If you’re still feeling some apprehension about traveling abroad, rest assured the United States has plenty of beauty for you to discover. Start by appreciating its’ wide open spaces. Add these five national parks to your list of ‘must see’ places.
Yosemite
Located in beautiful California, Yosemite is the most-visited national park in the U.S. It’s home to numerous, breathtaking waterfalls and there are many unique rock formations located in the park as well. El Capitan and the Half Dome are just a couple main attractions. If you’re looking for beautiful weather and even better views, this is the place for you.
Zion National Park
Located in Utah, this national park is another extremely popular one. It is home to some famous hikes like The Narrows and Angel’s Landing. These hikes are thrilling and are also a bit challenging. If you’re planning a trip here, come prepared! If you’re looking for beautiful views without breaking a sweat, you can travel by car on the Zion Canyon scenic route. It’s 57 miles of beautiful panoramas and you’ll even pass by quite a few landmarks.
Yellowstone
This national park is known for its geysers and wildlife. It’s also one of the most well-known and popular parks of all time. An article written for travel.usnews.com states, “Even if Yellowstone didn’t hold the incredible distinction of being the world’s first national park, the 2.2 million-acre park could easily stand on its own for its unique natural attractions and diverse geography. Here, travelers can get lost in the splendor of Yellowstone’s many lakes, mountains, buffalo-filled valleys and, of course, its unmatched geysers and hot springs.” In addition to the above mentioned activities, Yellowstone has quite a few different through scenic routes you can drive through. The main road is called the Grand Loop and it will allow you to experience everything from your vehicle. Plan for this to take more than one day because the park is huge!
Grand Canyon
This national park is a great place to bring your family. Although the canyon is a fairly large tourist attraction, there are also sections of the park that aren’t quite so heavily populated. The North Rim is the place to go if you’re looking for less of a crowd. Go on hikes, visit Havasu Falls or raft down the Colorado River. At the Grand Canyon, there’s something for everyone!
Glacier National Park
Pop on over to Montana to visit one of the U.S.’s most beautiful national parks. Covering more than one million acres, this hefty chunk of land is home to more than 700 lakes. It’s also home to many glacier formed peaks and valleys as well as dense sections of forests. Hike this park’s incredible trails that include the Trail of the Cedars and the Iceberg Lake Trail.
It’s easy to forget how much beauty we have right here in the United States. If you’re ever in need of a reminder, visit one of these national parks.