National Parks

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25 National Park
Experiences Not to Miss

Watch flowing lava at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

Our editors selected the very best experiences in the U.S. National Parks. Do you agree with our choices? Let us know by rating each one!

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Best of the National Parks

Best Family Experiences at 5 Top National Parks

Planning a family National Park trip this summer? Remember that even the most beautiful scenery can quickly become boring for little ones with short attention spans. Here are some of our top family experiences, from cowboy cookouts to animal encounters, at the most popular national parks.

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Trip of a Lifetime: Rafting the Grand Canyon

Most visitors to the Grand Canyon are lucky if they even get to glimpse a sliver of the Colorado River below during their whirlwind three-hour tour of the South Rim. However, putting yourself at the mercy of the river and exploring the depths of the canyon from aboard a raft is an entirely different, and otherworldly, experience. No other rafting trip combines so many days of staggering scenery, whitewater thrills, and magical hikes.

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15 Top Scenic Drives in the National Parks

It's amazing how much you can see from your car. Whether you're in Maine, where you can be at the top of Cadillac Mountain when the sun's rays first hit the United States, or driving along the world's highest continuously-paved highway in the Rocky Mountains, the incredible accessibility of the American wilderness will blow you away. Here are some of our favorite U.S. national park drives.

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4 Easy Green Tips for Eco-Friendly National Park Visits

National Parks are green travel and eco-tourism hotspots. Just by paying your entrance fee, you're supporting the park system and helping to preserve it for future visitors. But some parks are doing even more in the name of sustainability. Here are some eco-tips to help make your next national park visit even more green.

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National Parks in a Day: 5 Top Parks, 5 Single-Day Tours

Road-tripping through California? Considering a jaunt out to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas? If you're like many travelers, you love the National Parks but you don't have more than a day to devote to each one. Time is of the essence. So, without further ado, here's how we recommend visiting five of the west coast's top national parks—each in a single day.

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5 Best National Parks for a Sunny Winter Escape

You don't have to wait until summer vacation for your National Park getaway. If you start planning a winter trip to the right one now you'll be packing your bathing suit, not your hat and gloves. Indeed, some locations can be too hot to visit in the summer months—so now is the perfect time to go.

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Arizona's Other National Parks: Beyond the Grand Canyon

With so many natural wonders in one state, it's easy to overlook some of the smaller parks with lesser designations. In short: go beyond the Grand Canyon!

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Interview: Ken Burns Shares His National Park Experiences

Fodor's recently spoke with Ken Burns about the new National Parks documentary. Here, he shares his most treasured hiking experience, his pick for must-see park, and more.

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National Parks: Fall Road Trip to the Southwest's Four Corners Region

There are so many great parks in the Southwest—Zion, Bryce, Arches, Mesa Verde, and the Grand Canyon are the most popular—it can be hard to choose which one(s) to visit. Luckily, now is the perfect time to go—and you can probably see them all, by focusing your road trip on the Four Corners region.

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Find Your Perfect National Park for Fall: Foliage Spotlight

Vibrant red and yellows combined with cooler temperatures make Fall the perfect time to visit many National Parks. While the Eastern parks have the advantage here, golden aspens also attract leaf peepers to western parks too. Here's the breakdown on some of the best National Parks for autumn visits.

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National Park Spotlight: Hike-In Lodging

Some National Parks have unique backcountry lodging options: ranches, camps, and even chalets. Staying in one is somewhere between staying in a campground and staying in a great lodge. After a rewarding—and often challenging—trail, you'll leave the crowds behind and get closer to nature while still having a bed to sleep in.

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Take Advantage of Free Admission to National Parks This Weekend

Sure, the mega-parks like Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are must-sees, but did you know there's still time to plan a summer visit to one of the National Park Service's almost 400 other sites? With gas prices lower than last summer, now's the perfect time to explore your local National Parks. Some parks are always free, but this weekend, August 15th-16th, the NPS is offering free admission to all.

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National Parks Photo Tips: How to Shoot Landscapes Like a Pro

Use these tips to take advantage of the hundreds of amazing photo opportunities these parks have to offer.

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The Top 6 Experiences in Florida's Everglades

To truly experience the diversity of flora and fauna that call the Everglades home—from roseate spoonbills to american crocodiles—you've got to get your feet wet. Here are the best ways to spend your time.

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5 Essential Family Stops on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula

Why the Olympic Peninsula? There are two good reasons. First and foremost is the relatively under-the-radar Olympic National Park. Second, you're right around the corner from Forks, star of Stephanie Meyers' Twilight Series. But more on that in a minute.

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10 National Parks Every Kid Should See

Want to take your own kids on the road this summer? Here are ten U.S. National Parks that won't disappoint.

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U.S. Hot Spots: Highlights & Hikes of Arizona

Arizona is full of history, culture, and awe-inspiring natural landmarks. Here are some suggestions for mixing a road trip with some of the state's phenomenal hiking opportunities. Start or end with a few days in Phoenix.

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Avoiding the Masses at 4 Great National Parks

What could be better than a summer vacation spent communing with nature in one of our national parks? Unfortunately millions of others will be doing the same thing. But that doesn't mean your holiday has to be spent dodging video cameras and screeching kids. Follow our tips to escape the hordes and make the most of your time in the park.

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Great Lodges of the West

Some of the best lodgings in the National Parks were built by railroad companies to lure wealthy Easterners westward. Many of these opulent lodges are still around--here are the best of the lot.

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