A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park are among the most numerous and best-preserved of their kind in North America. They are one of the cultural jewels in the crown of the National Park System. Countless cliff dwellings dot the landscape of Mesa Verde—more than 600 of them—along with…
Few natural phenomena are as magical and captivating as the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. This is Mother Nature’s greatest show, a dazzling display of dancing lights in the sky. In the U.S., there are various places to see this amazing show, including these national parks.
According to the National Park Service, “hot springs are the most common hydrothermal features in Yellowstone.” And indeed, you can find these colorful pools at various locations throughout the park. In fact, every single geyser basin in Yellowstone National Park—whether minor or major—has its own share of hot springs, which come in many shapes and…
The health benefits of hiking are well known and well documented nowadays. And few things are better for a “nature bath” than going on a reinvigorating hike in a national park. These are some of the greatest day hikes in the U.S. National Park System.
As the largest national park in the contiguous United States, Death Valley National Park has plenty of attractions and activities to offer. You could spend several days, even weeks, exploring this vast park. Some of the most popular things to do include hiking, sightseeing, stargazing, enjoying the many spectacular views in Death Valley National Park,…
This news story about 2024 vehicle reservations in Arches, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier National Parks is based on November 9, 2023, National Park press releases. You can read the original releases here, here, and here. On Thursday afternoon, November 9, the National Park Service released plans to implement vehicle reservation systems once again in a…
As many people are holiday shopping, decorating their homes, and begin hunkering down for winter, December isn’t usually a busy month in the National Park System. There are, however, still many national parks that are downright amazing in December—you could even say that some are in their absolute prime this time of year. Whether you’re…
Spending a night or two at a historic lodge or hotel is one of the most memorable national park experiences. From Yellowstone’s famous Old Faithful Inn to Glacier’s iconic Many Glacier Hotel and the rustic Lake Quinault Lodge at Olympic, these are the greatest and grandest lodges in the national parks.
Quite possibly the most iconic place in south Florida’s Biscayne National Park, Boca Chita Key is also the park’s most visited island. In this blog post, I’ll tell you all about how to get to Boca Chita Key and, once you’re there, what you shouldn’t miss. First, though, a brief introduction to Biscayne National Park…
This news story about the indefinite closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway due to human-bear interactions is based on an October 30, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. Every year, there are stories of people feeding, approaching, or otherwise harassing black bears on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And…
This news story about the partial reopening of Death Valley National Park is based on an October 13, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. Unprecedented rainfall due to Tropical Storm Hilary closed Death Valley National Park in August and the park has been inaccessible to visitors ever since….
As varied as the park itself, these amazing fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park will take you through fragrant pine forests, to waterfalls, around shimmering lakes, across breathtaking meadows, to mountain summits and into an Arctic tundra-like environment.
“Shark Valley is the heartland of the Everglades,” the National Park Service says. Is there a better reason to visit this part of Everglades National Park? I didn’t think so either! A popular day trip destination from Miami, Shark Valley provides the perfect introduction to the glorious wetland world of the famed Everglades. It’s a…
One of the great pleasures of visiting Yellowstone National Park is seeing bears in the wild. Both black bears and grizzly bears call the park home and are active—and therefore visible—for a large part of the year. However, the bears in Yellowstone do hibernate in winter. After starting this months-long sleep sometime in November, they’re…