Spring is a great time to visit national parks. You can enjoy the fresh air and nature. National parks offer many different activities to do, such as hiking, biking, and bird watching. They are great to travel as a couple, in a group, or even solo.
Some people like to make their visit a picnic, while others prefer to just take in the scenery. Whether you prefer activities or just taking in the beauty that these parks have to offer, here are 3 you can’t go wrong with this spring.
Yellowstone National Park
Everyone’s heard of the Yellowstone Supervolcano and what it could do to the world. But did you know it’s currently designated active and is likely to erupt sometimes in the future? Dangerous and exciting, not something you’d expect in a national park.
But that’s not the only thing to see here. You’d do well to set aside a few days and make an itinerary because it’s huge. There are beautiful vistas and waterfalls, valleys, and…
Geysers. The Old Faithful has erupted roughly every 45 minutes in the last 20 years. Try and time a selfie or group photo! If you enjoy fishing, stop by Yellowstone Lake where angling for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout is a favorite activity. Alternatively, you can also just hike around the lake or take a guided kayak tour on its blue waters.
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is a scenic viewpoint where you can see hundreds of bison roaming and grazing.
No matter what, don’t miss the Grand Prismatic Spring, arguably the most beautiful place in Yellowstone National Park.
The spring earns its name for the rainbow-like colors that propagate from its center, caused by different types of microorganisms living at different temperatures in the spring. Just make sure to arrive early in the morning to grab a parking spot because this is certainly one of the more beautiful places to travel in the USA.
Table Mountain National Park
The most iconic landmark in South Africa and the country’s most photographed attraction
It is much more than a scenic photograph background or a place from where you can take a breathtaking photo of Cape Town, although you will certainly do that. When you’re at the top, consider paragliding in Table Mountain National Park.
The magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are found at the base of the mountain. The gardens include a unique conservatory with plants from different parts of the world and are well worth a visit. The national park’s most unique feature is its fynbos vegetation that is displayed here better than anywhere in the world.
At Boulders Beach you will be treated to another unique sight in Africa – penguins. If you want an even closer look at these birds, Foxy Beach is the place to go. Its boardwalks will take you to within a few meters of these birds.
Apart from the mountain, the national park contains another South African attraction. The Cape of Good Hope is often wrongly thought to be the most southern point of the African continent. The Cape of Good Hope is a splendid place nonetheless, so definitely pay a visit to the home of The Flying Dutchman, the legendary ghost pirate ship doomed to sail the oceans forever.
Nikko National Park
Nikko park is full of ancient shrines, temples, and outstanding natural beauty. It’s difficult to know where to begin, but in the case of this park, you can’t go wrong. The trails here are suited to casual and intermediate hikers, while the mountains are more challenging.
Nikko park turns green in spring, so you could wander through the lush green valley of Sukkan Swamp, or take canoe tours of the Nakagawa or Kinugawa rivers. One trail to consider is Takino’o Kodoō, an ideal option for those looking for a quieter, spiritual hike through the park’s cedar trees.
The path is paved in stone and passes a few shrines and temples. It leads to the Kanama-ga-fuchi Abyss, lined with innumerable Buddhist Jizō statues.
Apart from the striking scenery, there are notable historical sites to consider visiting. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines tell the history of this ancient place to all who will listen. Tōshõ-gū, one of the jewels of Nikko, is the final resting place of the first Tokugawa shogun. It is a complex of ornate shrines, art, and gates.
Banff National Park
The Canadian Rockies will mesmerize you, but there are many other things to do in Banff. Sundance Canyon and Sunshine Meadows are a great place to go hiking. There is also a helicopter tour if you are into that sort of thing as well as rafting and horse riding. Whichever of these tickles your fancy you cannot pass up on Lake Louise and its turquoise water.
World famous Icefield Parkway will take you to Peyto Lake as well as the Columbia Icefield. There, you can take a tour aboard an all terrain explorer and sample some pristine glacier water.
Wrapping up
These are places of natural wonder, unspoiled nature, and history. Millions of people pass through these parks every year. If you are one of the ones who haven’t already, pay them a visit and see just what it is you were missing out on.
