Explore the Old Idaho Penitentiary, its mining and weapons museums, and the untold stories that shaped Idaho’s history. A surprising and memorable Boise visit!🤠 monkeysventures.com/visiting-old...

#parkchat Hey everybody! Sorry we missed you guys last time.

Santa Clara County & the Greater Bay Area are packed with incredible outdoor escapes. We’ve compiled a helpful guide highlighting some of our favorite local hikes & nature spots to help you make the most of your trip to the SF Bay Area. monkeysventures.com/real-guide-s... #sfbayarea #superbowl

❤️ the bay area!

Thank you @59nationalparks.bsky.social and @naturetechfam.bsky.social for pulling tonight together for us. Loved it. You two are the best and I can't thank you enough for all you do to keep #parkchat rocking and rolling!

@naturetechfam.bsky.social and I really appreciate everyone that appreciated in #ParkChat tonight. If you get caught up in the massive snow and ice storm this weekend please be safe while simultaneously sharing a pic or two.

Q12 #ParkChat Surely someone has a question, announcement, deep thought or short story?

Q9 #ParkChat National Parks are a great place to begin your new year's resolution of enjoying the health benefits of parks. Have you ever done such a hike on January 1st, especially at a NP? Describe it please.

A4. Yosemite after fresh snow #parkchat

A8: Galapagos or Serengeti. Antarctica isn't a national park because it's not really any one nation's, but the extended family always talks about heading down there on a cruise eventually. #parkchat

Q8 #ParkChat Let's dream, since deep Winter is a good time for it! If you could get to any National Park - worldwide - safely, and time and money are no barrier, where would you take off to right away? @59nationalparks.bsky.social

Q3 ParkChat Have you actually taken a Winter Park vacation? Name one or two if so and give us a brief description of how they went.

Q7 #ParkChat There are plenty of warm places to visit our Parks in the Winter. Have you made that trip? If not surely there’s a warm Park trip that you like to see. Which one and why?

Q1 #ParkChat When you look at a winter National Park vacation, are you looking for someplace nice and warm or would you prefer somewhere colder? Give us your reasoning please.

Welcome to a special “National Parks, Winter Travel” episode of #ParkChat featuring me and @naturetechfam.bsky.social Who is ready to get some fresh ideas or share yours about the Parks in the winter season?

Flying in for a major game at Levi’s Stadium? Don’t get caught thinking you're in San Francisco. This is your South Bay survival guide—unhinged, local, and shockingly helpful. You're welcome! 😁 monkeysventures.com/the-real-gui... #gamedaysouthbay #superbowl #sfbayarea #onesiliconvalley

Q10: How about other types of media? Are there podcasts or art exhibits or photography or newsletters/blogs or other media forms that are must-haves for understanding and enjoying the parks for you? #ParkChat

Q8: Have you ever experienced disappointment between parks and books? Perhaps the book wasn't as good as you'd have liked? Or perhaps the park wasn't as good as the book? Perhaps the natural history or trail guide was all wrong? #ParkChat

Q4: Imagine you are visiting a park for the first time. You go to the gift shop. Based on past experience, how many books are you likely to walk out having purchased and what are they about? #ParkChat

Q2: Think back to an earlier time in your life when you knew relatively little about parks. What is a book or magazine you read then that helped introduce national parks to you? #ParkChat

Q1: Parks and books are among my very favorite things--and I love combining them. I bet many of you do too. Can you identify a favorite (or 3!) book about the parks--fiction or non-fiction? #ParkChat

Welcome to a special “Reading the Parks” edition of #ParkChat featuring a return visit from @adamsowards.bsky.social. Who’s back for what promises to be an outstanding 2026? Let us know where you are joining from please.

A9. $, $, and more $, along with the wisdom to spend the money. Perhaps the most essential thing would be the combined voices of the people of this nation demanding our parks be treated as a priority. #ParkChat

9. The national park idea was born in the United States. As we approach our 250th anniversary, what is one idea thing you’d like to see happen in the parks right away to improve them? #ParkChat

The obvious answer to this question is "wherever you're working in 2026, Todd," but you're all failing this very easy test.

8. If you could take a foreign visitor to just one park or preserved place in 2026 that is quintessentially American to you, where would it be and why? #ParkChat

7. Do you plan to ring in the New Year 2026 anywhere special that will get you in the America 250 mindset for the rest of the year? #ParkChat

6. People naturally think of presidents when they think of patriotism and major events like America 250. Which president doesn’t have a national historic site but should, in your opinion? Why? #ParkChat

5. Are there any currently undesignated places out there you think should be set aside as parks or preserved areas during 2026? #ParkChat

A3 #parkchat Any Indigenous story deserves to be heard (lest we lose sight of that).

4. Where do you think would be the perfect spot to watch fireworks on July 4, 2026? #ParkChat

Without giving too much away, I can confirm that this #ParkChat will be mind-blowingly good. Please join in at 9 pm EST this Wednesday, Dec. 3! The #ParkChat folks are awesome, friendly, and welcoming to all who love parks, history, nature, travel, etc. A good time will be had by all!

3. What little-known stories have you seen in parks or on any of your travels that you think deserve more attention during America 250? #ParkChat

2. Do you remember the American Bicentennial in 1976? If so, was there anything specific you liked about that commemoration that you’d like to see done again? #ParkChat

Welcome to a special “America 250” edition of #ParkChat featuring @btarrington.bsky.special. Wow! It’s great to be alive, huh? Please let Dr. Arrington know where you’re at as you join in tonight. @naturetechfam.bsky.special

First #ParkChat question of the night coming in just two minutes! Welcome everyone, and thanks for having me back!

Good morning friends a pre-dawn #sunrise picture from Glacier National Park #artyear #nationalparks #parkchat #eastcoastkin #scape #landscape

There’s no question the statement above from @btarrington.bsky.social is correct. Don’t miss #ParkChat! @tthrash.bsky.social @camarowrx.bsky.social @beckyjlomax.bsky.social @monkeysventures.bsky.social @pamportland.org @mountainscalling.me @yellowstonenpgeek.bsky.social @gibby73.bsky.social

Please show your gratitude to @myhikes.org for guesting #ParkChat tonight. Great job my friend. I can tell the you are our kind of people! 😀

A7 Hiking in Chiricahua was amazing...so few people in February last winter when we were there. We strung together a bunch of little trails into one long loop. Sorry, can't remember the trail names right now. #parkchat

Q7 #ParkChat If you could recommend a “hidden gem” hike or campground that feels peaceful and secluded, where would it be?

I have 490 photo saved of badlands. Here’s a weird one. #ParkChat

A6 #ParkChat TBH, it was my first trip to Badlands NP in 2012. That first overlook, I texted my friend Greg (who I knew had been there before), "Why did you never tell me?" He responded, "You needed to see it yourself."

Q6 #ParkChat Some parks have unique features like caves, dunes, or old-growth trees — what's the most unexpected landscape you've encountered?

a6 the "12 apostles" rock formations of port campbell n.p. australia. beach hiking! #parkchat

Q4 #ParkChat Have you ever stumbled upon a hidden spot (trail, overlook, lake, etc.) inside a popular park that most tourists miss? If so, what was it?

Q5 #ParkChat Which small or remote park offers an experience that rivals the big names?

Q2 #ParkChat What's the most underrated International, National, State, or local park you've visited or want to visit — and why?