Channel Islands National Park

America’s national parks are home to numerous scenic swimming spots, whether it’s a lakeshore, ocean beach, riverbank or even hot spring. Few things are more refreshing than jumping into a …

Even at home, you can see various animals going about their daily lives. Whether you live in a big city or small town, there’s usually a bunch of different birds flying around, while squirrels play in trees and deer forage fields. If, however, you’d like to really focus on the “wild” in wildlife, you should consider visiting these national parks for wildlife watching.

One of the most iconic marine animals in the world, orcas (or killer whales) live in every ocean on the planet. In the United States, they’re a common sight along the West Coast, especially in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Check out these top national parks to see orcas in the wild.

There are half a dozen National Park Service sites within a half day’s drive from San Diego. Three of those are actual national parks. Joshua Tree, Channel Islands and Death Valley are all easily accessible on a road trip from San Diego, while there’s also an archipelago, national monument and desert preserve to be explored.

A city famous for its glitz and glamour, celebrities and beach life, Los Angeles is so much more than Hollywood. Few people are aware that just beyond the urban sprawl of L.A., some amazing nature awaits. These seven beautiful national parks offer a fantastic escape from bustling L.A.

In total, there are seven national parks in the USA that lie partially or entirely on islands. All but two of them lie in a (sub)tropical region, making them without question the best national parks for summer vacations. The other two, just because of their northerly location, are also best visited in summer.

When thinking about America’s national parks, the same five or six names always come to mind first. There are, however, numerous other parks that are basically just as spectacular, but receive only a fraction of the visitors.

I don’t think it’s wrong to assume that, when most people think about California, the first thing that comes to mind is not biodiversity. No, most of us associate California with busy beaches backed by palm trees, the glamor of Los Angeles and Hollywood, maybe even the cutting-edge technology of Silicon Valley.