Today we headed Southeast of Santa Barbara, California to visit a national park that I have been wanting to visit for quite some time. Not only does Joshua Tree National Park share my name, but it is also one of the most underrated parks in the Western United States.
In this third installment of my Epic National Parks Road Trips series, I will be talking to you about an itinerary that takes you thru some of the most remarkable desert mountains and caves in the Southern United States. As you make your way thru the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, you will see one of the largest cave systems in the world, one of the biggest cactus species in the world, and beautiful mountains and rivers that have shaped the American Southwest.
Everything in Texas tends to be big, and the national parks that reside within the state are no exception. Big Bend National Park even has the word “big” in its name. With a total size of 801,163 acres, Big Bend ranks as the fourteenth largest national park in the United States and the seventh largest park in the continental United States. Not only is the size of the park big, but the vistas are large, the hikes are large, and the hearts of the people in this part of the country are large as well.
The peak season to visit the many beautiful national parks in the United States is during the summertime, but the parks can be just as beautiful and fun to visit in the wintertime. A fresh layer of snow can make the parks look entirely different and in many cases opens up new and interesting ways in which you can explore the parks.
Without any doubt, the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is one of the most amazing places I have ever visited. Nowhere else in this world can you find such an abundance of wildlife, all within a relatively small location, to view all year round. Beyond the sheer beauty of the crater itself, that is what makes the Ngorongoro Crater so special. More than anywhere else, you are almost guaranteed to see the wildlife you came to see when you visit Ngorongoro.
If you love rough and beautiful landscapes, then Canyonlands National Park should be near the top of your list of places to visit. Within this visitor’s guide, I will outline all of the information you will need to make your visit to Canyonlands National Park a success.
Zion National Park might be the biggest adventure park of all of the national parks in the continental United States. The park is absolutely filled with big adventures of all kinds. The park has some of the most extreme hikes, and extreme views, of any park in the lower 48 states. This is what attracts millions of visitors a year to Zion Canyon and it’s what keeps them coming back again-and-again.
While Bryce Canyon may not be as big and vast as the Grand Canyon, it is every bit as beautiful. The contrast of the red sandstone spires, known as hoodoos, against the green trees and blue sky is breathtaking. As someone who loves photography, this park is undoubtedly my favorite park to photograph.
Bryce Canyon National Park also offers a lot of fun things to do for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. The park has some great hiking paths, ample biking paths, and plenty of opportunities for horseback riding. And for those who aren’t up to hiking or biking, the park offers a number of amazing viewpoints that give you postcard worthy views of the canyon.
We haven’t posted in a few weeks as things have been busy, but we wanted to check-in as we have just finished making plans for a National Parks trip to Southern Utah and Northern Arizona for later this month. It’s a trip that we are very excited about and we cannot wait to share our experiences in this amazing area with you.
Stepping into the wild beauty of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula feels like entering an entirely different world, and that’s exactly what this Olympic National Park guide is here to help you explore. With its misty rainforests, rugged coastline, and glacier‑capped peaks, the park offers an unforgettable blend of landscapes that few places on Earth can match. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning to uncover new corners of the park, the adventure begins the moment you arrive.
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