Make the most of your national park vacation

Bring plenty of bottled water, especially if you're planning strenuous activities like hiking, biking or kayaking. For longer hikes, it's a good idea to bring a water filter or purification tablets; no matter how pure that mountain stream may look, it's never a good idea to drink water that hasn't been disinfected or boiled. For more information about water purification, see our drinking water guide.

You'll also want to bring along some high-energy snack foods such as fruit, nutrition bars, nuts and trail mix. While many parks have concession stands where you can purchase snacks, your best option is to stock up at a grocery store outside the park — not only will you have a greater selection, but you'll also pay the prices the locals do rather than the inflated tourist prices inside the park.

To prevent injury (or just pesky blisters!), be sure to break in your new hiking boots at home before you set out on a long schlep through a national park. Similarly, don't wait until you're on the trail to try out your shiny new camping equipment —practice setting it up before your trip so you can do it smoothly when it counts.

Two of the more common afflictions for visitors to national parks are altitude sickness and heat exhaustion. If you are traveling to a mountainous park or will be spending a lot of time outdoors during your trip, be sure to read up on these conditions so that you know how to recognize and treat the symptoms.

No matter where you're headed, it's a good idea to pack a first-aid kit in case of illness or minor injury.

Protecting the parks
National parks were established to protect native plants and wildlife, but these beautiful spaces cannot be maintained without the help of the people who visit them. Respect the natural environment by sticking to marked trails and taking photographs of animals only from a safe distance. Trash should be placed in marked receptacles or taken with you when you leave the park. Leave flowers, rocks and plants untouched — it may not seem like a big deal to take one little stone home as a souvenir, but when thousands of visitors are doing the same thing, the impact is clear.

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To minimize your carbon emissions, you may wish to park your car and take public transportation instead. Quite a few parks now offer shuttle services, including Glacier, Zion, Grand Canyon and Sequoia.

The Independent Traveler is an interactive traveler's exchange and comprehensive online travel guide for a community of travelers who enjoy the fun of planning their own trips and the adventure of independent travel. You can access our wealth of travel resources and great bargains here at www.independenttraveler.com, or at www.bargainbox.com.

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