures to have for sure. Forget the crowded world and dive into peace. ‘Keep your circle small and beer cold’. Leave a comment below and share your experience with us. Read More: Why You Should Move To San Diego Why You Should Travel as a Couple How to Fund the Cost of Travelling 10 Travel Tips For Singles At This Valentine’s Day How To Plan A Best One Day Trip To Atlanta With Family?

BY  Sibashree Aug 20, 2024

Lassen Volcanic National Park gets its name from the Lassen Peak, an active volcano in the southernmost Cascade Range. Even today, the Lassen Peak has hot springs and you will find fumaroles coming out of the peak’s mouth. These are also signs of volcanic activities in the volcanic mountains. Further, this national park houses all four types of volcanoes: plug domes, cinder cones, composites, and shields. These volcanoes make this national park a chosen destination for geologists and volcano enthusiasts. The presence of these volcanoes has also added unique hydrothermal features to this park. You will find vibrant hot springs, steam vents making hissing sounds, and mud pots with bubbling water here.  Here, I present a brief overview of the geothermal wonders of the park. I will also talk about the park’s camping provisions.  Geothermal Areas In Lassen Volcanic National Park The Lassen Volcanic National Park had 418,978 visitors in 2023, and we can say that its hydrothermal features are a major factor in crowd-pulling here. Snow falling on the park highlands and rainwater keep feeding the geothermal systems. Under the Lassen Peak, there is a molten or hot rock body. This hot rock body makes the water warm once it reaches underground. When the water becomes hot, you see the water boiling in the geothermal pools and mud pots. As the temperature of the water rises, it gets transformed into fumaroles. Fumaroles exude from various cracks in the earth. In Lassen Volcanic National Park, you will observe fumaroles at Sulphur Works, Devils Kitchen, and Bumpass Hell.  Little Hot Springs Valley You can have a look at the Little Hot Springs Valley from Lassen Peak (the largest plug demo volcano in the world) and other mountains lining it.   Further, various seasonal creeks drain into this valley, feeding the geothermal water. If you overlook the valley from the mountain peaks in the summer, you will see many wildflowers smiling. In particular, grass and the wildflower vegetation across the East Sulphur Creek edge is quite dense, thanks to various hypothermal activities. You can also look at the Little Hot Springs Valley from a pullout, just one mile away on the south. The view from this pullout is scenic, with lush green slopes before your eyes. If you look at the slopes with binoculars, you will find black bears roaming around.  Bumpass Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OE_c2SzWNw As you walk 7 miles from the southwest entrance of the park, you will find a parking area on the park highway. Here, you will find the trail to Bumpass Hell. With a 3-mile hiking trail(round trip), Bumpass Hell is the largest geothermal area in the park. You can only hike the Bumpass Hell trail in autumn and summer. It remains closed during spring and winter. The temperature of the geothermal water in the Bumpass Hell area can reach up to 322 degrees.  The elevation of this trail is 8,000 feet. However, because of its moderate difficulty level, you will find many visitors here on weekends. The water in this hydrothermal area is emerald green or blue in color. Further, the minerals in the water stain the rocks and soil in yellow and orange shades.  Sulphur Works It can’t get easier than hiking to Sulphur Works if you want to explore the geothermal wonders of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Here, you can see how volcanic activities have created the most interesting geology with shifting new and ancient grounds.  The landscape here experiences regular updates because of geothermal activities and natural activities like erosion. Also, thanks to the volcanic activities, you will encounter colorful rocks, steam vents, and the most pungent sulphuric smell here. Sulphur Works is important in the Lassen Volcanic National Park history, and it was earlier known as Supan's Sulphur Works. Mathias B. Supan, a pioneer of the American West, used to extract minerals from the ground here in the mid-19th century.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTvAs6VPfIE The hydrothermal area of Sulphur Works is interesting as it is located at the center of a wide basin. Brokeoff Mountain, Mount Conard, Pilot Pinnacle, and Mount Diller surround this basin. According to geologists, these mountains are eroded formations or remains of Mount Tehama or Brokeoff Volcano. Boiling Springs Lake A trail starting from the Warner Valley trailhead will take you to the Boiling Springs Lake, filled with hot and bubbling water. The temperature of the water in this lake is 125 degrees.  You will also find steam vents and mud pots on the shore. The mud pots on the southeastern shore of the lake demand a special mention.  As you continue on the Boiling Springs Lake trail, you will see colorful wildflowers. The vegetation of Douglas-fir, sugar pine, incense-cedar, white pine, and ponderosa pine will soothe your eyes here. This trail is also a birder’s paradise and one of the best places in the park to observe birds.  Devils Kitchen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pah0QzBkN0 This hike, starting from the Warner Valley Trailhead, is moderate, and it will take you to an area filled with boiling pools, mud pots, and steam vents. You can call Devils Kitchen a  Cauldron. The piled-up cracked red and yellow stones here give this place a colorful appearance. These colorful stones show deposits of various minerals found in volcanic eruptions. The Cauldron will keep making hissing, belching, and plopping sounds, and the unique odor filling the air creates the perfect ambiance of a natural kitchen. Something is definitely cooking in this kitchen!  Terminal Geyser Start hiking from the Warner Valley Trailhead to reach Terminal Geyser. It is a steam vent showcasing the active volcanic activities in the park.  Unlike a geyser, it does not erupt hot water periodically, and it’s actually a fumarole. Even if you can’t see the steam, you will smell a sulfuric odor, and there will be a billowing cloud.  Cold Boiling Lake You can start trekking from Kings Creek Picnic Area to reach the Cold Boiling Lake. The road to the Cold Boiling Lake is almost flat, and the landscape has further descent to the Crumbaugh Lake.  You can see some small gas bubbles near the shore of the Cold Boiling Lake. So, it is known as a dying geothermal wonder of the park.  The Cold Boiling Lake and its shores look the best if you pay a visit in the morning after a night of snowfall.  Pilot Pinnacle Pilot Pinnacle is a remains of volcanic composites. You will find it along the ridges of Mt. Diller and Brokeoff Mountain. You can look at this area filled with mud pots, pools, and steam vents from Park Road.  Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping Lassen Volcanic National Park has seven campgrounds. However, only four campgrounds are available this year. The Dixie Fire 2021 recovery process will keep the three other campgrounds closed in 2024.  The campgrounds open this year are Butte Lake, Summit Lake, Southwest Campground (Southwest Parking), and Manzanita Lake.  Closed campgrounds are Juniper Lake, Warner Valley, and Southwest Campground (Walk-in campground).  Most campsites in the park are available at this national park on a reservation basis. You can make the reservation between June and September. You can make your reservation at recreation or call the park authority at 1-877-444-6777.  Final Words  The Lassen Volcanic National Park is a hub of scenic beauty, active volcanoes, and various geothermal features. Active volcanism and weather forces, like rain and erosion, have given this park a rich geological landscape that goes back thousands of years. With the magnificent Lassen Peak towering over the park, the hydrothermal areas are surrounded by forests and green meadows. So, various species of animals, birds, and insects reside around these geothermal areas.  So, if you are a volcano enthusiast, a wildlife lover, or a hiker, pack your bags, plan a trip to this national park, and share your experience once you come back.  Lassen Volcanic National Park FAQs  What Lives In Lassen Volcanic National Park? Home to around “300 species of vertebrates,” Lassen Volcanic National Park has many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. The park has three ecological zones where you can encounter rich wildlife.  Mammals: Black bear, Sierra Nevada red fox, mountain lion, America pika, snowshoe hare, Douglas’s squirrel, mule deer Birds: Steller's Jay, Clark's nutcracker, Anna’s hummingbird, woodpeckers, round-legged hawks, etc.  Amphibians: Pacific tree frog, long-toed salamander, western toad Reptiles: Sagebrush lizards, northern lizards, alligator lizards, western terrestrial garter snake, rubber boa, Northern Pacific rattlesnake, etc.  Fish: Rainbow trout, Lahontan Redside, speckled dace, etc. Along with these animals, you will also find the most beautiful  California Tortoiseshell butterflies, spiders, and other insects in the park. The total number of invertebrate species living here is 350.  What Is The Closest Town To The Lassen Volcanic National Park? Chester is the closest town to the Lassen Volcanic National Park. You can take a 40-minute drive from the southwest entrance of the park. You can relax at the eateries at Chester, and you will find some decent lodging options here.  Who Died In Lassen Volcanic National Park?  Tommy Botell, a 9-year-old boy, died in an accident in the Lassen Volcanic National Park on 18th March 2010. His elder sister, Katrina, a 13-year-old girl, was severely injured in the same accident.  The mishap took place at the Lassen Peak Trail.  Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. Traveling On A Budget: Tips For Affordable Adventures. Be Soothed And Meet History At Hot Springs National Park.