As you can imagine, our national parks, and those of Canada and most nations, are treasured and protected wilderness. The pristine vistas and natural wonders are part of any country's national heritage and should be preserved in their natural state as much as possible. We can all appreciate this but it makes visiting parks a little more challenging.

Some hotels and lodging are available inside most parks but number of in-park accomodations is limited, as they should be. Can you imagine result of building more and more lodging facilities to accomodate literally millions of visitors that travel to most popular parks? Soon wilderness would be lost in a sea of various types of dwellings. So, new lodging facilities are being built near park property, not within it. But there is still a problem if you want to visit a park at last minute.

Health Insurance An insurance package that covers your health, possessions and cancellations is imperative.

Immunizations Immunizations are critical – especially if you are planning to visit 3rd world countries. Many immunizations require a specific time period to take effect or require certain follow-up shots – so plan well ahead. You should record any immunization shots received on an official health certificate as this is often a requirement of visa applications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can advise you on current recommendations for your intended destination.

General Food and water are one of leading causes of illness for travelers. These simple tips can drastically reduce your chances of illness:

- If water is suspect, don’t take risk. This includes ice, food washed and prepared in water and swimming pools. Buy bottled water or boil/sterilize existing water.