When choosing a place for their next vacation, many people choose one of our 63 national parks. While visiting national parks, you can also learn about the history and culture of our beautiful country. People who want to practice a mindfulness lifestyle can also find ways to attain a mindful focus in our national parks.
1) Yosemite National Park – California
Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks. Yosemite was established in 1890 as the country’s first national park. It boasts impressive views, such as El Capitan (the world’s largest granite monolith) and the splendor of May Lake. Yosemite is also one of the national parks that offer a golf course (Big Trees Lodge Golf Course) for its visitors.
2) Death Valley National Park – California
If you were among the 3 million Americans who played golf on a golf course for the first time in 2020, you may enjoy finding other golf courses at national parks. Death Valley National Park allows golfers to play golf at the world’s lowest elevation by going to Furnace Creek Ranch Golf Course. Death Valley also provides sights like Badwater Basin Salt Flats’ sparkling hexagonal salt crystals. Other visitors become enthralled by panoramic views from Dante’s Viewpoint, where you can see the whole valley.
3) Acadia National Park – Maine
Acadia National Park is home to 64 miles of breathtaking coastal views. Visitors can also enjoy seeing its 20 majestic mountains. Unfortunately, just as with any outdoor setting, visitors to parks like Acadia could pick up deer ticks, which cause Lyme disease. According to the CDC, you can protect your clothing and gear against ticks by applying a tick repellent containing 0.5% permethrin.
4) Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
Another national park where deer ticks are prevalent is Shenandoah National Park. Hikers who enjoy traveling on the Appalachian Trail often stop for a few nights to savor its breathtaking scenery. One of the most popular spots to visit in Shenandoah is Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which boasts an impressive 70-foot waterfall.
5) Haleakala National Park – Hawaii
Hawaii is notorious for its scenery, so it should be no surprise that visitors to Haleakala (“House of the Sun,” in Hawaiian) rave about its views. The sunrise at Haleakala is so spectacular that visitors purchase “sunrise tickets” to watch the dawning sun up to six months in advance. Many Native Hawaiians convene there to follow their traditional sunrise rituals at Haleakala. In addition to its sunrise, the park also attracts visitors who treasure its stargazing opportunities.
6) Lake Mead National Park – Nevada
Despite their many scenic and cultural opportunities, our national parks also host their share of car accidents and other hazards. Throughout the world, 1.25 million people are killed in car crashes annually. In addition, 20-50 million people sustain injuries or permanent disability from crashes each year. This national park had the highest number of fatal car crashes, at seven.
Lake Mead was America’s first national recreation area and remains its largest. It’s a pet-friendly park where many visitors bring furry friends. Many visitors praise Lake Mead for the fishing prospects offered by the park’s 290 miles of lakes. If you’re fascinated by Joshua trees, Lake Mead is one of the best places to see these unique giants.
To become designated as a national park, that park must be so designated by an act of Congress. The park must have some historical or cultural significance in addition to exceptional scenery and recreational opportunities. If this article has inspired you to visit some national parks, you might want to consider buying an America the Beautiful Pass. For $80 per year, you and everyone in your car can enter all our national parks and national recreation areas without paying the entry fee.
