Explore National Parks
We’ve got insider tips on some of the very best National Parks the United States has to offer. Find your next adventure destination and our best tips for each location!
ARIZONA
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Located in northwestern Arizona, the Grand Canyon is known for its scenic overlooks, hikes, rivers, waterfalls, mule rides and more.
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Full of unique sites like Jasper Forest and trails like the Painted Desert Rim Trail, the Petrified Forest is definitely worth a visit.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
Named for the giant saguaro cactus, there is something awe-inspiring and special about wandering among these gentle giants.
CALIFORNIA
DEVILS POSTPILE MONUMENT
Far off the beaten path, this geologic feature is located on the east side of Yosemite near a small town called Mammoth Lakes. There are so many amazing sites here, including Rainbow Falls which is a must-see!
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
By far, a family favorite, Yosemite National Park has so many must-sees. It's located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. You'll find giant, ancient sequoia trees and the famous Half Dome and the towering Bridalveil Fall.
COLORADO
COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
Located just outside Grand Junction Colorado, there are beautiful red rocks, a large canyon with a scenic drive, and several hiking trails.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
We fell in love with this Park.It's full of incredible hikes through mountains, there is an abundance of wildlife, lakes and more.
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Mesa Verde is one of 3 amazing Native American history sites in the Four Corners area. There is so much to learn and see here.
IDAHO, FLORIDA, & MONTANA
CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL PARK
Looking for an adventure in Idaho? We learned about volcanoes here. Explored caves, or lava tube tunnels — don't forget to bring a good flashlight.
CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS MONUMENT
Next stop... Florida! This National Monument is a great way to spend a few hours learning some amazing American History.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
You would have to spend weeks here and you still wouldn't be able to see all that this beautiful park has to offer. We've got all the tips for a successful trip right here.
NEBRASKA
AGATE FOSSIL BEDS MONUMENT
A surprise in the far west corner of Nebraska. This tiny site may not be worth a long drive, it can certainly help to break up a long drive if you're traveling cross country.
SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT
One of many historic sites along the Oregon Trail, located in western Nebraska, Scott’s Bluff has a small museum, some trails, and a scenic drive through several tunnels to the top of the bluff.
NEW MEXICO
AZTEC RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT
This became one of our favorite sites on a recent trip to the Four Corners area. It's one of three sites protected by the National Park Service.
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK
This mother-of-all-caves is located in the southeast corner of New Mexico, but we all agreed it was worth the drive. So many incredible features.
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL PARK
Chaco Canyon is probably the quietest of the 3 sites in the Four Corners area protected by the parks system because it is quite a trip to get there.
PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT
One of the largest petroglyph sites in North America is found at Petroglyph National Monument. There is a Visitor’s Center and several hikes that allow you to see thousands of ancient petroglyphs.
WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
275 square miles of central New Mexico is covered by great dunes of gypsum sand, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. This pure white sand is just the color of sugar and twice as soft. The sand never gets hot because it reflects the sunlight.
NEVADA, TEXAS, & VIRGINIA
GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK
Only 3 hours from Salt Lake, the Great Basin National Park has high summits, sage-covered foothills, ancient pines, and mysterious subterranean passages.
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Located in the Texas panhandle with mountains, canyons, deserts, and majestic vistas, all combine to offer opportunities for personal renewal.
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
One of the first parks in the east, this park is a bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows.
SOUTH DAKOTA
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
In the middle of the desert, the Badlands are known as the land of stone and light, the rugged beauty draws visitors from around the world.
JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL PARK
The third longest cave in the world holds many interesting formations. The main guided tour is not for the feint of heart with about 600 stairs.
MINUTEMAN MISSILE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
History buffs will love this site as it tells the story of the Cold War. If you're in South Dakota, it's worth a stop. It is fairly new and still, but full of history.
MOUNT RUSHMORE MONUMENT
We highly recommend planning a road trip to see this American treasure. It's a great national historic site that features the figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Surrounded by the Black Hills of South Dakota.
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Another cave in South Dakota — this one is worth the visit. Snag a guided tour, our ranger here was definitely a good one and that made a big difference. There are a few unique things to do here including the visitor's center and there is quite a bit of wildlife.
UTAH
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Arches is very beautiful with deep red rock, clear blue skies, and many kid-friendly hikes. This is easily our favorite national park in Utah.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Another crown jewel in Utah! There's so much to do and it's very accessible with paved trails to the viewpoints.
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
We love finding unique spots in Utah that are a little less traveled, and the area around Capitol Reef fits that description.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Full of incredible hikes for young families to explore through countless canyons carved by the Colorado River.
CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Sitting at over 10,000 feet and looking down into a deep geologic amphitheater, wander among the pines and rocks.
DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
Known as the Dinosaur Capitol of the World. There is a lot to see and do including seeing fossils and hiking.
GOLDEN SPIKE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
The Golden Spike National Historic Site was established as a park to remember the meeting of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads in 1869.
GRAND STAIRCASE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Despite the ruggedness, we found some fun things to do in this vast wilderness, and we’ve collected them for you here in this post.
HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT
Far down in the corner of Utah, it's often overlooked. We were so excited when we were able to visit this fascinating park and found lots of family friendly activities.
NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT
This is an amazing place in southeastern Utah, but it is not visited very often. This park was the first National Monument in Utah (1908).
TIMPANOGOS CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is an adventure that everyone from Utah Valley should definitely do at least once in their life.
ZION NATIONAL PARK
This park, located in southern Utah is ranked in some polls as one of the top 5 National Parks in the country. Follow the paths where native people and pioneers walked.
WASHINGTON
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
One of the oldest parks in the system. Mount Rainier is considered an active volcano, and it dominates the skyline on a clear day, from as far away as Seattle.
NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK
North Cascades National Park is a more remote park, only a few hours from Seattle, but it is tricky to technically step foot in North Cascades National Park.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
We’ve had Olympic National Park on our bucket list for a long time. This is because it is large, rife with wildlife, and thick with natural beauty.
WASHINGTON DC
FORD'S THEATRE
Ford’s Theater was our favorite stop in Washington, DC. This theater where Abraham Lincoln was shot is now run by the National Park Service.
THE WHITE HOUSE
You will have to contact your member of Congress or Senate to get a tour of the White House. The tour is all self-guided, and it's totally worth it.
NATIONAL MALL MONUMENTS
The west end of the National Mall in D.C. is full of icons that most people have only seen on the back of their money.
WYOMING
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Yellowstone is America’s first national park and one of the most beautiful places on earth. Millions of people visit it every year to see active geysers, wildlife, and other geological wonders. We’ll help you find all the “must see” spots.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Right next door to Yellowstone are the Grand Tetons. Named for the beautiful mountains that tower above the unique landscape below. The hikes, rivers, and lakes you'll find here are stunning and there is plenty of wildlife. We've visited over 10 times.
DEVIL'S TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT
Devil’s Tower is an amazing rock formation that stands straight up almost a thousand feet above the surrounding terrain. It is split into columns, and most geologists think it was formed as part on an ancient volcano. This was the first national monument!
FOSSIL BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Our kids love fossils and dinosaurs, so Fossil Butte seemed like a natural destination. No dinos, but this prehistoric lake features fossils plants, fish, and other lake dwellers. The monument has a really nice museum that we spent a lot of time exploring.