Wonders of Nature: U.S. National Parks

The United States of America is richly blessed with vast and diverse national parks that are the envy of the world. Preservation of these beautiful wonders of nature has been paramount since the infancy of the National Park Service in 1916.
All the national parks throughout the United States are majestic in beauty and you won’t find yourself dissatisfied with their offerings. Here’s a select list of national parks for you to consider for your upcoming vacation.

Some of the largest trees you'll ever see call Sequoia National Park home.

Sequoia National Park

In addition to standing in awe of the magnificent General Sherman Tree, there’s so much that you and your family can experience here, including Crystal Cave (a marble cavern which is full of stalactite formations), horseback riding, hiking, wildlife sightings (including over 200 species of birds, black bears, deer, etc.), rock climbing, driving through the Tunnel Log and much more!

Say Aloha to beautiful waterfalls and so much more in Haleakala National Park.

Haleakala National Park
The Island of Maui in Hawaii is known for many things, including its indigenous culture, natural surroundings, aquatic offerings, and luxury resorts. However, there’s one thing that should not be missed when visiting Maui: Mt. Haleakala.

Standing over 10,000 feet above sea level, Mt. Haleakala boasts peaceful surroundings, so it's shocking to think that it once was a very active volcano. The name of this dormant volcano crater has its origins in the Hawaiian language, meaning “House of the Sun.” This is quite apropos, especially if you witness a sunrise from Mt. Haleakala. In addition to taking in its jaw-dropping views, be sure to take a glance at Mt. Haleakala’s Silversword plants. And if you’re an adventurer, you may want to get your adrenaline going by taking an exhilarating downhill bike ride once you’ve completed your visit to Haleakala National Park.

There's nothing "bad", only beautiful, here in South Dakota's Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park

One thing’s for certain when you visit South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, you’ll find that there’s nothing bad about it! The otherworldly geologic formations of this 244,000-acre park are a sight to behold. You will be amazed to know that the colorful rock striations are due to the region progressively changing over a 500,000 year period, from an area that was totally underwater, to its current environment.

In addition to all its scenic beauty, Badlands National Park is a place where you can take time to appreciate indigenous Native American culture. Learn about the Oglala Lakota Tribe, the original residents of the Badlands, at the White River Visitor Center. Experience their history, cultural dances, crafts and more.

Make no mistake, there are definitely alligators and crocodiles in the beautiful waters of Everglades National Park.

Everglades National Park
Typically, when people hear “Everglades" mentioned, the two following things tend to come to mind: Swamps and alligators. While valid, the Everglades is so much more than its more notable features.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wetland wilderness boasting international environmental protections. Covering 1.5 million acres in Southern Florida, the Everglades consists of mangroves and marshes. Many have concluded that The Everglades is technically a grassy river that moves very slowly, and this includes areas that are considered swamplands. The deepest part of the Everglades is only nine feet, with most of the wetlands being anywhere from four to five feet deep. Hundreds of animal species call The Everglades home, including big-mouth bass, turtles, egret, dolphins, manatees, alligators and crocodiles.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and there’s a world of beauty at every national park in the U.S.

Make the Everglades a day trip on your next Miami vacation.
Sign Up for Costco.com Emails
If you are interested in great deals Costco Travel has to offer, click here to sign up to receive emails. This will ensure that Travel and Costco.com values are sent directly to your inbox.
Once You Are Ready to Travel Again, Costco Travel Can Help
We invite you to take some time to browse around and dream of a picturesque vacation near a National Park, whether you’re booking for next month or toward the end of the year. Click here to see even more possibilities.
About the Author: The above piece was written by Jason Gordon, a guest travel blogger, and Costco enthusiast. Jason Gordon is compensated by Costco Travel to share his travel experiences.