National Parks

Big Bend National Park

Location: Southwestern Texas

Known for: Limitless skies, and lots of space.

Biggest crowds: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break

Accessibility: The prettiest sites, like the Chisos Mountains, are accessible by road.

Why kids like it: Rangers routinely throw star-viewing parties, and there's a hot spring to swim in.

What hikers say: With 800,000 acres to traverse as they please, solitude-seekers will experience Nirvana here.