Here's our Wide Open Spaces board game review of Trekking the National Parks from Underdog Games.
I've gotten to test and evaluate quite a few cool things over the years, from the latest outdoor apparel to the newest bass baits to the occasional off-road side-by-side. But I can say with confidence this recent gear review was the first of its kind for me.
I recently got the chance to check out a board game that, frankly, should have shown up on my radar sooner than it did. Now that I know about it, I'm doing my part to spread the word.
Trekking the National Parks is on its Second Edition, and is a cool, fun game that outdoor families like mine are going to love, but it will also appeal to a diverse crowd. Anyone who likes learning about the national parks system in this country, or playing a forward-thinking strategy game with near-endless possibilities, is going to like this game too.
It was created by the co-founders of Underdog Games, Hasan and Charlie, who were both big fans of national parks. As their story goes, they saw an opportunity to give people a fun, family-oriented game that "ignites curiosity and celebrates passions."
I'd say they accomplished that with Trekking the National Parks. It's a MENSA Select and Parents Choice Award winner, proving its educational nature and appealing aesthetics stemming from game designer Charlie Bink.
You can get it on the Underdog Games website, Amazon, National Parks across the country, and specialty retail stores. It is for 2-5 players, intended for ages 10+ (though my kids are a little younger and still love it), and retails for $50. If you need something new for game night, this should be on your wishlist.
Each purchase of the game comes with a free U.S. national parks wall poster and park guidebook. They'll even enter you in a monthly giveaway of free board games. Underdog Games has since released a few more titles, including Trekking the World and Trekking the National Parks: Trivia. There's also Coconuts, a game for younger kids.
Gameplay and Strategy of Trekking the National Parks
In a nutshell, Trekking the National Parks is a point-accumulation card game, with a few different methods of earning points. The style allows players to choose a concentrated or mixed effort on any one or more of the methods. You move around a map of the U.S., collecting colored stones for each stop and "occupying" national parks with the right combination of "trek cards."
Every national park mentioned is genuine, with a full-color photo and interesting fact on each park card. There are also six major park cards (Grand Canyon, Everglades, Yellowstone, and the like), with special bonuses earned if you occupy one of them.
At the end of the game, everyone tallies up their victory points and the player with the most wins.
The game requires some quick planning and patterning, but is also subject to the drawing of cards and actions of opponents. Cards have a dual use, meaning you can move around the map with the depicted number, or attempt to occupy a park with the symbol.
It isn't too long for this type of card game, and each player's turn doesn't necessarily have to drag on like it can in other games. Since it's set up to include the random placement of stones, the replay value is pretty high.
Trekking the National Parks: Second Edition is One of the Good Ones
I've always been a board game fan, and as a dad of two young boys, I was eager to get to the point to where I could start introducing them to some of my old favorites. Then I thought about all those favorites, and they were exactly what I said: old. By now there was certainly some better, more modernized optinos that still stayed true to the classic board game ethos, right? Ones that my wife and I would enjoy just as much as the kids?
I'll be honest, the truly good ones are harder to find than I thought they'd be. But I think I've encountered another one with Trekking the National Parks.
There are hints of Risk and Settlers of Catan in it, but the true-to-life connections keep it grounded and it's a game we've already helped introduce to a few family friends.
I'd agree that it makes an excellent gift, helping spread this kind of goodhearted fun during the holidays or someone's birthday. And, because I've got a friend moving into a new house and it's on my mind, Trekking the National Parks would make a great housewarming gift for a family, too.
I'm glad to have found the Trekking the National Parks game, and as far as family board games go, it ranks at the top of my list.
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