The famous travel-guide publisher Frommer’s has released its list of the top 12 must-go destinations for 2009, and one of my favorite spots, Lassen Volcanic National Park, has joined some august company. Here’s what Frommer’s says about Lassen Volcanic National Park:
There are hundreds of parks in our system that are thankfully protected but may not get the acclaim they deserve. Lassen is one of the oldest — Teddy Rosevelt dedicated two monuments in 1907 that ultimately became this park — and least-visited parks in the system. Hot springs, heat vents, sulfur ponds, and dormant volcanoes help set it apart from more pedestrian parks. (Before Mount St. Helens blew in the 1980s, Lassen Peak’s eruption in 1915 had been the most recent eruption in the lower 48 states.) Visitors come for 150 miles of hiking trails, swimming, and boating and fishing (there are dedicated fishing and boating lakes). The park’s open year-round, but road closures do occur due to snow. When snow hits, some areas get “snow algae” which manifests itself in snow that takes on a blood-red color, adding to the already spooky atmosphere of geothermal activity. There’s only one place to stay within the park that’s not a campsite, but B&Bs and chain motels surround the park and you’re unlikely to pay above $100 to stay, even in high season.
Have a look at the entire Frommer’s list of twelve destinations. I’ve been to Istanbul and the Saqqara pyramids south of Cairo, both back in 1985 when I did a nearly year-long journey in Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. Which of these areas have you explored? Which one ranks highest on your to-do list?
I’m most interested in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. I’ve been to Banff and Jasper, but I missed Waterton.
