Winter is a time when the U.S. population seems to be thinking about one thing – how to lose those holiday pounds. Instead of a gym membership, people with a sense of adventure might consider another option: sweating it off in U.S. national and state parks.
Parks offer a vast array of both indoor and outdoor activity options. And some national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon as well as state parks like Maumee Bay State Park on Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio have natural features that are like magnets for travelers who are adventure oriented. Concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates a variety tours and accommodations that make it easy for motivated travelers to work up a sweat.
“Isaac Newton was right,” said Dave Hartvigsen, vice president of sales and marketing for Xanterra Parks & Resorts. “A body in motion tends to stay in motion. And if you want to burn those holiday calories, it is all about moving. Walking on a treadmill is fine, but walking outside, when you have a chance of seeing an eagle soar above you or view a spectacular landscape, is so much more interesting. National and state parks provide visitors with those kinds of opportunities.”
Here are some examples of ways travelers can add exercise to their park experience:
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