Must See U.S. National Parks

If you don't want to go to Alaska, Canada, Switzerland, to see the epic mountains and lakes they are all famous for, this park is THE best place for just out of this world vistas and glaciers, at a fraction of the cost (especially by car). It is hard to convey how breathtaking this place is. Best time to go is April-May before summer or Sept-Oct. before really cold temps arrive in Montana.

The California jewel that millions flock to each summer causing much wonder and traffic! Having been there many times, since I lived a few hours away, the absolute BEST time to go is Sept-October. No crowds, less traffic, will give you a much better experience. Weather is still in the 80s at day, 50s at night. You can only get there by car and from San Francisco, its three hours. From Fresno, 2 hours. Until you get close to the park, the drive is boring. There are only a few hotels within the park and a few outside of it. It does have a large camping site where you can rent them or a basic cabin.

Utah has one of the most stunning rock formations at Zion. This is a hikers paradise where you climb to the top and see the world below you. For me, I think it is WAY more impressive than the Grand Canyon (unless you actually travel the bottom of the canyon and look up).  

Located in Tennessee near Knoxville on the East Coast, this park is heavily forested unlike many on the West Coast. It is a beautiful setting with mountains and trails enhance the impact as you walk them to a waterfall or two. That said, if you have seen the previous parks, you just feel the park is OK. You can drive to the highest peak, check vistas, walk a bit, but that is it. The park is free to enter unlike most! Hotels are just outside of the park as well has some rides visitors can go on to have fun. 

It seems nearly all the BEST national parks in the USA are in the West. Yellowstone in Wyoming is always in the Top 5 for go to destinations. It offers a great amount of variety with its buffalo (bison), bears, hiking trails, scenic vistas, as you travel through the park in a car. If you go there, you might has well head to Glacier, which is not that far in Montana.

Besides Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, this national park is also in California and home to some of the largest and oldest Sequoia trees on the planet. That IS the reason many go there as it is amazing to stand at the base and look up at the towering trees as you hike around. Of course, there are scenic lakes and waterfalls, but it IS really about the trees!

When I lived in California, I was just a few hours away from this. Like Sequoia National Park, this is another MUST see. This is in northern California near the Oregon border and Eureka. While it is not a huge park, this is home to many of earth's oldest and tallest Redwood trees. The redwood tree is tough and has lived there hundreds of years and even during the dinosaur age. From Santa Rosa, CA., its only about two hours or so, and it is a good day trip if you are also visiting the Sonoma and Napa wine country!