America the Beautiful: U.S. National Parks

You don’t have to leave the mainland to travel to these next destinations.  Another dream of mine is to visit some of America’s National Parks.  There’s so many beautiful spots right here in the U.S. that it seems almost silly not to visit at least some of them.  There are 397 national parks, so I’m going to have to narrow down my trip to four.  Here’s my list (you can click on the park names for more info from the  National Park Service):

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The Grand Canyon.  Probably one of the first places that comes to mind when thinking about the U.S. National Parks.  It became a national park in 1919 and now receives about five million visitors per year.  Don’t worry though, at 1,218,375 acres there’s plenty of room for everybody.  The Canyon is up to 15 miles wide, 277 miles long, 4,000 ft. deep on average.  I would love to go on a hike into the canyon.  There are plenty of guided tours to choose from, along with mule rides, 3 river trip options on the Colorado River, and campgrounds on the North or South Rim.  The South Rim is the most popular, while the North Rim is harder to access.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, California

General Sherman

These two parks are located side by side in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.  You can go horseback riding (yes!), rock climbing, skiing, or hiking.  There are over 800 miles of trails throughout the park, so bring some comfy shoes.  But what’s my main reason for travelling here?  To see the giant sequoias.  Prepare to feel like an ant.  These trees can be as tall as a 26 story building with bases wider than most city streets.  The General Sherman tree is the largest tree in the world (about 275 ft.) and is thousands of years old.  I can go stand next to it and feel shorter than usual!

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite was one of the first parks in the U.S.  The scenery here looks amazing, with mountains, meadows, and of course waterfalls which the park is best known for.  Like the other parks, you can go hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.  Tired of walking?  Hop in your car and go for a ride on Tioga Drive, the park’s most famous scenic drive.  What I really want to do here is go on a photography walk.  Yosemite has been a dream destination for artists and photographers for years, and free photography walks are offered all year long.  I’m no professional with a camera, but I love to try.  What better place to learn?    

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, & Idaho

America’s first national park!  It spans into three different states and is famous for its’ geysers, hot springs, and wildlife.  The first spot to check out is Old Faithful, considered the most popular geyser in the world.  It erupts about every 35-120 minutes, reaching heights of up to 184 ft.  I am most interested in seeing the wildlife of the west.  There are wolves, elk, bison, mountain lions, moose, and grizzly bears to name a few.  Just don’t get too close.