Posted on 10/28/2017 2:34:11 PM PDT by BenLurkin
So many tourists head up to the Hollywood sign to snap selfies that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has suggested building a gondola to reduce congestion on nearby streets and hiking trails.
At Zion National Park, the crowds are so heavy that park officials are considering a congestion management plan that would require visitors to make reservations to enter the popular Utah park.
The problem isn't unique to the U.S.
Venice, Italy, has been so overrun with tourists that the city recently launched a campaign urging visitors not to litter, swim in the canals or cycle in the city center.
The sightseer crush, known as "overtourism," has been noted in Barcelona, Spain, and Reykjavik, Iceland, among other popular European destinations.
Extreme crowding made the agenda at a recent gathering in Los Angeles of the World Tourism Cities Federation, a nonprofit international tourism organization whose slogan is "Better cities through tourism."
Top tourism destinations need to do a better job managing crowds, said Chris Bottrill, a professor of tourism network and destination development at Canada's Capilano University. One solution, he said, is to encourage tourists to visit lesser-known destinations nearby.
"The reality is there are many other attractions that people can see and reduce the stress on the major attractions," he said.
In the U.S., the problem is most prominent at national parks, many of which have addressed crowds by adding extra staff and shuttle buses, among other efforts.
"You have to take care of your resources in order to not lose your customers," said Jeff Olson, a spokesman for the National Park Service.
(Excerpt) Read more at beta.latimes.com ...
Same with Yosemite, not been to the valley floor in 50 years. Endless line of RVs from what I saw way up above.
And the price is increasing from $30.00 to $70.00:
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/national-park-service-proposes-raising-yellowstone-entrance-fee-to/article_3b840ea6-8a5e-5610-adf6-dba4891f1290.html
Pick the off season times. You’ll see more and enjoy it more. Walk the paths and it really thins out.
Run a road around the park, with streetwise parking the whole way.
Remove the interior park roads.
You want in, you walk.
Disneyland is a nightmare during the summer - I refuse to go there with relatives who visit. Lines are astronomical and it’s almost shoulder to shoulder all over the park. They need to limit the number of “guests” at any given time. Rides seem to have been sped up too to get more people through quicker.
Raising the price didn’t seem to help - it’s now $155 for Disneyland and California Adventure.
If anything is endangering the planet it’s overuse. The population will keep growing until there’s a natural correction..like a plague or mass starvation.
Some of the less visited national parks and monuments are wonderful, plus there are some great state parks. I recommend:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Colorado National Monument
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
White Sands National Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore (visit in early spring and fall)
Pictured Rock National Lakeshore
Voyageurs National Park
Grand Portage National Monument
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (visit in the fall)
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Badlands National Park (visit after Labor Day)
Wind Cave National Park
Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park
Bandelier National Monument
Canyon de Chelly
Devils Tower National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument
Little Bighorn National Battlefield
Mojave Trails National Monument
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Saguaro Forest National Park
Everglades National Park
Blue Ridge Parkway
Natchez Trace
Some wonderful state parks include:
Palo Duro Canyon (Texas)
Cloudland Canyon (Georgia)
Custer State Park (South Dakota) visit after Labor Day.
Topsail Hill Preserve and nearby Grayton Beach (Florida)
Silver Springs (Florida)
Pipestem State Park (West Virginia)
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (North Dakota)
Itasca State Park (Minnesota)
Chimney Rock (North Carolina)
Tahquemenon State Park (Michigan)
Davis Mountains State Park (Texas)
Black Mesa State Park (Oklahoma)
I’ve found September and October are the best months to visit many of the extremely popular national and state parks. Children back in school plus cooler weather reduce the crowds and make reservations easier to snag.
It has been 15 years since I’ve been to Yellowstone and nearly 20 since visiting Yosemite. I understand both have huge crowds except during the middle of the winter.
They're proposing $75 for Rocky Mtn National Park.
Sure, because if you're not young and athletic you have no business seeing these parks.
Oh, wait, we already have those, they're called "wilderness areas".
I'm sure Agenda21 advocates will be glad to support you on that though.
Says "The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass" Some other small print I cannot quite read.
This is the top tip to enjoy the parks. Don't go Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day, especially. The second tip, there a whole lot of parks besides Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the South rim of the Grand canyon. About 50% of the land area of the United States is for wildlife/scenic areas. Spread out.
For instance, Arches National Park has the most natural arches of any area. It is a beautiful, if somewhat crowded park. If you don't like the crowds, the second highest number of natural arches is about 100 miles east, down a 13 mile four wheel drive road, with a hike of maybe ten miles. You might see another person or two if you go there.
Wow, glad I have zero interest in entertainment. I remember the days when we had unused A, B, and C tickets scattered about in the kitchen junk drawer.
Thailand encourages tourism, as it’s a big part of their economy. They have been playing to the Chinese low-budget tourists lately, to the tune of about 9 million a year at present. Hour+ long lines at immigration, thousands of tour buses, complete mayhem at all-you-can-eat buffets and etc. They walk around like cattle, shout at each other and even let their kids crap on the sidewalks.
Every place that makes its money off tourism hates tourists with a vicious passion. Funny that.
Think so, and you can't buy that pass anymore.
Exactly. If there’s man caused GW, it’s because there are over twice as many people as there were when I was a kid, most of them cooking and heating over wood fires.
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