Games For National Park Fans

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

As many of you know, our family enjoys visiting national parks. So far we have explored 27 national parks, and we wish to visit more! If you or someone you know has a similar love for the national park system, take note. The Op gave me the opportunity to try out three of their national park-themed games: Scrabble: National Parks, Monopoly: National Parks Edition, and National Parks Get Wild. All of these games would make a great gift for a national park fan!

Scrabble: National Parks

During a recent camping trip, we ended up playing Scrabble: National Parks inside our tent before going to sleep. I did not take any pictures, as the lighting was not ideal. However, it was a fun family bonding experience. Scrabble is a classic game for a reason, and the addition of national park cards gives it an interesting twist. Extra points are also awarded for playing national park words, such as things found or items used in the national parks. This game is for 2-4 players, ages 8+.

Monopoly: National Parks Edition

It seems like there is version of Monopoly for every interest, so it is exciting that The Op offers Monopoly: National Parks Edition. In this edition, players “buy” national park properties with special bills featuring national monuments. Instead of building houses or hotels, players build camp sites or ranger stations.

This Monopoly board is so beautiful. Just looking at the pictures of the various parks brings back a lot of precious family memories.

Are these national park-themed playing pieces not the cutest? I especially like the ranger’s hat and hiking boot! Monopoly: National Parks Edition is for 2-6 players, 8+.

National Parks Get Wild

National Parks Get Wild is a completely new game for our family. In this game, the object is to remove the animals that do not belong in your national park, and gather the ones that do. I like that this is a simultaneous play game, so you’re not waiting for someone to take their turn! Again, the national park illustrations are gorgeous and I appreciate all of the fun facts listed on the player boards. This game would be great for kids that like to learn about animals, too. National Parks Get Wild is for 3-6 players, 6+.

Where To Purchase The Op Games

The Op Games can be purchased through their online shop, or at major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart and Barnes & Noble.

The Op Games Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Scrabble: National Parks, Monopoly: National Parks Edition, and National Parks Get Wild.

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Zion River Walk & Dinner

We continued on our spring break road trip by driving from Las Vegas to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. I want to write a separate post on parking and the shuttle system since it is a little tricky. We rode a shuttle to the Riverside Walk and ate our lunch from Hoodoo’s General Store on a low stone wall.

I am not sure why I placed the stray onions on the sandwich before taking a picture. We were actually pretty impressed with the Hoodoo’s sandwiches–the bread was fresh, and it had a good amount of meat. Our family has had our share of bad sandwiches during national park visits, and these freshly made sandwiches were much better than many of the others.

This was our second time going on the Riverside Walk (1.9 mi. out and back), but unlike our first time, we did not have to bring strollers-ha! I think this is one of the best paved trails that we have been on.

This is the entrance to the Narrows. We had to laugh at the group who was contemplating hiking into the Narrows without any preparation whatsoever. They were wondering if they should just take their shoes off and go in waist-deep. Um, no. There is a company that will rent you the special pants and boots along with a hiking pole, but it is located at the Visitor Center.

Dinner At Zion Pizza & Noodle

We ordered takeout from Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. I highly recommend takeout, as the wait to be seated was about an hour, even at 5 p.m.! I was a little weary of trying this place again since I thought the crust was too soggy last time.

I am happy to report that the pizza was much better this time around! There was one spot where the dough was a little doughy, but overall this was a good pizza experience. There are not many dining options in Springdale, so I am glad that Zion Pizza & Noodle has survived. (I am sorry to say that the same cannot be said about the Bumbleberry Gifts, where had Bumbleberry Pie during our first trip. They had a fire last year and are currently re-building. So sad).

The aptly named Cholesterol Hiker Pizza: Tomato sauce, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella & cheddar cheeses.
The White Sun Pizza: Garlic infused Olive Oil, Spinach, Pineapple, Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, cheddar & parmesan cheeses. This was a hit!

Our hotel (Holiday Inn Express-Springdale Zion) had a nice firepit which was nice to sit around in the chilly night air.

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Three Easy Stops For A Joshua Tree Day Trip

The highlight of our winter break was visiting Joshua Tree National Park. This was only the second time we have visited a national park more than once (the other being Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). Joshua Tree is the closest national park for those of us living in Southern California. I have to say, our second visit left much more of an impression on me. We went the day after a rare rainstorm, and the clouds were magnificent. I could not stop taking pictures of the beautiful desert landscape.

I understand that some people might be weary of visiting a national park right now. However, I felt quite comfortable with the precautions that we took. We left our house at 6:30 in an effort to avoid the crowds as much as possible. I bought the entrance pass online beforehand. This made entry “contactless” since we just had to show the pass on my phone to the park ranger. We wore masks during our hikes, as did our fellow hikers. Everyone was courteous in giving each other personal space. The park is so vast, that it never felt crowded. I did note that the line of cars to enter the park was quite long by the time we left. Like many other places, the key to avoiding crowds is to arrive early!

I would have loved to camp overnight like during our first visit, but campgrounds are currently closed due to the pandemic. Also, it would have probably been too chilly for tent camping anyway. The three stops that we made are all family-friendly hikes that provide a good taste of the park in a few hours.

Barker Dam Trail

Our first stop was Barker Dam, which is a popular destination in the park. I think it is a good idea to go here first so that you can nab a parking space. There is an easy and scenic 1.1 mile trail.

Hidden Valley Trail

Our next stop was Hidden Valley. This is another easy, 1.0 mile trail.

We came upon a small patch of ice.

k pretended to go ice skating.

There are several picnic benches set up near the Hidden Valley parking lot. We packed sandwiches and had a nice lunch, although the wind did start to pick up.

Hall of Horrors

This was an area recommended to us by a rock-climbing family that visits the park frequently. There is not one defined path, which makes it easy to socially distance. Even without a path, it is straightforward to navigate. If you make a loop around the “hall” you will end up back at the parking lot.

n looked like a mountain goat as he scrambled up the rocks.

If you are in Southern California, make sure to visit Joshua Tree National Park! Even if you only have a day, it is worth the trip.

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Beautify Your Walls With National Park Posters

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Some of our best family memories have been made while visiting the National Parks. We have visited 25 National Parks as a family so far, and we hope to continue to add to our list. I love the idea of decorating your home in a way that evokes memories. Therefore, I am so excited about the stunning National Park artwork available at National Park Posters.

Yosemite, Yellowstone and Zion are some of our all-time favorite National Parks! Love how these posters bring back wonderful family memories every time I look at them.

Robert B. Decker is the artist behind these beautiful works of art. Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the amazing opportunity to study under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was only 19 years old! His love for the national parks shines through all of the details.

The vintage style of these National Park posters is so cool. They are inspired by the iconic WPA artwork of the 1930s and 40s. Even my husband, who usually does not really express his opinions about interior design, was impressed. Each numbered, signed and dated poster is printed on a 100% recycled stock with soy based inks. These posters would make a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates the outdoors.

It is also nice to know that National Park Posters donates 10 percent of profits to help the organizations, trusts, conservancies and associations that support the National Parks.

Where to Purchase National Park Posters

All of Robert B. Decker’s posters, canvas prints, postcards and artist proofs can be purchased through his National Park Posters website. Currently, there are some really great summer BOGO discounts being offered! You can also sign up for the e-mail club and receive all the latest news, sales, etc.

National Park Posters Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a National Park Poster of your choice. I will be picking two winners!

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Explore the National Parks From Home: Trekking the National Parks Board Game

Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

We have been to 25 national parks as a family, and we like to share about our experiences here on the blog. When our friend told us about a board game called Trekking the National Parks, I was intrigued.

Trekking the National Parks is a board game where players try to earn the most points by claiming Park Cards and collecting trail stones. The game was invented by a family who had a goal to visit all of the national parks, just like us! At first, the rules seemed a little overwhelming. However, after playing a round, it was fairly easy to understand. I can now see how different strategies may be implemented to make the game exciting and competitive. It is a game that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

The board itself features a beautifully illustrated map of the United States and all of its magnificent national parks.

The high quality of the playing pieces is impressive. I like that they have a nice heft to them.

The Park Cards have beautiful photographs and interesting facts about each park. They make us think back to the trips we have taken, as well as introduce us to the parks we have yet to visit.

Trekking the National Parks deserves to earn a permanent place in your game collection. I can see why it won the Mensa Select Award and Parents’ Choice Gold Award!

Trekking the National Parks is designed for 2-5 players, ages 10 and up. I am not sure we will ever have the opportunity to visit all of the National Parks, but playing this game is a fun way to have an educational glimpse into all of them.

Where to Purchase

Trekking the National Parks can be purchased on Amazon and select retailers near you.

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below for the chance to win Trekking the National Parks!

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Discover A Whole New Underground World in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park marks our 23rd national park visit as a family. I failed to make reservations in time for a guided hike, so we did self-guided hikes. I think we could have seen everything we wanted to see in one day, but we opted to spread out our visit over two days. This allowed us to take our time and not feel rushed.

Before you enter the Natural Entrance, the park ranger gives a short spiel to everyone about not touching the cave formations and safety precautions. On our first day we decided to hike down through the Natural Entrance and take the elevator back up to the visitor center.

Once you enter the caverns, the temperature is in the mid 50’s. There are several lights showcasing the different formations, but much of the path is fairly dark. The path is well-paved and there are handrails throughout.

There is an underground snack bar near the elevators!
This was a ladder they used to use to climb down into the caverns. Can you imagine??

I could not believe how big the caverns were. They seemed to be endless. I commented that they looked like the Knott’s Berry Farm Mine Ride, but k reminded me that it is actually the Mine Ride that was made to look like the caverns.

Sometimes they get along…
…and sometimes not so much!

The second day we took the elevator down. We were planning to take the elevator back up as well. However, D overheard a ranger say that hiking back up was only for those in “good shape”, which D took as a personal challenge. The kids were up for the challenge as well and I reluctantly went along. D struck up a conversation with a solo hiker who was also making her way out of the caverns. It turns out that she is a 5th grade elementary school teacher and has visited many national parks as well. By the end of the hike the kids and D were racing her to the top.

Visitors are encouraged to touch this piece of stalagmite while they are waiting for the elevators so they are less tempted to touch things once they are inside.

It was a relief once we made out of the caverns, but it really was not too bad if you take rest breaks.

We certainly worked up an appetite for lunch! The cafeteria served up some surprisingly good Mexican food made with local fresh ingredients.

We shared a plate of the tostadas, soft tacos and nachos. I would say the carnitas were the standout protein.

Since the restaurant options outside the park near our hotel were nearly non-existent, we thought we would be smart and return to the cafeteria for dinner to go (it closed at 4 p.m.) One of the employees told us that was not possible, but a couple of other employees took pity on us and provided us with a couple pieces of foil and paper trays so we did end up eating there twice in one day!

We all agreed, Carlsbad Caverns National Park landed on the Lim Family’s Top Five List of Best National Parks!

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Part II

The next morning we did an easy hike around Manzanita Lake.

One nice thing about visiting less-popular parks is that you have the views to yourself.

Next we did the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail.  There were solar powered boxes at various stations that provided information about what we were looking at.

After our hike we drove to Summit Lake for lunch.  (We had picked up sandwiches from the camper store at Manzanita Lake in the morning).

Taking a dip.

At this point, D had a big headache.  As D likes to say, it was “no bueno”.

We set up camp at Summit Lake South and D took a short nap.

Then we drove to Cold Boiling Lake.  I have to admit, I was bit disappointed when I saw the size of this “lake”.

I would say a more appropriate name would be Cold Boiling Big Puddle!

But, it was cool to see the gas bubbles, and the whole area was quite scenic.

I did not know there was geothermal activity like this in California!  This sulphuric mudpot reminds me of Yellowstone.

We ended up buying a snack and dinner at the Kohm-Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center.  The selection was quite limited, and again, I must say I am disappointed with Xanterra’s food service.

This was our pulled pork sandwich.  There was actually a good amount of meat heaped onto the bun.

This was the “pizza”.  A frozen DiGiorno single that you have to heat up yourself in the microwave.  Really??  We really had no other dining options, so they have a monopoly.

We took a post-dinner hike near our campsite.

Although it might not be on the top of anyone’s National Park bucket list, we thought that Lassen Volcanic National Park is still worth a visit.

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The Forgotten Park & Post: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Poor Lassen Volcanic National Park.  It is probably the least known National Park in California.  It was also the last park that we needed to visit in order to check off all of the National Parks in California.  It is also the vacation blog post I have taken the longest to write. (I partially blame that on my shifting work schedule, but things seem to be settling down now).

During the drive from Crater Lake to Lassen, we stopped in the town of Bieber for a pit stop and lunch.

This was the bathroom situation…Bwahahaha.

The food situation was actually not bad.  This BLT salad had a lot of bacon.  And a lot of cheese, as you can see.

We checked into our Manzanita Lake campsite and quickly set up camp.

Then we headed to Manzanita Lake and decided to rent a kayak.  I am pretty sure the kayaks were meant to hold 2-3 people, but the person in charge let us all go in one together.

In retrospect, I am not sure this was the best idea as the kayak felt quite tippy with four.  I was getting a core workout trying to keep us centered.

I did not want to bring my camera, so I used my iphone.  But then I was nervous about dropping my iphone in the water, so I would not consider this a relaxing time.  Thankfully, we did not capsize!

We ended up buying paninis from the camper store for dinner.

Post-dinner s’mores.

We were thankful that the air was not as smokey as in Oregon, but there was still a haze.  To be continued…

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A Morning In Crater Lake National Park

Originally, I had planned to take a boat tour around Crater Lake.  I had made reservations months in advance AND had pre-paid Xanterra, the park operator.  Because of our last minute change in plans due to the smoke, we decided to cancel.  The boat tour requires a steep hike down the caldera and back up, and I did not think that was a good idea given the poor air quality.  Luckily, we were able to use the phone in the Camp Store and Xanterra graciously refunded our money even though they usually require more advance notice! Instead,  we returned to Rim Village to see if we could have a less-smoky/hazy view of Crater Lake.

Unfortunately, it really was not any better than the day before.

We were able to do the short Lady of the Woods hike near the Steel Visitor Center.

Crater Lake

Someone likes having his picture taken!

A k-sized tree.

We did not encounter any other hikers.  It was so peaceful.  But, D and I did receive some mosquito bites.

Next stop: Lassen Volcanic National Park.

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Crater Lake Trolley

We needed to leave Sacramento early in the morning because we had reservations for the Crater Lake Trolley tour at 3 p.m.  Then, at one of our rest stops I realized that I had a message from the trolley company that asked if we could make the 2 p.m. tour instead because the smoke from the wildfires had been rolling in around 3 p.m. the past few days.  As we drove through Northern California, the sky was an ominous gray from the other numerous wildfires.  We kept our windows rolled up and made minimal stops.  Thankfully, we were able to make the tour on time.

The tour is run in conjunction with the National Park Service.  A knowledgeable ranger narrated the tour which made for an educational experience.

I was grateful that the tour company provided cushions for us to sit on since the wooden seats were pretty uncomfortable.

The trolley circled the entire lake in about two hours, with numerous stops.  I find it amazing that this lake was created by a volcano that imploded on itself and filled with rain and melted snow.

If I had known that k was squinting like that in our only family picture, I would have asked the trolley drive to take another one!  Oh well.

Although Crater Lake was pretty, I must admit that I was disappointed.  I had seen so many jaw-dropping pictures beforehand, so my expectations were high.  The haze from the smoke obscured the view and blocked the sun so the stunning blue color just was not there.  I told D that we need to go there again to see its true beauty, but I doubt we would ever make the drive again. 🙁

We had reservations to camp for two nights at Mazama Campground near Crater Lake, but it did not seem like a good idea with the poor air quality.  I was especially concerned for n, since he is small and has had asthma issues.  I do not like having to do things on the fly, but I was able to cancel one night of our camping reservations, and nab a room in one of the cabins instead.  I was not happy paying for $180 for one night in a very basic room, but it was worth it in order to decrease any health risks.

We decided to add another night of camping in Lassen National Park, our next stop.  Since we no longer had access to a fire ring, we had to microwave our pre-bought hot dogs in the camp store microwave.  What a sad dinner!

 

 

 

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