It’s the final episode of Emma’s whirlwind tour of North America’s National Parks. Well… for now. There are still lots of great parks left to explore, so keep the suggestions coming and maybe Emma I can do another round next year!

Emma’s last stop is Waterton National Park! It’s a special place shared by the US and Canada. It sits on the border of Alberta and Montana and is part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a symbol of their friendship.

The park houses lots of different plants and animals, such as grizzly bears, elk, bighorn sheep, and birds. It has four “ecoregions”: foothills parkland, montane, subalpine, and alpine, which give you a ton of places to explore!

If you like adventure, you can try the different hiking trails in the park. Each trail offers a different view of the park. Some are easy, like a casual stroll, while others are more challenging climbs. If hiking is not your thing or is too hard, you can still have fun by swimming, camping, boating, birdwatching, or watching wildlife.

Speaking of not hiking… Let’s not forget accessibility! Some trails are great for wheelchairs and strollers. You can enjoy the Cameron Falls “Townside Loop,” Kootenai Brown Trail, or the Prince of Wales Loop with your family. In Waterton Park’s townsite, you’ll find helpful services. Talk to rangers and locals to learn more about accessible trails. People with long-term disabilities and their caregivers get free admission to National Parks in the US and Canada! Be sure to research what they have to offer. You can find some useful links in the podcast episode description.

Emma also mentioned some other parks she’d visited that had accessibility trails. Zion has the Pa’rus trail, Yosemite has the Happy Isles Loop, and the Everglades has Pa-hay-okee Overlook (which features braille on their signage).

Are there any you can think of? If you’ve visited some other super-friendly parks, then let us know which ones in the comments! Talking about these cool places is a great way to make the world better for everyone!

Hi Earth Rangers!
Well, this is it, my epic vacation has come to an end. I admit, I’ve learned how to relax and take time off, but I’ve also learned some pretty important life lessons.

• At Yosemite, I learned to be tenacious, like the bighorn sheep.
• At Pacific Rim, I learned to stick with people I care about, like sea otters do.
• At Wapusk, I learned to be friendly and curious, like the beluga whales.
• At Yellowstone, I learned to aim high like the eagle.
• At the Bruce Peninsula, I learned to support others, like snowshoe hares supporting their food chain.
• At Zion,  I learned that you can forgive and forget and be friends with someone, even if it might initially seem impossible.
• At Gros Morne, I learned to be helpful like the little brown bat.
• At Everglades, I learned to be peaceful like a basking alligator.
• At Waterton-Glacier, I learned that 30 days is not long enough for a vacation. And also, that I like (adventurous) vacations. Who knew?

What a trip! I told Number 1 I’d be back at Earth Rangers HQ on Monday, and she said I should bring my creativity with me. Not that I ever leave it at home! I can’t wait to get back to work, thinking of the next epic adventure for us to go on!

Until then, keep on rangin’!

What did you think of Emma’s vacation? Was this relaxing enough? Should have done something else, or gone somewhere else? Let us know! Who knows… she might go on another vacation tour someday and could check out your recommendations!
Now that she’s back, be sure to keep an eye out! The adventure is far from over!

Alligators, sharks, crocodiles, pet-shop pythons and underwater cows… Today’s national park seems like it was designed by a mad scientist!
Welcome to the Everglades. Hope you packed your swamp survival kit!

Hello from sunny Florida! Today, Emma visited the strange and beautiful Everglades. You guys were right to suggest it – there’s a lot to see here! It’s not like most parks; it’s a wonder of nature! A special ecosystem of many different plants and animals. Guess what? It’s the only spot on Earth where alligators and crocodiles live together! How cool is that? There’s so much fun stuff to explore and learn there!

The Everglades has both salty and fresh water. That makes it a comfy home for marine animals that like either type of water! This is why Emma hopped on a boat (and even went scuba diving) to check out the cool wildlife there!

GUESS THE ECOSYSTEM

During her travels, Emma got to see a few of of the NINE different ecosystems found in the Everglades National Park: Sawgrass Prairies, Sloughs, Mangrove Swamps, Cypress Domes, Hardwood Forests, Pinelands, Marl Prairies, Estuarine Areas, and Coastal Areas.

Do you remember which ones she saw this episode? Why don’t we make this a game? Can you guess which of those she saw are found in this picture? Let us know your guesses in the comment section!

From the boat, Emma saw the Pinelands in the distance. The Pinelands (also called “pine rocklands”) are full of tall trees, palmettos, and pretty wildflowers. Since there are many fires there, special plants that can grow again after fires are known to live there too.

The Pineland Trail is a short and easy trail for visitors, including wheelchairs. It is perfect for hiking and exploring. If you’re lucky, you might spot some wildlife, especially birds that appear when it’s peaceful and quiet.

Emma toured the waters of the Everglades instead of walking on its trails. Her boat ride was a great way to safely see different animals, like pythons, dolphins, alligators, and even lemon sharks!

The Lemon shark is a social animal that normally isn’t a threat to humans. They are commonly found in the coasts of Florida, New Jersey, Brazil and west Africa. These sharks are group hunters, preferring to eat fish, crustacean and even birds. Scuba divers who meet lemon sharks have said they are vocal, communicating with whistles and clicks.

Emma went underwater hoping to find the curious and friendly manatee. These sea cows (yes, they’re called that) really like eating plants in the water. Sadly, there’s not enough seagrass for them where they live in Florida. Boat injuries and pollution mean there aren’t many of them left. All the more reason to talk about them, protect them, and tell others about their existence!

What did you think of this national park tour? Is there anything you especially enjoyed? Do you think you can guess the ecosystem pictures correctly? Give it a try!