> It's quite solid: most of these places are oversold, overcrowded, not that interesting, or a combination of the above.
I would disagree with almost everything this person has written. I think you have to be completely incurious or cynical to derive no wonder from the Grand Canyon or to dismiss Zion so completely.
Even Congaree National Park - an easy target - is to me a wonderful spot due to its east coast old growth forests (not many of those!) and the truly marvelous bald cypress trees which are very unique. You know what else it has? A magical, truly magical display of synchronized fireflies. This is a rare wonder in the world!
If you've no interest in the natural world or only very select elements of it, then sure, I guess the author's point is something worth reading. And I did recognize the humor in it, but to me that humor was a filter on top of a toxic way to experience the magic of the natural world, preserved in our National Parks.
The point I will agree with the author on: the petrified forest will be a total disappointment if you are visiting based on the name and have no idea what it actually is.
