The great attraction of the United States for tourists is its recreational and national parks, truly works of art in terms of technology and nature.
We invite you to visit the greatest national parks that you will find in the vast geography of North America. Learn and imagine with us that you are there, seeing what millions have already seen.
Let's get started!
1. Grand Canyon National Park
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1979. Tour this natural wonder on free tours from buses that leave every 8 to 15 minutes, through the natural rock formation.
Hiking and with a special permit, camping, are activities that you can do in the Grand Canyon. Rent a bike for a more exciting visit.
More activities to practice:
1. Rafting and river excursions, activities that will take you all day.
2. Helicopter ride, 25-minute flyby over the Great Depression.
Places to rest
You can book inside the park at the hotels:
- Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel Lodge.
- Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts.
- Kachina Lodge, Maswik Lodge and Thunderbird Lodge.
Outside the park at the Tusayan Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn and at the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel, quiet hotels, good prices and service.
To camp in the park there is the camp, North Rim Campground, with a stay limited to 7 days. You will need to reserve a spot.
Outside, you'll find the DeMotte Campground, north of the North Rim Jacob Lake Campground and 45 miles (75 km) north of the North Rim Kaibab Camper Village.
Places to eat
The Grand Canyon Lodge's dining room offers fast food, snacks and reservations, even dinner plates overlooking the Grand Canyon.
In this complex you will find the Deli in the Pines and the cafeteria, the latter in the Roughrider Saloon and Chuckwagon Buffet.
2. Yellowstone National Park
In Yellowstone National Park you'll find the Grand Prismatic Fountain, the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. Its name is due to the beautiful and impressive colors that vary according to the temperature.
Activities to practice
1. Boating and biking.
2. Hiking. Long walks in a mountain climate with a temperature that does not exceed 30 degrees in summer.
3. Bird watching. You will be able to see many of the 311 species of birds that inhabit the park.
4. Fishing excursion. You will be able to fish for trout, rainbows and other of the 18 species of fish within the park. Also rest and admire the wildlife.
Places to rest
Although not as luxurious, the 2-star hotels, Dude & Roundup, Brandin Iron Inn and Stage Coach Inn, are comfortable and inexpensive.
The Crosswinds Inn, Kelly Inn West Yellowstone and Clubhouse Inn, all 3 stars, offer better rest services.
Places to eat
Old Faithful Basin Store is a soda fountain that offers American food.
In the Mammoth General Store they serve delicious grills in a family atmosphere, among other dishes.
The Fishing Bridge General Store, Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli and Canyon Lodge Deli, are places where you will find from soda fountain, fast food and delicacies.
3. Zion National Park
Zion National Park will impress you with its deep gorge of the Virgin River, a wide canyon with high red cliffs and sculpted rocks.
March through October is the best time of year to visit this Utah nature preserve.
Main attractions
Their tours on 3 of the scenic roads are great. Let's get to know them.
a) Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - Traverse Zion Canyon through rock formations.
b) Kolob Canyon Road: you can admire beautiful red rock canyon.
c) Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.
Activities to practice
1. Climbing and hiking.
2. Lower Emerald Pools: one-hour excursion in which you will admire natural pools and waterfalls, which plummet from the red rocks that surround the canyon.
3. Angels Landing: an excursion that will require physical effort because you will walk up very steep climbs, until you reach the beautiful view of the Big Bend Viewpoint over the Zion Canyon.
4. The Narrows: trail that leads to the narrow gorges of the Virgin River.
5. Riverside Walk: walk that will take you to the entrance of the gorge.
Places to rest
Zion Lodge is the closest hotel to the park where you can rest. In the cities, Springdale, Hurricane and Mt. Carmel Junction, you can also find where to stay.
Places to eat
aSpringdale Candy Company.
bDeep Creek Coffee Co - American, Vegetarian, Snacks and Coffee.
cKings Landing Bistro: American, vegetarian, candy and snacks.
dOscar’caffe: Mexican, American and vegetarian food.
4. Yosemite National Park
Considered a Californian and nature treasure. Yosemite National Park is world renowned for its deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and forests made up of gigantic trees.
Places of interest to visit
1. Yosemite Valley: the heart of the park.
2. The Valley Visitor Center: it will give you all the information about the fauna and flora of the place.
3. Sentinel Meadow and Yosemite Chapel: sites with a better view of the waterfalls.
4. Tunnel View: the most beautiful panoramic view of the valley.
5. Sentinel Bridge: you can admire the reflection of Half Dome in the Merced River.
6. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoyas: You will admire the gigantic Sequoias and you will be able to walk among them.
7. Glacier Point: place from where many excursions begin.
8. Tioga Road & Tuolumne Meadows: you will be inside forests, lakes and imposing rocky massifs.
Activities to practice
1. Tours and swimming.
2. Camping and excursions.
3. Horseback riding.
4. Hiking: you will start the journey to the bottom of the valley from Glacier Point, skirting three of the most beautiful waterfalls in the park. You can't miss the Vernal & Nevada Falls Loop.
Places to sleep inside and outside the park
Inside the park you have two alternatives. The Yosemite Lodge, close to the waterfalls and Curry Village, with cheaper shops and chalets. Camp 4 Walk-in is added.
The cities, El Portal, Yosemite, Mariposa, Groveland, Buck Meadows and Fish Camp, also have places to stay.
Places to eat
The restaurants, Glacier Point Snack Stand, Meadow Grill, Degnan’s Kitchen and Degnan’s Café, have dishes at lower prices.
The Big Trees Lodge Dining Room, Mountain Room Restaurant, Half Dome Village, and Pizza Deck are moderately priced restaurants.
They all offer vegetarian, fast food, American food, pizzas, burgers and snacks.
5. Grand Teton National Park
South of Yellowstone National Park, at Grand Teton National Park you can see bison and elk up close as they graze in lakes surrounded by mountains.
Places to visit
Grand Teton National Park is rich in places to visit. You can stroll along the Snake River, Mormon Row district and through the town, Jackson Hole. You will reach the top of Signal Mountain, Jackson Lake, Taggart Lake, Bradley Lake, and Jenny Lake.
Added to its sites of interest are:
a) Hidden Falls and Canyon Trai Falls.
b) The Chapel of the Sacred Heart and the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
c) Colter Bay Visitor Center, an exhibition of indigenous art.
Activities to practice
1. Diving and Kayak tour.
2. Fish in the lakes and ride on rafts along the Snake River.
3. Safari, with which you will observe the wildlife from an open jeep.
4. Hiking, with which you will walk around lakes Phelps, Jenny, Leigh and Taggart.
Places to rest
The park has several places to rest.
The Jenny lake lodge, a log cabin on the lake shore; the Colter Bay village, in the heart of the bay and the Jackson lake Lodge. You will also find accommodations near the Teton Village.
Places to eat
Let's get to know the best places to eat in Grand Teton National Park.
1. Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room and the Trapper Grill.
2. Dornan’s Pizza Pasta Compa and Pizza Pasta Co @ Dornans.
3. Peaks at Signal Mountain Lodge and the Dornan’s Chuckwagon.
4. Leeks Marina & Pizzeria and the Pioneer Grill at Jackson Lake.
5. Deadman’s Bar.
6. Glacier National Park
In the high mountains of the state of Montana you will find the Glaciales National Park, rich in land area and trails.
Places to visit
This national park has numerous natural sites to visit. We will mention 9 of the most spectacular.
- The Iceberg Lake Trailhead and the Swift current Lake.
- The Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Cedar Trail.
- Lake Macdonald and Lake Grinnell.
- St Mary and Virginia Falls.
You can rent canoes and kayak to navigate the many lakes. Don't miss the boat tours to explore Lake Macdonald.
Places to eat
As there are no restaurants to eat, it is best to order the food to the hotel room.
Outside the park at St. Mary's you'll find Parks Café, a place with waffles, pancakes, and blueberry cakes served 1950s-style.
Places to rest
You can stay inside the park in hotel rooms and chalets, in the heart of nature.
The hotel complex is made up of the Lake Macdonald Lodge, the Glacier Park Lodge, the Many Glacier Hotel, the Cedar Creek Lodge Hotel and the Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins.
7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Between North Carolina and Tennessee, it is one of the largest natural parks in the United States. Its name is from the mist that envelops the top of the mountains.
The places you can't miss are the Clingsman Dome Observatory, the highest point where an amazing view of the forests and waterfalls awaits you.
Other sites of interest include Newfound Gap Road, Little Riveroad, Caves Code, Ramsey Waterfall, Abrams Falls Trail, Andrews Bald Trail, and Cades Cove, a valley with many historic buildings such as barns, churches and log cabins from the 19th century.
Activities to practice
1. Walking and hiking.
2. Excursion to the Alum Cave Trail and canoeing in the waters of the Pegeon River.
3. Excursions to the Ramsey waterfall and the forests.
Places to eat
La Vista Grill, Steak Delivery and More, The Park Grill, Old Dad’s and Cici’s Beyond Pizza, are 5 restaurants that you will find near the park.
Places to rest
The National Park of the Great Smoky Mountains has many places to rest after walks.
Some of them are the Sidney James Mountain Lodge, the Glenstone Lodge, the Super 8 by Wyndham Downtown Gatlinburg at Convention Center and the Belle Aire Motel.
8. Olympic National Park
In the state of Washington, Olympic National Park is rich in rivers, waterfalls, mountains, beaches and a diverse fauna.
Places to visit
This park, divided into 3 regions, the Pacific coast, the humid temperate forest and the Olympic Mountains, is abundant in places to visit alone, as a couple or as a family. Some of them are:
- The High Divide and the Ruby beach.
- The Sol Duc River and the Marmot Pass.
- Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge.
- The Second Beach Trail and the Hoh River and its surroundings.
- The Olympic National forest and the Olympic Peninsula loop drive.
Activities to practice
In this beautiful place you can walk along the river, fish salmon, go hiking, mountaineering, climbing and hiking in the forest. You can also swim and depending on the season, practice winter sports such as snow surfing.
Places to rest
At 40 or 50 kilometers from the park you will find many hotels to stay. Some of them are the Holiday Lodge, the Aircrest Motel, the Belfair Motel and the Shelton Inn.
At the Mora Campground, Heart O'Hills Campground, Hoh Camground, Deer Park Campground, Hamma hamma Campground, Staircase Campground and Seal Rock Campground, you can camp surrounded by nature.
Places to eat
Restaurants serving typical American food abound, serving salmon, seafood, vegetarian food, soups, pizza, club sandwiches, and barbecue.
The most popular are Hamma Hamma Oyster Saloon, Salmon House Restaurant, Roosevelt Dining Room, Dinos ’Pizza and Grill, Eagle Creek Saloon, Girls Café, and the Hurricane Ridge Snack Bar.
9. Bryce Canyon National Park
Utah's vast nature reserve with grandiose red rock fairy chimneys.
Places to visit
One of the great attractions is the geological formations, so you are sure to visit Bryce Amphitheater, Three Wisemen, Bryce Canyon, Thor ’Hammer and Inspiration Point.
Activities to practice
Hikes, hiking and excursions.
Places to rest
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is a good place to rest in the heart of the park, a 3-star hotel that preserves a structure from the 1920s. You can stay in its rooms or in a chalet.
Its restaurant offers a buffet and a la carte menu.
Although the Lodge at Bryce Canyon is a favorite among visitors, there are more hotels and motels around the park. Some of them:
The Ruby’s Inn Best Western and the Best Western Plus Rby’s Inn, just 1.5 km from the park.
The Bryce Canyon Resort is added; Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, Bryce Canyon Pine, Bryce Pioneer Village, Bryce Valley Lodging, Bryce Canyon Log Cabins, and the Bryce Canyon Inn Cabins.
Places to eat
You will find many places to eat in the heart of the rock formations, serving soups, grill and vegetarian food.
Outside the park but without going that far you will find other restaurants such as IDK Barbecue, Rustler’s Restaurant, Showdowns, Foster’s Family Steakhouse and Canyon dinner.
10. Sequoia National Park
The jewel in the crown, this is how the Sequoia National Park is known, in the mountains of southern California, where the “General Sherman Tree” is, the largest tree on the planet.
You'll also find Mount Whitney and nearby, the deepest canyon in the United States, King Canyon. Everything in one place.
Places to visit
Like most of the natural parks in the United States, in Sequoia National Park, as it is known in English, there are numerous places to visit.
In addition to the General Sherman Tree, you can visit the Tunnel Log, the Crescent Meadows, the Congress Trail, the General Grant, the Giant Forest and the Crystal Cave, a beautiful underground cave.
To these sites are added the Giant Forest Museum with information about the park and the granite monolith, Moro Rock.
Activities to practice
1. Excursions.
2. Hiking.
Places to rest
Accommodation within the park will be more expensive. A cheaper alternative are the hotels that surround it.
Inside, you will find the John Muir Lodge, a 2-star hotel where in addition to the rooms, you will have the chalet.
The hotels, Wuksachi Lodge and Montecito Sequoia Lodge, offer a beautiful panorama of the lake with very good rates that include all meals.
The Cedar Grove Lodge is a motel located in the heart of the canyon, on the bank of the South King River.
In small towns just 5 minutes from the park like Three Rivers-Sequoia, you'll find good hotels that will surely fit your budget.
The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge is a riverfront motel-refuge and less than an hour from the park.
Comfort Inn & Suites has supermarkets and pizzerias nearby in case you don't want to eat at their restaurant.
Within 50 minutes are two small towns, Lindsay and Porterville, where you can stay at the Holiday Inn Express Portville and the Super 8 Lindsay Olive Tree.
Places to eat
The following places serve to eat inside the park:
1. Cedar Grove Snack Bar.
2. Grant Grove Restaurant.
3. Lodgepole Visitor Center, where they sell fast food.
4. The Peaks Restauranr at Wuksachi Lodge. They serve American and vegetarian food.
Outside the park you will find the Silver City Store Restaurant and cabins and the Sierra Subs and Salads, 17 and 27 km from the park, respectively.
11. Rocky Mountain National Park
Famous for its mountains, landscapes and for the richness and variety of its fauna. In this park in north central Colorado you will discover why they say that nature is kind.
Places to visit
You can explore roads and trails on foot, on horseback or by car.
To the north are the mountains, Never Summer Mountains, with 17 peaks always covered in snow. Its wall, El Diamante, is a challenge for climbers.
You can visit the glacial Mills, Moomaw, Sprague, Taylor Rowe and Tyndall. At the Montano Visitor Center you will rest and then visit Bear Lake, Glass Lake and the Sky Pond, near Glacial Taylor.
Activities to practice
In Rocky Mountain National Park, you can go hiking, hiking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, biking, and zip-lining.
Places to rest
Inside the park you can stay in a hotel and camp. Let's meet a few.
The hotel, Wuksachi Lodge, is cozy and has a restaurant.
The Stony Creek Lodge is comfortable and in the middle of the forest.
Silver City Mountain has cabins and chalets.
At the Sequoia High Sierra Camp you can camp and you have the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp, Dorst Campground, Azalea Campground, Sunset Campground and Princess Camoground cabins.
Places to eat
Rocky Mountain National Park has several restaurants with a variety of cuisines.
The Alba Restaurant serves Mediterranean and Italian food. At Earl’s Restaurant, American food and they have a bar. At the Oka Susci, Japanese food and at The Raven Bistro, Canadian and Mediterranean food.
12. Mount Rainier National Park
The glacial Mount Rainier is imposing with its 4400 meters of height to the other 25 glaciers. It is majestic! At its feet are forests, rivers, meadows and waterfalls. Mount Rainier is an active volcano that has not erupted since the 19th century.
Places to visit
The place is to enjoy its natural beauties, so there will be many excursions to admire its rivers, waterfalls and mountains.
The first suggestion is that you visit the Paradise area and take the excursion that runs along the trail, Skyline Trail. You will be surprised to contemplate the beautiful meadows and as you climb, you will see the Glacial Vista, from where you will admire the Nisqually glacier.
There are more gorgeous views at Panorama Point. You can also visit the waterfall, Myrtle Falls, and Reflection Lake.
Activities to practice
You can go hiking, rent a bike to explore the many trails, climb the rocky walls, fish, go kayaking and if you visit in winter, surf in the snow.
Places to rest
The park has places to rest within it. The Gateway Inn offers cabins. At Alexander’s Lodge you will be offered breakfast, coffee and tea. In the common areas you will have a picnic and free parking.
If you want to camp you have the Cougar Rock Campground, White River Campground, North West R V Park, Ohanapecosh Campground and in surrounding areas, the Crystal Mountain Hotel.
Places to eat
There are restaurants inside and outside the park.
Inside the park:
The Summit House Restaurant and Alpine Inn Restaurant serve American and vegetarian food.
The Snorting Elk Cellar, pizza, American. National Park Inn Dining Room, American and Vegetarian.
Outside the park:
The Mountain Goat Coffe Company, 30 km from Packwood, serves American fare and coffee.
Cliff Doppers, hamburgers.
Josie's Italian Family Restaurant, Italian and vegetarian food.
13. Acadia National Park
Although it is smaller compared to other national parks in North America, Acadia National Park is still fascinating.
It stretches between forests and the Atlantic Ocean. It takes place on two islands, Mount Desert Island, accessible by car and the Isle au Haut, reachable by ferry.
Places to visit
The first thing to visit is the Somes Sound fjord, a channel that divides the island into two parts, and the Cadillac Mountain, from where you will admire beautiful landscapes.
Sand Beach is the only beach on the island enclosed between two headlands. Be sure to see the rocky shoreline of Schoodic point made up of gigantic rocks. The only downside is that it is off Mount Desert Island, an hour's drive from the center of the island.
If you take a tour in a vehicle or on one of the park's buses, it would be great to take a tour of the scenic Loop Road, which begins near the Visitor Center.
The main stations are Hulls Cover Visitor Center and Sieur de Monts Springs, where you can admire a natural history exhibit and the wild flower garden.
Visit the Abbe Museum with an exhibition of crafts from indigenous peoples.
Along the way you will find numerous panoramic points such as the Thunder Hole, whose name is due to the thunderous sound of the waves crashing against the rocky walls, something similar to thunder.
From the top of Cadillac Mountain you will have the most beautiful landscapes of Acadia at a 360 ° angle.
Activities to practice
1. Camping. In the heart of the forests are the Seawall and Blackwoods, close to the ocean.
2. Excursions on foot. The trails will take you anywhere in the area. You will walk along the coast and up some hills.
3. Bike rides. You can rent a bike in Bar Harbor town.
4. Canoe excursions. You can take canoe excursions along the coast or to nearby islets from various ports on the island.
5. Rides on the park buses. They are free and go all over the place.
6. Kayak tours.
7. Fishing. With a license you can fish in the lakes and rivers of the park, if not, freely in the sea.
8. Swim. You can swim in the ocean or in the Echo Lake, Lakewood and Long Pond forest lakes.
9. Winter sports. You will ski and can use snowmobiles.
10. Whale watching. Excursions are organized to observe the whales.
Places to rest
If you prefer to sleep inside the park there are numerous possibilities. In Bar Harbor Village are hotels, Acadia Inn, Heathwood Inn, Eden Village Motel and Cottages.
If you decide to stay on the outskirts of the park, in the small town of Trenton you will find the Hearth Inn, Acadia Sunrise Motel, Acadia House, Narrows Too Camping Resort Loft Cottage, Open Heart Inn, Acadia Gateway Motel and Acadia Ocean Front Garden.
Places to eat
Inside the park you can enjoy good meals at Jordan Pond House and the Acadia Inn Hotel.
In Bar Harbor you will find places to eat, one of them, at Seafood Ketch, where you will taste a delicious lobster sandwich.
For dinner, the best place is the Finback Alehouse pub, where you will accompany your meals with a delicious craft beer. At Geddy’s they are specialists in lobster and seafood.
14. White Mountains Park
Beautiful green hills, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, lakes and rivers of glacial origin await you in the White Mountains.
Places to visit
Flume Gorge: Between two granite rock walls that form a dizzying ravine, you can see a lush, thunderous river that you will admire from a wooden walkway.
You will also be able to see the Avalanche Falls waterfall and you will pass through the Liberty Gorge and the Sentinel Pine Bridge.
The Basin: natural pool consequence of an erosive process of thousands of years. From here you can start short excursions.
Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves: gorges, underground rivers and caverns of glacial origin, which you will go through walkways.
Train Travel: The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a vintage locomotive that will take you up Mount Washington, the highest mountain in the park.
Old Man of the Mountain: rocky complex in the shape of human faces, symbol of New Hampshire.
Activities to practice
You will choose between hiking, skiing and hiking. There will be tours by bus or personal vehicle along the Kancamagus Highway. You can visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods.
Places to rest
You can stay in a typical New England Bed & Breakfast. I suggest Adair Country Inn, in the town of Bethlehem and the Merrill Farm Inn, in the town of North Conway.
In the town of Jackson you will find the Wentworth, built in 1869.
Places to eat
In addition to breakfast you can have lunch and dinner at the hotels and at the Bed & Braekfast.
15. Josué Trees National Park
Although there are several small parks between the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, the most striking is the Death Valley or valley of death.
The characteristic of this park is the presence of thousands of Yucca trees, which were later baptized by the Mormons as Joshua Tree, referring to the Bible.
Places to visit
Be sure to go to Keys View, at the top of San Bernardino, where you will have a panoramic view over the entire Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, the Santa Rosa Mountains and the snowy summit of San Gregorio Mountain.
Another tour that you cannot miss is the Geology Tour Road, which goes through the rock formations of the Joshua Tree, to the Cholla Cactus Garden, an expanse of variety of cacti.
Skull Rock Trail is a 1.7 mile walk where you will run into a caravel-shaped rock and on the same side of the road, you will see an expanse of rocks, the Jumbo Rocks Campground.
In Hidden Valley, Arch rock and Le oasi del Joshua Tree National Park, you will find two oases: Fortynine Palms Oasis and Lost Palms Oasis.
In the surroundings of the park there are three places of interest; Palm Spings, the Pioneer Town tour, and the San Andreas Fault, which runs through much of California and divides the Golden State into two parts.
Places to rest
Inside the park you can only camp but you will have to make reservations a year before. There are three areas for it: Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass.
If you prefer a hotel, I recommend the Del Marcos Hotel and the Horizon Resort, in the city of Palm Springs 45 km from the attraction sites.
The Calient Tropics, Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs and the Arrive Palm Springs, are more alternatives to stay.
Places to eat
Inside the park is the Natural Sisters Café, the Cross Road Café and the Pie for the People, in the latter you can taste pizza, Italian and vegetarian food. You will also find the Joshua Tree Saloon and Sam’s Indian food & Pizza.
16. Everglades National Park
At the southern tip of Florida it looks out over the Gulf of Mexico. The best time to visit this national park is from the end of October to April.
Places to visit
The Everglades National Park has many activities to undertake.
On the Anhinga Trail tour you will see alligators, American crocodiles, great manatees, river otters and, with great luck, Florida panthers.
If you are passionate about bird watching, I suggest the Eco Pond, a Florida lake where you will see American storks, sea crows, ibis, cranes and other animals.
Activities to practice
In this park, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, you can take an airboat tour from Miami, a tour of the Everglades, swim with manatees, snorkel, hike, bike and canoe.
Places to eat
Just off Shark Valley there is a good restaurant run by Miccosukee Indians. Otherwise, you go all the way to Naple or you detour into Everglades City.
Places to rest
In cities near the park like Everglades City, Homestead and Florida, you'll find hotels like Townplace Suites by Mariott Miami and Courtyard by Mariott Miami in Homestead.
17. Los Arcos National Park
In this park you will enjoy an extraordinary landscape with more than 2,000 rock formations in the form of arches, towers and rolling hills.
You can admire the natural Arch, The Windows Trail and The Delicate Arch, symbol of the place. See them better walking a path of more than 2 hours on foot.
Devil’s Garden Fiery Furnace is a natural maze among the rocks. I advise you to have a guide or obtain the permits at the Visitor Center.
Activities to undertake
1. Camping.
2. Hiking.
3. Bike rides.
4. Visit to the Natural Museum.
5. White water paddle surf (SUP).
Places to rest
You can camp inside the park at the Devils Garden Campground. If not, stay in Moab where you will find hotels that meet your needs. Some of them, the Red Stone Inn, Expedition Lodge, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Moab and La Quinta Inn & Suites Moab.
Places to eat
In Moab you will find restaurants with many dishes.
Quesadilla Mobilla, of Mexican food; Sabaku Susci, Sunset Grill and El charro Loco, also serving Mexican food; Moab Diner and Miguel ’Baja Grill, serving Mexican and American food; The Broken Oar, American food and bar; The Atomic Grill & Lounge, American food and steakhouse.
18. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a narrow canyon with peculiar internal structures created by water and wind.
There are two of them, the Upper Antelope and the Lower Antelope. The first of these is the most accessible and the phenomenon of the penetration of light rays occurs in it.
Tourist guides or people authorized by the Navajo Indians are necessary to reach Antelope Canyon, which you can find in the city of Page, where you will find authorized tour operators.
Places to visit
a) Lake Powell.
b) Horseshoe Bend.
c) Glen Canyon Dam.
d) Marble Canyon and Lees Ferry.
e) Vermillion Cliff and Paria Canyon.
Activities to practice
You can take a boat tour, swim in Lake Powell, stroll along the Colorado River, take a scenic canyon and Glen Canyon tour, and visit the Navajo Indian Reservation.
Don't forget to take a day tour to Atelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Also not visiting the Epic Adventure Rides.
Places to eat
There are restaurants serving typical American, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Thai and fast food.
Places for sleeping
Page is ideal to rest. It is 15 minutes from the park. You will find several hotels; the Best Western Plus, Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel and Comfort Inn & Suites Page.
19. The Valley of Monuments
In southern Utah, just a short distance from Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, you'll find Monument Valley, arch-shaped rock formations, caverns and canyons.
Places to visit
1. Agathla Peak. One of the volcanic peaks in the United States.
2. Comb Ridge. Zona donde se han encontrado fósiles de animales prehistóricos como el tritilodontidos, que vivió hace 200 millones de años.
3. Chinle Was. Podrás ver los cliff dwellings, casas excavadas en las rocas por los Anasazi que habitaron esta zona a partir del siglo VIII.
4. Merrick Butte. Pequeñas colinas aisladas con la cima plana y los lados inclinados.
5. West and East Mittens Butte. Llamados así por su forma de manopla.
6. Hunts Mesa. Colina más alta que una prominente colina aislada (butte).
7. John Ford’s Pointe. Valle que debe su nombre al actor estadounidense, John Ford.
8. Totem Pole. Butte que a lo largo del tiempo se han convertido en estructuras alargadas y delgadas, llamadas por los habitantes del lugar, tótem.
9. Four Corners. Un punto donde los estados Arizona, Colorado, Nuevo México y Utha, se “tocan”.
10. Tuba City.
Actividades recreativas
- Acampar y cabalgatas.
- Senderismo y tours a caballo.
- Visitas culturales y tours a todoterreno.
Lugares para comer
En Monument Valley tienes restaurantes de comida americana e india americana, como The view Restaurant, Tse’Bii’ Nidzis Gaii Café y Goulding’s Stagecoach Dining Room
Lugares para descansar
Dentro del parque hay solamente dos hoteles: Goulding’s Lodge, en el corazón del mismo y el Monument Valley view.
A 35 km, en el pueblo de Kayenta o Mexican Hat, encontrarás albergues.
20. Valle de la Muerte
Uno de los parques naturales más grande de los Estados Unidos. Ofrece un paisaje de dunas altas y extensiones de sal bajo el nivel del mar, cañones y rocas sonoras.
El Valle de la Muerte se caracteriza por sus temperaturas extremas que alcanzan en verano los 49°C, pese a ello, sus noches son muy frías.
Lugares a visitar
- Salt Creek y Scotty’s Castle.
- Mosaic Canyon y Ubehebe Crater.
- Badwater y artist’s Drive.
- Dunas de arena Mesquita Flat.
- Golden Canyon y Zabriskie Point.
Actividades recreativas
1. Alquiler de bicicletas.
4. Equitación y paseos a caballo.
Lugares para comer
Tiene restaurantes de comida americana, vegetariana y rápida. Algunos de los más populares: Panamint Springs Restaurant, Timbisha Village Frybread Tacos and ShaveDining Room, The Inn at furnace Creek y Toll Road Restaurant.
21. Parque nacional de Mammoth Cave
En el centro de Kentucky hallarás un parque subterráneo formado por un sistema único de cuevas, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 1981.
Lugares a visitar
- Onyx Cave.
- Green River.
- Mammoth Cave.
- Crystal Onyx Cave.
- Diamond Caverns.
- Jesse James Riding Stables.
Actividades recreativas
En el Mammoth Cave National Park podrás hacer tours, pasear en kayak y canoa, excursiones, caminatas, visitarás su museo, practicarás equitación, senderismo y darás paseos a cabello.
Lugares para comer
Cerca del parque encontrarás excelentes restaurantes. Algunos de los más populares en Cave City son El Mazatlán, Bucky Bees, Craker Barrel, Old Country Store y Watermill.
En Mammoth Cave, el Blue Holler Café, Spelunkers Café, Pizza Hut y Green River Grill.
Lugares para descansar
En el parque hallarás hermosos lugares rodeados de árboles y riachuelos para acampar.
Cerca también tendrás hoteles como el Country Heart Inn, Americas Best Value Inn Bowling Green, The Hotel SYNC, Holiday Inn University Plaza-Bowling Green, Hilton Garden Inn Bowling Green, Courtyard Bowling Green Convention Center y el Cardinal Motel.
22. Parque nacional y reserva Denali
Es el parque principal de Alaska con su montaña Denali, la más alta de Estados Unidos, que se levanta a 6 mil 194 metros de altura. ¡Imponente!
Ha sido declarado “International Biosphere Reserve” y se subdivide en tres lugares:
Denali Wilderness, donde está prohibida la cacería con lugares para acampar, Denali National Park y el Denali National Preserve.
Lugares a visitar
- Triple lakes.
- Rock Creek.
- Tonglen Lake.
- Wonder Lake.
- Kantishna Gallery.
- Mount Margaret Summit.
- Río Nenana Gorge Whitewater.
- Music of Denali Dinner Theatre.
Actividades recreativas
Son ricas las actividades a emprender. Algunas de ellas:
- Rafting y senderismo.
- Caminatas y tirolesa.
- Tour en carretas de caballo.
- Paseos en motos cuatro ruedas.
- Sobrevuelo de los glaciales y excursiones en jeep.
Se suman los tour de aventuras en las tierras salvajes de Alaska.
El Safari, donde verás algunas de las 39 especie de mamíferos (osos negros, alces, lobos, caribú) que viven en el parque.
El Avistamiento, donde podrás admirar las 167 especies de pájaros, entre ello, las águilas reales y las de cabeza blanca.
Lugares para comer
Cerca del parque encontrarás muchos restaurantes. A solo 1,7 km está el Black Diamond, The Great Alaska Fish & Chips, Summit Sushi y Grizzly Bar and Grill. A 2,4 km el Moose-Aka’s Food Truck y a 3 Km está Rose’s Café.
Lugares para dormir
El Denali National Park and Preserve tiene los hoteles Denali Bluff Hotel, Denali park Village, Denali Princess, Grande Denali Lodge, McKinley Creekside Cabins, Denali cabins y el Cabins at Denali.
23. Parque nacional de los volcanes de Hawái
Como resultado de miles de años de erupciones volcánicas surgió este parque con los volcanes más activos del planeta: el Mauna, Loa y Kilauea, este último uno de los más activos del mundo. Podrás ver playas con arena negra.
Lugares a visitar
Kalapana: llegarás a las cascadas de lava que caen en el océano Pacífico. Un verdadero espectáculo. A este se suman el Holei Sea Arch, Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs, Devastation Trail, Mauna, Loa Scenic Drive, Mamalahoa Hoghway y el Cooper Center.
Actividades recreativas
1. Recorridos en bicicleta y caminatas.
2. Senderismo y tours.
3. Aventura en helicóptero y tirolesa.
Lugares para comer
El Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, como se le conoce en inglés, tiene restaurantes con variedad de cocinas. Desde comida rápida, asiática, tailandesa, americana hasta vegetariana, café, sopas, pescados, pizzas y por supuesto, hawaiana.
Lugares para descansar
En Volcano hay más de 90 hoteles, entre ellos te sugeriré el Volcano Country Cottage; Alii Kane Cottage with Loft; At The End of the Road B&B; Liko Lehua Cottage; Volcano Cottage y el Volcano Mountain Retreat.
24. Parque nacional de los fiordos de Kenai
El parque nacional de los fiordos de Kenai se caracteriza por sus fiordos costeros poblados por mamíferos marinos y pájaros acuáticos. Los glaciales forman otros fiordos y el terreno se precipita en el Golfo de Alaska.
Lugares a visitar
- Exit Glacier.
- Bear Glacier.
- Holgate Glacier.
- Resurrection Bay.
- Seward Highway.
- Alaska SeaLife Center.
- Seward Boat Harbor.
- Harding Ice Field Trail.
Actividades recreativas
En el parque nacional Kenai Fjords podrás emprender caminatas, divertirte en sus cruceros, excursiones y vistas desde un helicóptero. También podrás pescar, andar en kayak, canoas y practicar deportes acuáticos.
Lugares para comer
Aunque no hay restaurantes en el parque, sí los hallarás en sus zonas más cercanas como el Gene’s Place, considerado el mejor de todos y el Woody’s Thai Kitchen, con la verdadera comida tailandesa.
Algunos otros son y sirven:
a) Seward: comida Mahajan.
b) Seasalt Alaskan Grill & Ba: comida americana.
c) Steakhouse: sopas y pescado. Tienen bar.
d) Seward Brewing Company: comida americana.
e) Steakhouse: sopas, pescados. Tienen bar.
f) Gould Rush Alaskan Bistro: comida americana, pescados y vegetariana.
Lugares para descansar
En Seward encontrarás varios hoteles. Algunos de ellos, el Hotel Seward, Seward Windsong Lodge, The Tides Inn, Summit View Lodge, Bell in the woods, Bed& Breakfast, Steller B&B, Trailhead Lodging y el Resurrection Lodge on the bay.
Los parques nacionales de Estado Unidos son de las genialidades que tiene la naturaleza para contemplar y ¡vaya que han sido admirados!
Hace pocos años, los más populares de los 405 que integran el Servicio de Parques Nacionales, ya habían superado las 292 millones de vistas de entre norteamericanos y extranjeros.
Faltas tú por conocerlos.
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