September 10, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || As the U.S. National Parks Service celebrates its Centennial this year, there’s a lot of buzz around the country’s incredible natural resources. And to many (if not most) of the millions of visitors to these natural wonders, the most exciting part of a trip to the national parks is the chance to see wild animals. From close encounters with grizzly bears to snorkeling with sea turtles, here are the best national parks for wildlife-watching.
Published on August 15, 2014 on MapQuest || “If you see a bear, stay calm and get behind me. If you see a moose, run.”
A few people in my hiking group chuckled nervously when Jeffrey, our twentysomething Patagonia-clad guide, delivered this warning. My mom, Margaret, who stood a few feet up the trail, shot me a “what the hell did you get me into” stare.
I grinned back, bouncing with giddy excitement. Moose! Bears! This was exactly why I came to Alaska.
For many nature-loving travelers, an African safari is the ultimate bucket list trip. The search for Africa’s “Big Five”—lions, elephants, cape buffalo, leopards and rhinos—is a wildlife watcher’s rite of passage. But most people don’t realize that you can get an epic safari experience here in the United States. Alaska has its own Big Five, and you can see them all in Denali National Park. Read more…
The Denali Safari is part of MapQuest’s summer travel series: 99 Summer Travel Quests
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Published July 28, 2014 on MapQuest || “Sharknado 2” is about to unleash a second storm of toothy terror, while “Shark Week” prepares to enchant viewers with its yearly run of aerodynamic great whites. Meanwhile, “Jaws” continues to scare beachgoers out of the water.
Between TV and movie spots and the news flurry around shark sightings around the U.S., Jaws and Co. are living large this summer. With all the Hollywood fanfare and media frenzy, you’d think a shark encounter is a normal part of going to the beach. Read more…
Published in May 2011 on Fodors.com || Whether you want to explore shipwrecks or see coral of every color, scuba diving is a great way to experience the underwater world. We’ve picked our favorite places to take the plunge, where there’s also plenty of things to do on dry land to make a great vacation. Read more…
