Celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service with a National Park Experience from Viator
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 14, 2016 -- The 2016 National Park Service centennial is a time for celebration and exploration. To celebrate the agency commissioned with overseeing more than 400 of our nation’s most precious historic sites, monuments, preserves and recreation areas, the team at Viator – a TripAdvisor company and the leading resource for tours and activities worldwide – has compiled a selection of the top tours and activities in some of America’s most iconic and inspiring National Parks, fitting for summertime visits and year-round expeditions.
Do something epic
Adventure-seekers have long known America’s national parks offer some of the best places in the world for thrills on land, at sea and in the air. Fly over the mighty mouth of the Grand Canyon on a helicopter tour, go skydiving or river rafting in Arches National Park, spend the day off-roading through Canyonlands National Park, paddle volcanic sea caves on a kayak tour to Channel Islands National Park, explore Hawaii Volcano National Park and the active Kilauea Volcano by bike, scale the soaring rock formations of Yosemite or Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, or soar through the forest and over the tundra on a zip lining adventure in Denali National Park. Viator also offers a small number of unique, multi-day tours for travelers to become fully immersed in a destination and check several national parks off their list in one trip, such as a 7-day camping tour of Bryce Canyon, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountains and Snow Canyon, and a 6-day hiking tour through five of Utah’s most stunning national parks.
Get up close and personal with wildlife and nature
In addition to the amazing natural beauty and surrounds, national park visitors have many opportunities to encounter their inhabitants – both large and small – in their natural environment. Take a small group wildlife safari in Grand Teton National Park to view moose, elk, bison and bears, hike through the woods to the Appalachian waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, see wolves, bears and eagles while exploring Yellowstone on a wildlife spotting safari, or look for whales, sea otters, sea lions, puffins and more on a cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Viator’s Florida Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife Adventure gets visitors up close to manatees and egrets in the UNESCO-listed park, the Hawaiian Wildlife Discovery Tour showcases Hawaiian turtles in their natural habitat in Haleakala National Park, and the Alaska Bear Country Day Trip includes a plane ride deep into Katmai or Lake Clark National Park, home to one of the world’s largest population concentration of brown bears.
Relive history
The National Park centennial offers many opportunities to visit an iconic park, discover American stories, or simply reflect on 100 years of recreation, conservation and historic preservation. Visit the Pioneer Yosemite History Center on the Yosemite and Glacier Point Day Tour and learn about Yosemite’s earliest days. Spend the day exploring Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built, on a catamaran day trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. Check out vintage steam locomotives on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad or travel through time with a ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railroad. Visit an authentic Navajo trading post and enjoy live music and cowboy stories of the Old West while camping on a working ranch. Or step back in time on a two-hour walking tour of abandoned turn-of-the-century Smoky Mountain resorts while listening to tales of elegant guests, moonshiners and train wrecks.
Enjoy arts and culture
“Art is the child of Nature,” said American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the NPS centennial is the perfect time to celebrate the unique cultures of the national parks along with their music, art and traditions. Take an 11-day excursion through Nova Scotia, Price Edward Island and Acadia National Park and learn about the music and culture of Acadian people and the Maritimes while enjoying some of Canada’s quaint fishing villages and historic sites. Follow the footsteps of Ansel Adams in California’s most iconic national park on the Experience Yosemite: Beginner or Advanced Photography Lesson or Ansel Adams’ Legacy Photography Class. Visit a Navajo Indian reservation on a three-day National Parks Tour of the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon. Or take in the sublime beauty of daybreak from the top of Maui’s highest peak on an eight-hour sunrise tour of Mt. Haleakala and see first-hand the sights that once inspired Mark Twain.
The team at Viator has created an interactive map of America’s 59 national parks, which provides a satellite view of the country’s treasured parks, visitor information and direct links to Viator’s related travel experiences. The map also features images of the national parks, viewable when a traveller selects a pin to click, as well as related Viator videos.
For more information on the selection of more than 100 national park tours and activities available on Viator.com and the Viator Tours & Activities App, as well as the latest deals, promotions, contests and news, visit http://www.viator.com or follow Viator on Facebook (ViatorTours) and Twitter (ViatorTravel).
About Viator
Viator, a TripAdvisor company, is the leading global tours and activities provider for travelers, delivering online and mobile access to thousands of trip activities including tours, attractions, shore excursions and private guides, in more than 2,000 destinations worldwide. In-house travel experts work with trusted local operators to ensure the quality and value of every experience, all backed by Viator’s 24/7 customer service and global low-price guarantee. With more than 1 million verified reviews plus exclusive videos and insider travel tips, Viator has everything a traveler needs to find and book the best things to do. In addition to the flagship site – Viator.com – travelers can book in advance or in-destination via the Viator Tours and Activities App, as well as local-language sites for European, Latin American and Asian travelers. Viator also provides tours and activities to more than 3,000 affiliate partners including some of the world’s top airlines, hotels and online travel agencies. Viator is headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas. Viator – travel with an insider.
Kate Sullivan, Viator, +1 (973) 568-7589, [email protected]
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