285 million visitors made their way to US National Parks in 2009, representing a nearly 4% year-over-year increase and nearly eclipsing 1987′s record attendance.

According to Ken Salazar, the economic downturn helped drive tourists to locations closer to home, and there’s simply no better value in terms of culture, beauty and fun than our country’s National Parks. In contrast, European tourists were lured to the US by the relative strength of the Euro to the dollar, making trips to this side of the pond quite appealing.

Of course, the parks got some help from good ol’ publicity, too. There was Ken Burns’ National Parks tv series and President Obama’s family trips to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. In addition, the National Park Service waived admission fees three weekends last summer, a move that particularly helped Blue Ridge Parkway area parks Shenandoah in VA and Great Smoky Mountain along the TN/NC border.

(via MSNBC/AP)

image: flickr / James Gordon

The First State is the last one to have its own National Park, if a bill introduced on Tuesday 10/20 gets passed.  From examiner.com:

The new National Historical Park…will center on the historic town of New Castle. The town’s historic homes and buildings reflect on the state’s Dutch heritage as well as its Swedish and English roots—including the house in which William Penn is said to have spent his first night in the New World in 1682.

I used to live just outside Old New Castle, and can tell you it’s an awesome spot for History buffs.  It’s sort of like a mini Williamsburg, but with less touristy places and more actual residents.

If you’re up for a quick hike, head down to the spot where William Penn spent his first night in the New World, then follow a mostly-paved path along the Delaware river for a nice out-and-back trek.  Make sure to snap some photos of the many 17th century homes and cobblestone streets in town, and also the many different birds and river-dwelling wildlife along the waterfront’s protected marsh areas.