Yes, They Really Are America's Best Idea...

[liz_marcs]

I know, I know. Late in the game but...

How many of my peeps out there have been watching The National Parks: America's Best Idea over on PBS?

Let me tell you something: It's things like this that make me sooooooo happy that my parents/brother went half-sies with me on a new T.V. for my birthday because I can't imagine seeing such gorgeous images on my old set (which to be fair was 16 years-old).

See, I totally forgot it was on this week, which is amazing when you think about it since the Boston Globe has been running a National Parks photo contest with filmmaker Ken Burns himself picking the winners.

In any case, I accidentally stumbled across it Wednesday while I was flipping through the channels and landed on WGBH Channel 2 just when that installment of the National Parks documentary started. I was totally and completely sucked in by the pretty, not to mention the history. (Have I mentioned that Ken Burns documentaries are like totally crack? Because they are. He's worse than Frontline, Nova, and American Experience combined.)

Last night I had a mouth full of ache after my final (and worst) dentist visit in my campaign to fix my damn mouth. I decided I needed comfort television, which meant I turned on the tube for Project Runway and...well...see, I had left my teevee on Channel 2 from my previous night's viewing of the Burns documentary and I had turned it on just as the latest episode of "National Parks" started and...and...

DAMN YOU KEN BURNS! DAMN YOU!

The series is totally awesome, educational, and did I mention...PRETTY PICTURES!

By the way, did you know that We the People own 391 national parks? I did not know that. I thought the number was smaller. Here's where you can read more about the different kinds of National Parks.

And there's always the National Parks Web site itself if you really want more information about the national parks in your back yard. (I just checked Massachusetts and...hey, there's a few in my state that I didn't even know about.)

PBS hasn't started streaming the series through Netflix yet, but you can watch the entire series online via the PBS Web site.

As an illustration of just some of the pretty, I leave you with a photo from Acadia National Park in Maine, because as it turns out I own this. But know what? If you're an American citizen, you own it, too.

It's kind of nice to be reminded, isn't it?

Comments

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

It's kind of nice to be reminded, isn't it?

Yes!

Thank you for posting this!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

It really is gorgeous to watch if you've got a decent television and/or computer monitor.

Me thinks I might have to come with a plan next summer to visit every national park in my state. :-)

Of course, Boston is considered a historic national park, so since I've actually lived there and visit quite often, I think I can cross it off the list, no? *grins*

I might just Netflix the series so I can watch the whole thing from the beginning. Even though my computer monitor has slightly higher quality, my television has a bigger screen.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I have been watching parts of it, and you're right, it's utter crack. Love this stuff. And yes, pretty!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

It's like nature porn and history porn all rolled up into a delicious package.

I'm going to Netflix the series because I missed the first three episodes.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they'll repeat it. They usually do with these event series.

[crowgirl13.livejournal.com]

How had I forgotten about that televised bit of awesome? I'm so glad you posted this!

Have you been to Acadia? It's not that far away and every single bit of it is just that gorgeous. ♥

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Almost got the chance just this past summer, however, as everyone in my family (except me) had the H1N1 on the trip back from the Canadian border, we had to give Acadia a miss.

*looks shifty-eyed*

I'm thinking road trip next summer if I can con someone into coming with me.

[crowgirl13.livejournal.com]

So close! Oh man, that sucks. Stupid ol' Swine Flu. >_<

I bet it would be pretty easy to con someone into just such a trek, oh shifty-eyed one. ;D

[kokuten.livejournal.com]

Alaska has almost 1.5 times as much National Parkland (by area) as the rest of the nation combined. 63,735 square miles vs. 43,447.

I love our national parks (and state parks!). They provide, by and large, sustainable, safe, easy access to some of the most gorgeous places in Alaska

[saoba.livejournal.com]

It's a fabulous show, full of the best kind of 'insider baseball' stuff that makes me happy. Also, pretty.

I got to visit Acadia back in the mid 1960s and loved it fiercely.

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

I love Acadia! I go there every year!

My parents grew up on Mt. Desert Island, so yes, I do consider it mine. :)

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Ditto on all fronts. :) And some day, I've got to go touring some of them.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

That pic makes me feel exalted. I think the book iks available in Barnes and Noble? I need to put it on my list.

[iyalode.livejournal.com]

Oh my. That pic is jaw dropping fantastic.

[silentpheonix.livejournal.com]

That is a gorgeous picture!

I'm proud to have visited eighteen of the national parks and I hope to visit all of them some day.