Terror-wary Tourists Taking in the Woods
and Fresh Air Instead of the Skies

by Margie Mason
San Francisco Chronicle - October 16, 2001

Under towering redwoods, Brenda Kovach sat with her family, soaking up the fresh air, the majesty and the peace. There were no airports, guns, or terrorist threats.

"In a park, I doubt bin Laden is going to get me here," said Kovach, in Memorial Park near Pescadero, about 50 miles south of San Francisco.

Plenty of Americans agree, taking to the woods instead of the skies in search of quiet getaways that don't involve boarding airplanes or visiting places terrorists might target.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, airline ticket sales have plunged across the nation. But officials from the Appalachian Trail to Yellowstone National Park say parks and lodges are full with steady traffic.

"We're still packing them in," said Naomi Arlund, spokeswoman for Yosemite Concession Services. "It dropped off ever so slightly after the attacks, and then picked back up."

It's predicted that 230 million fewer passengers nationally will fly in the next five years, and that traffic will not reach pre-attacks levels until 2005 or 2006, said aviation industry consultant Michael Boyd.

On the ground, though, business has already rebounded. At the Bear's Den Hostel along the Appalachian Trail in Bluemont, Va., the stream of thru-hikers remained steady after Sept. 11, but it took about two weeks for some weekend visitors to make the drive, said manager Melody Blaney.

Now, with fall foliage showcasing its annual colors, all beds are again taken.

"It has gotten back up to full speed again," Blaney said, noting that Washington, D.C., is about a 90-minute drive away. "This cute little family that comes out here said they just had to get away from the city."

Visits to national parks dropped 4.7 percent in September compared to a year before, partly because must-see destinations such as the Statue of Liberty, and Washington's Lincoln and Jefferson memorials were closed.

Sites that draw mostly international travelers -- such as the Grand Canyon and San Francisco's Alcatraz Island -- also have been hit hard. The Grand Canyon saw 125,850 fewer visitors in September.

"Right now, it's a really good time to visit," said Maureen Oltrogge, Grand Canyon spokeswoman. "The temperatures are great. It feels like fall, and it's absolutely beautiful."

While some national parks might have room to spare, state and local parks have been busy with visitors who live a short driving distance away.

"I haven't had the opportunity to do this in a couple of years," said Dolores Hobbs, relaxing at a campsite in Memorial Park, about 30 miles southwest from her home in Hayward.

She said the stress level was definitely lower in the woods than at airports, where lines are long and National Guard troops patrol with weapons. "I took it easy this year," she said.

At South Carlsbad State Beach in Southern California, even midweek reservations were snapped up in September.

"Usually, we wait until right after Labor Day weekend to breathe a sigh a relief because we know the busy season is over," said supervising state park ranger Paul Pettit. "But this year, we've had continuous attendance through September. We're still in that same mode as in July and August."

Visits also were up in September at Yellowstone National Park compared to a year before -- partly because wildfires were burning in September 2000. Now, even with snow coming down, the park is busy.

All national parks are waiving entrance fees over Veterans Day weekend on Nov. 10-12 as a tribute to those who have served America.

There's no better place than a park to seek solace, said Steve Anastasia, a ranger at Point Reyes National Seashore just north of San Francisco.

"It's a nice place to kind of get yourself grounded with all the crazy stuff going on," Anastasia said. "It's a great place for reflection."