Yosemite National Park, California
California knows National Parks. A visitor can experience the tallest living things (Redwoods), the largest living things (Giant Sequoias), AND the oldest living things (Bristlecone Pines) in just one state. Dear California, what an impressive resume you have.
Shop my favorite hiking shoes here!
My
Own Gear
I told myself I wasn’t going to play favorites with this post…and I won’t, but I have a big love for Yosemite. It’s easy to navigate, it caters to various fitness levels, and it’s just drop-dead gorgeous. If you don’t feel like sweating and switchbacks, opt for waterfalls and wellness 😉 As for me, I have a date with the Half Dome next time.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming(ish)
This magical piece of land resides in three states, and Wyoming boats 96% while Montana gets 3% and Idaho gets 1%. The park has 5 entrances: north, northeast, south, east, and west. It’s MASSIVE covering an area of 2.2 million acres. Sooo it’s probably best to map out what you want to do before arriving.
Fun Facts…
1. Yellowstone became the world’s first ever national park in 1872!
2. Yellowstone contains the earth’s largest array of geothermal features like geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and steam vents.
3. The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and third largest in the world.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion embodies everything I love about nature, being outside and finding a fresh perspective. Of Utah’s five national parks, Zion stands out for its natural wonders, a place where water and sand meet to form arguably the most dramatic landscape ever. It gets my rose, anyway! We love it SO much, we ran our very first domestic LimitLes trip here in 2021!
As for one of the most popular hikes in the whole country, Angel’s Landing is worth the journey up. I love a little danger every now and then…and when I was told there were steep drop-offs, narrow sections, and chains, I was all in. Loads of switchbacks (ouch) will greet you, and the view at the top is tough to beat!
Gear that
Gives Back
Sequoia National Park, California
The Land of Giants has been on my list for over a decade now. I’ve lived in and out of Los Angeles for eight years, so it’s a wonder why this 3.5-hour road trip took so long to complete! I was ecstatic to finally have the chance to witness the world’s largest living things. To stand amongst them was an honor, and in case there was any debate…why yes, I’m a tree hugger. In here, the woods know no hate, no judgment, no politics, no viruses.
It’s not every day you get to drive through a tree 🙂 the tunnel log fell over in 1937 as a result of natural causes. It once stood at 275 ft high and was 21 ft in diameter at the base! It’s age exceeded 2,000 years.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
I can’t remember how, when or where I came across this deep blue something…but after a quick google search, I learned that this ‘something’ made up the deepest lake in the U.S., all on a sleeping volcano. Count me in! The striking sapphire hues of this body of water didn’t have to call me twice. I needed to see it with my own eyes. So we made a visit to Oregon during the summer of 2020.
Crater Lake National Park is in the Cascade Mountains of southern Oregon and known for its caldera namesake of Crater Lake, formed by the now-collapsed volcano of Mount Mazama, erupting ~7,700 years ago, and get this – probably not extinct. Geologists consider it to be dormant but not dead. It’s the 5th oldest national park in the U.S. and the only national park in Oregon. The lake is about 2,000 feet deep making it the deepest lake in the U.S. and the 9th deepest in the world! The lake is refilled entirely from snow and rain.
Huge YES to Crater Lake and Sequoia!
May I be bold enough to add some of the lesser-known parks or less visited parks with all their hidden treasures!
1. Death Valley NP! For all of its wonder even missed by those who have been: being at Badwater all alone in the middle of the Valley at sunrise the silence is deafening; followed by the highest part of the park Dante’s View; the Artist’s Palette; driving dirt roads into the mountains; it goes on and on.
2. Dry Tortuga’s NP: Adrift in the Florida ocean where you can sleep on the beach during a comet display; swim in the turquoise waters–magical! And then there is the history!
3. Denali NP: Majestic! Remote! Full of grandeur.
4. Lassen NP: Ascend a peak; pray the park comes back after the horrific fire damage! Heaven on earth! And you can have it to yourself on trails for hours on end.
5. Olympic NP: Rain forest wet; alpine mountain high; remote ocean beaches to trek; the mighty elk and hidden deep in the forest in plain site ‘greatest of all’ trees!
Thanks for allowing me to wax poetic!
There isn’t a bad list of NPs! Only personal experiences to last a lifetime!
Your travel blog stands out for its focus on immersive cultural experiences. I appreciate how you delve into the local traditions, festivals, and customs of each destination. It’s refreshing to read about the authentic connections you make and the meaningful interactions you have with locals. Your blog reminds us that travel is not just about seeing sights, but also about understanding different cultures.