LA: Acadia was on my list.
MS: Yes, I’m a Californian who moved to New York and saw that driving to Canada you could see a dramatic coastline which felt similar to Northern California but was also different. There were rocky outcrops jutting into the sea, and forests all the way to the beach. I find Acadia beautiful in this way.
LA: It’s true that I had seen Big Sur first, but when I visited Maine and Acadia for the first, driving along the coast on my way there, I thought to myself, “oh, here is the Big Sur East Coast.” This area is just as rugged, dramatic, and beautiful. It still feels unspoiled and peaceful despite the fact that it is located next to Bar Harbor, a bustling tourist city.
MS: Definitely. Redwoods is my third favorite national park. In my earliest memories, I remember being taken on camping trips or park excursions by my parents who wanted to show us how beautiful California was. These trees are so huge that you can drive your car through them.
LA: So old.
MS: They are so tall, and so old. To be a young child, and to look up, and to think, “I have to lean back so far, I’m about to fall over, trying to see this object, is amazing.”
LA: Funny because I think a lot Americans, in a self-deprecating way but also, I won’t say narrow-minded, but perhaps unseeing, say “Well, there’s not much old stuff here.” There are some of the oldest trees in the world.
MS: Some redwoods live to be 4,000 years. The redwoods are some of the oldest plants in the US, which is pretty amazing.
LA: Beautiful.
As I said before, I will need some time to reflect on mine. We’ll get back to the parks and their locations, I promise. How do choose? Each person is unique, and they will all be looking for different things. What are the most important criteria to consider when choosing a destination and planning your trip? Things that you will remember for others to keep in mind as you make these choices?
MS: If you are not traveling alone, I’d think about your group. Everybody has different levels of fitness and mobility, and in the summer some parks can be very hot. This is not only physically challenging for some, but also not enjoyable. Think about what you want to do.
