The 10 most beautiful US National Parks

Ahoy pirates!

Travelling is becoming increasingly difficult, with some countries are already tightening their entry rules. On 8 November, the USA reopened its borders to tourism after more than 1.5 years. Despite the new virus variant, it's still possible to travel to the USA without any complications. If you're already planning your next trip, we've got a whole bunch of US inspiration for you.

I consider myself THE "ultimate USA HolidayPirates fan". So, I've listed my TOP 10 national parks here.

Details

1. Yosemite National Park, California

We start with the absolute classic of national parks. I don't know about you, but even in kindergarten I was fascinated by the image of Yosemite Valley and it was THE IMAGE of a real national park for me. Yosemite National Park is probably the most famous national park in the world because of this. It's located in California and, like all national parks, can be visited all year round. I found the national park particularly beautiful in May/June. Right after the snow melts, the rivers in and around the park are rich in water and the waterfalls in the park are also most impressive at this time.

Pirate tips Yosemite: If you want to visit the park in just one day, you should be at the gate between 8-9am. Then you can easily get a parking space and won't waste any time. Within the park, you can also get around for free by shuttle bus.

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2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Yes, the Grand Canyon is also a national park. For many it is "only" the Grand Canyon and not the Grand Canyon National Park. Be that as it may, it's incredibly beautiful and should be at the top of the bucket list, especially for newcomers to the USA. The huge national park stretches over 4,800 km² in the west of the USA.

Pirate tip Grand Canyon National Park: Definitely take a helicopter tour. They cost around $100-150 per person, but are an absolutely unique experience in my opinion.

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3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina / Tennessee

For many, this park is probably one of the more unknown after the classics. In fact, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the USA. The entire park is covered by dense forest. This forest is one of the oldest forests in the world and is the largest primeval forest area in the USA.

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4. Acadia National Park, Maine

Many of you probably don't know the small state of Maine in the northeast of the USA. And the national park is also one of the more unknown ones in the USA. Nevertheless, it should definitely be on your bucket list. Here you have New England at its best. Lakes, forests, the sea - outdoor and photography fans in particular have the opportunity to experience great moments here.

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5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce is one of five national parks in the state of Utah. No other state in the USA has so many national parks. If you think the national parks all look the same, you're wrong. Each one is special and looks different. Bryce Canyon is especially known for its alien-looking "hoodos", the characteristic stone towers.

Pirate tip Bryce Canyon: The national park is located very high up, which makes the temperatures very pleasant, especially in summer. But if you really want to experience something extraordinary, you should come here in winter and see the fascinating landscape dressed in snow. A dream!

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6. Glacier National Park, Montana

The Glacier National Park got its name from the landscape that is still marked by the last ice age. Unfortunately, the real glaciers in the park continue to recede - but this does not make the park any less interesting. There is a huge network of hiking trails in the park where nature lovers can experience untouched forests, the glaciers, colourful meadows and spectacular lakes.

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7. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park is one of the most difficult national parks to reach in the USA. It is located on the border with Mexico in deep and rural West Texas. Here you will find, far and wide, NOTHING. I had the opportunity to visit the park in April 2021 - honestly, I met maybe 20 other cars & trucks on a four-hour drive through the desert. Pure Texas.

In the park itself, the huge canyon, the Santa Elena Canyon and the ghost town of Terlingua are well worth seeing. If you want to visit Big Bend National Park, you should plan your trip really well. The journey alone takes forever and accommodation is very limited. The nearest villages are Alpine and Marathon, which alone are more than a two-hour drive through the desert. We stayed overnight in Fort Stockton and left for the park at 5am. A bit more strenuous, but also cheaper. The drive from Houston or Dallas to Fort Stockton also takes another seven to eight hours.

But, you are rewarded with a truly exceptional national park that couldn't be more secluded.

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8. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest national parks in the USA and is known for its geothermal springs, of which there are almost 10,000.

In addition to the thousands of springs, you can also experience a diverse animal and plant world in Yellowstone. Wild bison, for example, can be found in the park (keep your distance, pirates).

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9. Sequoia National Park, California

The next park in my ranking is in California. The Sequoia is the "little brother" of the famous and much larger Yosemite. In the national park you can marvel at the largest trees in the world: you can even drive through a tree! No joke, pirates. These leafy giants weigh tons and are so awesome that you absolutely have to visit them. The park is relatively small, but it still has many hiking opportunities and spots to marvel at the giant trees.

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10. Saguaro National Park, Arizona

For the end, I have saved a very special park that is still a real insider tip. After three visits, it has become my favourite national park... And I can't even explain why. Probably because the park is so awesome that you can hardly believe it. The Saguaro National Park is located in southern Arizona and is named after the giant cacti - the saguaros. Imagine you are in a dreamlike desert landscape, but all around you are thousands of cacti towering over you. The national park is particularly beautiful at sunset.

Pirate's tip Saguaro National Park: Be sure to come here in autumn or spring. Tucson has a great climate then and with about 25C during the day, so its a great climate to hike a few steps. I would avoid the park in summer - too hot!

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Conclusion:

So, those were MY TOP 10 national parks in the USA. It is important to me to emphasise the subjectivity of this topic. There are many other national parks in the USA and of course I haven't seen them all - but I'm working on it, I promise.

I'm sure you have lots of tips and recommendations. Feel free to share them in the comments. I'm always happy to receive recommendations from other USA fans.

Have fun, pirates! Yours, Marc.

By the way, this picture was taken in Big Bend National Park, Texas.