Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors

by Amber Share

Overview

**A New York Times Bestseller!** Based on the wildly popular Instagram account, Subpar Parks features both the greatest hits and brand-new content, all celebrating the incredible beauty and variety of America’s national parks juxtaposed with the clueless and hilarious one-star reviews posted by visitors.

Subpar Parks, both on the popular Instagram page and in this humorous, informative, and collectible book, combines two things that seem like they might not work together yet somehow harmonize perfectly: beautiful illustrations and informative, amusing text celebrating each national park paired with the one-star reviews disappointed tourists have left online. Millions of visitors each year enjoy Glacier National Park, but for one visitor, it was simply "Too cold for me!" Another saw the mind-boggling vistas of Bryce Canyon as "Too spiky!" Never mind the person who visited the thermal pools at Yellowstone National Park and left thinking, “Save yourself some money, boil some water at home.”

Featuring more than 50 percent new material, the book will include more depth and insight into the most popular parks, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Acadia National Parks; anecdotes and tips from rangers; and much more about author Amber Share's personal love and connection to the outdoors. Equal parts humor and love for the national parks and the great outdoors, it's the perfect gift for anyone who loves to spend time outside as well as have a good read (and laugh) once they come indoors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593185544
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/13/2021
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	7,776
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Amber Share is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2010 with a degree in advertising and a minor in art. After several years as a professional graphic designer working on hand-lettering and illustration on the side, she left her job in graphic design to pursue illustration full time. As an avid hiker and backpacker, she spends a lot of time in local, state, and national parks, which inspired this project and this book.

Table of Contents

Introduction / Behind The Scenes ix

A Brief History Of The National Parks And How This Book Is Organized xiv

Alaska

Denali National Park 3

Gates of the Arctic National Park 5

Glacier Bay National Park 7

Katmai National Park 9

Kenai Fjords National Park 13

Kobuk Valley National Park 15

Lake Clark National Park 17

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 19

Pacific West

National Park of American Samoa 23

Channel Islands National Park 25

Crater Lake National Park 27

Craters of the Moon National Monument 29

Death Valley National Park 31

Great Basin National Park 35

Haleakala National Park 37

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park 41

Joshua Tree National Park 43

Kings Canyon National Park 45

Lassen Volcanic National Park 47

Mount Rainier National Park 49

Muir Woods National Monument 51

North Cascades National Park 53

Olympic National Park 55

Pinnacles National Park 59

Redwood National Park 61

Sequoia National Park 63

Yosemite National Park 65

Intermountain

Arches National Park 71

Big Bend National Park 75

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 77

Bryce Canyon National Park 79

CanyonLands National Park 81

Capitol Reef National Park 83

Carlsbad Caverns National Park 85

Devils Tower National Monument 87

Glacier National Park 89

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 93

Grand Canyon National Park 95

Grand Teton National Park 97

Great Sand Dunes National Park 99

Guadalupe Mountains National Park 101

Mesa Verde National Park 103

Petrified Forest National Park 105

Rocky Mountain National Park 107

Saguaro National Park 111

White Sands National Park 113

Yellowstone National Park 115

Zion National Park 119

Midwest

Badlands National Park 125

Cuyahoga Valley National Park 127

Gateway Arch National Park 129

Hot Springs National Park 131

Indiana Dunes National Park 133

Isle Royale National Park 137

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 139

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve 141

Theodore Roosevelt National Park 143

Voyageurs National Park 145

Wind Cave National Park 147

Northeast And National Capital

Acadia National Park 153

Assateague IsLand National Seashore 157

Cape Cod National Seashore 159

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 161

Lincoln Memorial 163

New River Gorge National Park 165

Rock Creek Park 167

Shenandoah National Park 169

Statue of Liberty National Monument 173

Southeast

Biscayne National Park 177

Blue Ridge Parkway 179

Cape Hatteras National Seashore 181

Congaree National Park 183

Dry Tortugas National Park 185

Everglades National Park 187

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 191

Mammoth Cave National Park 195

Virgin IsLands National Park 197

General Tips For Park Visits 199

Acknowledgments 202

Resources 204

Editorial Reviews

"...packed with tips on getting the most out of your visit and brimming with lush illustrations...if you like a little snark with your park, you’ll want to give this playful guide five stars." 
—Nature Conservancy

"A hilarious gift for your fave nature lover (or misanthrope)."
—Real Simple

“Both playful and earnest…Share’s delightful book will make a terrific gift for anyone who loves our country’s natural wonders—and has a sense of humor about them.”
—Bookpage (starred review)

“Funny, smart and majestically illustrated…Whether you wish to plan your next vacation, relive an adventure, armchair travel or be amused, Amber Shares's labor of love is the book for you.”
—Shelf Awareness

“Amber Share’s new book Subpar Parks turns one-star reviews into gold.”
—Thrillist

"Delightful."
—Frommer's

"Get gorgeous illustrations with comedic captions with content on over 75 U.S. national parks, monuments, and preserves with Share’s humorous, outdoorsy page-turner."
—Gear Junkie

From the Publisher