View of Fort Jefferson while snorkeling in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
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9 Best National Parks to Visit in January

After the holiday shopping, cooking, family gatherings, and celebrations of December, January is usually a time of contemplation, resolutions, and peace and quiet. It’s also a fantastic month to explore some amazing national parks. After all, what’s a better way to start the new year than visiting a new—maybe tropical—national park? Visiting national parks in…

South Swim Beach and Moat at Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
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11 Wonderfully Warm National Parks to Escape Winter

A summer road trip to one or more of the national parks is arguably the quintessential American holiday. And although summer is an amazing time to visit many parks, there are also numerous national parks that have beautiful warm winter weather. While some parks become spectacular winter wonderlands, others attract sunseekers, beachgoers and people who…

Mahogany Hammock boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida
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13 Best National Parks to Visit in February

Well within the heart of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, February is typically a pretty quiet month in America’s national parks. In fact, only January tends to be even less crowded, with December a close third. Many parks are covered by a thick layer of snow in February, while others are chilly, if not downright…

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at sunset, Death Valley National Park photos
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12 Best National Parks to Visit in December

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…

Grizzly bear at Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park
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Bear Hibernation in Yellowstone: When Do Bears Hibernate?

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…

Mojave Desert Joshua trees, Joshua Tree National Park, California - National Parks Near San Diego
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Joshua Tree National Park Tells Visitors to Prepare for Crowds This Winter

This news story about expected huge crowds in Joshua Tree National Park is based on a November 23, 2021, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. While summers are exceptional hot and relatively quiet in the Mojave and Colorado deserts, the peak season is now approaching in Joshua Tree National…