The United States National Park System is one of the best in the world featuring over 400 different areas throughout every state and its territories.

Sure, you can go abroad or on that Caribbean cruise that you’ve been dreaming of for vacation, or you can spend your time exploring one of the many beautiful nationals parks that you have access to.

Visiting a national park gives you a chance to connect with nature and history on a level that can’t be achieved doing anything else.

So what makes our National Park System so great?

Diversity

Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona

America has some of the most diverse landscape on the planet. The 59 national parks in our National Park System does an excellent job of highlighting that fact. Think the humid swamps of Everglades National Park in Florida to the snow-capped mountainous peaks of Denali in Alaska. How’s that for a stark difference?

Not only do the landscapes vary widely from park to park, but the activities do as well. You can hike, camp, bike, canoe or kayak, and other fun outdoor recreation activities dependent of the park.

There is truly something unique to explore in every park. I am inclined to support the cliche that there is a park for everyone. If you haven’t found yours, you probably have not visited enough of them.

History

Yosemite National Park – California

The National Park Service works to protect and maintain our parks. In doing so they are preserving centuries of environmental assets of the USA.

A visit to a national park is witnessing first hand the beauty of geological features of our planet. NPS supports educations through park rangers, brochures, and exhibits. What better way to learn about the Earth than having a first hand account?

Affordability

Zion National Park – Utah

Perhaps the greatest thing about the National Park System is how practical and affordable it can be to visit them. There’s a National Park in every state. Have you visited any of the areas that are in yours?

Chances are, there is at least one that is within driving distance from you. The National Park Service website lets you choose your state and lists all of the areas throughout it.

Park entrance fees are nominal and they are usually charged on a per vehicle basis. That is a lot cheaper than tickets to Disney World!

Save tons of money by gathering your camping gear, packing a car, and sleeping under the stars right in the park of your choice. Camping permits are very cheap, or even free in some cases. Your biggest expense is just getting there.

I’ve personally had some of the best experiences of my life camping and backpacking throughout our parks.

Arches National Park – Utah

Those pictures of Old Faithful in Yellowstone NP or Delicate Arch in Arches NP are not just figments in a geography book. They are actual places; and I am a testament that pictures do not do being in their presence justice.

So what are you waiting for? Make your next Prime Adventure a visit to one of America’s great national parks!