Virginia

In the heat of summer, waterfall hikes are among the most enjoyable and popular activities in the national parks, especially if the waterfall also happens to have a swimming hole. …

America’s national parks are home to numerous scenic swimming spots, whether it’s a lakeshore, ocean beach, riverbank or even hot spring. Few things are more refreshing than jumping into a …

Besides wildlife and outdoor adventures, many people visit America’s national parks to see some of the country’s greatest landscapes. While some views require several miles of hiking, there are also many spectacular, easily accessible overlooks and viewpoints in the national parks.

No matter how many times you’ve seen them, seeing black bears in the wild is always an exciting experience. For some of America’s best black bear viewing, spend a few …

Alongside the meandering 105 miles of Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, you’ll find a number of accommodation options. From campgrounds—which we won’t discuss in this particular post—to rustic cabins and …

There are dozens of National Park Service sites dedicated to African American history and culture. They commemorate Black American education and innovation, as well as the era of slavery and civil rights movement, music, and prominent and influential Black Americans, such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet tubman and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Even at home, you can see various animals going about their daily lives. Whether you live in a big city or small town, there’s usually a bunch of different birds flying around, while squirrels play in trees and deer forage fields. If, however, you’d like to really focus on the “wild” in wildlife, you should consider visiting these national parks for wildlife watching.

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 …

The most abundant bear species in the world, black bears are found all across North America, from Alaska and Canada to the contiguous United States and northern Mexico. Your chances of seeing black bears in the wild are excellent in these national parks.

While wildlife encounters when hiking are absolutely unforgettable, sometimes it’s better—or best—to see animals from the safety of your car. Although I’m a huge advocate for leaving your vehicle and exploring a park on foot, more often than not, you simply have to drive to see a park properly. Luckily, there are several epic wildlife drives in the national parks.

Watching a sunrise in Shenandoah National Park is one of the five absolute highlights in this magnificent park in central Virginia. It’s incredibly easy to do, too. Skyline Drive winds its way across the crest of the Blue Ridge, cutting across the park from north to south, lined with more than 70 overlooks. These are the best viewpoints and mountaintops to see the sunrise in Shenandoah.

There’s always been a close historical link between America’s presidents and its national parks, from the creation of Yellowstone National Park to the Antiquities Act and many national park sites related to the presidents themselves. There are over 30 presidential national parks, dedicated to presidents like Washington, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, JFK, Eisenhower and more.

Fall is by far my favorite season in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Bringing crisp air, stunning sunsets, great wildlife watching and breathtaking colors, fall is a great time to get outside in Shenandoah. This blog post tells you the best way to spend a day in Shenandoah in the fall.

Heading deep into a park’s backcountry, setting up camp, exploring an unspoiled landscape, encountering wildlife,… Spending any number of nights backpacking in one of the national parks is something you’ll never forget.