National park tips: Loneliest beach in America’s most remote park?
National Park of American Samoa, the most remote of the 59 full-fledged national parks, has one of the most lonely and gorgeous tropical beaches in the U.S. -- Ofu Beach, which is 2 miles long, with white sand, black boulders, coconut palms and great snorkeling. (Also blue skies, on most days.)
So how to get there? Fly to Honolulu. Then fly an additional five hours to Tutuila (main island of American Samoa). Then catch the weekly flight to Ofu Island (population about 300). Ofu Beach is a short walk from the airstrip, just past the seven-room Vaoto Lodge. To get home, wait seven days, then reverse directions.
In honor of this year’s National Park Service centennial, the Travel section is posting 100 park travel ideas and tips based on trips staff travel writer Christopher Reynolds has taken, along with photo-op advice from Times photographer Mark Boster. We’ll post one per day through Dec. 31.
Follow Reynolds on Twitter: @MrCSReynolds
See travel videos by Reynolds from around the world.
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