If you’re going to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky just to visit the cave, you’re missing out. There’s plenty to see and do above ground, and much can be found along the park roads.
A lot of activities at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky can be found in the visitor center area. There’s the visitor center itself, hiking trails, and, of course, the cave tours.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon, Georgia, is a prehistoric Native American site that preserves over 10,000 years of history. It was first populated during the Ice Age, and mounds were built by the South Appalachian Mississippian culture around 900 AD. Ocmulgee Mounds is open daily until 5pm and charges no admission except for special events.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park pays homage to the humble beginnings of arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was born in a small log cabin near present-day Hodgenville, Kentucky, and also lived on a farm not too far away. The park is split up into two units and doesn’t charge an entrance fee.
Snoqualmie Falls, a 270 foot waterfall, is one of the most popular attractions in Washington. It’s located only a half hour drive from Seattle and can be combined with a wine tasting trip to nearby Woodinville.
The Trail of the Shadows at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington gives visitors a good look into the history of the park. Located in the Longmire area, it’s a ¾ mile loop trail that starts across the street from the National Park Inn. It travels through the old James Longmire homestead, settled in 1883, 16 years before the park was established.
The road from Nisqually to Paradise, in the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, has a few places to stop and hike, or just enjoy the natural scenery.
The Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington was named by James Longmire’s daughter, who upon seeing it exclaimed “Oh, what a paradise!”. It’s a fitting name, as there aren’t many places in the country as beautiful.
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens blew its top and destroyed 230 square miles of forest. The eruption left at least 57 dead and created a mudslide that reached 50 miles. Two years later, President Ronald Reagan established Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in order for the environment affected by the eruption to regenerate naturally.
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most magical areas of Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Washington. One of the largest temperate rain forests in the United States, it receives between 140 and 170 inches of rain annually.