A trip to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho’s Yellowstone National Park is a trip of a lifetime. While enjoying the world-class animal viewing, the most geysers in the world and iconic park lodges, don’t miss Lake Yellowstone. It’s the largest high-elevation…
Olympic National Park is a year-round destination with over 1,440 square miles of wilderness. As the convergence of several ecosystems, visitors can explore the mountaintop vistas, old-growth rainforests along with beach and lake activities. Best of all, Olympic National Park…
Located 70 miles from Rapid City, Badlands National Parks is another must for your South Dakota vacation. Boasting buttes, pinnacles and spires, the striated rock formations feature fossils along with wildlife. To make the most of your time in Badlands,…
A movie made me do it. Back in 1977, Steven Spielberg’s movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind introduced a generation of kids to Devils Tower, including me. Since then, I vowed to see the eery stone tower in person. About…
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a California gem that boasts fewer crowds than Sequoia or Yosemite. Yet it offers all the scenery plus volcanoes. The legendary volcanic activity of the Cascade Mountain Range is just to the north. And Lassen…
National Parks in Washington Most a few hours from Seattle, the national parks in Washington offer the best scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Though more than temperate rainforests and evergreen forests, learn about the volcanic Cascade Mountains along with the…
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park feels like a national park with its top wildlife viewing, recreation opportunities and facilities. On my first visit, I completely underestimated the appeal of Custer. Then drove away wanting…
Best Places to Stay in National Parks with Kids Let the kids roam free. See wild animals in their native habitat. Find fields of wildflowers. Roast a marshmallow. Take a hike. And forget about the phone. That’s what a National…
Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the world. Created in 1872, it’s an American icon worthy of a park pilgrimage. So irreplaceable, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors from around the world. Since it’s in…
Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park offers a week of wow for families. And it’s one of top destinations in the U.S. and worthy of a park pilgrimage. Start at Old Faithful to see the Geyser and the Inn then hike to…
I’ve been camping for years with three kids and I’m here to say. Make it easy for Mom. Here’s my top seven tips for how to plan a camping trip. I’ve see too many Moms trying to make scones at…
Redwoods, the kings of the forest, reign in the Kings Canyon National Park. With several big parks running up and down California’s Sierra Mountain range, Kings Canyon is a hidden treasure. With neighboring Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks both at…