U.S. National Monuments Are Family-Friendly Vacation Spots
Here's a list of the nation's historical hot spots (--) the five most- and least-visited monuments in 2009 (--) from National Park Service data, and all of these family-friendly trips keep you firmly grounded in the U.S. With ancient petroglyphs and eerie cave dwellings, war-scarred memorials and islands reachable only by boat (--) and, let's not forget the iconic Statue of Liberty (--) travelers get a taste of our rich past.
MOST VISITED:
The fort, originally built as defense in the War of 1812, is named after New York's former mayor and governor, DeWitt Clinton. After it closed as an immigration station in 1890, it reopened as the popular New York City Aquarium. It is now a museum with ranger-guided tours and a ticket office for the Statue of Liberty ferry. Castle Clinton is in Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan.
Visitors in 2009: 4.08 million
More info: www.nps.gov/cacl
Perhaps the most recognized symbol of freedom and democracy in the world, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most-visited monuments in the nation. In July 2009, visitors were again permitted to visit the statue's crown, which had been closed to the public since Sept. 11, 2001. Reserve tickets online for all visits, and be prepared for long ferry lines and large crowds.
Visitors in 2009: 3.83 million
More info: www.nps.gov/STLI
The survivors at the somber USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu are living history of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, which preceded the United States' entrance into World War II. The reverent memorial educates visitors through survivors' firsthand accounts, museum exhibits and the opportunity to reflect on the underwater remains of the USS Arizona. The Arizona is accessible only by boat.
Visitors in 2009: 1.28 million
More info: www.nps.gov/valr
The ruins of indigenous Anasazi and Navajo tribes sit among distinct rock formations in Canyon de Chelly in Chinle, about 250 miles from Flagstaff. The national monument is unique: It's entirely on Navajo Tribal Trust Land and sustains a community of Navajo. The taller spire of the 800-foot Spider Rock is believed to be the home of Spider Grandmother, the creator of the world, according to traditional Navajo beliefs. The elevation at the park ranges from 5,500 at the visitor center to more than 7,000 feet. Be prepared for sudden weather changes.
Visitors in 2009: 826,425
More info: www.nps.gov/cach
Matanzas, Spanish for "slaughters" or "killings," is an appropriate name for the river on the east coast of Florida where the Spanish massacred French soldiers in 1565 during efforts to colonize the area. Ft. Matanzas is 15 miles south of St. Augustine, about midway between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. A ferry ride takes visitors to the fort, where they can explore a boardwalk forest trail, fish on the riverbank and walk along the beach. The best time to travel to Ft. Matanzas is in the temperate fall and spring.
Visitors in 2009: 793,253
More info: www.nps.gov/foma
LEAST VISITED:
The first of all the national monuments, Devils Tower was created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Its name comes from the 1,267-foot-tall rock formation that was a sacred site for many Native American tribes. Today the park attracts mountain climbers from around the world who try to scale the tower's vertical walls as well as to enjoy the park's woodlands, grasslands and pine forests.
Visitors in 2009: 391,023
More info: www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the long, thin cactuses that dot this desert landscape. But within the park, visitors will find more than two dozen species of cactus and animals such as the mountain lion and kangaroo rat that have adapted to the harsh habitat. This park is probably best visited in the winter when temperatures are in the 50s and 60s. Summer temperatures often soar above 100.
Visitors in 2009: 330,064
More info: www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm
In New York harbor just a few hundred yards from lower Manhattan, Governors Island served as a military base for 200 years and was home to the U.S. Army and Coast Guard. It was shuttered in 1996 and became a national monument in 2003. Today, the island offers biking, tours of historic buildings and art exhibits and performances. The park is still under development.
Visitors in 2009: 325,840
More info: www.nps.gov/gois/index.htm
Little Bighorn Battlefield is where Gen. George A. Custer and 263 members of the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry died while fighting several thousand Cheyenne, Sioux and Arapaho warriors in the famous battle of 1876. Although the park was conceived as a memorial to the American soldiers, today both the 7th Calvary and the Native American warriors who gave their lives in this conflict are honored.
Visitors in 2009: 302,811
More info: www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm
Ft. Frederica was built by James Oglethorpe in 1736 to protect his new colony, Georgia, from the Spanish in Florida. When the Spanish surrendered in 1742, the fort and its settlement were largely abandoned, but today visitors can explore its remains and the lives of the people who lived there. (Visitor, beware: The bugs are nasty.)
Visitors in 2009: 296,117
More info: www.nps.gov/fofr/index.htm
This story was originally published May 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "U.S. National Monuments Are Family-Friendly Vacation Spots."