We are privileged to live in this country for many reasons. We may disagree when it comes to politics, but no one can deny our land is beautiful in its never-ending variety of nature. We have high mountains with peaks of snow; miles of beautiful beaches; waterfalls, prairies, deserts, and swamps. Mother Nature's very best efforts are all around us.

Best of all, they are on loan to us throughout our lifetimes, and they are protected by a government agency that takes its job very seriously. I'm talking about the American national parks, and its guardian, the National park service.

Do you have a fancy for geysers and bison? The first national park ever established, Yellowstone, is sure to please. Are you an avid hiker with a curiosity to see bears in their natural habitat? Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can access the park from Tennessee or North Carolina. Why is this portion of the mighty Appalachian Mountain range called the Great Smokies? Visit and find out for yourself.

Olympic National Park will please almost everyone, no matter their likes or dislikes. It's located in the upper Pacific northwest and can be accessed via ferry across Puget Sound. In the park, you will have mountains, forests, and miles of coastline.

Each national park has its own charm and unique characteristics. Children, as well as adults, can learn about the many wonders of their homeland as memories are gathered during unforgettable family vacations. The parks have accommodations ranging from primitive campsites and cabins, to beautiful lodges and elegant restaurants. There are facilities for everybudget.

You can read all about our national parks on the Internet. Hundreds of websites have stories about the parks' histories and their primary attractions.

While doing research for this story, I came across a wonderful children's book on the national parks called Teddy's Travels: America's National Parks. The authors are Tedrick De Bear and his grown-up friend, Trefoni Michael Rizzi. The large-spiraled book has won many awards for its format and is crammed with details provided by Tedrick (you can call him Teddy).

Your kids will love the book. It has quizzes and games featuring parks around the country. I read it from cover to cover and loved the photos of Teddy in the parks. He invites other venturers to have their pictures taken with their own teddy bears, which can be sent for inclusion on his website, www.teddystravels.com. Kids can join Teddy's Cub Club and register for a quarterly newsletter to follow Teddy as he visits every national park in the country.

Read about the national parks with your children to give them a sense of the awesome gifts we have available in our country's parklands.