Explore National Parks from the fireside
With short and chilly days making miles on the trail harder to come by, a lineup of outdoors-themed board games can be a more attractive choice. Check out one of these games that entertain while celebrating the best parts of WNC’s public land:
• Thru Hike: The Appalachian Trail Board Game is a recent release in which the goal is, fittingly, to reach Mt. Katahdin ahead of the other players. Players advance by answering trivia and species identification questions correctly, or by drawing bonus cards. But emergencies, like coming down with hypothermia or getting lost, can mean backtracking. The game is available online at www.theatgame.com.
• Jr. RangerLand Great Smoky Mountains Edition is geared toward children, challenging them to gather Explorer Cards to make their way through the park. Cards teach children about native Smokies species and help them discover historical and cultural information about the region.
• Monopoly: National Parks Edition features more than 60 of the most celebrated sites in the National Parks system, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The game also incorporates the best-known animals that fill these landscapes, and a handful of National Monuments.
