Top 5 National Parks for Families

// June 10th, 2010 // Blog

A favorite PBS film of ours is The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. I highly recommend anyone with an interest in the outdoors or our country or both check out this video.

The video will take you back to a perhaps more romantic time in our country’s history when it seemed like families had a lot more time to travel together and spent quality time in the great outdoors.

This series inspired us to write this brief but hopefully helpful and motivational post on the top 5 national parks you might want to take your family to this summer.

Like any Top 5 list worth its salt we’ll start with number 5!

Number 5: Cape Hatteras National Seashore

http://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

This park kicks off our list because it’s on the far end of the country as the other NPs that made our list. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a top destination for those with kids interested in things like the ocean, birds, sea turtles, aquatic life and boating or learning to surf. Hiking and camping options are plenty as are several lighthouses, historical sites and museums. Rent a beach house to make your trip a true vacation. Check out OuterBanks.org for more interesting information.

Number 4: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

http://www.nps.gov/seki/

Giant Forest Museum

Sequoia is the second oldest NP in the United States and it has the highest mountain in the US (Mt. Whitney) outside of good old Alaska. And it’s also home to the largest living thing, General Sherman which stands 275 feet tall and 102 feet around! It also happens to be about 2,500 years old. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have many similar attractions and activities to Yosemite but tend to get less crowded in the summer time. Visit Frommer’s for more information.

Number 3: Rocky Mountain National Park

http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

Dream Lake

Ah the Colorado Rockies, how much more American can you get? Hiking, camping, horseback riding and fly fishing all in the midst of epic scenery, soothing sounds, and the smell of lodgepole pines. Home to some of the most gorgeous scenery and wildlife viewing on our list. Check out the western part of the park to witness the great continental divide. Half the water flows toward the atlantic and the other to the Pacific. See RockyMountainNationalPark.com to plan your trip.

Number 2: Yellowstone National Park

http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Grand Prismatic Pool

Yellowstone can be a lot of fun for families. With the Dragon’s Mouth Spring, geysers, bubbling mud and prismatically colored pools of water in rusted stone it’s like a real-life wizard movie. With a wealth of educational opportunities Yellowstone should be the top choice for those of you with little aspiring scientists or conservationists. Check out KidsCanTravel.com to plan your trip.

Number 1: Yosemite National Park

http://www.nps.gov/yose/

Yosemite Falls

Given that Yosemite is a reasonable driving distance from major metro areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco it’s a shoe-in for #1 on our list. Hiking, Biking, Camping, Rafting and dramatic landscapes will keep kids engaged. What kid wouldn’t want to see the biggest waterfall in the US!? Here’s a concise list of activities from TravelForKids.com.

Since we’re on the topic of what’s great for families it’s worth mentioning the Junior Ranger Program that’s available at many National Parks. How cool is that? Makes me wish I was a kid again.

We hope that cuts down some of the legwork for you in your family summer travel search. Have fun and send us your photos!