When you want to take your family on a vacation trip, America's spoils us for choice with its many beautiful national parks. But with over 60 different parklands to choose from, you might be at a loss on where to start. Thankfully, you can use this guide on the top six national parks for families to figure out just where to go.
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
With a visit to Haleakala National Park, your family can reconnect with the land while taking in truly breathtaking views. You’ll want to grab a permit for a sunrise hike to start your day out right. Just be sure to leave super early, so you can enjoy a leisurely two-hour drive up to the top of the 10,000-foot crater.
After you gaze upon the beauty of the sunset, enjoy a quick breakfast before driving back down to the Pīpīwai trailhead in the Kīpahulu District. As you walk along the trail, always take a moment to check out the streams in search of goby, shrimp, and other fascinating creatures. If you’re lucky enough to arrive on a breezy day, be sure to have everyone stop and listen for the songs of the bamboo.
Once you reach the overlook, check out the Makahiku Falls and its stunning valley. You can then turn back for a short one-mile hike or keep going to Waimoku Falls, which will result in a four-mile roundtrip.
Redwood National Park, California
Redwood National Park gives your family a glimpse into the sheer power and magnificence of mother nature. Filled with the tallest trees in the world, there’s no shortage of amazing sights at every corner of the park. Beyond that, there’s wide open prairies, fern-covered canyons, and a 40-mile coastline filled with phenomenal views.
To experience it all, plan to drive along Davidson Road to Fern Canyon. The 10-mile, unpaved road will take you through the forest and along the coastline before you land at the trailhead leading into the canyon. In that space, your family can explore the fern-lined creek and get their wiggles out before you all head back the way you came.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Home to moose, marmots, and everything in between, Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect place for families to catch a glimpse of awesome wildlife of all kinds. You can even spot bighorn sheep and mountain goats performing their feats as they scale the mountainside with ease. In between each sighting, everyone will love checking out the wondrous wildflowers and geological formations.
To have the best chance at seeing all the biggest animals in the park, start at the Fall River Visitor Center. From there, you’ll go down Fall River Road to the aptly named Sheep Lakes where the animals come to enjoy the mineral lick. If you’d like to hike near the water instead, think about taking a jaunt down the Colorado River Trail.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, with a majority of visitor access and attractions found on the Tennessee side. With over one hundred species of trees, the rolling Smoky Mountains host an abundance of wildlife, wildflowers, waterfalls and streams. There are more than 150 hiking trails ranging from strenuous to very easy, as well as abundant scenic drives and natural settings with great access for all to enjoy.
With its historic homes and churches set in a stunning valley, Cades Cove is the most popular destination in the park. While exploring this area, watch for wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, black bears, and coyotes moving through the surrounding forests. Bordering the park, the gateway town of Gatlinburg is packed with family-friendly attractions, museums, rides and games, as well as dinner theater, shopping and restaurants galore. Accommodations abound, including hundreds of Gatlinburg cabins in the hills all around.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
When waterfalls and wildflowers call your name, it pays to take a trip to Shenandoah National Park. No matter which trail you take, you’ll get to experience all the wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are more than 850 types of flowers to catch a glimpse of during your trip.
Small waterfalls cascading down from the many streams are equally plentiful. But if you want to catch sight of the tallest waterfall in the park, head down to the Mathews Arm Campground trailhead. Then, take Traces Trail to Mathews Arm Trail, and then head all the way down to the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail. From there, you can see the 93-foot Overall Run Waterfall in all its glory.
Everglades National Park, Florida
With its subtropical landscape filled with swamps and wetlands, Everglades National Park feels like walking into another world. Since its landscape is so different from other areas, it features many rare, endangered species, such as panthers, manatees, and crocodiles.
Despite that, it’s a rather safe space to explore, especially if you take a ranger-led hike. This will teach you all about the plants, animals, and habitats you come across as well as providing tips to avoid dangers along the way.
