People admire a good view, a marvelous sunset, a glistening lake, a sky full of stars, a flock of birds on the wind and any number of outdoor scenes. A community which includes sufficient open space truly offers a richer environment for any individual person. The American people have chose their best places for their parks because they have felt themselves to be at their best in them. Recreation is forever afterward. Each person has his memory chest.
Tourists are in pursuit of life-changing experiences.
They are questing for an expansion of perspective. For many, a tourist experience is their chance, a rare one at that, to frame a broader context of life by exploring how other people find meaning or how past cultures have found meaning. State parks generally offer more land than local parks, but unlike most national parks, are close enough to home for anyone who seeks convenient recreation. While maintaining statewide appeal, state parks can still accommodate the specific demands of a local community. As a society we often devalue the benefits of recreation.