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A Pass to Explore our Region
Frederick News-Post, July 8, 2007
I clearly remember the first time my family became owners of a National Parks pass. Twelve years old, I was on a cross-country trip with the other five members of my family. The bulging AAA TripTik marked out a route that would take us to national parks all across the country. As we approached the brown wood hut marking the entrance to the first of these--Badlands National Park, my parents scanned the sign showing the different costs, then exchanged a quick glance of agreement. After greeting the ranger manning the booth, my father handed over his credit card and purchased an annual pass. State after state, we'd present the pass and be waved into the homes of some of America's most beautiful sites and historic locations. It was hard to get much more bang for your buck.
Years later, the value of a parks pass still holds. In fact, it may have recently become an even better deal. On January 1, 2007, the National Parks Pass was replaced with the America the Beautiful: National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This pass now covers not only parks administered by the National Parks Service, but also those administered by the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.
Best of all is the fact that you don't have to travel far to take advantage of our nation's parks. This article highlights some of the nearby sites (all less than 200 miles from Frederick), where you can marvel in the wonders of nature, soak up history, or do a little of both.
GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Shenandoah National Park
You'll enter Shenandoah National Park, located on the Blue Ridge above the Shenandoah Valley and River in Virginia, on Skyline Drive. You don't have a choice, since it's the only public road in the park, running 105 miles from top to bottom of this long, narrow reserve. Also stretching through the park is the famed Appalachian Trail, with 101 meandering miles of it waiting to be hiked. And driving and hiking, although on opposite ends of the activity spectrum, are the best things to do in Shenandoah.
If you're out for a Sunday drive, want to feel the wind on your face as you cruise the curves on your motorcycle, or just prefer to keep your nature at a distance, then there's no better place for motoring then Skyline Drive. With 75 overlooks, there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and take in the sweeping vistas.
And just because you're in a car, that doesn't mean that you won't see any wildlife. It's practically impossible to miss seeing deer, especially during twilight hours, and it's not completely out of the question to spot less common animals. In fact, from my car windows I've caught glimpses of both bear and rattlesnake, two creatures I've never seen while out on the trails.
If the thought of being cooped up in a car makes you anxious, then lace up your hiking boots and pace off a few of the over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah. Trails vary in length and difficulty, so stop in at one of the park's three visitor centers to get advice from a ranger about what's best for your interests and experience. You'll find that none of the trails are ever that crowded, but if you make it thirty miles or more down Skyline Drive, you'll find nearly deserted trails, where the only sounds are the scurrying of small ground animals, the twittering of birds, the crunch of the trail under your feet, and the burble of a brook or rush of a waterfall.
For fabulous views, I find myself returning time and again to walk the Stony Man and Little Stony Man trails, and if I want a long hike with a big reward, I head for the White Oak Canyon trail, where I enjoy the misty coolness of the waterfalls before taking the long, steep, uphill hike back.
Since there's so much ground to cover in Shenandoah (literally), it's worth it to stay overnight. Depending on your preferences for bathroom facilities, campfire cooking, and the type of roof over your head, you can choose between backcountry camping, drive-in campgrounds, Lewis Mountain Cabins, Big Meadow Lodge, or Skyland Resort.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Everyone knows that you go to Assateague to see the ponies. There are few places in the United States, particularly in the eastern half, where you have a chance to spot a wild horse, so it's a childlike sense of joy you experience when you spy a pony as you move down Bayside Drive. But the joys of nature extend beyond pony watching on the barrier island of Assateague.
For bird watchers, there's the chance to spot a piping plover (a threatened species). Herons, egrets, and sandpipers are among the more common birds that take refuge on the island. For those who enjoy the thrill of trying to live off the land, Assateague is a great site for clamming, crabbing, and surf fishing. In the summer, naturalists will even provide demonstrations for those anglers new to the sport of surf fishing. If you catch a big one, be prepared to wrestle it to shore, but in between the hotly anticipated strikes, you'll have plenty of time to soak up the rays.
And while the soft sands make it awfully tempting to do little more than relax on the beach with an occasional swim in the ocean to cool you off, there are trails to be hiked, bike paths to be explored, and a bay to be canoed. Ponies are often found grazing along the bay, and in a canoe, it's possible to glide right past them for the perfect photo opportunity. An hour is the ideal amount of time to spend paddling around, but longer trips will let you float further down the coast to areas few visitors venture.
All the pleasures of the day, however, can't compare, in my opinion, to a night spent on Assateague. When the daytrip crowd clears, it's time for a campfire on the beach, with hot dogs and s'mores, a sky that burns pink and purple before fading to black, and the pound of surf hitting shore. Backcountry camping permits allow you to pitch your tent among the dunes and claim a bit of the beach for your bed. But be prepared, to reach backcountry sites you'll have to hike between 3 and 12 miles with everything you need, including water, on your back. Drive-in campgrounds are available if that's a hike you'd rather not make.
EXPERIENCE HISTORY
Gettysburg National Military Park
If you only visit one Civil War site in the course of your lifetime, it should be Gettysburg. On the fields of this Pennsylvania town, the greatest and bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place. Over a course of three days, 51,000 American soldiers would be killed, wounded, or go missing. Nearly immediately the importance of this battle was recognized; within four months of the July 1863 battle, the Gettysburg National Cemetery would be dedicated, with Lincoln's esteemed Gettysburg Address marking the occasion.
To make sense of the madness, start at the visitor center, where the rangers can introduce you to the many ways in which you can explore Gettysburg. If you wish, you may hire a licensed battlefield guide or purchase tickets for a bus tour. This can be pricy, however, so I recommend taking in the exhibits in the center and then watching the electric map presentation for a good overview. Once you're versed in the basics of what happened when and where, head back to your car and take the self-guided auto tour. At 18-miles long with 16 stops, the tour is comprehensive. It is recommended that you set aside three hours if you plan to make every stop.
Finish your commemoration of this historic battle with a walk across the battlefields, where with a little imagination, you can picture the dangers the troops faced and the horror of those three days. And don't forget to pay your respects, not only to those who died during the Civil War but also to all of America's veterans, at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where both marked and unmarked Civil War graves rest across from the tombstones of those who died in more recent conflicts.
Colonial National Historic Park: Historic Jamestown and Yorktown Battlefield
Linked by their important roles in the history of America as an English colony, Jamestown, where Colonial America got its start, and Yorktown, where Colonial America was put to rest, are both part of Colonial National Historic Park.
Much has been made of Jamestown this year as it celebrates the 400th anniversary of its founding, but it's a site worth visiting any year if you're interested in understanding the early years of our nation. On your own, you can easily wander the grounds, taking in the statues of John Smith and Pocahontas, checking out the church and the remains of the fort and other buildings, and enjoying the glassblowing demonstrations in the Glasshouse. However, it's worth it to take one of the ranger-led tours in order to learn more of what really happened at Jamestown and to get your facts straight on everything from cannibalism during times of starvation to the formation of representative government. Also worthwhile are the living history tours, in which costumed interpreters explore the life of one of Jamestown's residents.
Once you've explored our nation's colonial beginnings, head to Yorktown to learn about the final major battle of the Revolutionary War. Listening to one of the rangers' talks helps you visually transform what looks like an empty field into a battleground upon which a decisive moment in America's transition from colony to nation took place.
COMBINE HISTORY WITH THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
If you can't decide whether you want to experience a piece of American history or spend the day exploring the nation's natural bounty, head to Harpers Ferry, where you can easily do both.
In restored 19th century buildings, park employees dressed in period attire help you to understand the rich history of Harpers Ferry. That history stretches from Meriwether Lewis's time spent supplying himself with weapons and tools for what would come to be known as the Lewis & Clark Expedition to the 1859 raid of abolitionist John Brown to Civil War battles to the struggle for racial integration.
It's a lot to absorb, so when your brain can't handle another fact, hit the trails. The Maryland Heights Trail leads to Overlook Cliffs, where you can look out over the converging Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers to the old town of Harpers Ferry. From there, you can take in the view while letting the history sink in.
IN BRIEF: OTHER NEARBY PARKS WORTH A VISIT
Great Falls Park
Stretching along both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the Potomac, Great Falls Park offers panoramic views of the river as it rushes and tumbles, flowing into Mather Gorge. But most people don't come for the views alone; they come for the adrenaline rush of rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and scrambling over boulders. The Billy Goat Trail on the Maryland side attracts legions of fans. On the Virginia side, picnic areas with grills and open spaces make it popular for get-togethers of family and friends.
Catoctin Mountain Park
Camp David is tucked away somewhere in Catoctin Mountain Park, but you're not going to get there. Luckily that's not why you go there anyways, unless you are the President or one of his visitors. Instead you come to drive the mountain's scenic roads, hike the trails, canoe the lake, or fish for trout in Owens and Little Hunting Creek.
Monocacy National Battlefield
Right in Frederick's backyard, there's no reason not to visit Monocacy. While a loss for the Union, the battle that took place there was enough to slow down the Confederate troops and prevent them from taking the poorly-protected capital. At the visitor center, an electric map provides a thorough description of the battle. As various sections light up in sync with a recording, the progress of the two sides and the action of the battle is made clear. A six-mile auto tour then takes you to some of the key sites in the battle.
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About the America the Beautiful: National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
The pass costs $80 and is good for twelve consecutive months from the month of purchase. For those 62 and older, the pass costs only $10 and is good for life. Permanently disabled U.S. citizens or legal residents are entitled to a free lifetime pass. Eighty percent of the cost of the pass goes directly into funding priority projects in the parks.
For parks that charge individual entry, the pass provides admission to the pass holder plus three other adults. For parks that charge per vehicle, the pass provides admission to anyone in the vehicle with the pass holder. Not all parks charge admission.
A pass may be purchased online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass or by telephone at 1-888-ASK-USGS. The pass may also be purchased in person at the parks.
If you go:
Information about all of these parks, plus others, can be found at www.nps.gov. The "Find a Park" feature allows you to search by name, location, activity, topic, or distance from a specified zip code.
Campgrounds and lodging require reservations, especially during the summer. Campsites can be reserved through www.recreation.gov. Lodges and other concessions are run by Aramark. Reservations with Aramark can be made through links provided on the individual park pages.
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