National Parks

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Location: Southwestern New Mexico

Known for: 300,000 diving, dipping, sonar-blipping bats.

Biggest crowds: Late May through early August

Accessibility: You'll need to head underground to see the park's true highlights—three of Carlsbad's largest caverns are fully lit and inset with audio guides, and several guided tours are available to less-visited portions.

Why kids like it: Watching a swarm of bats leave the caverns for a night of insect hunting.

What hikers say: While most of the hiking is underground, the above-ground sights—such as rocks shaped like bones, straws, mushrooms, and faces—are spectacular.