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!