A Gem of a Park
Written: Oct 29 '01
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Pros: Beautiful, awe-inspiring, a slice of time displayed in semi-precious gem stones
Cons: Thoughtless and selfish people keep taking park resources
The Bottom Line: Wonder - full place, but to get the most, prepare yourself and children before going.
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| hularider's Full Review: Petrified Forest National Park |
In the 80s I took my daughter to the Petrified Forest and associated sites. We were delighted with the awe-inspiring grandure AND with the even more sublime beauty and delicacy of the petrified wood, itself. To see the structure of the tree, heart to bark, preserved as shimmering gems filled us with wonder and delight.
To really enjoy the park, you must be comfortable. It is hot in the summer and there is VERY little shade. Take water, wear sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat. I'd also take a magnifying glass, a sketch pad, a camera with a macro lens, and something to kneel on, because much of the beauty is minute. Leave the wood as it lies. Not only is the educational and interpretive value greatest when the the item is in situ, creatures, such as rattle snakes, sometimes hide under the rocks and in the grasses surrounding them.
As a former park interpreter, I am a strong proponant of preparing before arrival to get the most out of a park.
Before visiting, we purchased a book on rocks and gemstones and studied the kinds of things were were likely to see. We learned about the geography and geology of the area. We learned about the kinds of people who had visited the area before us.
By the time we arrived, my daughter (age 7 at the time) could identify most of the types of stones and crystals we saw at the park. She could approximate the ages of the trees by counting a sample of the fossilized rings and multiplying by the radius of the trunk.
We learned about the kinds of plants that grew there at the time the trees were alive, how the weather changed, and what kinds of plants grow there now.
We did not take any park tours.
We drew pictures of the trees, and we later purchased petrified wood from outside the park. My daughter explained to the store owner that we did not want to make the park go away by taking its wood, because other children might also want to bring their families to see it.
We tried an exercise: If a park had 1 million pieces of petrified wood and was visited by 100 visitors each day, and each visitor took one piece of wood, how many years would it take until the park had only one piece of wood?
Remember: Take only memories, leave only footprints.
Hula Rider
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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Epinions.com ID:
hularider
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Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
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