Check Out These Fun Facts About U.S. National Parks

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation that enables you to get in touch with nature, visiting a national park is a great option. There are numerous National Parks throughout the country that offer outdoor activities, camping, and much more. Here are some facts about the nation’s most interesting parks.

  • The National Parks System has 397 national parks on record, but some of them don’t seem like parks at all. Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, for example, is considered a National Park.
  • Perhaps the most famous National Park, Yellowstone National Park, is also the country’s first. Ulysses S. Grant signed a law deeming it a National Park way back in 1872.
  • Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America, is located in Denali National Park and Preserve. The lowest point in the Western hemisphere is also located in a National Park; it is Death Valley, and it is found in Death Valley National Park in California.
  • There are two National Parks located north of the Arctic Circle: Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Kobuk Valley National Park. Both are located in Alaska.
  • More than 280 million people from all over the world visit American National Parks each year.

National Park System Fun Facts [ NPS]
Facts About US National Parks [U.S. National Parks]
Little-Known Facts About America's National Parks [Huffington Post]

Five Must-See Parades Around The Country

Everybody loves a parade! No matter what the occasion, it’s always fun to see a community’s best get up on floats, march in bands and put on a show for the crowd. These five parades around the country are some of the most compelling parades you'll find:

The Rose Parade, Pasadena, California
This parade has been staged since 1890, making it one of the longest-running productions in the United States. What started as a small-scale celebration of the new year has grown, in conjunction with the Rose Bowl college football game, into a spectacular celebration watched by millions.

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana
You haven’t lived until you’ve watched the Big Easy’s legendary Mardi Gras parade. Groups of dancers and musicians from all over the city called “krewes” take to the streets in flamboyant costumes to get crazy, and it’s an indescribable experience.

US Coast Guard Festival, Grand Haven, Michigan
This tribute to the men and women who make America’s shorelines safe is a three-day event that closes with one of the country’s most impressive fireworks displays.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City
Probably the most famous parade in the country, this stroll down the Big Apple’s Broadway is famous for its enormous balloons in the shape of famous cartoon characters.

Nevada Day, Carson City, Nevada
Celebrating the day that Nevada was inducted into the United States, this Southwestern spectacle draws huge crowds to pay tribute to what makes Nevada special.

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