The Beginning: Conception of the National Parks Plan
New experiences can be exciting, delightful, enriching, and just plain fun. They can also be challenging or even cause feelings of apprehension. In December 2022, my husband and I took advantage of his business trip to Alberta to spend a short weekend in Banff for our anniversary. If you’ve never heard of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, you’re welcome. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth I have ever experienced! I’ve been three times and don’t think I could tire of the place! Lake Louise is beautiful whether it is frozen over in winter, slushy in spring, or traversable by canoe in the summer, but I digress. That cold winter visit for our anniversary, we had beer and pizza at our favorite pizza spot in all of North America, Bear Street Tavern. Over a Big Bird pizza and a can of Power Up Porter, I mentioned to my husband that I had wanted to see Yellowstone National Park since I was in fifth grade, watching “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” and thinking that if ...