A year ago, designer Amber Share made a submission to Bored Panda, giving us a taste of her so-called Subpar Parks.
It's an illustration series based on US National Parks with a unique angle: Share enriches the pictures of these gorgeous places with the worst reviews they've received online. The results provide a surprising and entertaining take on a very human feeling — disappointment — and sometimes are so absurd, I'd even call them poetic.
On Tuesday, Subpar Parks has culminated into a book. Featuring more than 50 percent new material, the publication includes more depth and insight into the most popular parks, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, anecdotes and tips from rangers, and much more about the author's personal love and connection to the outdoors.
To commemorate this occasion, here's an update on the series!
More info: ambersharedesign.com | Instagram
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#21 Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
An 1,100-foot natural sandstone monolith (the world's largest!) that's 500 million years old? Yawn – it's got nothing on that 12-ft man-made hunk of metal that turned up in Utah.
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41points
#22 Mesa Verde National Park
I guess the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and the largest archaeological preserve in the United States doesn't count as much these days.
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41points
#24 Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Putting the "bad" in Carlsbad since 1930. Couldn't you at least hang some art and install a tasteful sconce or two?
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39points
#25 Coconino National Forest
That’s it. That’s the review.
(Really though. One star, one word. That’s all this person could muster for this incredible place. They apparently missed the many areas of this 1.8 million acre wonderland that are decidedly NOT desert, given that Coconino is one of the most diverse national forests in the country!)
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39points
#26 Jasper National Park
Given how magical Spirit Island/Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park looks, it seems like we must just have different definitions of the word "need."
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38points
#27 Redwoods National Park
I went to a coastal forest park and all I saw was coast and forest.
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37points
#28 Dry Tortugas National Park
Most of us usually call this exploring... (P.S. Bummer that this person seems to have missed all the non-walking water-based activities @drytortugasnps has to offer
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37points
#29 Rocky Mountain National Park
I mean, other than 300 miles of trails, ridiculous star gazing, Trail Ridge Road, an insanely beautiful wildflower season, and hundreds of species of wildlife.... There's really nothing impressive about @rockynps
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34points
#30 The British Isles
Ok, not *technically* a national park (a National Scenic Area!), but you know I had to — plus, as the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis is pretty dang majestic. There were so many gems in 1-star reviews of this place, it was tough to choose what to actually put on the illustration Can't wait to climb this baby myself and see what all the whining is about.
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34points
