Spend quality time surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.
The continental United States of America is one vast place, that goes without saying. The sheer scale and geographical expansiveness of Uncle Sam is almost beyond human imagination. Such is its hugeness, encompassing no less than three respective time zones, that it’s no surprise that circumference is only matched by the beauties of the natural environment contained therein.
What wonders to behold the early American settlers encountered when expanding outwards to colonize the vast, untamed wilderness… beauty of the like no eye has ever seen. From the Great Lakes to the Grand Canyon and countless more unique landmarks, the U.S. is blessed with natural beauty alongside abundant natural resources, it really must have seemed like a ‘New World’ to those first brave pioneers.
The U.S. federal government has wisely classified many if not most of these sites as landmarks worthy of protection so future generations could enjoy the unmatched natural beauty as previous generations had. Established in 1916, the U.S. Natural Park Service is an agency of the federal Department of the Interior which manages the upkeep and tourism of these natural wonders. Employing 20,000 people in 425 sites over 85 acres, it is, unsurprisingly, an operation as vast as the landscapes they are maintaining.
These natural wonders have become protected and established National Parks, 63 to date, that have become some of the most visited sites in the world, with more than 21 million tourists collectively visiting in 2021 alone.
For the purposes of this article, we will list 5 of the best U.S. National Parks you can visit all year round and bask in amazement at the vistas of astonishing beauty before you.
Grab your rucksack and walking boots and let’s head forth…
1. Glacier National Park
Located in the sparse wilderness of north-western Montana, close to the Canadian border, Glacier National Park is the #1 most visited natural beauty spot in the U.S. and it’s easy to see why.
Encompassing over 1 million acres, two mountain ranges, 130 lakes, 1,000 different types of flora and fauna, and literally hundreds of animal species, Glacier National Park is almost a microcosm of the natural world in a single place. Established on May 11, 1910, the park quickly became a tourist hotspot with numerous hotels and chalets built by the Great Northern Railway.
Known as the ‘Crown of the Continent’, the park was designated a U.N. Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a World Heritage Site in 1995.
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2. Grand Canyon National Park
One of the most famous and recognizable landmarks in the world, the Grand Canyon is situated in the state of Arizona, spans 1.2 million acres, and is one of the so-called ‘7 Wonders of the World’.
Established as a national park in 1919, and designated a World Heritage Site in 1979, the site encompasses a series of tributary canyons of unparalleled depth and vastness, with the primary tourist hub being the Grand Canyon Village, a fully developed, service-oriented community of lodgings, fuel stations, restaurants, a hospital, churches, and guided walks and tours to the major highlights of the park.
3. Yellowstone National Park
Spanning the three mid-western states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, Yellowstone has the distinct honor of being not only the very first U.S. national park, established in 1872, but the first national park in the world.
Spanning an area of 3,468 sq miles, Yellowstone is renowned for its natural geysers, lakes, canyons, and vast wildlife preserve. It also has one of the highest-elevated lakes on the continent, situated above the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest but dormant super volcano on the continent. The park visitor facilities were built in time for the National Park Service’s 50th anniversary in 1966 and were again extensively refurbished in the 1980s. The high-tech yet traditional in aesthetic Visitor Center opened in 2006.
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4. Yosemite National Park
Situated in the ‘Golden State’ of California, Yosemite National Park consists of and is renowned for its vast untamed wilderness of cliffs, waterfalls, natural streams, lakes, mountains, and natural glaciers.
The first European tourists to the region took place around 1885 and it’s never stopped since being a must-see destination. Open all year round, the park has extensive hiking and walking tours, in addition to photography and art classes, mule and horseback rides, rafting, bike rentals, and rock climbing classes. It has also been featured in such films as Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Maverick, and The Last of the Mohicans.
5. Zion National Park
Located in the southern tip of the state of Utah, Zion (meaning “refuge” in Hebrew) National Park was established as a recognized national park in 1909 when it was called the Mukuntuweap National Monument. This was changed in 1917 to Zion which was what the local Mormon community commonly referred to it as. In 1919, it was accrued more land by act of Congress and officially became Zion National Park.
Boasting upwards of 4 million visitors a year, Zion is known for its mountains, canyons, rivers, monoliths, and rivers, spanning an area of 229 sq miles, and home to 289 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, and 32 species of reptiles. It also encompassed four distinct ecosystems; desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest.