Travel Copywriting, Email Copywriting and Web Content Writing for Travel, Real Estate and Wellness Industries

Your ROI for Copywriting Services

Claudia Looi — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:10 +0000

Could a copywriter guarantee the return of investment for the sales copy, email campaigns and content he or she wrote for a client? Recently, I had a few of these questions from a business owner.

What is my return of investments going to be if I start blogging, have email campaigns and social media marketing?

Could you guarantee that I would make money if I start doing all these in 3-6 months?

As a copywriter, I can hit the ideal client’s hot buttons however there are so many variables involved in marketing a product or service. Here are a few:

Is there a demand for your product or service? Does it solve an urgent pressing problem?
Do you run ad campaigns or do you rely solely on organic search traffic? If you are fairly new or just starting out, that could be a hard one if you are expecting a return in 3 months.
What is so unique about you, your product or service? Who are your competitors?
Are you engaging with your clients through social media, blog comments, emails?
Are you delivering relevant content that serves your clients' needs?

Those are just 5 basic questions to think through. There are many more.

Here are three examples of clients who have a blog and their results:

Client A hired me to ghost blog four times a month. Client A

does not have social media engagement

does not post her blog posts to social media platforms

does not have weekly newsletters

and no paid advertisement

Basically, the blog is set up and hopefully it will drive traffic.

My job: Is to create compelling relevant blog posts once a week.

Result: Yes there is an increase in traffic after 6 months but nothing else.

Client B published blog posts twice a week, sent out newsletters twice a week, has all the social media channels, posts all promo, blog posts, free reports to social media. Client B also

actively engaged with followers on social media

sent out an autoresponder series of emails to clients to build rapport

has multiple free reports to serve different needs

has products and services on the blog and

has a reputable offline business before going online

runs ad campaigns knowing that relying on organic traffic alone is not enough

knows the importance of guest blogging and engaging with a community of providers who could benefit from each other

My job: Is to create relevant four out of the eight blog posts per month, write all email campaigns, autoresponder series of emails and sales pages.

Result: Client B has immediate return of investment. Some campaigns had great success and some failed. That’s the name of the game.

Client C

blogs twice a week

has no lead generation tool (free report)

engaged on Facebook but not active in other channels

has paid ads and repurposes blog posts to other magazines/blogs/publication to get more traffic and exposure,

is reputable in the community and already ran quite a successful offline business

My job: Blog twice a week.

Result: The business is steady when others in the same field are suffering. Has increased traffic because of Facebook high engagement. Has traffic to website and referral within 2 months. Was on first page of google in 2 months.

We have a few strategic questions that could help you plan and boost your ROI when hiring a copywriter. You are welcome to chat 15 minutes on the phone with me for free. Just leave your name, email and URL and I will contact you with 3 possible times to chat. Here is the link.

Claudia Looi helps entrepreneurs grow their online presence and increase revenue with her writings. She has 12 years of travel industry and 5 years of real estate and finance experiences prior to establishing her online writing business. She is a web copywriter, travel and web content writer who is totally location independent. Claudia holds a B.A. in Social Science (Geography and Political Science) and loves traveling, experiencing other cultures and languages. She has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York City.

The Hilton Anatole As Seen Through the Eyes of An Active Teen

Claudia Looi — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:31 +0000

They say everything is bigger in Texas. One hotel that fits the bill is Hilton Anatole Dallas, sitting in 45 acres of land, minutes away from downtown Dallas. This hotel is so massive that even an active teen boy could stay for 48 hours without being bored.

Now, let your imagination go with the photos taken by a teen while his parents were at a seminar for two days at the Hilton Anatole. To greet you, here is Jon with his pose, having fun right after he entered the room. He is feeling right at home:

The key to a great vacation is to send a few treats and surprises along the way for children of any age. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Likewise, the way to a happy child during a vacation are milk and cookies. It brings smiles and the 'yes ma'am' expressions…we are speaking each others heart languages…easy connections for the whole trip.

The Hilton Anatole is a prime location for events, conventions and meetings in the United States with over 600,000 square feet of event space. There are single or accompanied spouse and children that tag along to these events. The hotel offers a variety of room arrangements for families of any budget and taste.

There are 1,606 rooms, 27 floors and 127 suites of all shapes and sizes. Jon fell into the category of 'tag along'. He was warmly greeted by two TVs, two bathrooms, two sitting areas, one murphy bed, 2 double beds and picture perfect windows…

With a binoculars in hand, he saw the extensive skyline of Dallas from every corner of the room. Binoculars are great traveling tool for young or old, land,sea or air travels…

Surprises were waiting for him as he head outdoor, to the garden…

For a quarter you could feed koi. Koi will swim towards you, expecting to be fed. As you walk along the pond, they will follow you as well. Look at these hungry fish:

With a pair of running shoes, it was time to burn some energy on the jogging path…notice the serenity and it seems like he had the whole place all to himself. Thousands are staying for the night and in the morning, they are busy attending meetings. Accompanied family members need not fight for space in the garden. There are quiet sitting areas by the ponds or under a tree. Bring out a book or a picnic lunch and lay on the green grass in the garden.

Swim in an indoor pool or outdoor pool…

As he headed indoors, he was greeted by Mao Tse Tung, the Communist Leader of China. The hotel does not endorse his philosophy, it is just a work of art as stated on the wall. Now he is heading into art and history lessons. Looking at the oppressive leader in China and on to remnants of Berlin Wall…signs of freedom from oppressive governments.

We created our own art and history lessons out of this trip to Hilton Anatole. Children could explore a piece of the Berlin Wall without going to Berlin, Germany. They could contrast the events that happened during Mao Tse Tung's regime in China and the reasons for the fall of Berlin Wall, and the events that followed. Learning the different government systems and leaders and how the world was changed by a handful of radical leaders. Whether the event was good or bad, actions taken by leaders changed the course of history. All these started with our stay in Hilton Anatole. What is your action plan and what do you stand for?

A curious teen will not just end his exploration there. The next adventure was a tour around the Atrium, taking the stairs to the balconies and looking up and down. The most beautiful part of the hotel during the night, with the reflecting pool and nebula.The nebula is the centerpiece of Hilton Anatole.This one-of-a-kind kinetic sculpture was created by Reuben Margolin. It's a wavelike sculpture that floats, move and reflect the surrounding lights.

Jon has become a 'walking advertisement' for Hilton Anatole after his own small adventure around the hotel. After his experience there, our next hotel in Austin was a great disappointment for him. It's such a great lesson to teach children of any age from staying in a hotel. He learned about hospitality, curiosity, courtesy, preparation, advertisement, time management,people skills, what money can buy and many more.

Look out for a detailed story on Hilton Anatole's art and sculpture soon. Leave us a comment if you liked these photos. For your next trip to Dallas, don't forget to check out Hilton Anatole. Definitely one not to be missed!

For more information about Hilton Anatole: Visit their website and check out their in-room menu.

New Rules For Travel Agents On Email Marketing and Blogging

Claudia Looi — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:18 +0000

Travel bloggers have more power to influence consumers than a typical travel agent these days. Why you may ask? They create content rich blogs that are updated regularly with free offers and email marketing campaigns.

Many travel agents know they are losing out if they are not using the tools available online. I’ve just completed a project with a client, an experienced travel agent who has little knowledge of the online world. She has no blog, no email marketing campaigns or newsletters.

She took action and recognized the only way to grow her business now is through the online marketing world. She is learning and got herself familiarized and hired me to start her email marketing campaigns.

Our first few campaigns were through newsletters serving her luxurious honeymoon travel and family travel clients with a content rich newsletter.

These are the steps we are taking after sending out the newsletters:

Start a WordPress Blog

What she has is just a generic travel website. This website serves as a booking engine and nothing else. She is not showing her caring, professional and unique personality through the website.

There is no new content being updated and no engagement with potential clients or past clients. Potential clients can’t put a face to her name.

After setting up the WordPress Blog, we will repurpose the rich content from the newsletters and publish them on her new WordPress Blog. From the newsletters, we will have 8 blog posts. She will add fresh new content weekly.

There are a few more steps to establish her online presence.

The next big step would be:

Autoresponder series of emails

If you have been sending emails to clients you know you can’t send random emails to anyone now. There is a difference between spamming and emails sent with permission.

Permission based email marketing is the way to go. We are going to start out with an autoresponder sequence of emails.

According to aWeber, an email marketing Software Company, your new subscriber needs special attention and they are eager to hear from you. You could use an autoresponder sequence of emails to welcome your new subscribers, clients and drive them back to your website.

Bringing valuable free content, establishing relationship and engaging with your clients are important steps to take as an online travel industry marketer.

Imagine, you don’t have to manually enter and send each email to each client or call each one over the phone when you have new updates for your package tours or hotel deals? Just one time, pre-written and unlimited amount of autoresponder emails to clients with personalized first names attached.

A few more reasons why you should have an autoresponder series of emails for your travel company, hotels or anything to do with hospitality industries:

Get targeted clients. My client’s focus is luxurious honeymoon travel packages and luxurious family travel packages. She is not targeting everybody who wants to travel or someone who is looking for cheap airfares. Her blog and email marketing campaigns would sieve out non-targeted clients.

Increase contact with clients. Most clients do not have time to go through every website. Even if they like you, they may not remember to google you and search for you. If you increase contacts with them by an autoresponder series of emails, that increases the chance of having them remember you and your services. When they are ready for their summer vacation, guess who they are going to call?

You only have 24 hours. Imagine putting part of your business on autopilot? That’s what an autoresponder series of email are going to do for you. If you have a new reader who wants your free report, all they need to do is enter their email and name.

Your pre-written emails will do the rest of the work with a confirmation email and attached files (free report) sent out right away even when you are vacationing with your family in Maui.

If you have an eBook for sale, clients can purchase without you or your assistant present the same way as the free report.

I have in my office several old travel brochures. 1991 Icelandair Summer Vacation Planner to Iceland, Greenland and Faroe Islands and a 1992 Norway Vacation Guide. My son, 14, came over and said:

“Where is the Website, no Twitter or Facebook? Just address and phone number listed”

The new generation are used to looking at a list URLs listed on brochures on any printed matter. The travel information in the brochures is still useful, but some are obsolete. They are being replaced by the online world.

The travel industry has definitely changed with times and is shifting fast. Where are you at with your email marketing campaigns and autoresponder sequence of emails? Let us know how we can help.

Food Worth Traveling For and It’s Open All Day Long in New Orleans

Claudia Looi — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:24 +0000

I could eat these all day! Breakfast, lunch and dinner. My first visit and last visit was in 1992. Got to find out what has changed in the last 20 years at Cafe du Monde.

Late in the afternoon, after a tour of the city, we took the Riverfront Streetcar from the Aquarium to the French Market stop. Streetcar rides are $1.25 for one ride and an all day pass is $3. This is an affordable and convenient way to sightsee and get around New Orleans Garden District, CBD and French Quarter.

This place was crowded just like 20 years ago. We could hardly find a seat at the open patio. Looking around…the building, chairs, tables, arrangements and the coffee cups and beignets. Cafe du Monde all so familiar, just like yesterday.

We took a seat in the air-conditioned room as the line was forming at the take out counter. It was freezing cold, what a contrast from the heat at the patio. Our server could hardly speak English. She was polite, attentive and was probably under training with one server who spoke better English. Most servers are of Vietnamese descent, hard working and fast.

Some workers were taking a break sitting next to us, looking tired after a days work and some were smoking just outside the window.

People came and went…very quickly. It is definitely run like a fast food restaurant. Powdered sugar was everywhere on the red tiled floor.

Very quickly, our orders came. Three beignets served warm with mountains of white powdered sugar in one serving. Café au lait came in a mug, fresh, warm and rich… perfect combination!

The beignet was not greasy but puffy and crispy on the outside. I think the powdered sugar sucked out all the grease from the beignet and it really adds great taste and brings out the uniqueness of New Orleans beignets. You are given an option to have no sugar on your beignet.

The original Café du Monde location is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They serve dark roasted coffee and chicory, white and chocolate milk, fresh squeezed orange juice and beignets.

Their coffee is served black or au lait which is half and half with hot milk.

The original Café du Monde is at 800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. It is worth trying this icon of New Orleans. Would like to hear your food experiences too. Leave your comment below.

The Relationship Between Online Education and Future of Your Business

Claudia Looi — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:29:00 +0000

As a parent of two teens, I pay very close attention to education and business trends. I was one of those mothers who stayed at home for years with my children, foregoing (by choice) a lucrative career and finding myself unemployable in high paying jobs, fortunately got retrained and now back again in business for myself.

Four years ago, about late 2008, I saw the trend of online education and enrolled my daughter in part-time middle school and on to high school online education. Many of the activities at school were a waste of time and talents…. and may I say quite political and plain favoritism being played out!

Today at 16, she has graduated high school with a diploma, one year earlier than her peers.

What has this got to do with your business or my writing business?

I’ve just read an email from Copyblogger, one of the top blogs that I follow and admire recently, one month to be exact. The topic “how the explosion in online education can revolutionize your business.”

Just like the author of the article said, I am also a fan of university education but they are not created equal. The 6-figure price tag sure does not help if the child is not gaining any marketable skills after 4 years.

Again, what has this got to do with your business?

If schools and universities, the very traditional arenas, are recognizing the need to go online and are establishing more online courses and online presence…there are clues for parents and business owners like you and I to track:

One: You need a blog

If a small business owner like me could get my voice out there through a blog, you could too and build bigger than me because you already have a following.

My 16 year old has a blog and she is attracting clients to her site at the moment without paid advertising.

If written strategically, your blog could attract your ideal clients as well.

Two: Send emails to your readers and clients

I’ve been receiving emails just about a month ago from Copyblogger and I love it. They help me stay inform with their content and services. I’m too busy with projects and do not have time to google or read their blog posts on a daily basis.

Now they keep me inform and soon I will be a client.

If you have a list and do not send out emails or newsletters to your readers/clients/potential clients you are missing out.

Social Media

Another avenue for searches are through social media platforms. There is tons of information that Google will non-display for you or to you. You will need written words for your social media platforms.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with no time, no clue, don’t know where to start with your blog, emails or written words on your social media platforms?

We are ready for you. Let us help you with your writing needs and don’t miss out on the trends of today for your business.

Natural Health Remedies for a Travel Writer

Claudia Looi — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:19 +0000

When experiencing pain what do you do to stop the pain? My natural instinct was to take ibuprofen or aspirin to curb the pain. For the past year, I’ve been writing for a health and wellness coach and Chiropractor and have learned so much about natural health remedies.

Sadly, many of us are getting unhealthy and take lots of medications, are overweight and suffering from all sorts of pain and diseases. I’ve let some bad habits creep into my life lately. The way I sit, the food I consume and the many hours writing on the laptop has taken a toll on my neck and left arm.

For the last six months, I found relief through natural health remedies using Young Living Essential Oils.

Every morning before the start of my day of writing and research on the computer, I use Valor Essential Oil for energy and alignment.

Valor has a strengthening quality for our body. It is a combination of therapeutic-grade essential oils that works with both the physical and spiritual aspects of the body. It increases feelings of strength, courage and self-esteem. It is an oil that helps energy alignment in the body, referred to as a Chiropractor in a bottle.

We face challenges throughout the day and use lots of our energy and brain cells. Valor empowers the mind and helps us attain self-empowerment and relief muscle tensions.

I apply Valor on the back of my neck, wrists and back of my ears.

The next oil I use as perfume throughout the day is Peace and Calming Essential Oil. Somehow the frequency of this oil makes me cheerful and calm for the day. This is my secret of gaining a positive outlook even when it is a crappy day. By far it is my most favorite essential oils out of the 15 oils I own.

Here is a video showing a cancer patient using Peace and Calming Essential Oil in the UCLA Medical Center for Holistic Healing called Zen Therapy started by fashion designer Donna Karan. These techniques combine eastern and western medicine: Link to video featured on CBS 19.

Lastly is the Lavender Essential Oil which is the most versatile oil. Used for skin irritation, treat burns by Ancient Greeks and the Romans used it for baths. The Egyptians used it as perfume and in incense. It is also great on insect bites.

I use Lavender for the night to induce sleep and for the great fragrant. The list is endless when it comes to using Lavender Essential Oil.

As a traveling family, we have a First Aid Kit full of Therapeutic Grade A Essential Oils with us in our suitcase. And being a freelance writer, I feel the need to share the importance of natural health remedies to my readers, friends and family.

What if there was an alternative to all the other medicine that are producing side effects to your body? A remedy that will not produce side effects or bring on other diseases. About two years ago, we lost our father because of the side effects of medication. Don't let that be you or your loved ones.

Remember, if you are looking for natural remedies for relief and everyday living, don’t settle for just any essential oils products. Many have artificial ingredients and additives that will do more harm than good to your body. They may be toxic too.

Young Living Essential Oils are not sold in stores. They are distributed by Independent Distributors throughout the world. If you need more information about Essential Oils and their many advantages, please leave a comment or send us a email through our Contact page.

Travel safe, well and healthily!

Protected: Sichuan Chef in the Spotlight

Claudia Looi — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:32:18 +0000

Eating Through History in Antoine’s New Orleans

Claudia Looi — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:00:19 +0000

Food lovers love New Orleans. We can debate which restaurant in New Orleans is the finest, best, authentic Cajun and Creole, but Antoine’s New Orleans beats all for being the culinary grandpapa of New Orleans' dining rooms.

Antoine Alciatore came to New Orleans in 1840 from Marseilles, France when he was 16. He had been an apprentice in Marseilles since he was 8 years old to French Chef, Collinet at the Hotel de Noailles. Before arriving in New Orleans, Antoine was already a notable chef. He had served kings and royalty.

He introduced fine dining and culinary treasures to New Orleans over 170 years ago. Prior to Antoine’s, Crayfish Etouffee, Shrimp Remoulade, Chateaubriand Colbert, Pompano en Papillote were non-existent. Through the years his descendants had added more signature dishes to the menu.

Many restaurants came and were gone and new waves of chefs and eateries have been established in the last 170 years. Antoine’s is still an establishment that visitors should experience when in New Orleans.

Hidden down a narrow street called Rue St. Louis, we finally found Antoine’s. It was 2:15pm. We dashed in through this narrow door and were told by Austin, the waiter, that they were closed.

There was no way we were going to take ‘no’ for an answer after all the walking, lost in the alleyways and streets with names like rue and calle.

After explaining the situation, Austin a waiter for over 35 years in Antoine’s let us in, getting disapproving looks from the cashier and other servers. The Executive Chef gave him the green light, that was all that mattered. He was the one cooking and instructing in the kitchen.

We were thankful and rushed through our orders of special prix fix meals from the menu. A prix fix lunch special is $20.12 per person with a choice of Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert. This special includes unlimited 25 cents martini.

The chef sent us a complimentary Gumbo…

After lunch, we went to the kitchen to thank the Executive Chef, Michael Regua Sr., who started as an apprentice in the 70s at Antoine's. Chef Michael is of French and Filipino descent. Here is a photo taken with the chef.

The kitchen is kept extremely clean. This was how it looked when we visited after lunch was served and ready for the next meal.

Free tours of Antoine’s 14 rooms are available for dining guests. Rooms with names like Rex Room, Mystery Room, Japanese Room and Large Annex room with pictures and memorabilia from guests like Pope John Paul 11, Roosevelt, Bush and many more. You will never guess the immense size of Antoine's from the outside.

Every dining room has a story. The restaurant inspired writer Frances Parkinson Keyes to write a mystery novel, "Dinner at Antoine's". This novel could be a guide as you explore Antoine's and New Orleans.

Operated by the same family without interruption is quite a draw for us. Walking through each room, learning and discovering the living history of New Orleans and the legacy that Antoine left to the generations after him…(Black and White Photo below taken from Antoine's website)

The Escargot room…it housed the Escargot club meeting for escargot enthusiasts…

The wine cellar of 165 feet long and 7 feet wide can hold up to 25,000 bottles of wine.

Last but not least, we got a glimpse of what it's like to be on a balcony in New Orleans, looking down as all parade passes by. Only this time, it was late March and the streets were quite empty on a late afternoon at 713 Rue St.Louis, New Orleans.

Have you dined in a restaurant run by the same family for over 150 years? Let us know. Leave your comment below.

To find out more about Antoine's history, please visit their website. Shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops are not allowed in Antoine's.

Claudia Looi is a Copywriter, Travel and Web Content Writer. She is a writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. Her passion is to help entrepreneurs create their online presence with her writing.

Fish Tanks, Feng Shui and Chinese Food in Dallas

Claudia Looi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:00:06 +0000

If you google "Why do Chinese Restaurants have fish tanks", there are about 1.3 million searches. So why are there fish tanks in Chinese Restaurants? You could find them in Chinese Restaurants worldwide, from Paris, France to San Jose, Costa Rica.

According to Chinese culture and Feng Shui, fish symbolizes fortune and water attracts good fortune, money and wealth. Fish eyes are always open and that shows the ability of seeing obstacles and evil. Most of these tanks are found at the entrance of the restaurant.

The New China Grille in Dallas has a fish tank and indoor pond for koi. Koi fish shows perseverance, strength, the ability to withstand adversity and brings good fortune. I'm not one who seeks out Feng Shui, though I believe in uncluttered rooms and lifestyle.

This is a menu, in Mandarin it's called "chai pu" 菜谱. The New China Grille restaurant has some unique dishes that will surprised you. They have two types of menu, one is called authentic Chinese and the other U.S. Chinese. Now, you have heard of weird food in Asia. The photo below is one we deliberately kept as a secret from our children. They were not told what they ate:

Fried chili and pig's intestine. We told our kids they were some kind of seafood. Believe me, this is the first time we did not disclose the content of a dish. It is now time to get their reactions. They will find out what they ate here. During dinner at the restaurant, when asked how it tasted, my son said "it's gamey!" Hmmm…really ?:)

This is a typical stir fried beef with onions and scallions. Fried whole fish with sweet and sour sauce. Normally whole fish prices are not listed in Chinese restaurant. They are according to market price. I personally like fried fish. The one shown below did not come as expected. Fish and coastal living run deep in our roots. No big gathering with families are complete without a whole fish served with a bowl of white rice.

From this restaurant we learned potatoes could be stir fried too. Who would have thought to make crunchy stir fried shredded potato with garlic and salt? This is not a typical Chinese dish. It's a cheap way to serve up a dish, Chinese style.

Tofu is another must-have dish in a gathering.

Most Chinese restaurants do not serve special desserts. Dessert is usually some kind of fruit or cookies. New China Grille impressed us with their version of a sweet potato dessert. This was the best dish for our dinner out with extended families in Dallas.

You dip the sugar coated extremely hot sweet potatoes in the water and eat it. The water cools down the temperature of the sweet potato. You can see gooey sugar threads on the picture above.

Dining out at New China Grille was an experience for our family. As a transplant (immigrant) from Malaysia who has never lived in China and was not exposed to the authentic Chinese culture, eating at a restaurant like New China Grille was an eye opener.

Food and eating is one way of discovering the richness and cultures of a destination. Every dish that is served on our table has historical and cultural significance. Through the passage of time and the intermingling of cultures, some of these dishes have been modified and adapted.

Seen fish tanks in Chinese restaurants lately? What strange food have you eaten at a Chinese Restaurant that you were not told what it was until you ate it? Let us know.

The National Parks of America

Claudia Looi — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 09:00:45 +0000

More than 100 national parks in the United States are having free entrance days five times this year in 2012. To celebrate National Park Week (April 21-29), I've invited an active member of the National Junior Ranger, Surya Balaji, 13 years old, to write today's article.

Please mark your calendar for these fee-free dates to more than 100 national parks:

April 21-29  National Park Week
June 9  Get Outdoors Day
September 29  National Public Lands Day
November 10-12  Veterans Day weekend

The National Parks of America

By Surya Balaji

What are National Parks? Who started them, and why are they so important?

In 1872, Yellowstone became the first National Park in the world. Soon, this idea of preservation and admiration of the land spread across America, and to countries beyond. This is how the system of national parks came into existence. As we celebrate the National Park week, I present to you this write up about my experience with National Parks.

I am an active member of National park Junior Ranger program. Anyone can become a member of this program by visiting the park physically or virtually through nps.gov.

In the 19th century, political figures called for a system of preservation of these landmarks. About 40 years after Yellowstone National Park was found, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act in 1916.

Today, America has 58 national parks, from the Everglades in Florida, to Denali in Alaska. 27 states have national parks. These protected areas are home to special species and types of trees, animals, rock, and earth formation unlike any other.

Among all, my favorite one is Yosemite National Park, in California, which I visited in Spring 2011. Abraham Lincoln first made this a state park, and then, after the national park system was founded, it became a national park.

Yosemite has over 250 different species of animals, like gray foxes, black bears, and mountain deer. A great granite structure, such as Half Dome, elevating to 10,000 feet and beyond creates stunning views over the Valley.

The hiking path up the dome is a less crowded one, due to its taxing length and difficulty. As you trek up the trail, you see the stunning beauty of Nevada and Vernal Falls. When you reach the top, be sure not to miss the unforgettable sunset atop Half Dome.

Don’t think that Half Dome is a perfect place all the time. One of its most famous attributes is its susceptibility to lightning. Geologists call it a natural “lightning rod”. Bridal Veil Falls, at the opening of the valley, is the most popular waterfall at Yosemite. It releases melted snow all through spring forming a beautiful, serene environment. Many smaller streams and falls can be seen throughout the park.

Yosemite is home to the world's famous El Capitan, a granite monolith, sure to enthrall thrill-seekers. At an altitude of 7,600 feet, El Capitan is popular among mountain climbers as a high, vertical challenge, and BASE Jumpers for its elevation. The view from El Capitan overlooks the California wilderness and gigantic sequoia trees.

Protection and conservation of this startling site and many more at Yosemite is imperative to making sure our next generation can also witness these phenomenons of nature.

The other park that visited recently was Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. This park preserves and venerates Independence Hall, the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the Liberty Bell, a historic emblem of America’s independence from Great Britain.

This park takes you on a tour through the unknown and intriguing facts about the independence and the bell. You can see the very room that Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin signed their names on the Declaration of Independence.

There is still so much more to see and learn from these sites. As the population of the world increases, and more wildernesses are cut down, the welfare of these marvels is questionable.

My personal thanks to Mrs. Looi for giving me an opportunity to pen down my experience with National Parks.

Let's support our National Parks and practice a lifestyle of reduce, reuse and recycle. Leave your comments below for Surya and his generation.

Surya is a 8th grader at Liberty Middle school. He enjoys music, Lego's, Robotics, travelling and spending time with his family. His favorite sport is Tennis. His favorite musician is Yanni. His favorite food is anything that is Vegetarian. He will go to Middleton Magnet for high school. At Middleton he will do the STEM Engineering Magnet. He aspires to become an engineer in the future. Here is a link to one of Surya's creation.