With warmer weather comes the end of the school year, and with the end of school comes summer vacation. While kids relish their three months of freedom, parents are often challenged with planning a family trip that’s fun and stress-free. Sound impossible? Actually, it’s a walk in the park.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS), this year celebrities like Terrance J., Bella Thorne, Bill Nye, Roselyn Sanchez and First Lady Michelle Obama are teaming up with NPS and the National Park Foundation to share their love of our nation’s parks.
Joining them is easy—national parks make for affordable, beautiful family getaways. Not only will your kids get back in touch with nature (and away from their smart phones), but they may even learn a little something about our country’s natural history.
Want to #FindYourPark but don’t know where to start? Here are our top picks to satisfy every family member’s interests:
Source: http://www.tourismprofile.com/2014/08/yellowstone-national-park-usa/
For the Purist: Yellow Stone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
If national parks were food, Yellow Stone would be a smorgasbord. With a variety of natural experiences—animals to geysers, geothermals to petrified forests—Yellow Stone offers a holistic national park experience.
Source: http://beautifulplacestovisit.com/national-parks/arches-national-park-utah-usa/
For the Climber: Arches National Park (Utah)
What do you get when you cross wind, rain and ice with sand formations? Nature’s playground. Arches National Park is home to some of the world’s largest arches—perfect for the family member who loves to scramble and climb!
http://blog.elmonterv.com/index.php/2015/02/minnesota-rv-camping-voyageurs-national-park/
For the Canoer: Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
With more than 80,000 acres of glacier-carved lakes, Voyageurs National Park is perfect for those who prefer rowing to hiking. Better yet, the park is family-friendly: Kids (5-12 years old) can participate in the Kids Explore Voyageurs Program, and many hiking paths are stroller-accessible.
Source: http://www.reddit.com/r/EarthPorn/comments/1onfon/sea_of_hoodoos_at_bryce_canyon_1200x800/
For the Fairytale Enthusiast: Bryce Canyon (Utah)
Bryce Canyon is one for the books—storybooks, that is. With pink, orange and red spirals lining curved paths and pine tree clusters, you’ll feel as if you were transported to another land. For a truly enchanted experience, hike the Fairyland Loop or explore the Queen’s Garden.
Source: http://www.viator.com/photos/Boston/Cape-Cod-Tours-from-Boston/d678-1228/1338145
For the Beach Bum: Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)
Less of a park and more of a beach, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers visitors a natural and historical look at one of the eastern-most places in the continental U.S. Trek the dunes or swim in the Atlantic; if you need a break from nature, you can always visit the number of museums and nature education facilities scattered along the cape.
And don’t forget to tag those gorgeous pics using #FindYourPark!
