Psychologists know that connecting with nature imparts significant health benefits. It can help to lower blood pressure, enhance the immune system, and accelerate your recovery from sickness or injury. Connecting with nature releases happy hormones into the bloodstream. A great way to experience that for yourself is to visit a national park.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a fantastic place for enjoying an active vacation. You can go hiking, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding. You can see a variety of landscapes across this 1,200-square-mile national park, including amazing waterfalls, meadows, forests, and glaciers. You may also get the chance to see a variety of animals, such as river otters, deer, and bears, in their natural habitats. While photographer Ansel Adams made this park famous with his black-and-white photography, there is evidence that people lived in this park long before Ansel arrived. Native Americans lived in bark houses in this area, gathering acorns that they used as their main food source. They also hunted deer and small mammals to survive.
Yellowstone National Park
The main reason that most people go to Yellowstone National Park is to see Old Faithful. This geyser currently erupts every 91 minutes on average. The erupting water measures 204 degrees on average. There is plenty of human history in Yellowstone, as people have inhabited this area for 11,000 years. While it did not become a national park until 1872, oral histories from over seven different Native American tribes tell of their ancestors living in the area at least 500 years before that date. Aside from Old Faithful, there is plenty to do in Yellowstone, including seeing the buffalo, riding snowmobiles, and fishing.
Grand Canyon National Park
There are many different things that you can do at Grand Canyon National Park. Hiking, biking, mule riding, and rafting are all available activities. If you’re looking to enjoy the park in comfort, you can take a scenic drive or go on a train ride. This park offers many hotels, but visitors may also choose to go camping. It’s possible for you to go camping in remote areas where you might be the only person around. The first inhabitants lived in this area about 10,500 years ago, and the first European settlers arrived in 1540.
There are many reasons to visit a national park. Tell your boss that you will be back later, pack your bags, and enjoy visiting one soon. You will appreciate the time well-spent reconnecting with nature in these unique locations.
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