For more than 100 years, the National Park Service has managed millions of acres just to "enjoy, educate and inspire this generation and future generations." Today, 62 u.S. national parks attract more than 300 million visitors annually to unique natural wonders and unforgettable terrain. To determine the best U.S. national parks, U.U. News looked at the views of both travel experts and visitors to the new parks. Do you have a favorite garden? Cast your vote below.
Spring is a prime time to enjoy wildflowers, discover children's wildlife, embark on hiking trails and enjoy seasonal waterfalls. Here are 10 of the best national parks across the United States.
1- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Spring in Shenandoah National Park brings flowering wildflowers, trees, flowing waterfalls and migratory songbirds. Just 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. A landmark of the park is Skyline Drive, a scenic family road trip on the 105-mile north and south bound road along the mountaintop. To escape from an April shower, duck in Lori caves, located outside the boundaries of the park to explore a cave filled with towering stone formations and huge caves.
Where to stay: Massanutten Resort occupies 6,000 acres in the Shenandoah Valley, just minutes from both the National Park and Skyline Drive with its activities all year round, including water parks, cycling, golf, skiing and snow sports. Accommodation at the resort ranges from modest hotel rooms to luxurious multi-bedroom apartments.
2- Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the eastern United States designed to "lie gently on the ground," extending from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering stunning mountain views and plenty of hiking opportunities along the way. Families will find a mix of wild flowers and tree flowers, including dwarf iris, tulips, violets, various kinds of rhododendrons and dogwood trees. Taylor Notes Craggy Gardens (Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 364.6) has a particularly spectacular rhododendron bloom in late spring.
Where to stay: A luxury hotel built in 1913, Omni Grove Park Inn offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, historic arts and crafts rooms and an underground spa.
3- Everglades National Park, Florida
Spring in the Everglades comes towards the end of the dry season and is the best time to see wildlife (along with fewer mosquitoes) in the Everglades National Park. Birds from all over North America – and around the world – flock to South Florida to escape the cold, nest, lay eggs and care for their young. Bob Manatees up and down, grazing on seaweed. Frogs and frogs gather and sing in a noisy chorus. Spring is also the season of American alligator courting, when you have a glimpse (from a safe distance, of course) mating rituals that can last for several hours.
Where to stay: Flamingo Campground-Tents opened in 2019 and are "glamping" safari tents located within the national park. The tents have one queen or two double beds, a seating area, floor fans and electric spaces. In addition to the accommodations, Flamingo Adventures also offers fishing, kayaking, boat trips and unobstructed night views.
4- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
A scenic natural refuge close to - worlds away - from Ohio's urban centers of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the perfect spring backdrop for hiking, cycling and wildlife discovery. The centerpiece of the park is the 60-foot Brandywine Falls, and there is no better time to see it than in spring when it feeds off swollen currents with melting ice. There are plenty of hiking trails around the waterfalls where you can see spring pools, salamanders breeding and wildflowers.
Where to stay: The Inn at Brandywine Falls is a small six-room bed and breakfast within the national park overlooking the waterfall. Each room includes an elegant candlelit breakfast with the price.
5- Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
What feels better than soaking warm after a long and cold winter? Hot Springs National Park celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021, and families can share the fun with the traditional thermal bathing experience in the park's soothing mineral waters. If the children won't still sit long enough to soak, there are still places inside Hot Springs National Park where they can get close and touch the water. And don't worry: although the water is 143 Fahrenheit really hot when it comes out of the ground, it's cool enough to touch by the time it reaches accessible pools.
Where to stay: Hotel Hale is one of the historic baths within the national park. Built in 1892, this hotel features rooms with thermal water baths from the springs. Families can retreat in time with this unusual experience that has access to all the garden facilities. Breakfast comes with every stay.
6- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Spring is a great time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park - wildflowers began to bloom, mild weather and crowds smaller than during the popular summer months. Ashley Cox, a spokeswoman for Visit Estes Park, recommends heading to YMCA from the Rocky Mountains, noting that in addition to the beautiful surroundings, there are also plenty of activities for families, including archery, disc golf, challenge courses and handicrafts.
Where to stay: Spread over 5,100 acres of rolling meadows, sponge forests and spruce, Rockies' YMCA offers stunning views in every direction. Families can rent hostel rooms or private cabins.
7- Glacier National Park, Montana
With its northern Montana location on the U.S.-Canada border, spring is late arriving at the Glacier National Park. Cooler temperatures drive spring break prices, creating plenty of hotel deals at this time of year. Like many other mountain parks, spring means melting snow, rushing water, greening valleys, flowering flowers and animals - lots of animals.
The park's most famous engine, going to the sun road, does not open for vehicles until later this year. However, Michel Gaudé of The Chase Group has an alternative solution: "The most fun part of Glacier in the spring is that the road to the sun is open for cycling before it opens for vehicles in the summer. This is a bucket list experience.
Where to stay: Glacier Park Lodge was the first hotel built by the Great Northern Railway. With nearly 100 years of history, stepping inward is like a step back in time. Douglas Fir records tower above the lobby, and the fire is in the stone fireplace, and guests still linger to share stories of today's activities, whether it's a garden adventure or staying close to the lodge for a walk in the gardens, enjoying a round of golf or swimming in the mountain pool.
8- Big Bend National Park, Texas
As one of the least visited national parks in the country, Big Bend National Park is the perfect place to be a haven. Spring in Big Bend National Park means cooler temperatures, wild flowers, uncrowded hot springs and lots of migratory birds. Of course, Big Bend National Park is always a great place to explore the Rio Grande River, which is surrounded by the valley walls.
Where to stay: Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only hotel within Big Bend National Park. Mountain views and the comfort of the garden facilities cannot be overcome. The lodge features a number of room styles, including five Roosevelt stone cottages (each with stone floors and three double beds) built in the early 1940s by the Civil Conservation Corps.
9- Joshua Tree National Park, California
Summers are hot in the desert, but a beautiful spring is a perfect season to visit national parks. With its location within 1,200 square miles of Mojave desert and Colorado, spring is truly peak time in Joshua Tree National Park. Not only will you enjoy milder weather, you may also be treated to spectacular spring shows of Lubin, Poppy and (some years) until the Joshua Tree blooms. Just stay away from the big spring break like easter to avoid the lines to enter the park.
Where to stay: Jumbo Rox Campland - the name says it all. Located just a short stroll from Skull Rock (one of the finest rock formations in Joshua tree), this family-friendly camp is flown by large rocks (jumbo rocks). Children can scramble for hours on the rocks and then return to rest from the campfire.
10- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Similar to Saguaro National Park, travelers will find cooler spring temperatures in the Grand Canyon National Park. In fact, RVIA camp expert Jeff Kreider says there's even a chance of spring snow along the southern edge: "It's so nice to see the valley that way, when there's a little snow along the edge and down a few hundred or a thousand feet or so." The possibility of rain and snow, along with more breezes and clear skies of fog and smog (which tends to drift from Las Vegas and Southern California) makes spring an ideal time to see the valley in all the drama and beauty.
Property: The historic El Tovar Hotel opened in 1905 as one of the most elegant zeninin of the American West. Today, El Tovar hotel remains prominent on the edge of the Grand Canyon and offers panoramic views of the national park below.
(Note: Some of the following destinations may be affected by the coronary virus outbreak.
Explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park