As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, many families are rediscovering the places, traditions and flavors that help tell the nation's story. Few places capture that diversity better than the U.S.'s national parks.From the tropical waters of Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park to the rugged wilderness above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, the parks offer visitors a glimpse into the landscapes that have shaped generations of Americans.Increasingly, they also offer a taste of the regional foods and culinary traditions that surround them."Whenever I know where I'm going on vacation, the first thing I think about is what I'm going to eat when I get there," said Melissa Knific, the New Jersey-based co-author of the new "National Parks Cookbook."AMERICA'S 'CAST IRON COWBOY' REVEALS WHY TRADITIONAL SKILLETS REMAIN THE ULTIMATE COOKING TOOLThe cookbook features 100 recipes inspired by all 63 national parks, drawing from local ingredients, historic lodges, nearby communities and regional food traditions.
The result is a culinary road map of the United States.For Dry Tortugas National Park, for example, located nearly 70 miles west of Key West, Knific developed Key Lime Coconut Bars inspired by one of Florida's most iconic flavors. The recipes for Key Lime Coconut Bars and Four Marlins Salad with Key West Pink Shrimp found in the "National Parks Cookbook" are inspired by Dry Tortugas National Park.(Scott Suchman, Courtesy of National Geographic)The park is also represented by a salad featuring Key West pink shrimp, a nod to the waters surrounding the islands.At the opposite end of the country, Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park presented a different challenge."It's the most remote national park in the system," Knific said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERAfter researching local traditions and speaking with people familiar with the area, she created Wild Blueberry Sourdough Waffles, inspired by the region's foraging culture and the impor...