The Shutdown Vacation Saver Resource List

This list is linked to my Facebook page, The Shutdown Vacation Saver.  It is designed to help people find great alternatives to the National Parks and Monuments that have been shut down along with the US Government.  I am listing alphabetically by state along with the activities/ attractions of each site and some local, knowledgeable retailers that are happy to give you more information.  This will be my current post as long as the shutdown is on, and I will add to it every day (hopefully).  I hope this helps you to explore my big, beautiful country, even during trying times.

If you are able to use and enjoy these places, please do your part to keep them clean and safe.  Obey regulations, clean up your trash, maybe pick up any garbage you see.  Staff and resources are tight right now, and we can all play a big role in leaving these places so that others can enjoy them, too.  It’s up to us.  Thanks!

Here’s a link to the Facebook page, too:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shutdown-Vacation-Saver/1424857067727826

ARIZONA – Grand Canyon NP open Oct. 12-18!  see http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm for details within the park

• Antelope Canyon – North: Desert, unique canyons, photography, hiking, native cultures  http://navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm
• Havasupai – North: Hiking, camping, horse riding, waterfalls
• Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – North East: Stunning scenery, native cultures, hiking, great drives  http://navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm
• Slide Rock State Park- Central:  Hiking, swimming, natural rock slides  http://azstateparks.com/parks/slro/

Helpful/ Knowledgeable Retailers:

• Hike House, Sedona  http://thehikehouse.com/

CALIFORNIA

• This is a great link for National Park alternatives!: http://adventure16.com/content.asp?itemid=1570
• Bodie State Historic Park – North East: Mining and Gold Rush History, ghost town   http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509
• California Missions – South West Coast: History, coastline, architecture  http://www.missionscalifornia.com/
• Donner Memorial State Park- Tahoe area: Beautiful Sierra scenery, hiking, swimming, boating, camping, fishing, creepy history http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503
• Eastern Sierra Highway 395 -East: Incredible mountains, hiking, climbing, fishing, diverse geology, camping.  Towns: Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth Lakes
• Hearst Castle – North West Coast: Coastline, Ocean, History, Architecture   http://www.hearstcastle.org/
• Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park – North Central: Gold Rush History, gold panning  http://www.coloma.com/california-gold-discovery/marshall-park/

Helpful/Knowledgeable Retailers:

• Adventure 16, San Diego and Los Angeles  http://adventure16.com/
• Elevation, Lone Pine  http://www.sierraelevation.com/
• Whitney Portal Store, Mt. Whitney  http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/
• Wilson’s Eastside Sports, Bishop  http://eastsidesports.com/eastside/

COLORADO – Rocky Mtn. NP is open Oct. 11-20!  visit http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm for specifics within the park

• Castlewood Canyon State Park – Denver Area: Hiking, interesting geology, solitude  http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/castlewoodcanyon/Pages/CastlewoodCanyonHome.aspx
• Garden of the Gods -Central: Geologic wonder, photography, hiking, climbing   http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm

HAWAI’I – working on it!

IDAHO

• Henry’s Fork of the Snake River – Yellowstone area: Fly fishing, waterfalls, hiking   http://www.visitidaho.org/attraction/lakes-rivers/henrys-fork-of-the-snake-river/
• Snake River Canyon – Yellowstone area: Canyon, big waterfalls, hiking, fishing, boating  http://www.visitidaho.org/attraction/natural-attractions/snake-river-canyon/
• Palisades Reservoir – Yellowstone area: Wildlife, hiking, fishing, camping, driving  http://www.visitidaho.org/attraction/lakes-rivers/palisades-reservoir/

MARYLAND 

• Point Lookout Civil War POW site is open  http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/pointlookout.asp
• South Mountain Battlefield is open  http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/southmountainbattlefield.asp

MASSACHUSETTS 

• Boston’s Freedom Trail: Constitution and Bunker Hill are closed, but The Old North Church, Paul Revere House and Old State House are running as are many tours and services: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

MICHIGAN – working on it!

NEBRASKA 

• Chadron State Park – Black Hills Adjascent: Landscape, camping, hiking, biking, lots of activities  http://www.stateparks.com/chadron_state_park_in_nebraska.html
• Fort Robinson State Park – Black Hills Adjascent: Landscape, buffalo, western history, camping  http://www.stateparks.com/fort_robinson.html

NEW YORK – The Statue of Liberty is open, Ellis Island to follow soon  Oct. 12-17th  visit http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm for details

• Tenement Museum – Manhattan, Lower East Side: Immigrant history, amazing experience  http://www.tenement.org/

NORTH CAROLINA

• Bennet Place – Civil War History  http://www.nchistoricsites.org/bennett/
• Bentonville Battlefield – Civil War History   http://www.nchistoricsites.org/bentonvi/
• Fort Fisher – Civil War History  http://www.nchistoricsites.org/fisher/
• Fort Macon – Civil War History  http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/foma/main.php

PENNSYLVANIA

• Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is open- battlefield is closed  http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/

SOUTH DAKOTA – Mount Rushmore to open soon!  Oct. 14-23  visit http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm for more details

• Crazy Horse Memorial – Black Hills: History, native cultures, monument in the making!  http://crazyhorsememorial.org/
• Custer State Park – Black Hills: Wildlife, wilderness, camping, Black Hills scenery   http://www.travelsd.com/Attractions/State-Parks/Custer-State-Park?gclid=CI79nrvsh7oCFSVBQgod9EgAbg

TEXAS – more coming

• The Alamo – San Antonio: History, architecture   http://thealamo.org/

UTAH – Utah’s Parks are open!  visit http://www.nps.gov/shutdown/index.html for details and links to your favorite park

• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park – South West: Hiking, photography, beautiful dunes, geology  http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/coral-pink-sand-dunes-state-park
• Escalante Petrified Forest State Park – South: Camping, canoeing, canyoneering, natural wonders   http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/escalante-petrified-forest-state-park
• Goblin Valley State Park – South East: Unique geologic formations, hiking, camping, goblins (joke!)  http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/park/goblin-valley-state-park
• Goosenecks State Park – South East: Canyons, photography, unique geology  http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/goosenecks-state-park

VIRGINIA

• American Civil War Center – Richmond, VA: http://www.tredegar.org/
• Museum of the Confederacy – Richmond, VA: Civil war history, historic buildings  http://www.moc.org/
• Sailor’s Creek Battlefield- Richmond Area- is open   http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/sai.shtml
• Staunton River Bridge Battlefield is open – http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/stb.shtml

WASHINGTON D.C. 

• This is a fantastic article!: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2013/09/30/smithsonian-closed-heres-what-to-do-instead/

WYOMING

• Buffalo Bill State Park – West: Mountains, camping, fishing, boating  http://www.wyomingtourism.org/thingstodo/detail/Buffalo-Bill-State-Park/2581
• Legend Rock Petroglyph Historic Site – Central: Native cultures, ancient peoples, history  http://www.wyomingtourism.org/thingstodo/detail/Legend-Rock-Petroglyph-Historic-Site/32516
• Gros Ventre Range – West: Wildlife, solitude, camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, dramatic scenery  http://visitpinedale.org/explore/mountain-ranges/gros-ventre-mountain-range/
• Hot Springs State Park – Central: World’s largest mineral hot springs, geology, swimming, bathing, hiking, buffalo  http://www.wyomingtourism.org/thingstodo/detail/Hot-Springs-State-Park/3318
• Sinks Canyon State Park – West: Diverse wildlife, unique ecology, hiking, fishing, camping, rock climbing   http://www.wyomingtourism.org/thingstodo/detail/Sinks-Canyon-State-Park/4245

Stay Wild!

The Shutdown Ruins Vacations!…Or does it?

  A coworker came to me today with a unique challenge: her dad is flying in from England in two days(!) and they had planned to roadtrip to Zion and Bryce National Parks to see the landscape of the American West.  Except now they can’t because of the government shutdown.  Like many Americans, I am feeling a range of seething emotions over our current political crisis, not the least of which are embarrassment and empathy for all of our foreign visitors who traveled so far for dashed hopes.  No longer!  I can’t fix Congress, but Anna helped me find something I can do.  I can help everyone find alternatives to the National Parks and monuments that are closed indefinitely.  State Parks and historic sites are often less traveled, less expensive, and more connected to the people, history, and cultures of the locale.  There are loads of monuments and attractions that are state run, privately run, or tribally run that are all open for business.  To that end, I created a Facebook page, The Shutdown Vacation Saver.  Check it out, it’s worth your time.  Alternatively, feel free to contact me here.  If you tell me where you had planned to go and what you had hoped to see (i.e. historic sites, amazing landscapes, wildlife), I will do my best to find great alternatives nearby.  In the meantime, here are some great suggestions.

Utah State Parks: http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/  These places are incredible, and that comes from a biased Californian!  Check out Goosenecks, Goblin Valley, Escalante Petrified Forest, and Coral Pink Sand Dunes as Grand Canyon alternatives

California: Most of the historic missions, all State Parks, Sutter’s Fort, the Coloma Mill where gold was discovered and Hearst Castle are open.  These run along the coast and historic Highway 49, as does some lovely wine country.  Might as well wait out the shutdown with a bottle of Pinot.

NYC: So the statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are closed, cutting you off from seeing the site of your ancestors’ arrival?  Hardly.  See Lady Liberty the way they did- from the water- with a ferry ride.  The head down to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East side to get a true feel for the life that awaited many immigrants to the US.  I promise you’ll never forget it.  http://www.tenement.org/

Stay Wild!