R.I.P. your vacation plans to US National Parks

[Anonymous]

National parks can be among the cheapest family vacations (driving there, camping, cooking/eating all your own food, etc.) or they can be really expensive. There really is a huge swath of socioeconomic statuses that enjoy them- which is something I really appreciate about the national parks.

The most expensive hotel we've ever been to as a family was the Ahwahnee in Yosemite...but then I have also done Yosemite as a broke 20 something and it's just as majestic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

Tell that to the millions of people who come from across the world to see them.

Have you been to Yellowstone lately? You can barely move for all of the Chinese people. I doubt they are poor.

Two years ago we took the Shuttle in Zion to and from The Narrows. Both times we were the only non-French on the shuttles. They were incredibly rude and the BO. 🫤

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

We paid $30,000 last year for 4 of us to spend a week seeing Yellowstone with our every need attended to: expert guides, input from the researchers who study the animals there, high powered binoculars and scopes, retrofitted tour vans with charging ports and the ability to pop their tops for roadside photo taking opportunities, welcome gifts, daily hotel breakfasts and picnic lunches in the park with appetizers and desserts, served on tablecloths with actual dinner plates and silverware, access to cold beverages and snacks at all times, all the nicest accommodations in the area, our luggage magically appearing in each new hotel room without our having to lift a finger, multiple course dinners, alcohol included, transportation to and from airports. Because we didn’t have to plan, organize, study maps, spend time behind the wheel, pack lunches or find restaurants or check into hotels ourselves, and we had experts guiding us, we were able to maximize our time viewing wildlife and thermal features. We saw so much more than if we had taken the trip on the cheap.

While you were eating on tablecloths for $30k, others were riding a stagecoach, horseback riding through a valley, whitewater rafting, boating, stargazing on a quiet hill, or achieving Junior Ranger badges—all on their own for much less than that price tag. The driving is a very simple loop where no one could possibly get lost and no need for a bus driver. Even with staying at premier lodges, the cost need not be $30k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

We paid $30,000 last year for 4 of us to spend a week seeing Yellowstone with our every need attended to: expert guides, input from the researchers who study the animals there, high powered binoculars and scopes, retrofitted tour vans with charging ports and the ability to pop their tops for roadside photo taking opportunities, welcome gifts, daily hotel breakfasts and picnic lunches in the park with appetizers and desserts, served on tablecloths with actual dinner plates and silverware, access to cold beverages and snacks at all times, all the nicest accommodations in the area, our luggage magically appearing in each new hotel room without our having to lift a finger, multiple course dinners, alcohol included, transportation to and from airports. Because we didn’t have to plan, organize, study maps, spend time behind the wheel, pack lunches or find restaurants or check into hotels ourselves, and we had experts guiding us, we were able to maximize our time viewing wildlife and thermal features. We saw so much more than if we had taken the trip on the cheap.

While you were eating on tablecloths for $30k, others were riding a stagecoach, horseback riding through a valley, whitewater rafting, boating, stargazing on a quiet hill, or achieving Junior Ranger badges—all on their own for much less than that price tag. The driving is a very simple loop where no one could possibly get lost and no need for a bus driver. Even with staying at premier lodges, the cost need not be $30k.

We also did this for very cheap, camped in the park and saw so much wildlife and landmarks. Not sure what op saw that we did not! I don't really want anyone waiting on me the way op describes either. To me that's the opposite of enjoying nature, too much fussing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

Lol the onsite hotels are often $300/night and fully booked months in advance.

Manhattan in August is cheaper than Yellowstone.

You think that $300 a night is expensive? That is cheap.

[Anonymous]

I started a thread on here a while ago about this. National Parks rely on seasonal workers, and this year, they aren't going to be hired.

[Anonymous]

To anyone waxing poetic about muricas national parks have you been there lately? Since Covid they’ve been places for me to avoid. So much beautiful wilderness out there that isn’t Yellowstone for $30k watching idiots approve buffalo for selfies and gross lines of traffic.

And sorry but having people wait on me over tablecloths and appetizers sounds awful. That’s not a picnic I’d pay 30k for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

We paid $30,000 last year for 4 of us to spend a week seeing Yellowstone with our every need attended to: expert guides, input from the researchers who study the animals there, high powered binoculars and scopes, retrofitted tour vans with charging ports and the ability to pop their tops for roadside photo taking opportunities, welcome gifts, daily hotel breakfasts and picnic lunches in the park with appetizers and desserts, served on tablecloths with actual dinner plates and silverware, access to cold beverages and snacks at all times, all the nicest accommodations in the area, our luggage magically appearing in each new hotel room without our having to lift a finger, multiple course dinners, alcohol included, transportation to and from airports. Because we didn’t have to plan, organize, study maps, spend time behind the wheel, pack lunches or find restaurants or check into hotels ourselves, and we had experts guiding us, we were able to maximize our time viewing wildlife and thermal features. We saw so much more than if we had taken the trip on the cheap.

While you were eating on tablecloths for $30k, others were riding a stagecoach, horseback riding through a valley, whitewater rafting, boating, stargazing on a quiet hill, or achieving Junior Ranger badges—all on their own for much less than that price tag. The driving is a very simple loop where no one could possibly get lost and no need for a bus driver. Even with staying at premier lodges, the cost need not be $30k.

We also did this for very cheap, camped in the park and saw so much wildlife and landmarks. Not sure what op saw that we did not! I don't really want anyone waiting on me the way op describes either. To me that's the opposite of enjoying nature, too much fussing.

Right, it’s not that difficult of a vacation. You drive around the loop and stop when you see something interesting. The park gives you a map when you drive in. There are signs everywhere. Have a question, ask a ranger or stop in at a visitor center. It’s not difficult!

30,000 lol. Got to be a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To anyone waxing poetic about muricas national parks have you been there lately? Since Covid they’ve been places for me to avoid. So much beautiful wilderness out there that isn’t Yellowstone for $30k watching idiots approve buffalo for selfies and gross lines of traffic.

And sorry but having people wait on me over tablecloths and appetizers sounds awful. That’s not a picnic I’d pay 30k for.

So let's destroy all National Parks because you thought one was too busy one time?

Whatever happened to planting trees you won't see the shade of? Just me me me, smash everything because I didn't like it one. Drill Old Faithful, install neon signs on the half dome, and build a Wal- Mart in Shenandoah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To anyone waxing poetic about muricas national parks have you been there lately? Since Covid they’ve been places for me to avoid. So much beautiful wilderness out there that isn’t Yellowstone for $30k watching idiots approve buffalo for selfies and gross lines of traffic.

And sorry but having people wait on me over tablecloths and appetizers sounds awful. That’s not a picnic I’d pay 30k for.

So let's destroy all National Parks because you thought one was too busy one time?

Whatever happened to planting trees you won't see the shade of? Just me me me, smash everything because I didn't like it one. Drill Old Faithful, install neon signs on the half dome, and build a Wal- Mart in Shenandoah.

Don't think that was this poster's point at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope America is glad it got what it voted for:

https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/yosemite-national-park-in-chaos-20163260.php

Have fun waiting for hours in traffic, just so you can see national parks like Yosemite turned into a garbage dump. You better make sure you bring a poop bag with you too, because those bathrooms are about to not go cleaned for weeks/months.

Kinda sad how the US is going to permanently damage their national treasures 💀.

The national park system employed millions. Trump is in effect undoing FDR's New Deal, which is what got the US out of the Great Depression.

We are headed for another one.

[Anonymous]

We can never ever get this stuff back once it's lost. This was something that was great about the US and watching the gleeful destruction of it makes me think there's a deep rot at the core of the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope America is glad it got what it voted for:

https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/yosemite-national-park-in-chaos-20163260.php

Have fun waiting for hours in traffic, just so you can see national parks like Yosemite turned into a garbage dump. You better make sure you bring a poop bag with you too, because those bathrooms are about to not go cleaned for weeks/months.

Kinda sad how the US is going to permanently damage their national treasures 💀.

The national park system employed millions. Trump is in effect undoing FDR's New Deal, which is what got the US out of the Great Depression.

We are headed for another one.

This is why I am avoiding reading newspapers or watching the news. Reading brief online posts about what is happening is frightening enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ehh, this is at the bottom of my list of things to worry about. So many other places to go.

It's at the bottom of my list too, because we are facing double unemployment. Thanks Trump!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National parks are poor people vacations anyways.

We paid $30,000 last year for 4 of us to spend a week seeing Yellowstone with our every need attended to: expert guides, input from the researchers who study the animals there, high powered binoculars and scopes, retrofitted tour vans with charging ports and the ability to pop their tops for roadside photo taking opportunities, welcome gifts, daily hotel breakfasts and picnic lunches in the park with appetizers and desserts, served on tablecloths with actual dinner plates and silverware, access to cold beverages and snacks at all times, all the nicest accommodations in the area, our luggage magically appearing in each new hotel room without our having to lift a finger, multiple course dinners, alcohol included, transportation to and from airports. Because we didn’t have to plan, organize, study maps, spend time behind the wheel, pack lunches or find restaurants or check into hotels ourselves, and we had experts guiding us, we were able to maximize our time viewing wildlife and thermal features. We saw so much more than if we had taken the trip on the cheap.

$30,000 to go to Yellowstone? Honestly. I’m just shaking by my head. Hope it was worth it. A trip to Yellowstone is not that hard to plan. It’s Yellowstone, not Papua New Guinea. I don’t know how on earth you could spend that much there if you tried but I guess some people just love spending money. If I was spending 30 grand on a trip, it sure wouldn’t be to Yellowstone.

+1
I spend that for a family of 4 skiing. We also do national parks often. Definitely not for poor people! I think ALL people can enjoy the awe and wonder of our beautiful country!