My wife and I like to take our eight and seven year old sons to national parks where we can go on day hikes and enjoy beautiful scenery and wildlife. Two years ago we went to Sequoia/Kings Canyon/Yosemite. Last year we went to Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion. This year we went to Gand Tetons and Yellowstone. Which locations should we consider for next summer’s vacation?

We love exploring Colorado. There you could see Mesa Verde, Black Canyon and Rocky Mnt.

I'd add Colorado National Monument to karens list. I'd leave off Rocky Mtn. and concentrate on the western and SW parts. Then add on Utah's -- Hovenweep; Arches and Canyonland.

Debi

Glacier National Park

Two for Glacier National Park and add in Water Lakes NP.

I love Olympic National Park. There are mountains, rainforests, and a beautiful beach. My little girls favorite thing was going tidepooling and touching anemones and starfish. The weather is also nice during the Summer- a moderate climate. The scenery is breathtaking and there is lots to see. You can also go on whale watching cruises and see orcas from this area, but take a coat. It's very chilly out on the water.

Great suggestions above:

Glacier/Waterton

Olympic and I'd add Rainier

Also: Banff and Jasper

Colorado is a favorite too but for me the best places are not necessarily in the national parks.

I have been to all of the above and would go with Colorado or Glacier/Waterton for the lesser lights. For the really great stuff: The Canadian Rockies!

I will say this much: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is outstanding.

One more idea, if you don't want to go to Canada: Oregon, the coast and Crater Lake. The long drive along the cost, preferably south to north so the sun is behind you, is full of spectacular sights from rocky headlands with pounding waves to sandy beaches. The water is usually a bit cold for swimming, and the breeze is not what I would call tropical.

If you go swimming, wear a coat.

I would agree that some of the nicest places in Colorado are not in the national parks.

Glacier is my favorite NP, but I did not recommend it b/c of the ages of the kids. I think Glacier is a hiking park, and some of the better trails are a bit longer (3-5 miles) so I wasn't sure how the kids would like that. My kids did not like to hike at that age.

Olympic would be neat to explore the tidepools at the beach and still see the mountains and the rain forest.

I have been to many and my unquestionable favorite is Acadia. It's a great place for a family as the hiking trails have varying degrees of difficulty from flat to vertical. All of them provide scenic wonders and vistas.

We have kids ages 10-22 and have visited the parks you've been to in the past 5 years or so.

I would also suggest Olympic and Mt. Rainier because they will be very different from what you have seen so far. The kids can play in the snow at Mt. Rainier during the summer, see glaciers, etc. Olympic has mountains, the coast and a rainforest area. You might see some Mountain Goats up on Hurricane Ridge.

We've also done arches and canyonlands. Arches is neat, with a lot of shorter hikes to the arches. Canyonlands, has views, but most of the trails are longer. You could couple these two parks in with Mesa Verde, the Four Corners, and Monument Valley.

Otherwise, there is the Blue Ridge Parkway, linking the Great Smokey Mountains to Shanandoah National Park, which has hiking and vistas.

Another possibility is the Black Hills of South Dakota, with Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Custer St. Park, the Badlands, and Devil's Tower in the area. You'll see buffalo for your wildlife here.

These are the trips we've done and all have been action packed.

I've pretty much done all of them, but I agree with the suggestion of the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, etc. I think there is SO much there for the boys that age to really enjoy.

My vote is with Patrick's suggestions. I love that area. And I think it's a great place for families. Your boys would probably love the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD.

I always recommend staying right in Custer State Park. There are four "resorts" in the park. custerresorts.com But book early! We made reservations in April for a July trip and had to take our third choice.

Check out the safari jeep tours in the park. Friends of ours recommended it to us and we were so glad they had. There's also some sort of a chuck wagon dinner trip that might be fun for boys the age of yours.

I also recommend spending a night or two in one of the cabins in the Badlands. It's called Cedar Pass Lodge.

ncsu83,

We did the same with our two boys and they grew up loving the national parks...so much so that they both took their girlfriends (now wives) to Yosemite to propose. You've got a great start on some of the top national parks!

I like karen's suggestion of Mesa Verde National Park, drive the Million Dollar Highway (550) to Black Canyon of the Gunisson & Rocky Mountain National Parks. I'd also throw in Great Sand Dunes National Park if you can. Boys love running up and down sand dunes! Also if time allows, Colorado National Monument.

I don't know if you want to stick with the parks in the US, but Jasper & Banff are my favorites when it comes to mountain scenery and wildlife.

Utahtea

Oh..forgot, if you boys like trains, then Durango, CO will probably be a place to visit.

Utahtea

Since you have alrady experienced so many of the national parks out west, why not try the Great Smokey Mtns Park in Tennessee. Lots of easy trails and picnic areas as well as the longer trials. Drive along the Blue Ridge Pkwy too. Rent a cabin in Gatlinburg for a real mountain feel.

Acadia.