National Geographic Traveler–a seriously great magazine–has an awesome blog, which I read very regularly. I’ve mentioned as much before and even before that. (I even participated in their first Peeps photo contest! My photo did not stand a chance against the fabulous competition. ‘Twas only a slightly tragic defeat.)
A few weeks ago, they launched a new magazine feature, “Ask a Park Ranger,” and invited questions on the blog.
Because (1) my husband and I had just eked out some time in September to finally have a real “summer” vacation, and because (2) Acadia National Park in Mount Desert, Maine was first on our planned route, and because (3) I love getting advice from experts, locals, and all-manner of opinionated souls, I shot off a question about a two-day itinerary.
And, today, Park Ranger Wanda Moran answered me.
Which is perfect, because we leave on Sunday. (So, we won’t be there for her suggested Night Sky Festival, but will stick that on the “sometime in the future” radar.) And, to express a worry that’s on my mind presently, I hope that Hurricane Earl won’t cause us (or them, mostly!) any trouble.
I am thrilled to have had my question answered. Thrilled to have such great and knowledgeable advice. And thrilled to get to see the first National Park east of the Mississippi!
Having my question answered on their official blog might just have been the added boost I needed to get my real work done, then get my camping preparations in gear. Yes, I think it was. 
Expect to hear more about this and the other e-x-c-i-t-i-n-g stops on our trip.
Here’s a hint: There might be some of this beauty in our post-Acadia/pre-return future!
Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!
I salute the Tim Horton’s. But poutine? Really?
Poutine is the shiznit. Don’t be ragging on the poutine.
Is it just me or did this post originally say *west* of the Mississippi? I read it late last night (thanks, Baby Sydney), so it’s entirely possible I imagined it.
Laura, I can’t even apologize for loving Poutine. My Canadian roommate (who’d spent a semester in Quebec) first introduced me to it in Kansas City. Then, on our Buffalo/Toronto road trip, I ordered it and Charlie scoffed. He tried it, though, and *voila!* he’s looking forward to it nearly as much as I am. (I say nearly because I’m not quite sure he ever looks forward to particular foods quite as obsessively as I might.)
Sloane, I appreciate your support.
Lexa, it’s NOT just you. Sometimes I’m astonished at the things that sneak into my writing when I’m hurried or not paying attention to a particular element. It absolutely said “west of the Mississippi” because I think that’s the phrase I’m most used to hearing. So–duh, Kara–that was the converse of what I meant to say! As another example of this form of idiocy, by the sheer luck of having misspelled a word, which meant I had to look it up, I was spared from saying this gem of stupidity in my most recent sermon: “Pachyderms, whether dromedary or camel, do not fit through the eye of a needle.” PACHYDERMS!!?!? I’d like to blame it on the late hour at which the sermon was written. How mortifying would it have been to have preached that?! I shudder. So, needless to say, I need to review my whole Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species thing. [[The sermon was corrected to "... camels, whether Dromedary or Bactrian ..." to my relief.]]
Oh, I just watched the video. LOVE IT!