Note on Yellowstone, Grand Teton is just south of it, and is much smaller, but significantly more dramatic (If you expect to summit anything there without a ski lift, good luck).
As for the east coast, New River Gorge WV is very active with guided activities, last I checked. One of the good places for rafting, also the Greenbank National Radio Observatory is within a days drive. If the Virginia(s) is your direction, in addition to the national parks, you also have the estates of some of americas founding fathers in the area, along with old battlefields that are open to the public, if history is on the menu. I would argue that the best park for hiking on the US east coast is White Mtn. State Forest in NH. Middle of ski country for the winter and summer is peak hiking for the best section of the AT (the Presidentials will kick you and your cars ass, Mt. Washington is up there and you can drive to the weather facility at the top)
Im with you on the always online automobiles and the importance of tactile feedback for important and commonly used buttons, but a small screen for a back-up camera is very nice.
I keep this as well, almost exclusivly to torment friends and family. I feel like it tastes like a used wodden clog that somehow got turned into a drink. I dont think its that bad, but I do enjoy playing up its legend.
In my career space, if someones is not immediatly replaceable (even for advanced positions that require degrees) its considered a failure of managment to not have business continuity in place.
You never know when life happens, your lead tech or lab coordinator could have a date with truck-kun and be stuck in the hospital for months. If the important things are not written down then you need to look elsewhere because managment isnt doing their job.
I know this is a meme, but I think the simplest answer is filming. Chewy is really tall, if he stands on a lower step, the main cast is all in the same shot.