7 Wonders of America – National Park
It’s almost time for that long-awaited family vacation, and you’re starting to make plans. With so many destination choices, how do you decide where to go? For many families, that choice is often one of America’s national parks. The U.S. government maintains hundreds of national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and historic sites that are visited by millions of people each year. These include many of the country’s most spectacular and scenic locations as well as many of its most historic and storied places. Here are seven of the best national parks the United States has to offer. Four of them are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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Here is the list of 7 Wonders of America:
1. Grand Teton National Park
Summer and fall are great times to visit Grand Teton National Park. Daytime temperatures range from sixty to eighty degrees Fahrenheit, and evening temperatures are in the mid-twenties and lower. As the area is at a high elevation, it can get quite cold in winter, but temperatures don’t drop to dangerously low levels until early summer. Even in these months, expect afternoon thunderstorms.
Hiking in Grand Teton is one of the most popular activities and is ideal for people of all ages. However, it is important to always hike in a group or pair, as walking alone is not advisable. Hikers should bring proper hiking gear, drinking water, and extra clothing. It is also a good idea to bring ice picks, depending on the trail conditions. The Grand Teton is the second tallest mountain in Wyoming.
Its jagged peak is visible from miles away. It requires hard work to reach its summit. A combination of hiking, climbing, and rappelling is required to reach the peak. Currently, there are 38 established routes for climbing the Grand Teton. The most popular routes include the Owen-Spalding Route and the Upper Exum Ridge Route. The scenic boat ride on Jenny Lake is another popular attraction.
The ride is worthwhile and is a good way to see the park’s scenic peaks. It can be a good way to get around the park, especially if you’re looking for an afternoon excursion. It’s best to come early to avoid the crowds.
2. Rocky Mountain National Park
If you’re looking for a unique getaway, consider hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. With its snow-capped peaks, clear air, and resplendent aspen trees, this park is a classic national treasure. You can also see moose, deer, and elk, as well as gleaming glacial lakes.
There are several hiking tours that allow you to explore the park on your own. Choose from a winter tour or a summer tour that includes sightseeing and wildlife viewing. Tours leave from Boulder, Denver, or Estes Park. You can also opt for a private tour. You can explore the park by car, bike, or on foot, depending on your interests.
Another hiking trail in Rocky Mountain National Park is Alberta Falls. This hike is about 0.6 miles long and is wheelchair-accessible. It takes about an hour and a half to complete. You’ll get to see a variety of wildlife on this trail, including deer and elk, and there are also plenty of butterflies.
There are more than 280 bird species to see in Rocky Mountain National Park. The park’s unique topography and climate mean that the birds have adapted to their environment. The most sought-after bird is the white-tailed ptarmigan.
3. Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a 369-square-mile state reserve in Washington that surrounds the 14,410-foot glacier-capped Mount Rainier. The park is home to hiking trails and summer wildflower meadows. Here, you can see the snow-capped mountain from the highest point in the park, Sunrise, which stands at 6,400 feet.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, Mount Rainier is a wonderful destination for climbing, hiking, and scenic views. You can take a short hike or a multi-day trek. The park is home to a thriving wildlife park. It also offers scenic gondola rides. This area has something for everyone.
Although Mount Rainier is open all year round, the best time to visit is late spring, summer, and early fall. In summer, wildflowers bloom and the trails are snow-free. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered in ancient forest. The park’s roads are open from late May to early October, and they provide beautiful views and easy access to various sites.
You can get an overview of the park in a day or two if you plan ahead. The park’s volcano is an impressive sight to behold. More than 25 glaciers descend its flanks. When clouds roll in, it dumps huge amounts of snow and rain.
4. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the world and has plenty to offer visitors. You can see geysers and grizzlies and hike backcountry trails. The landscape is a mix of water, field, and forest. Yellowstone is also rich in geothermal features, making it a truly unique experience.
Geysers are the most spectacular part of the park, but they aren’t the only natural phenomenon to be found here. Grizzly bears, huge bison herds, elk, and wolves live here. The park’s hot springs are also home to a variety of flora and fauna. One of the most unusual geothermal features in Yellowstone is the Terraces of the Winds.
Here, thermal waters rise through limestone, depositing colorful stripes of minerals in the rock. This unique geological feature is often compared to a cave turned inside out. A boardwalk path lets visitors walk around the steaming springs. You can also see Old Faithful, the iconic geyser of Yellowstone. Whether you’re looking for an amazing natural feature or a peaceful setting, Yellowstone National Park has it all.
A visit to the park’s Grand Prismatic Spring is sure to delight visitors. It is the third largest hot spring in the world and is deeper than a 10-story building. The water bubbles up from cracks in the Earth’s surface. As it cools on the surface, it changes colors due to bacteria found in the different temperature rings of the water. For a great view of the spring, take a trip to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook.
5. Olympic National Park
The Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of the United States is an incredibly diverse landscape, enveloped by water on three sides and snow-capped Olympic Mountains on four. The park features big lakes, tree-topped sea stacks, and wave-sculpted boulders.
It also has an abundance of wildlife, including bears and cougars. Wildlife can be unpredictable, so be careful around them. There are several ways to reach Olympic National Park, but the easiest route is to drive. It is a two-hour drive from Seattle. You can also take a ferry to Bainbridge Island or Kingston. From there, you can take a ferry to Port Angeles.
You can also take a bus from Seattle to Olympic National Park. There are many things to do in Olympic National Park. First, you should know that it is one of the largest wilderness areas in the US. The park protects large blocks of old-growth forest and temperate rain forest. The mountains are covered in lush forest, with many 1000-year-old cedar trees.
Visiting the rainforests is also an important part of Olympic National Park. There are four different types of rainforests in the park, and one of the most popular is the Hoh Rain forest. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Hiking through the Hoh Rain forest is one of the most popular activities in Olympic National Park. Hiking trails on the Hoh River Trail lead to a hidden waterfall.
6. Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world’s most popular attractions. It is home to over five million visitors each year, but only a fraction of those people go down into the canyon. Still, there are many ways to experience the canyon, including numerous overlooks, historic sites, and panoramic views.
In addition to its renowned beauty, the park also has a rich wildlife and desert climate that make it an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The most popular way to get spectacular views of the canyon is from one of the numerous viewpoints on the South Rim. These viewpoints are located along a 32-mile stretch of road, and offer spectacular views of the canyon.
While many of these viewpoints are crowded, there are a few that are less popular and can be a great spot to watch the sun rise and set over the canyon. Visitors to the park should take note of the rules regarding permits. The National Park Service requires that people apply for a permit to view certain areas of the canyon. The permit process is important to ensure the safety of the park’s visitors.
The Grand Canyon Trust has a website that explains the process and gives tips on how to apply for a permit. Once you have your permit, you can begin hiking or camping in the park. Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona. It covers nearly five thousand square kilometers of land and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is known for its multicolored rocks, soaring cliffs, and majestic ravines.
7. Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave was first visited by explorers in the 19th century and became a sensation internationally. Authors and naturalists alike were drawn to this cave and began to write about it. Nathaniel Parker Willis, Bayard Taylor, and William Stump Forwood all visited the cave during the 1850s. They were also visited by the Rev. Horace Carter Hovey, who authored several books about the cave.
Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest cave system, with more than 250 miles of surveyed passageways. It is also a natural laboratory for studying the evolution of earth. Visitors can explore the caves and view many types of wildlife and flora.
Before European Americans arrived, pre-Columbian cultures inhabited the area. Archeological sites in the area show evidence of four pre-Columbian Indian cultures. The early Woodland culture was a time when humans began exploring and mining Mammoth Cave. Many items from this time period were preserved, including mummies, sandals, and campfire sites.
Mammoth Cave is a vast network of caves that cover 52,830 acres of land. The caves contain limestone formations. The park was created in 1941 to protect and preserve the natural beauty of this area.
