National parks are a great way to get children outside and explore the world around them. They can often be an educational experience, with lots of opportunities for kids to learn about national history, wildlife, plants – and even math!
The national park system was founded in 1916. Over 400 national parks and monuments fall under the national park service, and they are located all across America. Most national parks charge an entrance fee, but some offer free admission days periodically throughout the year!
We’ve compiled ten national parks in America that make lovely family destinations for children in this blog post.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon national park is a great place to visit with kids. It has many different activities for all ages, and it’s located in the beautiful state of Arizona. There are many amazing things that children will love about this National Park.
Grand Canyon national park is ideal for families because they have something called Junior Ranger Camps where kids can learn more about conservation, ask questions from rangers via video conference call, or even meet them at specific locations within the Grand Canyons NP area! Kids might especially enjoy visiting Plateau Point, which provides incredible views. They may like seeing the Bright Angel Trail, a hiking trail that goes along the canyon floor. There’s also Mather Point, where kids can watch people go whitewater rafting in the Colorado River or bicycling on national park trails.
Zion National park
Located in Utah, Zion national park was named after the ancient canyons formed by the mighty Virgin River. It’s part of the greater southwest region and is considered one of America’s most visited national parks. With amazing views like Angels Landing, it makes sense why so many visitors flock here each year for an outdoor educational experience with their children.
Zion national park has a great Junior Ranger program where kids can complete activities and earn badges at different locations throughout the national park. They might enjoy the Zion Lodge, where they can learn about the Paiute tribe and see what their lives were like thousands of years ago. They could also hike to the top of Observation Point or Cable Mountain for some incredible views.
Yellowstone National park
Yellowstone national park is an excellent place for kids to visit. You can see buffalos, raccoons, and other wildlife that live there throughout the day while you have fun with your family biking or hiking along trails through beautiful landscapes of nature like rivers and forests.
Yellowstone National Park is a fantastic spot for families looking to spend time together outside, enjoying all types of activities, from playing sports outdoors at night to being surrounded by natural beauty. There are trees overhanging waterways set against rosy skies and national wildlife like deer and bison, which can be seen in herds.
Yosemite National park
Located in California, Yosemite national park is home to some of the world’s most stunning waterfalls. It features beautiful sites like Half Dome and El Capitan, which are big enough to be seen from space! If you’re looking for an educational family trip with your kids – this should definitely be near the top of your list. Some of the national park’s best trails are in Yosemite Valley, where kids can enjoy hiking with their families.
Yosemite national park is a great place to take your family if you’re looking for activities that will educate everyone about the natural beauty of Earth and all its creatures! It has everything from waterfalls, meadows, and forests filled with trees hundreds of years old to national rock formations like El Capitan.
Arches National Park
If cliffs and rock formations are more interesting than forests, then Arches National Park, located in Utah, might be perfect for you and your children! This area features over 2000 natural sandstone arches that have been created by erosion over thousands of years.
Make sure to look out for Delicate Arch, which has become a symbol for all things Utah; it’s even on the state license plate! Kids might enjoy taking a ranger-lead hike to learn more about the national park’s geological history, or they could take their families on an educational tour of one of its many arches. Arches national park is filled with many exciting and diverse rock formations, so it’s perfect for kids interested in geology!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This national treasure called Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be found in Tennessee and features some of the most diverse plant life found anywhere on Earth. You’ll find ferns and trees that are hundreds of years old – it’s a veritable forest paradise!
Kids might enjoy visiting the national park’s museum, where they can learn all about this national treasure and how it was formed. It has educational activities for kids who want to know more about plants and animals that live there and a ranger program!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Located in New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park has some truly stunning rock formations formed by thousands of years of erosion. These rocks are so unique they even inspired author Jules Verne when he wrote Journey To The Center Of The Earth! It has beautiful stalagmites, ancient cave paintings, and underground ecosystems. It’s perfect for families with kids interested in science or exploration!
It’s a national park you can go to no matter how old you are! Kids might enjoy visiting the natural entrance to take an elevator down into the cave or walk through one of its largest chambers called Big Room, which is over four acres in size and 140 feet high.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave national kids Mammoth Cave National Park is a great place to visit no matter how old you happen to be! The vast caverns offer many opportunities, from hikes in nature preserves near its border with Kentucky State Line Road (KY-90) in Edmonson County, KY 40359). There’s something here for everyone, including those who want their children to learn more about history, by visiting tours offered throughout the year at this world-famous site, attracting nearly 1 million visitors each year since its national park designation in 1941.
Kids might enjoy getting to know the cave’s ecosystem by taking a tour with an authorized guide and learning more about its wildlife, like bats, reptiles, fish, and insects that have evolved to survive without light from day or night inside of these dark caverns.
Mammoth Cave national park is one of America’s largest national parks, and there’s so much for children to see here.
Voyageurs National Park
Located in Minnesota, Voyageurs national park is perfect for lovers of water. It features over a hundred lakes and ponds, all connected by rivers, making it incredibly easy to get around, not to mention that you can spend days exploring this natural wonderland without seeing everything there is here!
Traveling by boat is an excellent way for kids to see everything this national park offers. They can learn all about the national park’s ecology, history, and culture from a ranger or even go on an educational overnight camping trip!
Wind Cave National Park
If your children are interested in geology, then Wind Cave National Park, located in South Dakota, should be next on their list. The caverns are famous for having some of the rarest formations found anywhere globally, including boxwork and needle-like formations. Kids can learn about the national park’s history, including how it was mined for bat guano, and used in fertilizers, or take ranger-lead tours to learn more about its unique geology.
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful and scenic national parks. If you plan a trip with children, these ten best National Parks in America might be perfect for your family! These parks offer something for everyone, from kids who love outdoor activities like hiking to those looking for more educational experiences or who want to admire nature’s beauty. Share this list with friends who have children to take advantage of all these amazing places as well. Which one will you visit first?
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