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Outdoor: 6 Wild Stories Behind America's National Parks
Protests, Presidents, and Protection
Suzie Dundas
July 19th, 2025
Amazing Stories of How 6 of Your Favorite National Parks Were Founded
Sure, I love a good luxury wilderness hotel, but I feel most in my element when I'm outdoors in a baseball cap and dirty pair of hiking shoes. I'm one of those people who really enjoys the misery of a steep uphill trail -- something known as "type 2 fun" in the outdoor world. If you're someone who feels the same way, you probably share another one of my interests, too: national parks and protected lands. National parks are often praised (rightly) for their gorgeous landscapes, but did you know that many of them have pretty wild origin stories, too? From a suffragette-turned-ecologist in Florida to a sitting president who just disappeared into Yosemite's wilderness for a few days, here are six of the coolest founding stories behind America's national parks.
Also:
Last week, I learned about national park whiskey, but did you know there's national park vodka, too?
From a scuba-diving fanatic, here are the best places to dive with sharks.
Check out my camera roll from my trip to Kenya.
Cheers,
Suzie Dundas, commissioning editor
T O - D O
 | Book it: Tweedsmuir Park LodgeEver wanted to see grizzly bears in the wild? From August to October, British Columbia's Tweedsmuir Park Lodge becomes a grizzly wonderland. During my early October visit, I saw grizzlies on the water from a photography raft tour, went on tracking hikes where I learned how to spot signs of grizzlies, and even saw grizzly moms and cubs from the front deck of my cabin. |
 Photo: iHeartMedia ListenIt's not about national parks, and it's been out for a few years. But the podcast called The End of the World with Josh Clark is a fascinating 10-episode series about the amazing and horrifying things humans have (and will) create. |  Photo: Mountain’s Hardwear Shop or ThriftLast year, I tested Mountain Hardwear's Kor Alloy Crew, a sweatshirt with the tech features of an insulated jacket. I still love it, and not just because it's 50 percent off right now. |
 StayWhether you're actually going to Australia or just enjoy planning dream vacations, check out Lizard Island Resort. It's on a private island in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and supports a thriving marine and ocean research outpost. |  Get OutsideEvery summer, I dream of going back to Alaska. I'd love to see caribou, wolves, or musk ox in Gates of the Arctic National Park (but I'm also keen to hike more around nearby Mammoth Lakes, too). |
G U I D E
How to Pick Your Scuba Destination
I asked Kristin Valette Wirth, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)’s Chief Brand and Membership Officer, for some insight on how to make one of the biggest decisions of any dive trip: where to go and when.
📍SAVED ON MAP
Dive with SharksFrom tiny nurse sharks to massive schools of hammerheads, you can dive alongside them all. Whether you're gliding through the clear waters of the Bahamas or braving the nutrient-rich currents off South Africa, these are the five best places in the world to scuba dive with sharks. |  |
N E W S
The World's 6 Newest Marine Parks to Visit
These designated zones help preserve biodiversity, restore habitats, and safeguard essential ecosystems. In the past year alone, six new MPAs have been created, from the deep, frigid waters off British Columbia to the sun-warmed shallows along the coast of Peru.
Travel Well
The Matador Editorial Team
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