Explore the Country’s Most Visited National Parks

April 11, 2014 12:02 pm

Looking for adventure? Challenges, education, and exploration await at our country's 401 national parks— 84 million acres' worth in every single state across the U.S.! Here are the country's three most-visited National Park Service sites and reasons why you should visit:

1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 9,354,695 visitors in 2013
Straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers 800 spectacular miles of trails over 521,490 acres. In addition to hiking, visitors can camp, picnic, bicycle, explore historical sites, or fish the park's 700 miles of streams. (See a full list of to-dos here.) Watch your step: A trip to this national park might put you within range of a black bear, elk, or white-tailed deer.

2) Blue Ridge Parkway: 12,877,368 visitors in 2013
Awe-inspiring mountain passes are the hallmark of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic 469-mile drive that connects Virginia's Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A good old-fashioned road trip along the Parkway promises pit stops way better than your standard fuel-up: Expect scenic overlooks, hiking trails that lead to secluded waterfalls, and plenty of native flora and fauna. Check out suggested itineraries here.

3) Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 14,289,121 visitors in 2013
America's most visited national park site, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area comprises 24 attractions in and around San Francisco, California. These include Alcatraz, the Muir Woods redwoods forest, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Read more about the Golden Gate National Recreation Area here.

Ten Most Visited Parks [National Parks Conservation Association]

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Fun Meets Sustainability at Discovery Green

April 10, 2014 10:59 am

Discovery Green in downtown Houston is a newer urban park that hosts many cultural activities throughout the year, from art shows to weekends dedicated to activities for Fido. As it's name implies, Discovery Green is a "green" park. Not only does the park employ a high-efficiency irrigation system and solar panels, Discovery Green earned a Gold rating from the LEED Green Building Rating System for its use of sustainable building methods and energy conservation.

Now for the really fun stuff: This park is a great spot to mix up your exercise routine with free classes that range from yoga to hoop dancing. In summer, kids love cooling off in the splash park fountains, and in winter, the ice skating rink draws a crowd to downtown. If you work nearby, the park is great for a quiet outdoor lunch.

Discovery Green
1500 McKinney Street
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 400-7336
http://www.discoverygreen.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/discovery-green-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Alexis Fam Photography

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5 Classic Apple Pie Recipes

April 4, 2014 6:00 pm

There are few things more American than sweet apple pie, and there are a number of different ways to prepare this classic dessert. Here are a few delicious apple pie recipes that are easy enough to make at home.

Scrumptious Apple Pie [Betty Crocker]
With a buttery, flaky crust and perfectly gooey filling, this is a classic recipe for everyone’s favorite dessert.

Old Fashioned Apple Pie [Simply Recipes]
If you don’t have an old family recipe, this apple pie recipe can be just that. It uses real, whole apples, a variety of spices, and even an egg wash to finish everything off.

Apple Pie [Williams Sonoma]
When you want an apple pie that looks just as good as it tastes, this pretty latticed version is the recipe to use.

Apple Pie Recipe and Video [The Joy of Baking]
Ideal for beginning bakers, this recipe features an informative video to follow along with as you bake.

Dreamy Apple Pie [The Pioneer Woman]
This recipe involves real butter and heavy cream to create a truly decadent apple pie.

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