Sometimes we forget about the beauty that may exist in our own backyard. The United States is home to sixty-one National Parks, many of which have already begun to reopen in the wake of the Safety-at-Home mandates. As we ease back into traveling, a visit to one of these scenic parks may be the perfect road trip, where you can enjoy the great outdoors while still social distancing. Best of all, many of these parks feature landmark historic hotels, so you don’t have to rough it while you are being one with nature. Here’s a quick look at the ten most visited National Parks: |
Olympic National Park and Forest in Washington - Home to Mt. Olympus, this gorgeous park features 3,000 miles of rivers and natural hot springs where visitors can take a soak. The park’s Lake Crescent Lodge feels like a high-end summer camp.
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona -This 277-mile-long canyon, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was carved out by the Colorado River. It’s an excellent spot for hiking, white-water rafting and helicopter tours. The park’s famed El Tovar Hotel, which has hosted Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein and Bill Clinton, is a designated National Historic Landmark. |
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho - Famously known as the home of Old Faithful, this grand park is home to bears, moose, bison and elk. Inside the park, the Old Faithful Inn is the nation’s largest log cabin.
Yosemite National Park in California - Made famous by photographer Ansel Adams, this park features majestic sequoia trees and the famed mountain cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. The Majestic Yellowstone Hotel, formerly known as the Ahwahnee, features scenic views of the granite cliffs and meadows.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado - The Continental Divide runs through this gorgeous park, which is the most popular of Colorado’s four national parks. |
Zion National Park in Utah - Known for its beautiful rock formations, this pristine park looks like something out of a classic Western movie. The rustic Zion Lodge is the only hotel inside the park. |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee - Set in the forest of the Appalachian Mountains, this park includes 71-miles of the Appalachian Trail. Gateway cities to the park include Asheville, North Carolina, and Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Acadia National Park in Maine - Located just southwest of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, this stunning park is filled with New England seaport charm. The park is set along 47,000 acres of coastline and is the perfect place to experience all four seasons—from fall foliage to winter skiing to spring fishing to summer hikes. |
Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming - Connected to Yellowstone National Park, this park features the Teton mountain range, and just outside the park, you can visit Jackson Hole. In the park, Jenny Lake Lodge offers visitors a selection of rustic cabins with modern amenities. |
Glacier National Park in Montana - Set on the border of Canada, this park lives up to its name with 26 different glaciers. The park’s Many Glaciers Hotel, built by the Great Northern Railroad, sits on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake.
Maybe a National Park trip is just the thing to get you outdoors with social distancing already built in. We can help you plan it - from reserving RVs or private homes, to arranging adventurous outdoor tours. Just let us know which of these parks entices you the most.
