Tag: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

lewis and clark caverns in montana, beautiful mountains

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (LCNHT) commemorates the Corps of Discovery’s 1804-1806 expedition of the Louisiana Purchase. Led by Meriwether Lewis and Wiliam Clark, this epic journey contributed to significant changes to the land we now know as America. Ranging from political, social, economic, and cultural, these changes brought on by the Lewis and Clark expedition forever embodied the American spirit. To discover the new, to chart the unknown, and to ultimately, tell the story of our country.

“The Lewis and Clark Expedition is more than the story of two men. It is the story of many: individuals and groups, military men and scientists, a president and a slave, women and men, French-speaking boatment and American Indians. It is a story of loss and hope. It is a story of changes that began in 1803 and that continue today,” – U.S. National Park Service 

Solimar has been supporting this project since September 2016.

oregon beach lewis and clark national historic trail stretches all the way to the pacific

Where is the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail?

The LCNHT is one of the most extensive national historic trails in the United States. Stretching across 16 states, it is approximately 4,900 miles long from Pennsylvania to Oregon. The trail runs through eight National Park Service units and identifies as many as 50 Native American tribe communities throughout the entirety of the trail. When the National Park Service (NPS) decided to commemorate this historic expedition in 1978, it identified and marked the routes and sites of the trailblazing journey. In doing so, the National Park Service’s mission statement to protect, interpret, and preserve the resources associated with the public’s history fostered a relationship between the past and the present.  

great falls lewis and clark statue along the LCNHT

The LCNHT – State by State

  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • Indiana
  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • Kansas
  • Iowa
  • Nebraska
  • South Dakota
  • North Dakota
  • Montana
  • Idaho
  • Washington
  • Oregon

lewis and clark caverns in montana, beautiful mountains

The LCNHT Today 

From its humble but ambitious origins, today the LCNHT reflects the “story of many ” through its place-based authenticity. Today, local communities and cultures near the trail are more abundant than ever. The result of these growing communities has provided an opportunity that encourages domestic and international visitors to experience everything the trail has to offer. As a result, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Geotourism Program was born. 

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Geotourism Program 

Destined to engage tourism stakeholders across the entire trail, the Geotourism program is designed to protect, manage, and promote sustainable tourism on the LCNHT. To accomplish this, local destination management organizations are encouraging increased public participation along this historic journey with a focus on respect for the land and local resources. Local ambassadors and storytellers are working together to increase education about how to be a sustainable tourist along the trail so local communities can reap the benefits of tourism. Additionally, stakeholders have worked in tandem with the communities and nations to ensure the most sustainable and beneficial outcomes. Locals understand what makes their town stand out and know why their town should be a tourist destination along the trail. Solimar has worked on other geotourism projects like the Sedona Verde Valley Tourism Council in Arizona and Four Corners, USA.

All this hard work from the collaboration among the stakeholders led to the travel website (lewisandclark.travel), a visitor themed interactive guide to exploring the LCNHT. 

What is LewisandClark.Travel?

The travel website for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail provides domestic and international visitors with a variety of tools like the interactive map to help plan their vacation. The interactive guided map helps visitors plan their trip depending on five different regions. 

The geotourism program for the LCNHT is targeted toward travelers who seek authentic travel and historical experiences, but also towards those who care about the preservation of the destination’s history and culture. Because their willingness to pay on vacations is, these travelers are more likely to support small local businesses during their trip. They are more easily encouraged to stay at local hotels and inns, shop at independent businesses, eat locally, and interact with the host communities. The proceeds from those spending behaviors would better benefit the local communities and Native American nations placed along the trail. 

ohio river aerial shot along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Navigating the website

With an increase in local shops, restaurants and sites along the LCNHT, there is so much to see and do. There is something for everyone on the trail. And below are some sections of the website that can help structure your trip: 

Travelers can plan their trip according to where they want to go. If you are interested in outdoor adventure, you can always lose yourself in an Arbor Day themed adventure park.  The examples and options to plan your trip are virtually (no pun intended) endless. You could also structure your trip around specific events, like the Amelia Earhart Festival held every summer in Kansas, or if you’re a foodie you can always try out the chocolate crawl in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

There’s truly something for everyone on the trail! Whether you’re looking to discover new cultures, learn history, or discover new shops, traveling the LCNHT will help you discover new things. 

And the best part of it is that your trip doesn’t have to be cut short. There are many charming local options for lodgings to rest and relax before starting the next day of your expedition. From famous local bed and breakfasts to campgrounds, why stay in a run of the mill corporate hotel chain when you can enhance your experience by staying with welcoming locals?

Check out www.lewisandclark.travel to plan your next road trip along this historic trail.

earth day tourism

Celebrate Earth Day… Everyday!

For most people, Earth Day is just another normal day. We might celebrate by posting an aesthetic earth infographic on our Instagram stories or remembering to drop our disposable water bottle in the recycling bin.

Our earth does so much for the people of this planet every single day, providing all the essentials we need to live a happy and healthy life. It deserves to be given a grander celebration than just one day a year, but instead a daily show of our appreciation that will bring us through hundreds more Earth Days to come!

At Solimar International, we celebrate Earth Day every day by developing strategies of sustainable tourism that boost local economies, preserve cultural heritage and protect the natural beauty of the destinations to keep them healthy and thriving for future generations to enjoy. 

How to Give the Earth Some Love:

Celebrating Earth Day every day can seem like a daunting task. Here are some simple ideas to get you started TODAY!

Shop Local 

One of the best ways to love our amazing planet is to support the people closest to us that keep it alive – the locals!

Shop Local on Earth Day
A locally owned business in South Dakota 

Solimar International understands this, so we work with local artisans in destinations like Morocco to increase revenue directly. Locals use this added revenue to build up and preserve their community. People who buy the goods from locals gain a greater appreciation for the destination & want to preserve the community as well. 

Obviously, not everyone can celebrate Earth Day with a trip to a Moroccan craft market, but there are many ways to support your community. Finding local businesses to support can be as simple as walking or driving around town. You can look up the local chamber of commerce for a directory of local businesses, or visit Yelp’s recently created sustainable resource hub, where users can easily look up eco-friendly small businesses in their area. 

For those who prefer online shopping over in-person shopping, try online shopping from B-Corp companies. B-Corp companies are businesses that have been certified for their commitment to positively impact our planet in measurable ways. 

Protect Nature

Earth Day is not only a time to celebrate the Earth, but every living thing on it. Species are currently undergoing the highest extinction rate in 60 million years. As citizens of Earth, we must participate in efforts to preserve the biodiversity of our planet through making sustainable choices.

The endangered Bengal Tiger
Bengal Tigers are one of the thousands of endangered species on Earth today

Solimar International is currently working with USAID in the Sundarbans to sustain the mangrove habitats biodiversity of Bengal tiger habitats and the surrounding communities. Through this project, Solimar will capitalize on the country’s natural, cultural, and historical endowments to develop a more inclusive tourism value chain that integrates local communities and maximizes conservation benefits.  

You may live far away from any Bengal Tiger habitats, but you’ve surely seen the trash scattered around local parks and nature reserves, putting animals and ecosystems in danger. It is not necessary to do a complete turnaround and start a 100% sustainable lifestyle overnight. Small and simple actions like using a reusable water bottle, participating in ecotourism for your next vacation, or watching sustainability documentaries on Netflix to educate yourself on global environment challenges, can lead to big change.

Share your Earth Day Story

Individually, our actions towards a more sustainable future may seem futile, but together our actions can lead to great change. This year, challenge yourself to share with your friends and family the ways you’ve found to celebrate Earth Day every day! 

Our Earth brings us together
Our Earth brings us together and creates life-long memories

Through our Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail project, Solimar International has discovered the power of storytelling in driving more sustainable tourism. On this website, we provide locally-owned businesses, tribal communities and nature preserves with a platform to tell their story to the world. Travelers planning trips along the Lewis and Clark Trail read these personable stories on our website and feel the desire to be part of supporting these stories. 

Sharing stories online or through conversation of the small ways you celebrate Earth Day every day is powerful. It will inspire others to live and travel sustainably, as they see examples from those they know and trust most. Just think about it– are you more likely to accept a challenge to live more eco-friendly from a random stranger or a good friend? 

Our Earth not only provides us with everything we need to live, but also ample opportunities to make memories. Hiking through thick green forests with family, swimming in a cool ocean on a warm day with friends. Protecting the Earth means creating these memories today and preserving the opportunity for future generations to do so as well. Together, we can ensure that we have hundreds more beautiful Earth Days to celebrate together!

So – what will you do to celebrate Earth Day every day?

Keep up with Solimar to receive more inspiration on how you can contribute to the daily celebration of our Earth by liking us on Facebook and LinkedIn

“We rely confidently on Solimar's deep technical experience and professionalism as tourism consultants. You always are exceeding our expectations.”
Leila Calnan, Senior Manager, Tourism Services Cardno Emerging Markets

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