Travellers are trading cities for wide open spaces and this will continue into 2021. More and more people are discovering the restorative power that spending time outdoors can have. They're hitting hiking trails, canoeing and kayaking, and just overall embracing Mother Nature. It's easy to practice social distancing in most outdoor locations, making it an ideal escape.
Because of this, National Parks have seen a huge rise in visitors. Two very popular destinations, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, experienced very high traffic after reopening. The Wyoming Office of Tourism is focussed on keeping the parks beautiful with sustainability efforts through their WY Responsibly campaign. Reduction of waste in their lodges, using less energy, recycling and composting, and encourageing visitors to respect park rules are key components to this. "In the year ahead, we anticipate a rise in popularity for destinations such as Wyoming that offer wide-open spaces and an abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities," Diane Shober, Execute Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, told POPSUGAR. "While Wyoming may be best known for our iconic national parks, some of the greatest outdoor experiences can be found in some of the lesser-known areas, including our 12 state parks, eight forests, and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails."