National and State Parks in Alaska

Alaska has more land in national parks, wilderness areas and national wildlife refuges than all the other states combined. Denali National Park and Preserve is home to North America’s tallest peak, Mt. McKinley and the admission fee to this park is very nominal. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a marine preserve where 17 spectacular glaciers meet tidewater and seals float on icebergs. Huge coastal brown bears fish for salmon in the Brooks River and other wild, remote clear-water streams at Katmai National Park and Preserve is a mixture of volcanic moonscape, rugged coast, large lake systems, mountains and forested low lands on the Alaska Peninsula.

On the Kenai Fjords National Park known for its tide water glaciers, rugged fjords and abundant marine wild life. The country’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias east of Anchorage along the Canadian border s six times the size of Yellowstone. Chugach State Park near Anchorage, has more than 100 mi of hiking trails, wildlife viewing and easily accessible wilderness. Denali State Park has a ridge top trail with views of the Alaska Range and public use cabins.

Minneapolis Parks, Garden and Zoos

Minnehaha Park, on the Mississippi near the airport is the site of Minnehaha Falls, which was made famous by Longfellow’s song of Hiawatha. Above the waterfall is a statue of Hiawatha and Minnehaha. Minnehaha Parkway follows Minnehaha Creek, providing miles of jogging, biking and in line skating trails that run west to Lake Harriet, one of many lakes in Minneapolis.

Wirth Park has bicycling and waling paths through wooded areas and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden – a little Eden of local forest and prairie flora. Wirth also has a moderately challenging 18 hole public golf course, which doubles as a cross country ski area in winter.

In Minneapolis’s Apple Valley suburb, the Minnesota Zoo houses some 2000 animals in natural settings along six year round trials. There is also a monorail, the Zoo lab a seasonal children zoo, bird and animal shows and daily film and slide shows are available.

Alabama State Parks

Alabama’s 24 state parks include many recreational activities and lodgings. You have the choice of resort lodges, hotels, camp grounds, chalets, and cabins both modern and rustic. Several parks have marinas, gold courses and tennis facilities. You can contact Alabama State parks for reservations or information. Desoto State park, Fort Payne, in northern Alabama has the spectacular Little River Canyon and falls. Lake Guntersville State park also in the northern part of the State is home of the annual Eagle Awareness programs. Gulf State park near Gulf Shores has 2 ½ mi of powdery white dunes and beaches.

Birmingham is a relatively new Alabama city, having blossomed with the development of the iron industry and coal mines in the early 1900s. Today its primary employer is the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which has one of the country’s largest medical centres. The city has restored many of its early 20th century buildings and is an attractive and welcoming metropolis.