Saguaro National Park, Arizona

With everything  from vast deserts and gorgeous beaches to sprawling mountain ranges, America is  undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in the world—and nowhere is that  more evident than in the national parks. The National Park  Service oversees 401 areas throughout the U.S. and U.S. territories and  has nearly 300 million visitors each year. You don’t have to be a hiking fanatic to enjoy these places. You can  swim, kayak, bird watch, walk, bike, drive, camp, or just relax in the country’s  national parks. We found some spectacular pictures of national parks, monuments, seashores  and heritage areas around the country that will make you appreciate how beautiful the U.S. really is.

         

Visitors come to hike the granite peaks, swim on the beaches, and even get  married in Acadia National Park, Maine, the first national park east of the  Mississippi River.

         

Nestled within the nearly 1.5 million acres of parkland at Everglades  National Park, Florida, are endangered animals such as the manatee, American  crocodile, and Florida panther.

         

Over 2,000 stone arches fill Arches National Park, Utah. They’re not to be  missed at sunset, when they take on a stunning glow.

         

Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 150th  anniversary this year and will feature living history camps and historic hikes.

         

More than five million visitors come to Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona,  each year. If you’re looking for an area with less tourist activity, head to the  more remote North Rim.

         

The snow-white dunes of gypsum sand stretch over 275 square miles of desert  at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

         

Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, has been closed from damages  caused by Hurricane Sandy, but is planned to re-open July 4, 2013.

         

Hoodoos, or pillars of weathered rock, fill Bryce Canyon National Park,  Utah. The area has some of the best air quality in the world, and on a clear day  the visibility can exceed 100 miles.

         

Throughout the nearly million acres of Olympic National Park, Washington,  are glacial mountains, cliff-lined beaches, and rain forests such as the Hall of  Mosses.

         

Though it’s been called “America’s Favorite Drive,” Blue Ridge Parkway  (North Carolina and Virginia) also features overlooks, trails, picnic areas, and  camping spots.

         

Each of the five regions of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park,  California, has its own climate and features.

         

The summit of Haleakala in Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, is one of the  best places in the world to view the starry night sky.

         

Visitors to Virgin Islands National Park, U.S.V.I., can enjoy a range of  activities, from snorkeling and sailing to hiking and birdwatching.

         

Many people forget that the two-mile stretch of the National Mall, in  Washington, D.C., between the Capital and the Potomac River is national park  land.

         

Rock climbing, kayaking, and horseback riding are just a few of the many  activities visitors to Zion National Park, Utah can partake in.

         

One of the world’s riches fossil beds can be found at Badlands National  Park, South Dakota.

         

Until Next Time……Explore Your World