Here are a few sites that we have found useful in planning for our travels.

 

 

 

 

Photo of blue-tailed lizard taken in Holmes Educational Forest, western North Carolina.

Best of the Best State Parks at About.com by Darren Smith

http://usparks.tqn.com/travel/usparks/blbestparks.htm

The author provides a a list, links, and information about the "best" state parks in the United States.

 

Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Dept. of the Interior)

http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

The BLM administers 264 million acres of America's public lands, located primarily in 12 Western States. Their primary goal is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

 

Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP)

http://www.gorp.com/default.htm

This website features travel, outdoor adventure, wildlife, parks and recreation, and much more.

Section of GORP:

2) U.S. Corp of Engineers - Recreation Areas http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nra/ace/acemain.htm

 

Maps of United States National Parks and Monuments

http://mahogany.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/National_parks/National_parks.html

This is the site of the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas at Austin.

 

National Park Service

http://www.nps.gov

One of the best purchases that we make each year is a 'National Parks Pass' that allows holders unlimited entry to any national park with entrance fees. Here you can find out about the pass, information on any of the parks, plus culture, history, natural resources, and more.

 

National Rivers

http://www.nationalrivers.org/

This is a center for wild and scenic rivers, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, fly-fishing, river conservation, river access, and river navigability law.

 

National Scenic Byways Online at Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

http://www.byways.org/

This site provides travelers with current, detailed information about National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads throughout the United States.

Related Website:

2) National Scenic Byways and Other Recreational Drives at GORP http://www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/byway/byway.htm

 

Natural Resource Websites at Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources

http://dnr.state.il.us/general/states.htm

This website connects to DNR websites throughout the US.

 

U.S. Department of the Interior

http://www.doi.gov/

This is the site for general information about DOI or one of its bureaus or offices.