#1: Grand Canyon National Park
What's even to say about this place? It's something you just have to see in person - like the ocean or the view from on top of a tall mountain. I knew it was supposed to be really amazing and yet I was still surprised by how amazing it was when I saw it in person. We didn't get to do any real hikes here - just walked along the canyon rim. If I ever go back, I'd like to hike to the bottom and back!
#2: Saguaro National Park
Seeing so many huge cactuses (cacti?) in real life was really weird, and special. It was a really nice park, and we visited twice in two days (there are two separate halves in different parts of Tucson). We got to see a lot of the park, between the scenic drive and the nature center. I would love to go back here and do a hike or something!
#3: Petrified Forest National Park
Kind of in the middle of nowhere - the actual pieces of petrified wood weren't that interesting to see in person, but we hiked a highly recommended trail called the Blue Mesa trail and it was pretty outstanding! We only passed two other people on the hike and it was like we were in some strange desert moonscape. Probably wouldn't go back here again unless we were driving nearby, just because it's really not near anything else (except the meteor crater, which we also visited!).
#4: Death Valley National Park
The only photo I have of Death Valley, of us driving up out of it. I'm sure it's beautiful and a great visit at certain times of year...but early June is not one of those times. It was 116F at 11am or so. We didn't get out of the car for longer than it took to walk into the visitor's center. Then, we spent the whole climb out of the valley (it's a deep valley!) worried that our car's radiator was going to overheat. There are emergency pull-offs and water stations the whole way up, so it was a fairly valid concern! The highlight of the whole trip for me was when we finally escaped and there was a weird, lovely shack by the side of the road that sold smoothies & milkshakes. I'd go back - it's pretty close to Las Vegas - but only in the winter!
#5: Lassen Volcanic National Park
We didn't spend much time here at all - it barely counts as a visit. As newcomers to mountainous driving, we were unsettled and turned around. But what we saw was really cool! There's a lot of geothermal activity here and everything smells like sulphur. I'd visit again!
#6: Yosemite National Park
The first time we went to Yosemite, we basically drove in, checked out Bridalveil Fall, parked at the visitor's center, were overwhelmed by the insane crowds, and quickly left. Overall, I thought it was overrated and way too touristy for me. But then we unexpectedly went back seven years later! This time with my dad & stepmom - and it was completely different! We stayed in a rental cottage just outside the park and were able to explore different areas of it. We did a few great hikes (one was recommended by a park ranger who said we probably wouldn't pass another person on the trail, even though it was in Yosemite Valley - and he was right!) and it was all beautiful and definitely not overrated. I'm really glad we had the chance to go back! I'd love to go again and visit parts of the park we didn't get to, like the high alpine meadows.
#7: Zion National Park
Zion was also really beautiful and super unique! It was like the Grand Canyon, except you started out at the bottom of the canyon. It was so strange because the inside of the canyon was fairly lush with trees and plants and then up all around it was desert. We camped here for two nights and only did one hike - I'd love to go back now that we know what we're doing (like, we have actual hiking boots) and see more of the park.
#8: Arches National Park
File this one under "too hot in June, didn't really count as a visit". We walked to the closest possible arch from the parking lot (the famous one! They know how to place their parking lots.) and then left - it was too hot to do anything else. It would probably be really nice to visit in a cooler month, but I'm not sure if I'd go back when there are so many other parks nearby.
#9: Congaree National Park
We stopped in here on our way back from Charleston, SC - there are nice boardwalks through the swamp and it was really interesting. I don't know if I'd go back, because it's pretty small and we saw a lot of it in one visit.
#10: Olympic National Park
My favorite national park of all - so that explains all the photos! The Olympic peninsula was one of the most beautiful, amazing places I've ever been. The landscape and culture is just so varied - rainforest, high mountains, rocky coast, Quileute Nation (American Indians who have lived in the same spot for 1000+ years), beer and cider makers, tiny coastal towns, hot springs, and lots and lots of great hikes. We were super lucky to go here twice in one year, once in the spring and once in the fall. I would absolutely, without a doubt, go here again and would be more than happy to fly out to the west coast just to visit it!
#11: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The only park I can say I visited before it was a national park! ...Because that change happened pretty recently. Since it's so close to Cleveland, I'd definitely go back here when visiting family!
Honorable mentions - the National Parks Service also administers lots of other lands that aren't national parks - including national monuments and national historic places
White Sands National Monument
Lewis + Clark State & National Historic Parks
...and one from about 20 years ago!
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
(and of course, on the island where I work! Governor's Island National Monument!!)
Next Up...
Here are the next five national parks on my list, in no particular order!
1. Acadia (we have no excuse, Matt's parents only live a few hours away!)
2. Glacier
3. Grand Teton
4. Joshua Tree
5. Great Smoky Mountains
They're ALL on my list!!! I'd better get going. :)
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