FREE TO SEE
Alaska: Gates of the Arctic National Park.
The northernmost and second largest National Park in the USA, there are no roads in or out, so visitors must schedule flights or be intrepid hikers to visit this remote Alaskan wilderness. The same size as Switzerland, the Park contains no National Park Service facilities, visitor centers or campgrounds and is a maze of glaciated valleys and gaunt, rugged mountains. A habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, moose and wolverines.
Arizona: Montezuma Well National Monument.
One of Arizona’s hidden gems. Visit the spot where life began, according to Yavapai legend.
Arkansas: Hot Springs National Park.
Eight bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923. Some now home to offices, shops and museums, others still provide baths in the thermal pools.
California: Channel Islands National Park.
California’s Channel Islands National Park is an oasis of natural splendor, earning the nickname “America’s Galapagos.” Travel by boat and experience two of the five islands that comprise the park - Anacapa, with its steep sea cliffs and lighthouse, and Santa Cruz, the most diverse. Get up close to the rich array of plant life, sea birds, fish and marine mammals - some found nowhere else in the world.
Colorado: Hovenweep National Monument.
Discover six prehistoric villages that once housed more than 2,500 people between A.D. 500 and 1300. The park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places to go stargazing.
Connecticut: Weir Farm National Historic Site.
This historic site is the only national park devoted to American painting. Pick up free art supplies at the park to experience a memorable family holiday.
Florida: Biscayne National Park
Discover underwater shipwrecks along the Maritime Heritage Trail, or keep your feet dry to walk in the footsteps of early pineapple farmers.
Kentucky: Mammoth Cave National Park.
As the longest known cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park is among one of the coolest places in the U.S. to visit with kids with over 600 kms of the caves to explore.
Louisiana: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
Discover New Orleans’ rich cultural mix while learning Cajun traditions from people who live them and watch an alligator bask on a bayou’s bank.
Minnesota: Voyageurs National Park.
A water-based park with 218,054 acres and more than a third of that is water. The park consists of four large lakes and 26 smaller interior lakes. Accommodation ranges from resorts with lakeside cabins to houseboats or camping on secluded islands. You can sight-see by motorboat, canoe or kayak and enjoy swimming, fishing and hiking on more than 43 kms of trails.
Nevada: Great Basin National Park.
This park receives less than 10 inches of rainfall annually but more than 800 species of plants rest along its trails. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife too.
New Hampshire: Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
If you’ve ever thought of hiking along the Appalachian Trail, New Hampshire is one state where you can enjoy the public footpaths. The trail rolls 416 kms through the state, with elevations ranging from 120 metres above sea level to nearly 2000.
New Jersey: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is the second largest waterfall, by volume, east of the Mississippi River and next to Niagara Falls. It is centered in an industrial historic district, considered to be "The Cradle of American Industry."
Ohio: Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Home to Everett Covered Bridge, one of the top places for photography in the national parks system. You can also stroll by the Ohio and Erie Canal or hike to Brandywine Falls.
Oregon: Oregon Caves National Monument
South Carolina: Congaree National Park.
South Carolina’s only national park lies amongst a humid subtropical climate. Hiking is one of the best ways to see Congaree National Park. There is a short Boardwalk Trail, multiple established trails, and you can even explore the backcountry.
Virginia: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
The only dedicated National Park for the Performing Arts, this is located on 117 acres of national park land in Fairfax County, Virginia, near the town of Vienna.
Virginia: Cumberland Gap.
Over 130 kms of trails across 24,000 acres make this a hiker’s paradise as you take in the sounds of the wildlife around you.
Wyoming: Fossil Butte National Monument.
Discover the fossilised records of fish, reptiles, plants and insects that once called Fossil Lake home. Let your kids create their own fossil souvenir and watch the experts process fossils.