Exploring National Parks in the Summer: A Guide to High Alpine Parks and Avoiding Overcrowding
Matt and Karen Smith, a Gen X couple, have embarked on a mission to visit all 63 national parks across the United States. After completing their journey in 2010, they wrote several books about their adventures and created an Instagram page with over 247,000 followers and a podcast called “Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast.”
The couple’s travels inspired them to share their insights, tips, and tricks with others who want to explore national parks. However, after experiencing killer summer temperatures at Death Valley, they realized that not all parks are ideal summer destinations. Instead of visiting the hottest parks during the season, they suggest exploring high alpine national parks.
According to Matt and Karen Smith, there has been an increase in park visitors to over 325 million in the previous year, which is approaching an all-time high. With the surge in popularity comes the need for responsible travel practices and conservation efforts to preserve these natural wonders for future generations. To help visitors navigate this new reality, the couple has compiled a list of eight summer-friendly parks to explore and two to avoid during peak season.
