With spring already knocking on the door, it is not too long before people intending to travel with loved ones in tow start planning out their summer vacations. If you are searching for a budget-friendly holiday, it is a good idea to place a national park right at the top of your wish list. When defined, national parks boast of being special places that are well preserved and are noted for their spectacular scenery, amazing geological features and some of the most outstanding characteristics.
For families desirous of vacationing together, national parks prove to be the most ideal road-trip destination. Exploring the natural precincts of a park provides visitors with opportunities to interact and experience the sheer beauty of the wild and connect with some of the greatest outdoors in the world—the act is otherwise difficult to achieve in our busy work-a-day schedules, right? Here, kids may go ahead and participate in some junior ranger programs and other ranger-led activities which highlight the various special features of national parks—in the best possible ways.
The noted historian, Wallace Stegner had once referred to national parks as “America’s best idea”. They provide wonderfully affordable ways of visiting some of the most cherished landscapes, learn about geological/ cultural history, view exotic species of flora and fauna in their natural habitats and appropriately appreciate the great outdoors.
If you are thinking about the absence of camping gear, then you have little cause to worry. A vast majority of parks globally present an exhaustive range of lodges, cabins and other budgeted digs that may be found either inside the park or located just outside it. With more than 60 national parks located in the United States alone, you are never too far from one. Read on for some breathtakingly beautiful and thriving national parks that come packaged with don’t-miss activities for adults and children alike.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, arguably the most-visited of all of its kinds in America, straddles Tennessee and North Carolina and lures wildlife enthusiasts with wildlife viewing, breathtaking scenery and some valuable remnants of Southern Appalachian culture the right way!
If you happen to be here, then remember to enjoy its ranger-led programs that offer kids with several family-friendly opportunities to learn more about the park and explore its many bounties. The various Junior Ranger programs for children aged 5 to 12 years encompass various ranger-led programs and self-guided activities –including the popular blacksmiths workshops!
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
The other most-visited of all national parks in America is the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona—it belongs on each family’s bucket list too. There are numerous Junior Ranger programs that attract the attention of kids in the age bracket of to 14 and also include guided activities and a vast repository of ranger-led programs. Here, The Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger proves to be a special patch which can be earned by Junior Rangers who wish to hike/ ride mules to the boundaries of Phantom Ranch, located at the bottom of Grand Canyon.
So, are you ready for some enthralling family adventure and fun this year? Just go for it—you will not be disappointed!
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About the Author:
Annie June is a world traveler and professional travel blogger about world travel and tourism on her amazing travel blog www.mosaicglobe.com. Annie brings her passions and his stories in this blog.
