Why bother with National Parks?

[Trails_And_Tail]

We're new to RVing and have just bought an older Class C. My wife wants to take a trip touring many of the western United States' National Parks. I've been doing some research and this is what I'm finding: Crappy Roads, Crappy Campgrounds, Large Crowds, Lots of Walking, Varying Rules from Park to Park, Unpredictable Conditions and more that I'm forgetting righ now. With all of this, why in the world do people even bother with these parks and how do you even think about relaxing and enjoying the scenery? Righ now all I see is a gut-wrenching experience and I'm already a wreck just thinking about it.

[pegdiver]

I have used a mobility scooter in many parks. Sure it can be tough if there isn't a sidewalk but I can do boardwalks until I come to a stair. Lots of people might be able to help you get it up a stair. With your limited ability to stand and walk, 2 mobility scooters might just work fine. Some tour buses even let you store your scooter in their place while you take a bus tour. Figure out where you want to go and then look at the availability of handicapped options... From campsites to special tags to take a vehicle into places only the buses go. If I am having a bad day, I just go to an overlook and sit. Spring and Fall are great travel seasons. If you have handicapped vehicle plates and need to rent a car, look into getting a handicapped hang tag. I have e-mailed parks about certain things I want to do and ask how I could do it - most of the time, I get a great answer back. If things don't work out, something else usually does - like the time I couldn't go any further on the boardwalk at Yellowstone (stairs) - turned around, and had a bison cross in front of me! Hubby never saw it since he took the stairs! We do boat trips and bus or trolley tours if available at the parks.

[toedtoes]

Opie431 wrote:
We love the National Parks but we like to hike. It was stopping at our first NP that made us decide we had to learn to hike. They may not be for you. Different strokes for different folks.

I agree. On the flipside, I'd add that it's OK to go to the NPs and NOT hike. Sometimes, the most spectacular moments are just sitting and watching nature exist around you. Spending a day watching the shadows play on Half Dome can be more fulfilling than hiking to the top. It depends on what YOU enjoy and can do.

[Opie431]

We love the National Parks but we like to hike. It was stopping at our first NP that made us decide we had to learn to hike. They may not be for you. Different strokes for different folks.

[Dog_Folks]

Also instead of trying to see it all in one trip, why not visit one park or maybe two parks,, go home and few months later go to a different park.

You are retired now, so you don't need to see everything the first trip out.

Kind of how you eat an elephant: One bite at a time.

Talk to your wife, I'm sure that you will be able to work out a plan that is good for both of you.

[Naio]

Dog Folks wrote:

Trails And Tails wrote:
The anquish that I'm dealing with is because I want to give this trip to my wife(of 43 years) and I'm so afraid it will be a bust.

The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.

Yes. It might help to think a little more about your goals, too.

Is the goal to have fun and feel close with each other? Or is it to see certain things that she feels she will strongly regret if she doesn't see them? Or both?

It sounds like maybe you need to move 'have fun' up a little higher on the priority list, and 'make sure everything is perfect' way far down :).

[Drbolasky]

Trails And Tails wrote:
Righ now all I see is a gut-wrenching experience and I'm already a wreck just thinking about it.

I did not read all the replies to this post, but a couple of thoughts cross my mind almost right away. 1) You are retired, so go to the parks during the off season. Less crowded & less expensive. 2) You'll find a fair number of state, local, and privately-owned parks just like those you describe.

Like anything else, the successful, enjoyable RV trip starts with planning and research. We've been at this RV thing for 30 years (if you count the years we tented!) and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of truly bad CG experiences. I hope your fears are proved wrong. Enjoy & safe travels.

[Dog_Folks]

Trails And Tails wrote:
The anquish that I'm dealing with is because I want to give this trip to my wife(of 43 years) and I'm so afraid it will be a bust.

The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.

Sounds trite but it is very true. You will not have a perfect trip, but go into it with a "We are going to have a great time." rather than "This will be a bust."

Yes you will have some issues, but the rewards far outweigh the few problem's you may have.

If mobility is a problem, buy two of these (Had one for 5 years, good quality) and when researching sites look for disability accessible.

Go-Go Travel scooters

[Tvov]

Are you able to have a "towed" (or "toad")? A little car your Class C can tow? Might make things easier for getting around a park, once you get there. Can you bring some sort of mobility scooter(s)? What about a Segway or two? There are a lot of new, similar scooter things out now that might work get - don't get limited by the "I need a big, sit down 4 wheeled scooter" thinking. They might just fit inside the camper.

Ask, ask, ask! With your further explanation of your situation, you now can get better ideas and comments.

Some national parks are very much setup for "easy access"... we are going to Acadia National Park this month. Much of it can be accessed by a vehicle. The "carriage roads" are very much suitable for a scooter type thing.

Another thing to think about, before heading off all over the place to see national parks - what about state parks? We've found that even our little state (Connecticut) has an amazing variety of state parks that we never knew existed, and are within easy driving time.

Also... similar to another poster --- Stop planning and worrying, and just GO! Be flexible. Especially if you are able to go during the week, and avoid holiday weekends, many if not most parks will have room available, even at the last minute.

[qtla9111]

I can understand the OP. However, national parks are truly places to visit and do lots of great hiking. The national park campgrounds are very sterile and remind me of what I have seen of concentration or refugee camps. You need lots of quarters wherever you go to.

That said, there is a solution. We look for forest service roads and there are lots of boondocking spots. Last summer we visited the Grand Canyon and we found a boondocking spot right outside the park. It was fantastic. Enjoyed wonderful scenery from our site, no noise, and lots of wildlife. During the day we would drive into the park and fight the crowds and the camera clicking tourists that were on buses and trams. Not for us.

I think you can have the best of both worlds. As for roads, the country is in a state of infrastructure deterioration and that can only be fixed with money. Getting there may not be great, but once there you can truly enjoy it.

[magnusfide]

tonyandkaren wrote:

Don't do a marathon trip. Take short trips especially since RVing is new for you.

Excellent advice and I also recommend their blog. Short trips keep it special and less tiring.

We go to an area for 2 weeks and map out the things we really want to see; not someone else's bucket list.

For example if you're not into geysers you can skip that part. There's no divine "must see" list and no special awards for visiting every single park. Make your first list consist of the things you are interested in. Then look up those parks that have those features. Don't forget the museums that aren't in parks. Railway museums, even RV museums are usually handicap accessible and interesting to visit.

We rent a car locally with our senior discount and do the sight seeing bits. Much more relaxing that way. The point of RVing is relaxation and enjoying each other. That's worth more than anything.

[tragusa3]

Crowe wrote:
Relaxation and enjoyment are a state of mind. Not to be critical but I'd be second-guessing the who RV/Travel thing if I were you. If crowds and bad roads cause you that much stress, this isn't the lifestyle for you.

I really agree with the first sentence here. 2 Summers ago we did 16 Nat. Parks in 40 days and it was one of the top experiences of my life.

I have a well documented thread in my sig below. There is a reason I titled it "The Perfect Family Trip"....because we all know NOTHING is perfect! It's a state of mind. There is nothing that could have kept that trip from being perfect (short of major catastrophe).

Click my link as part of your research...it may make you feel more optimistic. 🙂

[RVcrazy]

I suggest taking a towed for easier access, especially if you have a handicapped parking pass. Some of the parks have handicapped shuttles so you don't need to do all of the driving. We stay at FHU sites near places we want to see. Are you comfortable driving this rig? If not, get a little practice in where you are comfortable.

If you are doing this for your wife, and to spend quality time together, you need to start with a bucket list that you would both enjoy, and plan the best way to hit the most important places. Slow it down a bit to keep stress at bay. We find that 4 days to a week works for us. Since you are retired, find somewhere warm for the winter and use some of that time for planning and relaxing a bit.

[2112]

Like most things in life it's what you make of it.
Go with an open mind and don't be disappointed if your expectations are not met. It's the unexpected that makes life a pleasure. There will still be enjoyable moments shared but you won't find them sitting at home watching the tube.

Some people feel and enjoy the rain, others just get wet.

[tatest]

It is a matter of what interests you. Not just National Parks, rather "must see" lists of anything. Once something gets on a list, everybody has to "do" it and check it off their list, so the places get miserably crowded.

If you are not working at checking off places on lists, you can decide whether what is there is actually of enough interest to you, to deal with the crowding caused by putting places on "must see" lists.

[Naio]

Can you rent or buy mobility scooters or mopeds, and bring them?

You don't have to reserve a year in advance if you go while kids are in school 🙂 I got 4 nights at Yosemite last spring, I think that was 2 months in advance, maybe 3. The weather was fantastic, and no crowds!

You can also get most of your money refunded if you make a reservation and then need to cancel it. Some people here will say this is evil, but considering your health situation, I say go for it! Make lots of reservations, and keep some of them :).