While I try to walk a trail every weekend, I recently made a point to get out to visit our local national park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, last month on National Public Lands Day. Usually held annually on the fourth Saturday of September, people are invited to participate in a day of service for public lands, which helps to promote stewardship of the parks and the resources it provides us.
On this day, the public is also granted free admission to national parks, giving those that otherwise may not be able to go an opportunity to explore the natural wonders that we all cherish. This year, there were five other free entrance days offered in the national park system, and I’m just glad I found out about this date before the year is over.
In hopes of avoiding crowds, I chose to explore Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive early in the morning, a favorite of mine at the park since I was first introduced to the route in 2021. I love being a tourist wherever I live — it’s a time where I can truly appreciate and take in the beauty of the place that I write about. I got to arguably one of the most popular stops on the drive, overlook 9, around 10 a.m., and while there were a few families out there on the platform taking in the views of Lake Michigan, at one point, it was just me. I took my time and spent about 45 minutes at the stop before I made my way to Empire Bluffs for a quick hike. Fall colors were just starting to show then, but the temperature was still warm and summer-like.
Growing up on the Big Island in Hawaii, our go-to park for school field trips every year was Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. From elementary through high school and even into college, teachers would encourage us to make the trip so that we could learn from local park rangers about the park’s unique assets and resources. There were always some kind of hands-on activities for youth to participate in on a park trip — like taking a hike along one of the trails where lava once flowed and identifying “Pele’s tears,” which are essentially solidified lava drops in the shape of tears. As students, we learned so much from these trips about the history of the land and Hawaiian culture that you don’t absorb in the same way from reading a book. I’m so grateful to have access to these protected national parks that give back so much — the scenic drives and picture perfect views, the hikes that encourage us to move and that tell a story about the cultural history of the area, the knowledgeable park rangers that answer all of our questions and guides us when we’re lost — The memories and experiences people take away from a visit are priceless and stay with you. Here’s to more park visits throughout the year and taking up as many opportunities to learn about the land and place we call home.
