Winter is finally over. The snow has melted, the flowers are blooming, the grass is getting greener by the day, and the sun is just shining a bright light welcoming you to the outdoors. The time is right to get your camping gear in order and plan a trip where you can become one with nature. If you’re a city mouse trapped between tall structures towering the land, you must escape the suffocating environment and get the fresh air you really need.
For the vast majority of us, taking a long vacation is not an option, but that doesn’t per se dampen your prospects. There are a number of beautiful parks in USA that you can visit and we’re sure there’s at least one you’ll find close enough to visit on the weekend. Here is the list of 8 popular ones that are a must visit.
Yosemite National Park
This 1,200 square miles of area where nature reigns supreme brings joy to all that travel the land. No matter where you look you’ll find scenic beauty to gaze on and it will enchant you for sure. This park in particular though has a ton of attractions to see including the Horsetail Fall, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Merced River, El Capitan, white-flowering dogwood trees, the Bridalveil Fall and much more. You might run into bears there, so watch out. If you don’t engage them and stay away from them, you’ll be ok. Before you set off though, you might want to get the AllTrails App. It details all the best trails for serious hikers in not only Yosemite but even other parks.
Channel Islands National Park
This park gives you more than you could ever imagine. Encompassing five ecologically rich islands just off the coast of Southern California, you get to see a variety of plants and animals. To travel to this enchanting place, you’ll need to take a boat and traverse the ocean. This park offers a whole adventure because of its landscape and is definitely an exciting place to visit. It is home to 145 species of plants and animals and given that there are no cars or phones there, it is the perfect retreat to those stressed out.
Olympic National Park
If dipping toes in the ocean isn’t your cup of tree, there are more options out there for you. The Olympic National Park for one with its unique temperate landscape has much to offer. This rain forest has natural geothermal pools you can relax in and have a spa day at. Surrounding by tall the wooden wonderland, you’ll feel blissful and happy.
Mount Rainier National Park
Surrounding the glacier-capped 14,410-ft. Mount Rainier, this park lets visitors view the sunrise anew from and altitude of 6,400 ft. You can also visit and admire the nearby volcanoes including the famous Mount Adam. You’ll also find great hiking trail and wildflower meadows. The place is truly surreal and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a different realm.
Congaree National Park
Home to some of the oldest and largest trees in Southeastern US, this park is uniquely beautiful. Of course it offers the usual trekking and hiking activities and primitive camping options, but the thing you’ll find most interesting are canoe trails. On your adventure you’ll encounter a variety of wildlife and you might even run into one or two wild boars.
Joshua Tree National Park
There’s something quite beautiful about rugged desert scenery. The Joshua Tree National Park gives you tall mountains and jagged rocks to look at and the natural cactus gardens in the area is beguiling. As you make your way through this terrain, you’ll come across lush green oasis. The tall palm trees shading the place mark the area where the Mojave (high) and Sonora (low) deserts meet.
The best time to visit is in mid-August when you can watch shooting stars streak overhead, thanks to the Perseid meteor shower.
Mammoth Cave National Park
This park offers a completely different experience. Mammoth Cave, as the name suggests, is the longest cave system in the world. You can experience a part of it though at the park. Attracting hordes of tourists each day, it offers a number of themed tours of different areas of the cave which can be as short as a quarter-mile trek or last as long as six whole hours! This is nature as you’ve never experienced before and one you should definitely tour.
Dragon Park
While visiting grand parks outside the city is great, sometimes they can be further than we’re willing to go. Fortunately some cities have great urban parks that you can visit. If you live in Dallas, you must check out the Dragon Park. This enchanting escapade is tucked away in the Oak Lawn neighborhood where it covers a small area. Since it often goes under the radar, including that of the locals, you’re sure to find it in pristine untouched conditioned. Finding it though is bit tricky, and you might get lost before you make it there. Just make sure you have high speed internet Dallas TX to help you navigate. Once there, you’ll find a lush space dotted with secret nooks where you can relax. The waterfalls and statues of angels, gargoyles and dragons that decorate the space make it an ethereal place to be in.
Portland’s Washington Park
Portland too boasts of one of the best Urban Forest. The 5,000 acre park has 17 miles of trail you can trek and an arboretum with at least a 1000 species of plants. Here you’ll find the International Rose Test Garden as well as a zoo and museum. You won’t be able to find anywhere else the variety of roses they offer there. If you time it right, you can catch the annual Rose Festival in May and June which we think is definitely worth a visit.
Ready for the Weekend?
All of us need to take a break from time to time to refresh and revitalize ourselves and there is no better way you can achieve this than by changing your surroundings and relaxing in a park nearby. There are a number of green spaces close by that many of us just aren’t aware of. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to explore it all!
