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Best of National Parks: Activities & Attractions - National Parks Experience

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Skip to ContentThe dual mandate of the National Park Service (NPS) says that America’s national parks, monuments and other federal lands should both be preserved in the way they are&nbsp;and&nbsp;offer recreation opportunities.This&nbsp;double mission&nbsp;poses plenty of challenges. On the plus side, however, this also means that visitors can, and forever will be able to, enjoy some of America’s greatest landscapes and landmarks on trails, scenic roads, from overlooks, on bicycles and in kayaks.Think of any recreational outdoor activity and chances are there’s a park or two (and often more) where you can do that. From hiking and biking to rock climbing, camping, fishing, boating, stargazing and wildlife viewing, the national parks have it all.This overview gives you the best hikes in many of America’s national parks. Whether you’re looking for a short stroll or a strenuous full-day hike, you’ll find tons of hiking options here.Hiking in National ParksSerious (and experienced) hikers will find paradise in the backcountry of many national parks. Check out this post for the best long-distance trails in the parks.Best Long-Distance Hikes in National ParksWhenever we visit a (new) national park, we always spend at least one night at one of its campgrounds. This post features our favorite national park campgrounds (so far).Best National Park CampgroundsAmerica’s national parks offer the unparalleled opportunity to see iconic animals in the wild, from grizzly bears and bison to alligators and eagles. These are the best parks to see wildlife.Best National Parks for Wildlife WatchingArguably one of the most underrated outdoor activities, bird watching is actually an incredibly relaxing and immersive experience. Check out the best parks to see birds here.Best National Parks for Bird WatchingWhile most national parks don’t allow bicycles on their trails, some of them actually do. These are the best national parks for mountain biking adventures.Best National Parks for Mountain BikingCycling trumps driving for various reasons, from physical exercise to a much more immersive national park experience. Check out the best parks for road cycling in this post.Best National Parks for Road CyclingIn most national parks, you need your own wheels to get around and enjoy the landscapes to the fullest. These are the best scenic driving routes, roads and/or loops in the parks.Best Scenic Drives in National ParksIt’s not because trails are covered by a blanket of snow that you can’t use them any more. Rather the opposite, in fact, many national parks are a snowshoer’s paradise in winter.Best National Parks for Snowshoeing“Half the park is after dark.” Several parks are designated International Dark Sky Parks, offering amazing opportunities to see the Milky Way and other celestial objects.Best National Parks for StargazingIn addition to endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, America’s national parks also have plenty of specific attractions.Whether it’s architecture, Native American sites or African American history sites, there’s plenty of culture, history and heritage to be explored and discovered in the parks.Numerous parks and monuments were created to protect Native American ruins, art and archaeological sites. This post features 20+ parks that preserve Native American heritage.National Parks Preserving Native American Heritage &amp; CultureFrom Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Buffalo Soldiers and New Orleans Jazz, numerous NPS sites commemorate and preserve African American leaders, history and heritage.National Parks Dedicated to African American historyIn addition to landscapes and wildlife, America’s national parks are home to some amazing architecture, ranging from historic homesteads to the renowned “parkitecture” style.Most Photogenic Buildings in National ParksYou can find several awesome NPS sites in or near America’s greatest cities, including such iconic monuments as the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall and Gateway Arch.Must-Visit Urban National Park Service SitesThere are more than 30 National Park Service sites related to U.S. presidents, from Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln to both Roosevelts, JFK, Eisenhower and many others.Presidential National Parks, Birthplaces, Homes, Monuments &amp; MemorialsYes, you can get married at national parks! In fact, eloping to or having a small wedding ceremony in a national park is easier than you might think. Check out the top national parks for weddings and elopements here.Top National Park Wedding &amp; Elopement LocationsLet’s, of course, not forget about all the natural attractions. From waterfalls, wildflowers and winter wonderlands to fall foliage, volcanoes and Northern Lights, there’s plenty of natural beauty to admire and enjoy in the parks.In fact, it’s this abundance of natural wealth that draws many, or most, visitors to the parks. This is a selection of the best natural highlights of the American national park system.From the Appalachians to the Rockies and the Cascades, there are spectacular waterfalls to be enjoyed all across America. This blog post highlights the best national parks for waterfalls.Best National Parks for WaterfallsFrom early-spring desert flowers to the alpine blooms of summer, you can admire spectacular wildflower displays during much of the year in America’s parks.Best National Parks for WildflowersCome fall, thousands of “leaf-peepers” head to the national parks to enjoy breathtaking autumn landscapes. Check out this post for the greatest national parks to see fall colors.Best National Parks for Fall FoliageSnow-covered landscapes and below-freezing temperatures don’t mean the parks are off limits. Many of them are absolutely spectacular in winter, offering myriad fun winter activities.Best National Parks to Visit in WinterThe ethereal Aurora Borealis appears each winter at a select number of national parks. If you’d like to see this natural phenomenon, these are the best parks to visit in mid-winter.Best National Parks to See the Northern LightsFrom dinosaur bones and mammoth skeletons to petrified wood, fossilized fish and other prehistoric creatures, there are several National Park Service sites that preserve rich fossil deposits.National Parks With FossilsA large number of American national parks are home to volcanic features, whether it’s craters, cinder cones, geysers, lava flows or hot springs. All of them are in the West.National Parks With VolcanoesA popular outdoor playground among kids and adults alike, huge sand dunes are found in America’s parks from the Southwest deserts to the Great Lakes and even Alaska.National Parks With Sand DunesWhether you’d like to do some snorkeling, scuba diving or simply sunbathing on a beach, these island national parks are amazing summer holiday destinations.Island National Parks for your Summer VacationThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.I'm Bram, the person behind The National Parks Experience, a blog dedicated to America's national parks and public lands, and sustainable outdoor activities. Learn more about who we are and what we do HERE.This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.NecessaryNecessaryNecessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.Non-necessaryAny cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.SAVE &amp; ACCEPT

Skip to ContentThe dual mandate of the National Park Service (NPS) says that America’s national parks, monuments and other federal lands should both be preserved in the way they are&nbsp;and&nbsp;offer recreation opportunities.This&nbsp;double mission&nbsp;poses plenty of challenges. On the plus side, however, this also means that visitors can, and forever will be able to, enjoy some of America’s greatest landscapes and landmarks on trails, scenic roads, from overlooks, on bicycles and in kayaks.Think of any recreational outdoor activity and chances are there’s a park or two (and often...

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