The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

September 27 through October 2 at 8pm on THIRTEEN

Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of our country’s most magnificent locations on the upcoming Ken Burns documentary: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (premieres 9/27, 8pm).

Watch a preview and submit your national parks memories, photos and videos.

National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories

Sunday, September 27 at 10 pm

To coincide with the premiere of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, THIRTEEN brings the theme of America’s treasure to the New York area with a local documentary focusing on the inspiring stories of New Yorkers’ whose lives were changed after visiting one of the nation’s National Parks.

Responses to "The National Parks: America’s Best Idea"

  1. Carol Stoddard
    Posted September 14, 2009 at 1:45 pm | Permalink

    I will be away on september 27, the first date for showing the National Parks video. I’m using Direct-TV and don’t seem able to schedule recording of this video. Helpo!

  2. Ben@THIRTEEN
    Posted September 14, 2009 at 3:41 pm | Permalink

    Carol – Don’t worry. The entire program will be rebroadcast on Sat., Oct. 3 (12:30pm-7pm) & Sun. Oct. 4th (2pm-8pm). It will also be rebroadcast Thursday nights at 9pm from Oct. 8 – Nov. 12.

  3. Pat Kuss
    Posted September 14, 2009 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

    I WILL be there on Sept 23rd. Can’t wait.

  4. R.Schultheiss
    Posted September 18, 2009 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    To the Kovers, What a wonderful story of your visit. You make me yearn for a trip so I can have memories to pass on. Thanks.

  5. Julanne Werwaiss
    Posted September 19, 2009 at 12:45 pm | Permalink

    It would be very helpful if you publised some information regading the exact location of the East Meadow as well as direction for getting there on public transportation.

  6. Paula Shene
    Posted September 20, 2009 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    I have seem most of these sights with and without camera and it will be a pleasure to step back into beautiful memories and experience the awe and joy my husband Paul and I experienced the first time around…thank you Ken Burns and PBS 13

  7. Charlee Parker
    Posted September 20, 2009 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    I grew up in Minneapolis in the 50’s. My father loved the west, so every summer we drove west to Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Black Hills, the Tetons, and Scotts Bluff Nebraska where we would hike out to the ruts in the earth left by the wagons on the Oregon Trail. We stayed in motels(with pools!) on the way there and then in the parks we would stay in the majestic lodges. We would dress for dinner…My Mom and I would wear our dresses and pumps and curl our hair. My Dad would wear a suit and tie. I remember floating down the Snake River in the Tetons…my Dad wearing a tie and hat…I wished I was a river guide in my jeans! I married aman who dared to move west with me in 1977…We moved to western Montana and raised our children out here. We live in Whitefish Montana just outside Glacier National Park and passed our love of the parks to our children!

  8. Ron Schaeffne
    Posted September 20, 2009 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

    Visited Grand Canyon and Zion this summer with my daughter Dani and her partner Laura and our frind Perez…what a treasure to share thses gifts! I have just retired and will return to our NPs again and again.
    I have been visiting Acadia NP since I was 18…what a contrast to our western parks…I love Bass Harbor and Mt Desert Is. The wind, rock, and cadence of the waves make for timeless memories for me. I can still feel the sun on my face as I dozed off on the rocks near Bass Harbor Light after a long hike…

  9. Ana Shaener
    Posted September 20, 2009 at 7:49 pm | Permalink

    I love the stories, Can’t wait to go to Yellowstone!

  10. Ben@THIRTEEN
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm | Permalink

    Great suggestion, Julanne. We’ve added directions to the description of Wed. night’s Central Park event above (East Meadow: between 97th-100th Streets – take the 6 train to 96th St.). See you there.

  11. karen richter
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 2:20 pm | Permalink

    In 1957, my father took off from work and took our family for 6 weeks across this great country of ours and we saw every single National Park from Colorado to Calgary. It was an experience that to this day remains with us. We have revisited many places over time but nothing was like the unspoiled
    memories of the first. thank you for this project-we will all be watching…

  12. marilyn casson
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 6:20 pm | Permalink

    My husband and I were veritable gypsies back in the late 1970’s and zigzagged all over the 50 states & then beyond. Sunsets over Indian ruins, a lone Alaskan moose on the Alcan Highway, hiking scared to death on some Glacier trails because we didn’t wear our bear bells…We collected (and soaked in) hot springs and Yosemite trails like a dog joyfully and dutifully marks trees. We drove through a fine, fat, fir Sequoia tree in King’s Canyon, and canoed in alligator infested waters in the Everglades. The worst in the States for my husband of now 36 years was the hike up the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon lugging his weighty backpack and suffering a raging fever. That morning outside our tent by the Colorado River, he almost inserted his foot into his sneaker where a scorpion innocently lay. Perhaps Wizard Island (Crater Lake) was the topper. Mt. McKinley on the horizon. Wondrous Carlsbad Caverns rooms. Ghost towns in Death Valley. So many personal awe inspiring memories of the wonders of National Parks in our America.

  13. Judie Barry
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 7:57 pm | Permalink

    I am truly looking forward to revisiting, via your films, our nations parks. My husband and I have visited over 25 and hope to be able to visit many more. We have camped in most of them (where available).

  14. Ingeborg Ballin
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 8:50 pm | Permalink

    Starting in 1966 we have tented in Bandolier Natl. Manument,Rocky Mtn Natl. Park, Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Mesa Verde,Theodore Roosevelt Ntl Perk, Badlands, Teton,Glacier,Yosemite,Lassen,Grand Canyon,also Shenandfoah Natl. Park & my only regret of getting older (now 83 yrs) that I cannot do it all over again!!!The beauty is not to be believed, even when you see it. We had several accounters with bears, two cubs actually hoped into our car, but left again when they could not find anything to eat& hit a campground where they did find a steak! Met wonderful people including Rangers. Am very much looking forward to Ken Burn’s series.

  15. KIKI
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE EASIEST WAY FOR ME TO USE MY SCOOTER IN THE PARK? I WILL BE TRANSPORTING MY SCOOTER FROM WESTCHESTER AND THEN USING MY SCOOTER TO GET INTO CENTRAL PARK. ALSO INFO ON NEAREST PARKING GARAGES ALSO APPRECIATED
    THANK YOU.

  16. tumblindi
    Posted September 23, 2009 at 9:29 am | Permalink

    I have been blessed to have visited some of the most wonderful National Parks this country has set aside for enjoyment of beauty & nature for all. But most special was Denali in Alaska. The freedom & beauty of it all left an everlasting imprint in my soul. The beautiful snow capped peak of Denali itself, wildflowers, Mama grizzlys & cubs, caribou, moose even the ground squirrels are just a small part of nature’s natural beauty. Thanks to programs such as PBS 13, everyone can a chance to see what Mother Nature has gifted us to behold.

  17. Jennifer Parker
    Posted September 23, 2009 at 2:23 pm | Permalink

    does anyone know if the performances by the musicians will be streamed online anywhere or something like that?

  18. WBM
    Posted September 23, 2009 at 2:57 pm | Permalink

    Does anyone know if the entire series will be streamed online at video.pbs.org?

  19. BHenley
    Posted September 24, 2009 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    Acadia, Yellowstone, Glacier the list goes on and on…but where else can I tell you we were followed by buffalo-two, in fact, on a mild spring evening while the rest of the crowd mingled around our rented car-ok, take it we told them-but not all of them cooperated-those two young buffalo followed us down the road-right square down the middle of the road, following the painted lines which led to us; we stopped-they stopped, we walked they did the same-we looked over our shoulders they stopped and looked out over the blossoming flowers and growing grass and shrubs. They weren’t dangerously close at all but just close enough so we could hear them snorting and laughing at us-why not, I guess, two middle aged tourists from Connecticut deprived of their car and being walked up the road-I swear it was for kicks, so they could go back home and while taking a dirt bath as they do, rolling around with the dust and dirt flying around, tell their brethren the story of their afternoon.

    As we lost sight of the car and the darkness began to set in, those two brave souls just stood in the road and watched us-we weren’t yet looking to flag down a ride, we did that soon enough; rather, we were sheepishly trying to figure out how we could possibly describe this to our friends when they saw the picture we had taken of two young buffalo sauntering down the double yellow line of the road in Yellowstone. I am sure they knew that; they must have laughed all the way home. When we finally got a ride, we sat humbled and in silence, the buffalo were gone, all we had to contend with were shrieking triplets and a car full of giant, pink, stuffed polar bears. We did have a story we could tell-well, sort of tell.

  20. cecile schrader
    Posted September 24, 2009 at 7:26 pm | Permalink

    I cannot understand how you can put on such an important program on the eve of Yom Kippur, the most important holiday for the Jewish people. I am sure that many of your viewers and subscribers will not be able to watch. Even though you may have given other dates, I am surprized at your lack of sensitivity. I love the national parks and have hiked them many times, but not on Yom Kippur.

  21. Ben@Thirteen
    Posted September 24, 2009 at 8:10 pm | Permalink

    Cecile: We understand the concern. THIRTEEN scheduled an early broadcast of the premiere episode at 2pm on Sunday afternoon. The entire program will also be rebroadcast on Sat. 10/3 (starting at noon) & Sun. 10/4 (starting at 2pm).

  22. Ruth Payne
    Posted September 25, 2009 at 6:32 pm | Permalink

    I will be watching this Sunday. Your photography is awesome! Keep up the good work. Sharing natyre with us city folks.

  23. Helen Thomas
    Posted September 27, 2009 at 4:38 am | Permalink

    I look forward to seeing this documentary. As a solo parent, I made the decision in 1988 to drive across the lower continental United States from Oregon to Georgia with my children. It was the best thing I had ever done for them. Driving up to the Grand Canyon, and seeing the first red rock vista unfold created a moment of silence in myself and my children. We saw Mount Shasta, the deserts, the Sequoias and so much more. And although we are now miles and years and coasts apart, we shared that summer of seeing just a small segment of the beauty that is America. I hope to experience it again someday.

  24. J
    Posted September 27, 2009 at 4:18 pm | Permalink

    For all my folks celebrating Yom Kippur, we can buy the DVD and watch it later. Even better, they are usually available at the library.

  25. Marcy Miller
    Posted September 28, 2009 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    I always heard my Grandfather talk about taking my Mother to the “Great Smoky Mountains” just after he returne from WWII. They didn’t have much money but he packed my Grandmother and Mother into thier Chevrolet and left from Pennsylvania. My Mother (then about 10) had a camera that Grandpa purchased, upon seeing a black she decided to get out of the car and take a picture. But, the bear decided to come see my Mom so she quick took the picture and ran. The only thing that showed up on the photo was the black fur from the bear.

  26. norma assante
    Posted September 29, 2009 at 7:49 am | Permalink

    will have lodgings in las vegas week of october 16th, but plan to spend my week’s time visiting natural sites. can anyone give me the sites that are closest to vegas for daily visiting.

  27. Claudia DiSalvo
    Posted September 29, 2009 at 12:27 pm | Permalink

    Thank You PBS! A spectacular presentation. I have been to nearly all of the majestic cathedrals over the past 40 years, have read, researched, taught conservation but these past 2 evenings have been breathtaking and messmerizing. You flights hit it out of the parkand I deeply thank you for using our contributions in this most amazing way. This is a keeper for the generations to come.

  28. Posted September 30, 2009 at 6:21 am | Permalink

    Придуманная мной идея значительно отличается от опубликованной автором, если кому-то интересно, могу поделиться своими мыслями. Мой мыл:fuertcd@mail.ru, Cергей.

  29. Posted September 30, 2009 at 7:15 am | Permalink

    Изобретенная мной идея немного отличается от опубликованной автором, вдруг кому-то интересно, могу поделиться своими экспериментами. Мой емаил:red1162@yandex.ru, Олег.

  30. Carol Walsh
    Posted September 30, 2009 at 2:32 pm | Permalink

    What a wonderful beautiful series on American’s National Parks by Ken Burns. We visited Yellowstone, Brice and the Grand Canyon a few years ago and the filming brought back beautiful memories of our vacation. Thank you Ken Burns

3 Trackbacks

  1. By National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories « THIRTEEN on September 22, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    [...] Yosemite to Acadia to the Florida Everglades, Ken Burns’ documentary series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea tells the story that America’s most special places should be preserved – not just for the rich [...]

  2. By The National Parks: America’s Best Idea « THIRTEEN on September 24, 2009 at 9:53 am

    [...] September 27 at 10 pm To coincide with the premiere of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, THIRTEEN brings the theme of America’s treasure to the New York area with a local documentary [...]

  3. [...] to help recruit college students to help produce a local program related to Burns’ latest, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the answer was a resounding [...]

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