It was quite a battle last week when we asked whether you would rather visit Utah's national parks or those in California.
Well, here's another head-scratcher: Would you first head to Wyoming and Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, or Washington State with Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier national parks?
Some might say this is a no-brainer, that you have to see the world's first national park -- Yellowstone. But ... the parks in Washington state are no slouches. Heck, I consider Olympic National Park to be three parks in one: You've got the beaches and Pacific Ocean, the temperate rainforests, and the high country, complete with glaciers. And Mount Rainier and North Cascades offer some incredibly beautiful, and rugged, landscapes.
Comments
How long do you have? Tetons are a knock-your-socks-off day trip. Yellowstone and Rainier are both good day trips.
If I had three weeks for a single park, I'd spend it in Olympic because of its diversity.
This is a difficult choice. I plan not to make the choice. I plan to see them all. Right now, my wife and I have visited Yellowstone and the Tetons. We spent six nights there, most in Yellowstone, the most we have spent in any one place. We found the area to be irresistable, Our problem is one of distance; we live in Florida. Our two previous trips out west were both a month long and the closest we could get to the Northwest was San Francisco. It would be very difficult to drive past all of those wonderful places in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, etc etc etc. We will probably have to fly to Seattle and rent a car. All in all, I would have to pick Yellowstone as the number one, mainly due to its history, animals, and thermal features.
I've been to 4 of the 5 National Parks mentioned (North Cascades is rarely visited an wasn't in our plan).
Seriously - Wyoming, and it isn't close. I could spend an entire two weeks in Yellowstone and it probably wouldn't be enough. Some people will spend an entire week at Old Faithful just waiting for the special moment when a big geyser like Giant erupts. Grand Teton is just off the charts gorgeous natural scenery.
However - I'd certainly like another shot at going through Washington. Kalaloch Campground at Olympic NP is a real gem. I didn't spend enough time at Lake Crescent and would have liked to have tried the short hike to Sol Duc Falls.
Easy, Yellowstone and Teton National Parks are superbly fine places to visit awhile.
The Olympic, North Cascades and Rainier National Parks infuse a little something into the brain that makes me want more of them, all the time..
I am on my way to Yellowstone on Saturday. I can't wait. Everyone's comments has added to the excitment. Thanks.
Yellowstone & Grand Teton bring me so much joy (I am leaving for a trip there in four days!); however, I very badly want to visit Washington State's national parks, especially Mount Rainer. Rule of thumb: the further West, the happier I am.
I vote Washington State!
You're asking me to choose between "my" two national parks. I live an hour and a half from Paradise (literally [g]), and I go to Mt. Rainier multiple times a year. But I've also been to Yellowstone nine times in the last eleven years, and I set a novel (and am in the process of setting a second one) there.
I am not going to play Solomon. Sorry.
I have to say that I love Yellowstone and the Tetons. And I have been to Mt Rainier but my big trip for next year will probably be a tour of WA's parks and Vancouver. So I can better answer this one next year. These questions are too hard. Its like asking me for a favorite child. I love them all!!!!