It’s that time again: Another beautiful film about the National Parks was recently released.

Watch the Grand Teton film below. You won’t regret it.

GRAND TETON 8K from More Than Just Parks on Vimeo.

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The country’s National Parks are having quite the year. For this, we are grateful, because their ongoing 100th anniversary celebration is inspiring a lot of talented people to make some amazing content.

One of those pieces of content is posted below. Watch this short movie about the Badlands.

BADLANDS 8K from More Than Just Parks on Vimeo.

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While we often daydream of exotic lands far, far away, where life is purer, more simple and full of nature, we are often overlooking the very land that we inhabit: the great United States. The country is home to a landscape among the world’s finest and should not be overlooked, like these three national parks.

They may fall under the radar to the average American, but these national parks could easily be ranked among the best in the U.S.–if not the world. Two brothers pioneered a filming endeavor called, More Than Just Parks (MTJP),which aims to take viewers on a visually stunning journey through the country’s 59 national parks. To date, they have completed three. Hopefully, you too will be inspired to visit one of the these national parks! Keep up with their adventures until you’ve seen all 59 in action.

Here are three incredibly beautiful national parks in the U.S.A., captured by MTJP. They are unique in that they showcase the diversity of the American soil and the vastness of its wildlife. Even if you are a city person, it’s hard not to gawk at what these parks have to offer.

1. Joshua Tree National Park

The Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California, covering nearly 800,000 acres of diverse terrain. The winters are harsh and the summers harsher, with weather conditions deeming the area otherwise unwelcoming. However, the landscape is fascinating, a joining together of two desserts – two large ecosystems at different elevations. This makes for a unique atmosphere and stunning scenes of both arid and lush wilderness. The MTJP team’s video explores the Joshua Tree National Park and captures its beauty very aptly.

2. Olympic National Park

Located in the state of Washington, the Olympic National Park encompasses four regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forest of the drier east side. The park covers 922,650 acres and is contoured by 13 rivers. The park is just 3 hours from Seattle and is known for its great trails that support easy navigation. The MTJP created a short film presenting the Olympic National Park at its best.

MTJP | OLYMPIC from More Than Just Parks on Vimeo.

3. Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. It is the most visited national park in the U.S., with nearly 10 million people having visited it as of 2012. It encompasses some 522,500 acres of land, which includes 16 mountains reaching higher than 6,000 feet. The park sees a lot of rainfall and is almost 95 percent of it is covered in forests. Some 36 percent of the forests are estimated by the Park Service to be old growth forest, with many trees predating European settlement of the area.

MTJP | Smoky Mountains from More Than Just Parks on Vimeo.

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Photo Credit: MTJP Vimeo, MTJP Vimeo, MTJP Vimeo,

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Wildflowers are in full bloom across the country. Do you know where to view them?

With spring in full swing, chances are you’ve had flowers on the mind lately. Perhaps a getaway to see some of the finest wildflowers in the country is in order? These six places have been hailed as some of the best areas for spring and summer blossom viewing in the nation.

1. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, California

Although the wildflower blooms in this reserve reached their peak on May 4, there are still a good number of flowers painting the hills vivid colors. Poppy fields will remain for another two weeks and two wildflowers — beavertail cacti and buckwheat — have yet to reach their height. If you’re more of the planning type, be sure to go in April, when the nearby town of Lancaster holds an annual California Poppy Festival featuring live music and family-friendly activities like camel rides.

2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

The most visited national park in the US, the Great Smoky Mountains covers areas across both North Carolina and Tennessee. With extensive wildflower bloom information updated multiple times a week, this national park makes it easy for you to plan the perfect time to visit and see all your favorite wildflowers. After seeing some of the 1,500 varieties of flowering plants, you’ll understand why many have nicknamed it “Wildflower National Park.”

3. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park has over 200,000 acres of protected lands and boasts more than 850 species of wildflowers. While it’s too late to catch some of the popular flowers, including purple violets and pink lady slippers, the later spring and early summer months still bring plenty of colorful buds to take in. Keep an eye out for columbines, ox-eye daisies, and orange touch-me-nots around this time of year.

4. Fort Pierre National Grassland, South Dakota

This mixed-grass prairie covers over 100,000 acres and is a special sight in the summer when wildflowers are in full bloom. If you’re not as excited about the opportunities for spotting bluebells, bellflower, and Eastern red columbine, you can alternatively keep an eye out for some of the more lively species inhabiting the area, like prairie dogs and burrowing owls.

5. Glacier National Park, Montana

Fortunately for the latecomers to the wildflower scene, the species in Glacier National Park typically don’t peak until July and August. This may feel far into the future, but planning a trip to see the nearly 1,000 species of blossoms will be worth the wait. Make sure to get the inside scoop on which trails will be best for wildflower-viewing. If you want a flower-filled weekend you can even stay overnight in one of the park’s historic lodges or campsites.

6 White Mountains, New Hampshire

Despite this year’s polar vortex, wildflowers will still come to New Hampshire! Orchids are typically the first to blossom, kicking off wildflower season in late May. Make your travel arrangements now to come out during the 21st Annual Celebration of Lupines during the month of June in Franconia Notch. If the bright blankets of lupines covering the ground isn’t enough to convince you to book your travel now, the month will also feature a variety of ongoing and one-time events that attract crowds from far and wide.

This article originally appeared on Sierra Magazine.

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image: jmtimages

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National parks are already vacation worthy, but now you have more reasons to go.

Spice up a vacation itinerary by visiting places you’ve already seen on the silver screen. The films on this list used national parks as backdrops to some unforgettable scenes. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to create your own adventure once you get there.

1. “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977) For some of us there are still only three “Star Wars” films. Part of the reason we cling so heartily to the original trilogy is that they didn’t use green screens/chroma keys for all of their locations. Parts of Death Valley National Park, where temperatures regularly soar to over 100 degrees, were used for some of the Tatooine sets.  Who wouldn’t want to brave that weather for a chance to experience a galaxy not so far away?

2. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989): The final installment in the original “Indiana Jones” series took us to reclaim artifacts from far off places, but who could forget the iconic flashback at the start of the film? Young Indie leads his fellow scouts into an adventure that projects his eventual career path. You too can relive those harrowing moments by taking a trip to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, where the scenes were filmed. If you’re a movie buff this park will really appeal to you. It served as the backdrop for many other films.

3. “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997): If hunting down graverobbers or Sith Lords isn’t your style then maybe you’ll enjoy running away from velociraptors, or at least pretending to. Parts of this sequel were filmed in Redwood National Forest, located in Northern California. Take a hike around Fern Canyon to feel immersed in the beauty of the outdoors and relive those nail-biting moments. (Tip: Stay away from the long grass.)

4. “The Hunger Games” (2012): While no one wants to be a citizen of Panem, some people might enjoy visiting a location used in the first film of the successful series. The Pisgah National Forest served as the backdrop for Katniss’ hunting expeditions beyond the fences of her home district. Other locations in North Carolina were also used in this production, so the trip could easily become a tour.

5. “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” (2007): Mount Rushmore is an icon all its own, but when you add Nicolas Cage to the mix things are bound to get a little adventurous. Book of Secrets was filmed at various national memorials (including the ones for Lincoln and Washington) which makes it a good movie to base a tour off of. Step into America’s history and maybe you too can stumble upon an unsolved mystery. – Bianca Hernandez

This article originally appeared on Sierra Magazine’s website.

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Summer activities often don’t feel complete without an outing to the zoo or circus. But what about something a bit more animal friendly? Guilt kinda ruins a good summer, don’t you think?

Like many kids, I spent most of my childhood summers going to the zoo. I even worked there for a summer. Back then, I loved staring at all the strange looking creatures who were, without question, looking back at me. I wanted to know them, play together, cuddle up at nap time. But it didn’t take me long to realize just how unfriendly zoos actually are. Captive animals are deprived of their natural environments. While many zookeepers do genuinely care for the animals, that doesn’t make up for the loss of habitat and natural diet, or the stress and anxiety that comes with living in cramped cages and being gawked and yelled at day in and day out.

The lack of access to natural food and habitat can wreak havoc on animals’ bodies (elephants, for example, normally walk 30 miles a day in the wild). They develop more diseases that are difficult to treat, and often deadly. They also develop fertility issues, and if they do reproduce, can often reject their offspring. Many animals in zoos, circuses and other captive situations often also develop a condition called “zoochosis” where they display strange habits like walking in circles or swaying nonstop. Sometimes it’s so bad they’re given mood-altering drugs.

Not exactly animal friendly, eh?

But, observing animals is enriching—particularly to young children. Learning about other life forms is part of a healthy relationship with the world, and can bring great inspiration, compassion and curiosity. Avoiding zoos, circuses, Sea World and other captive animal situations doesn’t mean avoiding animals altogether. Check out these seven animal friendly summer activities:

1. Sanctuaries: Many circus and farm animals are fortunate enough to “retire” to animal sanctuaries, where they’re treated much better. Often given more space to roam, a more natural diet and not forced to perform or interact, they can live out their lives peacefully. Sanctuaries often host all kinds of summer activities, including tours, events and gatherings where you can learn the stories about the rescued animals and help support them.
2. Wildlife reserves: There are wildlife reserves all over the country—often just a short drive from most major cities. You may be able to view all sorts of creatures there from rare birds and mammals to fish and reptiles. Plus, they’re often free, too.
3. National Parks: Like wildlife reserves, protected National Park lands also protect some of our most majestic creatures. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and you just might see a bald eagle, a black bear or even a moose in their natural environment.
4. Whale watching: If you’re coastal, certain times of the year are great for whale watching. Check up on whale-watching tours to make sure they don’t try to bait or lure the animals towards the boats. They’re big enough that you won’t need much help in seeing them!
5. Bird watching: There are thousands of species of birds in the U.S. and they vary drastically by region. It’s one of the most rewarding animal experiences around, and you’ll often see lots of other critters on your outing, too.
6. Shelters: Dogs and cats are animals, too! Volunteering at an animal shelter can be an incredibly rewarding and interactive experience for you and the animals. Walk a dog, feed a rabbit, pet a cat and enjoy that connection the animals love as much as you do.
7. Your backyard: Animals are everywhere. Squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, possum, fox, lizards, deer, birds—these are just some of the animals common in North American yards, and they’re as amazing and beautiful as chimpanzees or pandas. Get to know your local fauna for the exotic creatures they really are.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Image: Vinoth Chandar

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Or at least, what we thought of doing.

Even if you’re afraid that Google Skynet might still be a distant possibility, it’s still mind-blowing to realize how much data passes through Google’s servers on a daily basis. Earlier this month, the team at Google Maps compiled data from the end of May to the beginning of September. They looked at all the searches from maps.google.com in the Northern Hemisphere to find out what a lot of people thought of doing this summer.

Camping was the top-searched activity in France, while in Canada and Spain, the top-rated search was for the beach (or as they say, “la playa”). In Great Britain, squash appears to be a highly popular summer activity, while the Dutch appear to have a great love for theme parks.

Here in the United States, paintball was the top searched-for activity. But Google also plotted out the most popular landmarks in the United States by how often they were searched for, which resulted in some good news for those of us currently living on the West Coast. Death Valley, Redwoods and Yosemite National Park beat out other popular tourist attractions by far.

It looks like Ken Burns hit the nail on the head when he termed the national parks to be “America’s best idea.” Is it too early to start planning next summer’s vacation?

Image: Google Official Blog

The post Sunday Infographic: Google Shows Us What We Did Over Summer appeared first on EcoSalon.

North America’s beauty spreads from sea to shining sea.

When wanderlust strikes, there’s the tendency to picture oneself overseas. My personal fantasies bring me to deserts in Morocco, beaches in Goa, hole-in-the-wall salsa clubs in Havana. I tend to forget the bounty of natural beauty that exists right here in North America. These pictures showcase the stunning vistas, cultural relics, and breathtaking natural phenomena that exist right at our front doors, or at least within a few hours drive.

(above) Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA

San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico

White Sands, New Mexico, USA

Washington, D.C., USA

Venice Beach, California, USA

Crater Lake, Oregon, USA

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm, White Water, California, USA

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Banff National Park, Canada

Coyote Butte North, Arizona, USA

Henkel, Colorado, USA

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Kent, Washington, USA 

Pagosa Valley, Colorado, USA

Lackawanna State Forest, Pennsylvania, USA

San Francisco, California, USA

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Santa Cruz, California, USA

Galveston, Texas, USA

Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA

Bitterroot Mountains, Montana, USA

Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas, USA

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

U.S. Route 66, Arizona, USA

Mule Canyon, Colorado, USA

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Everglades, Florida, USA

Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Anne’s Beach, Florida Keys, USA

South Dakota, USA

Quechee, Vermont, USA

Riverwood Park, Mississauga, Canada

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Bountiful, Utah, USA

Big Moose Lake, New York, USA

New York, New York, USA

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, USA

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In my teen years, my father and I used to take “dad and daughter” road trips; which included explorations through wild parts of the west. His goal was to encourage my love of the outdoors and experiential learning, as well as ensure he enjoyed a great spring break as well. So this year when he asked if I wanted to resurrect the tradition, I said yes. I needed some time outside, so we headed for the Southwest.

Sustaining a green lifestyle isn’t just about the daily choices that you make – recycling, choosing reusable bags over plastic, opting for organic cotton instead of conventional – it’s also about remembering why you make those choices. For a lot of us, that means making sure that we do all we can to lessen our impact on the environment that we inhabit. But why? Travel is often the best way to give us that reason.

Seeing an inspiring natural place first hand is one of the most effective catalysts for getting us to realize just why we should choose a greener, more sustainable and more conscious lifestyle. If you’re stuck in an urban environment all your life with no access to green spaces or open landscapes, how would you know that these places need to be protected to ensure their continued survival?

Experiencing the places that we believe in protecting doesn’t have to be about taking off on an epic adventure; it can be as simple as exploring your local state park, or even helping in a weekend of trail maintenance. Protected natural spaces are created for two reasons: to ensure their survival and make sure that people can enjoy them in a low impact and respectful way. Visiting these places is simply a way of showing your continued support for the natural environment and why we need to be taking everyday steps to do all that we can to live with a smaller impact.

Standing at the edge of a canyon, with hundreds of miles of vast, open landscape spread out before you, with an intense blue sky dotted with clouds, you easily forget all the emails, to-do lists and expectations that wait for you at home. All that you’re focused on is the amazing space in front of you; how massive, powerful and beautiful it really is. That’s what’s worth protecting. And that’s why we promote living greener lifestyles.

Even if your travels don’t take you to protected spaces, you can still do your part to support them, to ensure that our society is having the chance at experiencing them firsthand and being moved to take care of them. Here is just a sampling of the many great independent organizations that are working hard to ensure that our country’s unique places stick around for the next generation:

• National Parks Conservation Association
• The Yosemite Fund (who is soon merging with the Yosemite Association to provide a new era of support for this iconic North American park)
• Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
• Glacier National Park Fund
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Image: Anna Brones

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It’s one thing to read about how some of the most amazing natural treasures in the world are endangered due to environmental degradation, or learn specifically about the dangers global warming poses to our national parks. It’s another thing to see it firsthand.

I was hiking in the Rockies earlier this month and saw for myself large swaths of dead, rust-colored Lodgepole pine trees throughout the forest (see gallery below).  Witnessing the actual damage done by human folly is heart wrenching in a way that is difficult to verbalize. For me, there’s a huge sense of loss and missed opportunity and a knot of pure anger in my stomach at the shortsightedness and power of denial in us humans.

At the same time, there’s a strange gratitude in the moment of experience at the fact that I’m lucky enough to stand surrounded by such inspiring beauty (despite the visible damage). Then there’s the feeling of awe and appreciation at the incredible beating nature is able to take before showing signs of wear.

The trees’ deaths were caused directly by an insect called the mountain pine beetle and indirectly by climate change. Pine beetles have always fed on certain species of trees, like the Lodgepole pines in the Rockies, but cold winters have kept the beetle’s population under control and plenty of water made the trees hardy and resistant to the beetle’s attacks.

Enter drought and successive years of warm weather. The population of beetles explodes, the trees are weakened and unable to secrete the resin that kills the beetles, and the trees die – to the tune of millions upon millions of trees. According to this National Parks Conservation Association Survival Guide, Forestry officials estimate that all mature Lodgepole pine forests in Colorado will be dead by 2013.

This all sounds hopeless and it is, especially for the Lodgepoles and the many birds, animals and fish that directly or indirectly depend on them for survival. So many dried, dead trees make the specter of devastating wildfires a sure bet.

Experts agree that the damage is irreversible. The only way to think positively is to ponder the new forest that will eventually grow up in this one’s place. Luckily, nature does have amazing powers of regeneration. But that doesn’t mean we can excuse the damage already done. To appreciate both the beauty and the scale of loss people need to see these places and truly experience them firsthand. That’s the only way we are ever going to save them.

Though heavy visitation has its own deleterious impacts on our national parks, I believe it is only through experiencing nature’s awe-inspiring beauty and mystery that humankind will muster the desire to live more lightly in hopes of saving what we still have.

Images: Vanessa Barrington

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