Welcome all Visitors to Our National Parks. No it’s not Disneyland, but almost! May 30th 2010

Hey, I am happy that lots of foreigners like to come to the USA and visit our National Parks. In fact, when the opportunity arises, we should always thank them in person. It’s a nice thing to do and will make all feel like good neighbors.

BUT somehow with all the buses and all the people piling into a space and place that can hardly accommodate the hordes who come, the natural beauty of the surroundings is lost. And oftentimes foreign visitors not familiar with the fragility of the desert wander off trail and do inadvertent damage to plants that takes years to restore.

Take our day here at Arches NP, had we not taken the “primitive trail” to the back side of the Windows Arches Area, we would have been deluged by literally hundreds of visitors, mostly Japanese. By taking the road less travelled, climbing over a modest rock formation, we found a pristine area with only a handful of adventurous hikers. The unspoiled views here stretched for miles.

Here is my advice. If you want to visit the National Parks during a busy time, find the more difficult and more remote hikes or trails. You will be greatly rewarded for your efforts and enjoy nature as it was meant to be enjoyed in a peaceful , quiet setting.