The North American Adventure

Transcription

1 The North American Adventure LEISUREVANS.COM/PHOTOCONTEST 2015 PHOTO CONTEST

2 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Located primarily in Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park spans 8,983 square kilometres (3,468 sq mi) comprising breathtaking lakes, rivers, mountains and canyons. Must see: Lower Falls and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Old Faithful / Upper Geyser Basin

3 Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Waterton Lakes National Park is located in the southwest corner of Alberta, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana. Waterton was Canada s fourth national park, formed in 1895 and contains 505 square kilometres (195 sq mi) of rugged mountains and wilderness. Must see: Red Rock Canyon, Upper Waterton Lake

4 Grand Canyon, Nevada The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona and is one of the world s premier natural attractions, attracting approximately five million visitors per year. Must see: Grand Canyon South Rim

5 Joshua Tree National Park, California Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994, it is named for the Joshua trees native to the park. It covers a land area of 3,199 square kilometres (1,235 sq mi) and comprises parts of two deserts. Must see: Hidden Valley, Keys View

6 Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon. Must see: Rim Drive

7 Mount Rushmore, South Dakota he Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore. Sculpted by Danish- American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

8 Redwood National and State Park, California The Redwood National and State Parks, located along the coast of northern California, comprise Redwood National Park, California s Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. The combined RNSP contain 540 square kilometres (208 sq mi) and protect 45% of all remaining coast redwood old-growth forests. These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.

9 Glacier National Park, Montana Located in the U.S. state of Montana, and on the Canada-United States border of Alberta and British Columbia, Glacier National Park encompasses over 4,000 square kilometers (1,544 sq mi), and includes parts of two mountain ranges - sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains - and over 130 named lakes. Must see: Going-to-the-sun road, Grinnell Glacier, Logan Pass

10 Banff National Park, Alberta Established in 1885, Banff was Canada s first National Park and the world s third. It spans over 6,500 square kilometres (2,509 sq mi) of valleys, mountain vistas, glaciers, forests, and hot springs. Must see: Banff Springs Hotel & Hot Springs

11 Yosemite, California. Yosemite National Park, located in central eastern California, was designated a World Heritage Site in Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Must see: Tunnel View, Tioga Pass

12 Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia Pacific Rim National Park is a thin strip of land along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia. Its magnificent islands, beaches and dramatic seascapes divide into three geographically distinct park units: Long Beach, Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. source:

13 Biscayne Bay National Park Within sight of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay National Park protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish bejeweled coral reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest. source: wikipedia

14 Death Valley National Park, California Located in Nevada and California, Death Valley National Park contains a diverse desert environment of salt-flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons, and mountains. It is the largest national park in the lower 48 states and has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve. Must see: Dante s View, Zabriskie Point

15 Fundy National Park, New Brunswick Fundy National Park, located on the Bay of Fundy, showcases more than 25 waterfalls, the highest tides in the world, and a rugged coastline which rises up to the Acadian Highlands. The Park covers an area of 207 square kilometers (80 sq mi) along Chignecto Bay.

16 Prince Edward Island National Park Prince Edward Island National Park Situated along the island s north shore, Prince Edward Island National Park was established in The park protects many broad sand beaches, sand dunes and both freshwater wetlands and salt marshes, providing nesting habitat for the endangered Piping Plover.

17 Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin Known for its collection of historic lighthouses, sandstone sea caves, a few old-growth remnant forests, and natural animal habitats, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore comprises 21 islands (Apostle Islands) and shorelines encompassing 280 square kilometres (108 sq mi) on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior.

18 Martha s Vineyard Island Martha s Vineyard Island, Massachusetts Martha s Vineyard Island is located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and is known for being an affluent summer colony. Often called The Vineyard, the island has a land area of 260 square kilometres, (100 sq mi) and is the 58th largest island in the United States.

19 Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, and serves as both a nature preserve and protection for a large number of aboriginal rock carvings and paintings. The park has been nominated by Parks Canada and the Government of Canada as a World Heritage Site.

20 Itasca State Park Itasca State Park, Minnesota Itasca State Park contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Spanning 132 square kilometres (51 sq mi) across northern Minnesota, Itasca State Park was established on April 20, 1891, making it the first of Minnesota s state parks and second oldest in the United States.

21 Olympic National Park Olympic NP - Washington Located in the state of Washington, the Olympic National Park is 97 km (60 mi) long but just a few miles wide, and comprises four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side.

22 Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe, California Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of 1,897 m (6,225 ft), it is located along the border between California and Nevada, and is the largest alpine lake in North America. Formed about 2 million years ago, the lake is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides.

23 Bonneville Salt Flats Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake.

24 Golden Gate Bridge Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, the mile-wide, three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States.

25 Brooklyn Bridge, New York Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City and is one of the oldest bridges of either type in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.

26 Yellowstone National Park Confederation Bridge, Prince Edward Island The Confederation Bridge spans the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait. It links Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada. Before its official naming, Prince Edward Islanders often referred to the bridge as the Fixed Link.

27 Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, Ontario Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the western bank of the Niagara River in Southern Ontario. The city is dominated by the Niagara Falls, a world-famous set of three large waterfalls on the Niagara River. Both the American and Horseshoe falls can be best seen from the Canadian side of the river.

28 Englishman River Provincial Park Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, BC A popular tourist destination located approximately 10 km ( 6.21 mi) upstream from the mouth of the river, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is famed for its two picturesque waterfalls and treed campsites. The park was created on December 20, 1940 in an effort to protect the old-growth forest and its associated ecosystem located along the river in the vicinity of the waterfalls.

29 Riding Mountain National Park Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba Consisting of a protected area 2,969 square kilometres (1,146 sq mi), Riding Mountain National Park was designated a National Park because it protects three different ecosystems that converge in the area; grasslands, upland boreal and eastern deciduous forests. The park is home to wolves, moose, elk, black bears, hundreds of bird species, countless insects and a captive bison herd.

30 Jasper National Park Jasper National Park, Alberta Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 square kilometres (4,200 sq mi). It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and mountains. Must see: Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake

31 Napa Valley Wine Country Napa Valley, California An American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. Records of commercial wine production in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s.

32 Okanagan Wine Country Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Located in the Southern Interior region of British Columbia, the Okanagan Valley is the second largest Canadian wine region, located within the Okanagan. The approximately 40 square kilometres (15.5 sq mi) of vineyards planted in the Okanagan account for more than 90% of all wine produced in British Columbia. Must see: Myra Canyon Park, Kelowna

33 Mont Tremblant National Park Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario Located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park was established in 1893, and is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Algonquin Provincial Park comprises over 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometres (745 mi) of streams and rivers.

34 Great Smoky Mountains National Park Mont Tremblant National Park, Quebec Mont Tremblant National Park is the oldest national park and the second largest in Quebec. Several summer and winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, short and long hikes, lake canoeing and river kayaking, mountain biking, backcountry camping and swimming.

35 Shenandoah National Park Great Smoky Mountains NP, Tennessee The most visited national park in the United States, known for its hiking, sightseeing, and fishing, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Must see: Cades Cove

36 Ocala National Forest Shenandoah NP, Virginia Encompassing part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park is best known for Skyline Drive, a 169 km (105 mi) road that runs the entire length of the park along the ridge of the mountains.

37 Acadia National Park Ocala National Forest, Florida The Ocala National Forest is the second largest nationally protected forest in the United States. Water plays an important part in a variety of recreational opportunities in the forest. Activities range from canoeing, boating, fishing, skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming.

38 White Mountain National Forest Acadia NP, Maine The oldest park east of the Mississippi River, Acadia National Park consists of more than 190 square kilometres (118 sq mi) comprising mountains, an ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. Must see: Cadillac Mountain

39 Grand Teton National Park White Mountain NF, New Hampshire Located within the White Mountains in northeastern United States, the stunning White Mountain National Forest is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites east of the Mississippi offering hiking trails, campgrounds, and the presence of a large number of ski areas within or near its boundaries. Must see: Kancamagus Highway

40 Carson National Forest Grand Teton NP - Wyoming Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park includes the major peaks of the Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Grand Teton National Park is an almost pristine ecosystem and the same species of flora and fauna that have existed since prehistoric times can still be found there. Must see: 42-mile Scenic Loop Drive.

41 Cape Breton Highlands National Park Carson NF, New Mexico Carson National Forest is located in New Mexico and comprise Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico at 4,011 m (13,161 feet).

42 Ozark NF, Arkansas The Ozark National Forest contains the tallest mountain in Arkansas. The forest was created in 1908 by proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt, and is home to over 500 species of trees and woody plants.

43 Cape Breton Highlands NP, Nova Scotia Located on northern Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Highlands National Park is well known for its steep cliffs and deep river canyons that carve into a forested plateau bordering the Atlantic Ocean. One-third of the Cabot Trail passes through the park featuring spectacular ocean and mountain views.

44 San Juan Skyway, Colorado The San Juan Skyway is an All-American Road and a component in the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway System. It forms a 375 km (233 mi) loop in the southwest part of Colorado traversing the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Must see: Red Mountain Pass

45 Las Vegas Strip, Nevada Internationally known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos along its 6.8 km (4.2 mi) strip, one of the most visible aspects of Las Vegas cityscape is its use of dramatic architecture. The rapidly evolving skyline and modernization of hotels, casinos, restaurants, residential high-rises, and entertainment offerings, have established it as one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the United States.

46 Big Sur, California Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The terrain offers stunning views, making Big Sur a popular tourist destination.

47 CN Tower, Toronto The CN Tower is a m-high (1,815.4 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario. Built on the former Railway Lands, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world s tallest free-standing structure and world s tallest tower at the time.

48 Stanley Park, Vancouver Stanley Park is a 4 square kilometre (1.5 sq mi) public park that borders the downtown of Vancouver, Canada and is almost entirely surrounded by waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay. Much remains as densely forested as it was in the late 1800s, with a 1/2 million trees, some of which stand as tall as 76 metres (249 ft) and are up to hundreds of years old. Must do: Rent bikes and bike around the Sea Wall

49 The White House, Washington DC The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, located in Washington, D.C. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.

50 Sea to Sky Highway - British Columbia The Sea to Sky Highway is the name given to the section of Highway 99 from Vancouver to just past Whistler. Built on a steep cliff overlooking Howe Sound, the Sea to Sky Highway offers spectacular scenic ocean vistas, soaring mountain views, dramatic waterfalls, parks and numerous outdoor activities. Must do: Sea to Sky Gondola

51 The Seven Mile Bridge, Florida The Seven Mile Bridge is a famous bridge in the Florida Keys, which connects Knight s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.

52 HOMER, ALASKA PHOTO BY LANI ELIAS Homer, Alaska Homer is located in the Kenai Peninsula Borough and is known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World. Its most distinguishing feature is the Homer Spit, a narrow 7.2 km (4.5 mi) long gravel bar that extends into the bay.

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