Set on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago has no lack of natural areas and parks, offering visitors a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities. From wind surfing, SUPing and kayaking to sunbathing, hiking and cycling, there’s plenty to do in the Windy City. Additionally, there are also numerous national parks, monuments and other…
Characterized by sprawling cattle ranches, vast plains, historic travel routes and forts, dusty towns, saloons and the majestic Rocky Mountains, Wyoming epitomizes the classic American West. This is a place of cowboys and mountain men, bison and grizzly bears, numerous significant Native American sites and the magnificent wildernesses of the Wyoming national parks. Parts of…
One of the main reasons tens of millions of people flock to America’s national parks each year is to see iconic animals in the wild. Protecting a wide range of landscapes, ecosystems and habitats, the national parks are home to essentially all famous mammals in North America. Below, you can see many of the most…
Besides such famous places as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, and iconic buildings like the Statue of Liberty and the San Antonio Missions, the National Park Service (NPS) also preserves an amazing diversity of caves. In fact, the National Park Service system encompasses more than 4,700 caves. Yes, you read that right! I’ll…
When the United States government created Yellowstone National Park in 1872, it kickstarted a global movement to protect and preserve natural places as national treasures. Exactly a century later, during the Nixon administration in 1972, the United States was the driving force behind the World Heritage Convention. It was also the first country to sign…
A long and narrow park along the crest and slopes of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park is home to dense forests, rocky summits, lots of wildlife and panoramic vistas of endlessly rolling mountains. There are scenic views in Shenandoah National Park literally all across the park. Although there’s a significant area of…
There’s more than one reason that Yellowstone National Park is such an extremely popular destination. The unique range of features of Yellowstone National Park attracts millions of visitors each year, both Americans and travelers from abroad. If you’re visiting the world’s first national park for the first time, below are the main features of Yellowstone…
Decades, even centuries, before the United States gained independence, Hispanic and Latinx people were shaping the history and culture of present-day North America. Today, this wealth of Hispanic heritage is visible at numerous National Park Service sites, from California and New Mexico to Florida and Massachusetts. The Hispanic heritage preserved in these national parks, monuments,…
Visible from many places in Washington State and even northern Oregon, Mount Rainier dominates the Cascade Range. The best views of The Mountain, however, are within its namesake national park. Check out the greatest views of Mount Rainier in this blog post!
From fascinating historic sites, including both Native American sites and pioneer trails, to sprawling volcanic landscapes, caves, badlands and rain forests, the sheer diversity of the national forests, monuments and national parks in Oregon is amazing. These are the best federal parks to visit in the Beaver State.
On a road trip to the national parks and monuments of Arizona, you’ll get to explore spectacular desert landscapes, visit ancient Native American sites and ruins, drive a part of iconic Route 66 and see the majestic Grand Canyon.
Preserving some of America’s last remaining pristine night skies, many national parks offer amazing stargazing and Milky Way viewing opportunities. From Mesa Verde and Death Valley to Glacier and Voyageurs, these national parks have the most spectacular star-peppered night skies. “Half the park is after dark!”
Thanks to active wildlife, accessible trails and, especially, brilliant foliage, fall is arguably the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park. On a fall trip to Mount Rainier, there are many different activities you can do to enjoy the fall colors, from picnicking and berry picking to hiking.
One of the world’s greatest road trips, the drive from Jackson Hole to Kalispell takes you to three spectacular national parks. See the majestic Teton Range, Yellowstone’s geysers and the glacial valleys of Glacier National Park on an unforgettable northern Rockies national parks road trip.