Why National Parks Will Always Be My Favorite Vacation Destination

I love to travel and have taken vacations to fancy resorts and luxury hotels. I have ventured to amusement parks and major cities. But, if you ask about my favorite vacation destination, I won't hesitate to answer: a national park.

Let me be clear: I love city life. I love fancy resorts and exploring charming small towns. However, I grew up going to national parks. I lived minutes from Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in southern Utah throughout most of my childhood. Today, I live just a short drive from both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I have visited multiple parks around the country, and there are several more I’ll cross off my bucket list this year.

So, what is it about these destinations that I love so much?

National parks ignite a sense of adventure.

For me, national parks are a place where I can unleash my adventurous side. Explore the backcountry in a UTV? Sure! Tackle a challenging trail with steep drop-offs for miles? You bet! Wake up before the crack of dawn to see a sunrise? Let me set my alarm.

Each national park features something different, unique, and unforgettable to do and see. Whenever I go, I don’t want to miss a single minute. I want to do it all.

I can admire the country's unique natural beauty.

I have found exquisite beauty in every national park. The orange hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park are unlike anything I’ve seen and the majestic Grand Teton takes my breath away no matter how many times I've traveled near this mountain range. Even urban national parks like Gateway Arch National Park offer mesmerizing views throughout the year (like the cherry blossom blooms each spring). There is beauty everywhere you look in these parks. Thank you, Mother Nature.

National parks provide excellent educational opportunities.

Yes, most national parks are filled with beauty and activities to keep the entire family busy, but they are also wonderful places to expand your mind. In fact, I make it a goal to always leave a U.S. National Park learning something new. Spend some time in a visitor center, and you’ll immediately see that there is so much to learn about these destinations.

For example … did you know that the Yellowstone sand verbena is this national park's very own flower? This flower does not grow anywhere else in the world and is only found in a small area near Yellowstone Lake. Learning all about this flower is one of the cool things I've discovered on a recent visit.

I can observe wildlife in their natural habitat.

I love to observe wildlife in their natural habitat, and there is no place better than the many national parks scattered around the country. Everglades National Park is where you can see countless crocodiles, Glacier National Park is moose and mountain goat territory, and Katmai National Park and Preserve is known for its incredible brown bear viewing. One of my favorite areas to view wildlife is Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. This is actually one of the best destinations in America for spotting animals and is an excellent place to observe a wolf in the wild.

National parks provide budget-friendly options for adventure.

Vacations don’t have to cost a fortune. They don’t have to drain your family’s budget. Yes, some trips will cost more than others, but there are countless options within national parks to help you save money. Plus, if you are like me, each year we purchase the annual America the Beautiful Pass so my family can enter multiple national parks throughout the year without individual entrance fees. With a little extra planning, there are many ways to save money and have an unforgettable experience.

You don’t have to travel far to visit a national park.

With 63 national parks around the country, most people can visit a park within just a few hours of travel time. Parks make for incredible road trip destinations and weekend getaways. And just because you've visited a certain park once, it doesn't mean it's not worth visiting again. There are typically many things you didn’t see on your recent visit, making your second visit feel like a totally new experience.

I will always love national parks; I want to visit all 63 national parks, and am well on my way. Each park is incredible, has a story to tell, and provides breathtaking scenery. National parks are, and will always be, my favorite vacation destinations.