It is not easy to choose a vacation location. The decision to go on vacation with a friend or partner can become more complicated. You shouldn’t drink excessively or waste your time on short holidays, even if they are family-friendly. These are just a few ways to make your choice easier.
First and foremost, ask yourself what you and your companions like to do. Are you a total outdoor person, indoor type, or a mix of both? Are you all fit and active? Do you prefer hot weather or mild seasons? Do you like to be active or do you enjoy sightseeing? Do you prefer ruggedness or more comfort? Do you enjoy camping, fishing, backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, rock climbing, or horseback riding?
The next thing you need to think about how much you are willing to spend and how long you have. You can quickly get to many national parks or monuments, which are all within reach of most people. While some areas of Alaska’s wilderness can be costly, it is worth the investment if the opportunity presents itself.
It’s up to you, however, to decide your destination. You should remember that nearly every area offers inexpensive travel options. Then, you can move up to more costly ones. It doesn’t mean that you have to live in national parks; many daily activities are available, such as climbing, fishing, and water sports. You don’t have to lie by a campfire while enjoying the great outdoors.
Camping is the cheapest vacation type after the initial investment in supplies. While this may seem expensive, the equipment can last for many years. Camping fees are generally more affordable than the average hotel room. Camping in an RV allows you to camp in complete comfort. The majority of campgrounds are in stunning surroundings that will enable easy access to the park’s best attractions. You will find a variety of campgrounds in most parks. Camping saves you money because you cook your own food. Hotdogs are not mandatory if you’re passionate about them.
You can find many parks within driving distance if you reside in the Midwest. These options take less than 12 hours, depending on your location. Although you have the option to fly anywhere, some parks are not close enough to an airport. Also, you have the opportunity to drive, and you can bring all you need for a relaxing stay.
In North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia great Smoky Mountains National Park is the best choice for the Midwest. This park is the perfect place for all ages. You have several options: you can camp on the Appalachian Trail or in a well-managed campground or wilderness, or choose to stay in a luxurious suite or a nice hotel in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, TN. Dollywood is also located in Pigeon Forge. On the North Carolina side, you will find more campgrounds. The city of Cherokee has numerous Indian souvenirs, museums, whitewater kayaking, and fly fishing (the latter two are available in both the US and Canada). Pictures of the mountains are a great idea.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, State Park is another option with camping facilities and wildlife viewing. You can walk along the shoreline or swim in Lake Michigan, and It also offers areas where you can bring your horse and go horseback riding. You can enjoy both history and sightseeing at the five World’s Fair homes, which opened in 1933. Or, attend the Gathering At Calumic, an event where Eastern Woodland Indians, Western Great Lakes fur traders, and Voyageurs reenact the life of the Calumet River residents between 1730-1818.
You can boat at many locations in the Midwest. However, Voyageurs National Park or Isle Royale National Park is the best. Both offer incredible wilderness adventures and canoeing and motor boating, fishing, kayaking, and motor boating.
Voyageurs is a waterpark in Minnesota, and Isle Royale lies off Lake Superior’s northern shore in Michigan. You will need to take a boat from the park to reach it, but it’s a short distance. There are lodges and places to camp that can help you get out of the rain, so you can learn how to navigate the waterways, find great fishing spots, or spy on wildlife.
Isle Royale is either a long boat ride or a “puddle jumper” flight. You can only go wilderness camping here, but you also have a lodge that offers comfort and day hiking. There are many activities, including kayaking, fishing, and backpacking. The longest-running research program on wolves and moose is still in operation. It truly is a remarkable ecosystem to see.
The West has more to offer than national parks. Yellowstone, home to Old Faithful and many other geothermal wonders, is the most popular at the border between Montana and Wyoming. This area also provides the opportunity to see grizzly bears in close proximity. It is possible to see bison in the area, but be aware. You have the option to camp at the park, or you can stay at ranches or lodges. You can also go kayaking, climbing, and fly fishing.
In Arizona, close to the Utah border, Grand Canyon National Park is another excellent option; It is part of Grand Staircase. This vast series of sedimentary rocks layers runs south from Bryce Canyon National Park to Zion National Park (both Utah), and finally to the Grand Canyon. There are many photography opportunities, including backpacking, hiking, whitewater kayaking, and day hiking.
Yosemite is just one of many great parks in the West. Rainier and Sequoia each park offers a variety of activities to meet all your vacation needs. You can obtain more information on each park on our individual parks pages.
You have many options when it comes to vacationing in the Eastern United States. Acadia National Park, Maine, boasts unsurpassed views of the northern ocean and cliff climbing. It is unlike any other park. There are numerous activities to enjoy, including fishing, island exploration, hiking, and stunning gardens. In the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is further down the eastern side. For 101 miles, the Appalachian Trail passes through the park, gives you many hiking and backpacking possibilities. Camping, fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, and camping are all possible.
In Florida are three national parks and one preserve, the most well-known being Everglades. Everglades is more than you might have seen on TV. You can get amazing shots of wildlife and birds. Wilderness camping is also available (be careful of alligators! You can also go fishing, fly-fishing, take a boat ride, hike, or canoe. There is also beautiful and rare flora. Big Cypress National Preserve can be found right by Everglades. It is very similar to the Everglades but offers cypress stand, mangrove forests, and endangered wildlife species such as the Florida panther and the peregrine falcon. You can also go fishing, canoeing or hiking and you can even hunt.
At the eastern end of South Florida, Biscayne national park, the world’s third longest coral reef tract, is also available for snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. It is a popular national park vacation spot for families or spring breakers who are looking to go on outdoor adventures. Dry Tortugas National Park, which preserves Fort Jefferson (which was built during the Civil War but never completed), and the nesting sites of terns or sea turtles, is exceptional. Key West snorkeling, saltwater fishing, swimming, lighthouses ship wreaks, hiking, boating, boating, and scuba diving are all possible. Also, you can enjoy bird watching and underwater photography in some of Southern Florida’s best coral reef and marine wildlife areas.
It is only a short selection of the fantastic parks in our national park system. You are encouraged to visit our site to read the pages of parks for the areas that you are interested in to find the right place to have a fantastic vacation, full of unforgettable memories and breathtaking photographs. The majority of the research is already made for you. So get in there! The possibilities are endless when it comes to national parks.
