Where Do I Find Adventure?

     It can be very difficult to find places to adventure.  Having recently moved to New York City, this has been a great concern of mine.  Folks talk about the Botanical Gardens like it the great outdoors and that an hour to get to Central Park isn't that bad.  I'm used to my Midwest standard of an hour putting me well outside the city.  When I first found out I was moving to New York, it was 10:30 at night.  I spent the next four hours looking up state and national parks, wildlife reserves and Appalachian Trail access.  There is a pretty good abundance of activities to keep me busy for the new few years.
     Where does one find all of these resources?  This post is to share what I've found.  And if you know anything I don't, please pass it along!

Recreation.gov
This is a relatively recent project of Federal Government.  The website is greatly improved and certainly deserves attention.  You can select what activities you are looking for and search by zip code, names of places and more.  Click the "Other Activities" on the drop down menu to see hiking, camping, etc.  One disadvantage is that when you select more than one activity, it searches for those places with all the things you selected.  If you are willing to just do one or two, you should search them individually.  This website is EXTREMELY helpful in finding campgrounds.  It usually has pictures as well, so you know what you're getting into.  This is also the website you will use to reserve most lodging on federal land.

National Park Service
The National Park Service is often the first place that I look for adventure.  There is an amazing number of places that we often to not know about.  National Parks often get associated with the western United States, but the East has its fair share as well.  My favorite feature is to view state-by-state what options are available.  You can also search by activity, location and topic (i.e. Presidents).  The NPS is currently working to improve their website--it can be a bit clunky, but is getting better.  For larger parks, I suggest writing to the local offices.  For example, Shenandoah National Park has multiple sections with miles upon miles of trails.  Online maps are usually just the most popular trails, whereas the local offices will have maps of all the trails.

National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuges can sometimes be a tossup.  They are run by the Fish and Wildlife Service. I call them a tossup not because they are bad, but they do not always have the opportunities you might be looking for.  If you are going to go to a refuge, I suggest looking it up online ahead of time.  I love atlases and will often pick out the green space and go.  Do not do this is the refuges--they are sometimes close to the public, have only a small trail or are for driving tours only.  Their website is well set-up.  The have a section for photography, birding and trails.

National Forest Service
The National Forest is another excellent department of the federal government, which also includes federal grasslands.  National Forests are often areas designated so that we can make sure they are not over-logged, etc.  Frequently, the forests include private property.  However, the NFS is great about having hiking and camping available.  Some of the main distinctions between NPS and NFS are the mix of private and public property, the ability to harvest goods and hunting.  Make sure to check before you head out on one of these trails if you will be crossing private land and especially if it is a hunting season and you need to wear bright colors and be aware of hunters.  We do share these spaces.  If you are out traveling, I greatly suggest stopping by their regional ranger stations to find out more, especially for the West.

State Parks/Trails
State parks and trails are excellent resources.  The rules and regulations differ greatly between states.  Many allow hunting in some or all of their parks.  Make sure to check if you are hiking during the hunting season.  State parks can also be a tossup in terms of quality.  I have had several disappointing visits to what I thought would be a great park and in fact turned out to be nothing more than a pavilion at the edge of a small lake.  The primary point of many parks is to encourage recreation.  For some parks, though, that means anything from skiing, to snowmobiling, to four-wheeling.  If you are looking for something in particular (or to avoid something, like noise), do thorough research before embarking on  your journey.  As an aid, I have created a page with the main site for each state's park system.

Reserve America
This is the website that many states are now using to reserve campgrounds.  It's very helpful if you know the general area in which you would like to stay already.

StateParks.com
This website is an AWESOME resource.  It has all of the state parks in the US, along with state forests, wildlife areas, etc.  It does a fantastic job categorizing locations and helping you find the right one for you.  It also helps you find area accommodations that are not necessarily state run, such as bed and breakfasts.

LocalHikes
This is a website made up of people who find hikes and then list them using a simple software.  The website is very basic, but all the easier to use.  You can search by zip code or city to find the hikes nearest you.  They range from county, to state to federal trails.  You can also apply to be a reporter--give back by reporting hikes that you know of and help further establish the website.

60 Within 60 Series
This is an excellent book series.  It is put out be Menasha Ridge Press, which also has a great variety of other adventure literature for "hiking, biking and paddling books for the active outdoor lifestyle."  The 60 Within 60 series are books that list 60 hikes within 60 miles of major metropolitan areas.  My grandma recently gave me a copy of the NYC edition as a gift and it is excellent.  They have a variety of easy to strenuous hikes for each place, along with recommendations for time of year, what to bring, environment and more.  If you are going to a city destination for vacation, I suggest checking the local library for a copy of one of these books.  If you are moving, I suggest simply buying a copy (~$16).

National Geographic Maps
If you really want to get to know an area, these are the way to go.  These are some of the best maps I have found, though they can be expensive.  They are often sold at site for national parks and other federal lands.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

     Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a 35-mile stretch of shore along Lake Michigan.  Authorized in 1970, the park had a controversial start as local property-owners worried about the arrival of large numbers of tourists.  Although there were a good number of visitors, local homes did not seem greatly disturbed and the local small towns were thriving.
     The park is named for a Chippewa legend, in which a massive forest fire forced a mother bear and two cubs to flee.  They swam into the water to avoid the fire.  The mother reached the opposite shore, but the cubs became tired and were unable to complete the journey.  They drowned in the lake.  The legend says the Great Spirit was awed by the act, especially the mother bear who stood on a high dune and kept watch long after, hoping desperately for her cubs.  Great Spirit formed two islands for the cubs--North and South Manitou Island.  Great Spirit then buried the mother deep inside the dunes to commemorate her spirit and where she could wait for the cubs.
     The park is absolutely gorgeous, and certainly worth a visit.  Unfortunately, I did not have a camera--the pictures here are courtesy of the National Park Service.  The park is divided into five main parts: North and South Manitou Islands; Platte River; D. H. Day; and Good Harbor.  The park has ample hiking and swimming, along with many other activities.  Because of its location, however, there are a large number of other visitors and it can be harder to find empty spaces for prayer or quiet.

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros: hiking; camping; scenery; other activities
Cons: number of visitors; park is not contiguous
Activities: hiking; swimming; bird-watching; boating/fishing; winter includes skiing, etc.
Bring: lots of sunscreen; swimwear; lots of water; good hiking shoes; camera

Recommendations:
    This is a year-round park with activities to match.  Unlike many places, no matter what time of year you come, you will certainly find activities to meet your needs.  There is ample lodging nearby as well.  The park has site and backpack camping, as well as many nearby bed and breakfast locations.  I highly recommend the Sleeping Bear Point trail.  It is 2.8-mile loop trail with some difficulty.  Start at near end of the parking lot.  Toward the end, there is a quarter-mile spur that leads to Lake Michigan and probably the best water I have ever been in.  Keith said the scenic driving tour was excellent.  There are 12 pull-offs where you can get out, walk, and read about the history and importance of the park.
     Get to the park in early or mid-morning to avoid the big crowds.  Stay until afternoon for when the beach warms up a bit and it is warm enough to swim.  While in the area, visit the ample cheery orchards and local farms.  Fudge is also a local phenom and worth finding.
     Sleeping Bear makes it easy to find God in all things.  The natural beauty is simply astounding with a fantastic mix of cultural and historical importance.  From indigenous to farming to shipping industry history, the area is ripe with stories worth hearing.

Photo Courtesy of NPS