The Most Beautiful Place on Earth

I've been fortunate in my life to have traveled many places. I've seen the Grand Canyon, driven the Pacific Coast Highway, sailed beautiful Lake Michigan and watch the ocean smash against the rocks off the coast of Newcastle, Australia. I've even been to Fiji. But of all the places I've been and the things that I have seen, nothing compares to a slice of wilderness in Northwest Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park is, at least for me, the most beautiful place on earth.

My family took a trip there when I was in my teens, and I still remember the vast expanse of beautiful wilderness. Bison dotted the plains and waterfalls carved into the yellow rock from which the park gets its name. The sulfur springs and geysers like Old Faithful are some of the most prominent reminders of the massive geological activity in the Yellowstone Caldera upon which the park sits. Yellowstone has it all- mountains, plains, geysers, lakes, forests and massive rock formations, the combination of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Yellowstone is America's first national park, but it is only one of 54 featured in Ken Burns' upcoming 6-part PBS documentary entitled The National Parks: America's Best Idea. The fruit of 5 years of production, this promises to be both a historic and visual feast. My brother Matthew first brought this documentary to my attention on his blog, and I join with him in anticipation of the September premiere. You can (and should!) watch an amazing 25 minute preview, with finished footage from the film as well as the crew at work, here.

Too often our tunnel vision prevents us from seeing the wonders of the world around us. We can recite the details of our work day but cannot name the species of tree in our back yard. Getting outside, both literally and figuratively, does us great good as individuals and collectively. If you've never been to a national park just to be there, then I would encourage you to consider going. The experience is both perspective-altering and awe-inspiring, and should be on the must-do list for every family and individual. And if you haven't been, go to Yellowstone- you won't regret it.

*Black and White Photos by Ansel Adams