December

What national park is synonymous with the bleak
midwinter?

The name of this national park is virtually synonymous with winter -- and a harsh winter at that. Originally established as Pennsylvania's first state park in 1893, it became a national park in our bicentennial year of 1976.

Though no battle (against the Brits) was fought here, the Continental Army, led by George Washington, spent the third winter of the Revolutionary War here in a different sort of battle -- against the elements.

Did you know:

• Approximately 12,000 troops encamped here during that fateful winter of 1777-1778.
• The park covers 3,500 acres and is visited by more than 1.2 million people each year.

Sam's Somewhat Alliterative Nickname

Yosemite National Park

November

What's the name of this "killer" national park?

This park, which gets its name from a Miwok word meaning "killer," is visited by more than three and a half million folks each year. About 95 percent of the park is designated as wilderness, including the many giant sequoias growing there.

Did you know:

-- The seed for the giant sequoia, the biggest living thing on Earth, is the size of a piece of oatmeal.

-- Abraham Lincoln signed a bill protecting the valley portion of the park; later, John Muir lobbied to protect the surrounding mountains and forests as well.

Wet 'n Wild

Everglades National Park

October

What is the name of this wetland wilderness?

Located in Florida, this park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. It is also the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi. It is the third largest national park in the lower 48, and the first created to protect a fragile ecosystem.

Did you know:

• It is the only place in the world where the American alligator and the American crocodile live together in the wild.
• The majority of South Florida's water is recharged in this park.

Cue Up Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"!

Olympic National Park

September

What is the name of this park that houses rocks as large as
houses?  

Designated a national park by FDR in 1938, this park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1981. It is currently undergoing the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, to preserve 70 miles of salmon spawning and rearing habitat.

Did you know:

-- This park is known for its melanges (large rocks), which can be as large as houses.

-- The coastal portion of the park is 60 miles long.

-- The western side of the park consists of temperate rainforests, which receive an annual precipitation of about 150 inches.