There is no doubt about it-I love visiting national parks! All national parks have the same goal in mind of protecting and preserving places of rich natural beauty and historical significance. And for me there is no better way of honoring that mission than by visiting the park that they work so hard to preserve. If you have been following me for awhile you have probably seen many posts on the national parks that I have visited throughout the states. But I have also visited some incredible national parks in my international travels and these parks were such a important piece of understanding the country. Allow me to share with you some of the other national parks that I have loved and learned from.
Cave of Wonder National Park {Dominican Republic}
This large cave system sits just outside of La Romana and the entrance to the park is nearly hidden behind a wall of vines. It really is a cave of wonder with all the formations in every corner. But the real treasure of the caves are the 472 pictographs of the ancient Timon people who lived on this islands thousands of years ago. The pictographs give a small look at cultural beliefs of the people at the time and share the stories of their everyday life.
Prince Edward Island National Park {Canada}
As a kid I read all the Anne of Green Gables books many times over. So to be able to go and walk along the red tinted shores that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write about the small island that she called home through the character of the red haired orphan Anne was a really wonderful experience. Prince Edward Island National Park has miles of that beautiful red sand with the waves of the Atlantic kissing the shores.
Tel Megiddo National Park {Israel}
There are about 56 national parks in the small country of Israel and although I got to see a lot of them the one that stood out as my favorite was Tel Meggido National Park. This area represented the crossroads between then Mesopotamia and Egypt. With miles of rich land by the river it was the powerhouse point. To own this land meant you owned control of the trade between the regions. It has been fought over again and again and with each new civilization to claim victory they built their empire on top of the old one. There are now 30 layers of different civilizations that archeologists are continuing to uncover.
Tijuca National Park {Brazil}
Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janerio is probably the most visited park in the country. This is because at its center is the Corcovada Mountain on which stands the Cristo Redentor Statue. The train ride through the park winding its way up the mountain was incredible with the lush green rainforest everywhere. But then to get to the top and stand at the feet of one of the most recognizable and iconic statues in the world was absolutely awe inspiring.
Loch Lomond National Park {Scotland}
I feel like this national park often gets overlooked for the more publicized Loch Ness with the mysterious myth of the watery monster. But Loch Lomond is part of the Trossachs National Park and was the first park to be granted national park status back in 2002. It is also featured in the popular song The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond. This loch is absolutely mesmerizing to behold.
Cascade de Fautaua National Park {French Polynesia}
While in Tahiti I got to take a hike through the Cascade de Fautaua National Park. The trail was a dramatic mix of walking through the greenery and scaling down a steep incline with a rope all to end up at the top of a 980 foot waterfall. There were a series of pools at the top that would flow into each other, each pool was large enough to swim in, before finally cascading down over the rocks. Of all the hikes that I have done in my life, this one will always be firmly planted as my favorite.
Arikok National Park {Aruba}
The highlight for me of the island of Aruba was the Natural Bridge of Arikok National Park. The rocky shores of this corner of the island have been carved by the constant waves. The bridge at one point was nothing more than a large piece of rock that then the water created a cave. But when the back part of the cave fell into the water below it created an amazing bridge spanning the shoreline. I loved walking to the middle of the bridge and watching the waves hit the back rocks over and over again.
There is just nothing better than a visit to a national park, whether home or abroad, to really see the heart of a place. Every time I visit a national park it just seems to breathe new life into me giving me a quiet peace where my perspective comes into clearer focus.
