#63 Place: National Parks

Your mom and dad love to be outdoor.  Okay, your mom more than your dad.  She'd sleep in a barn or with horses outside if it weren't for snakes or spiders.  National parks are always her favorite.  You should visit these parks because they may not be around much longer:

1. The Smokies - hundreds of miles of beautiful hiking trails.  Fall or Springs are best.  We always stayed at a log cabin up in the Smokies (Pigeon Forge) with great friends.  Waterfalls, bears, rednecks, all good stuff.  While in the area, visit also The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.  You'll love the behind the scenes tour, their grandiose rooms and architecture, and their out of this world gardens.
2. The Grand Canyon. Try to see both the North Rim (more remote) and the South Rim between late May and September.  Rent a plane or chopper and enjoy the views even better.
3. Glacier National Park. Some of the most famous glaciers in the Montana park have shrunk by more than half.  You should see it before the park lost its glaciers.  When you do, drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road which spans 50 miles winding around mountainsides and you will some of the park's best sights that way.