Patriotic travel abounds on Fourth of July

Have you ever noticed how your neighborhood seems deserted on the Fourth of July? Everyone seems to go somewhere else. Whether it is tradition or habit, travel is necessary on this patriotic holiday.

I think it was about five years ago when the weather on the Fourth of July was reaching in the 80s here in Southcentral Alaska. With no destination in mind except to follow the sunshine, we packed the car with sleeping bags, tent and cooler and headed out of town. Talkeetna was the first stop and we contemplated setting up camp by the river. But it was too hot to fish. No one was reeling in anything. And, the mosquitoes were unaware that I was covered in bug dope.

Back in the air conditioned car, with CD player turned up high, we headed north. I was worried every campsite or cabin was occupied by now with people who had done advance planning and knew where they wanted to go. By 8 p.m. we had reached Denali National Park, a destination where 350,000 visitors make reservations six months ahead of time. The visitor center had just closed and the last of the park busses were heading toward the bus barn. Still just driving aimlessly, we entered Riley Creek Campground. Driving around the numerous loops we noticed several vacant campsites. Quite a lot of them, actually. How could that be?

We located the campground host and asked if any were available for us to set up camp. Yes, he said, take our pick. I felt like I hit the jackpot. We were going to camp at one of our nations most famous and beautiful parks on the Fourth of July. I felt so patriotic.

National park campgrounds are unlike local or private sites. It looks as if each site is swept clean and each spot seems to be unique. Everyone is respectful of the grounds and it is quiet. And, there were no mosquitoes.

About 20 years ago I was traveling around the southwest with my sister and her husband in a 1965 Volkswagen Bug. We visited many national parks such as Carlsbad Caverns, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon entrance at about midnight there was a gate and a sign that read "Campgrounds Full." Disappointed we drove back about two miles and camped by the side of the road. At 3 a.m. we were snapped awake by the sound of an approaching car with the horn blaring. It was one of those moments you can't remember where you are and frightened because you can't see out of the tent as to what was happening. The car sped by. It appears to have been a joke to wake us up. Not the National Park experience we had been looking for.

Growing up in Oregon, the Fourth of July meant a huge extended family picnic of about 60-70 people (mostly kids) at a local park. Someone was assigned the duty of getting to the park early in the morning to stake our claim on the group pavilion. There was so much food and then a baseball game which everyone played. We were gone all day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as if we had gone away.

Right now I have three different options for the upcoming Fourth of July. Camping somewhere near Homer with a group of friends, a Montana Creek annual barbecue and campout, or biking at Eklutna. I can't decide. None could compare to the Denali Fourth of July, though.

I think we were lucky that time. I wouldn't advise going to Denali without reservations. But it is a trip I will not soon forget.