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Vacation Week: Best National Parks To Visit in Summer

June 28, 2020
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Matt Mehallow
From sea to shining sea, the U.S. offers numerous beautiful parks to explore, from beaches to caves to hiking to stunning vistas. Whether you enjoy fishing, volcanoes or even fossilized trees, there is likely to be an extraordinary national park for you. Below is a list full of national parks perfect for family getaways this summer.

• Acadia National Park: Maine’s Acadia National Park consists of a cluster of islands along the jagged Atlantic coast and a section of mainland on the Schoodic Peninsula. Acadia has a variety of landscapes including granite-domed mountains, lakes, ponds, woodlands and ocean shoreline. More than two dozen mountains rise above the rocky shore, including Cadillac Mountain, which at 1,530 feet is the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. The sprawling, mountainous gem is the perfect spot for hiking, biking and sightseeing. There are more than 130 miles of hiking trails to explore by foot and 45 miles of natural roads to travel by bike.

• Assateague Island National Seashore: Located near Chincoteague Island, Va., and Ocean City, Md., Assateague Island is a 37-mile long barrier island situated off the eastern coast of the Delmarva Peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean. At this National Seashore, visitors can hike, ride horses along the beach, kayak, hunt, swim and surf and camp. This beautiful park provides a pleasant place to retreat, relax and relish the beauty of the herds of wild Assateague horses that roam the beaches and woods. Salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal bays are all readily available for exploring too.

• Badlands National Park: Often described as one of the most unique places in America, Badlands National Park is in southwestern South Dakota. This magnificent landscape is filled with mystical, breathtaking pinnacles that tower over the prairie. The sharply eroded buttes and peaks will leave visitors with unforgettable views. The Badlands contain largely undisturbed mixed grass prairie and are home to the black-footed ferret, one of the most endangered mammals in the world. The park affords arguably the most mysterious sights to see in the national park system, from fossil beds to spired rocks formations. Visitors can camp, hike, horseback ride, bike and even take part in night sky viewings.

• Biscayne National Park: Best characterized as an aquamarine paradise, Biscayne National Park is located on Florida’s southern Atlantic coast. The park includes coral reefs, islands and shoreline mangrove forest in the northern Florida Keys. Dolphins, turtles and pelicans live in Biscayne Bay Lagoon and visitors can explore more than 600 species of native fish along one of the world’s largest coral reefs, the Florida reef. The islands and reefs are only accessible by boat, and guests can jump into the warm waters and swim amongst the abundance of colorful aquatic life.

• Grand Teton National Park: Named for Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park is a cannot miss outdoor adventure in northwestern Wyoming. The park offers stunning views of age-old granite mountains that stand tall and proud. The Tetons rise dramatically from the grasslands, cutting into the blue skies. This dazzling masterpiece is perfect for those looking for tranquility or hiking, camping and horseback riding. Boating and fishing are two more of the many activities waiting for you in Grand Teton.

• Yellowstone National Park: Best dubbed an outdoor enthusiasts’ wonderland, Yellowstone National Park offers marvels that will take your breath away. Set across parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is a true sight to behold, with thrilling hiking trails, beautiful views and gushing waterfalls. Yellowstone sits on top of a dormant volcano, making it home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth. Its well-known cone geyser, Old Faithful, shoots water 185 feet into the air. It was named for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions since being discovered in 1870.  From sites like the Yellowstone Grand Canyon to wildlife like America’s largest buffalo herd, wolves and grizzly bears, there is no shortage of thrilling adventures to embark on.

• Saguaro National Park: Situated in southeastern Arizona on the edge of the Tucson, Saguaro National Park preserves all the treasures of the Sonoran Desert. Guests can get a taste of the American West by viewing the largest cacti species, the saguaro. These magnificent plants are rare in the U.S., which means Saguaro Park preserves these kings of the Sonoran Desert that can live for 200 years and grow to 50 feet tall.  A wide range of flora and fauna dot the valley floor and mountainous regions, from coyotes to deer and black bears. Numerous scenic drives, camping, hiking and backpacking trails are there for discovery and exploration.

• Petrified Forest National Park: Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park is a must-see destination for those looking for otherworldly panoramas. This captivating, ancient Forest in the middle of a desert presents rocky cliffs, backcountry hikes and one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood. The multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation, flat-topped mesas and sculptured buttes of the Painted Desert reveal natures captivating power. Visitors can also explore the many historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225-million-year-old fossils.

• Lassen Volcanic National Park: Renowned for its incredible hydrothermal features, Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California offers visitors a glimpse of bubbling pools, boiling mud pots and roaring hot springs. A trip to Lassen will afford you spectacular scenery, full of jagged craters, steaming fumaroles and pristine mountain lakes. It will have you wondering what the area was like when active volcanoes were shaping the vast lava plateau.

• Olympic National Park: Located just two hours outside of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. A visit to the park will yield three distinct and remarkable ecosystems: the sub-alpine forest and wildflower meadow, lush and temperate forest, and the rugged Pacific coastline. From wave crashing shows along spectacular coastlines to mountain top serenity and rushing rivers snaking through the dense and lush temperate forests, Olympic truly has it all.

• Mammoth Cave National Park: A journey to Central Kentucky’s cavelands will reveal the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave features more than 400 miles below ground and 53,000 acres of beautiful forest above. In the winding cave system, one of the oldest tour attractions in North America, sounds echo through the caverns and bounce off walls shaped many millennia ago. Water trickles off crystallized formations while bats still flutter through the cool air. A stop to Mammoth Cave will have you enthralled by the other world that lives beneath Kentucky.

When visiting the National Parks this summer, make sure to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. When capturing precious moments, be a smart and courteous photographer by following the rules of the national parks. Try your best to abide by the seven principles of Leave No Trace, such as disposing of waste properly, staying away from wildlife and leaving what you find as you find them. This will allow everyone to enjoy the National Parks as every visitor plays a vital role in preserving them for future generations.

Sources: CDC, nationalparks.org, nps.gov

Story Image: The Cathedral Group in the Teton Range soars above Grand Teton National Park on April 26, 2005.  (U.S. National Park Service/Wikimedia Commons)