It’s good for your soul.
“Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” – John Muir. Life can be pretty chaotic, so sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back and take some time for yourself. If you’re looking for someplace to disconnect, a National Park will give you the peace and quiet you crave. They’re quite far from any big city, so it might be somewhat hard to get there, but it’s worth the long trip. For me, nature is one of the only places I can go and feely truly disconnected from the hustle and bustle of life. Of course, the National Parks offer this and more, which is why I highly recommend visiting.
The views are spectacular.
Every National Park has at least one view that will leave you absolutely speechless. The first time I visited Yosemite my breath was completely taken away by every view I saw. Standing on top of Glacier Point, an overlook that allows you to see the entire valley, I was overwhelmed by this feeling of peace and all of my worries were immediately washed away. I felt so small but in a good way. Not many people get to visit the place they’ve dreamed of for years, but I was lucky enough to be one of those few and that is something I will never forget and always cherish.
You’ll be supporting a good cause.
Most parks require you to pay a small fee for entry to the park, but that money goes towards park conservation and maintenance, which is extremely important. The National Park System allows for thousands of acres of land and many different animals to be protected under the law. With this protection, it reduces the risk of extinction and destruction of the valuable resources these beautiful lands hold. Even though you do have to pay money for it, it’s extremely affordable for everyone and can even be split multiple ways among people if needed.
You can make a road trip out of it.
Some of the parks are fairly close together (e.g. Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon), so many people try to hit up a bunch of them on one trip. If you have a week or two to spare, grab some of your friends or family and set out on an adventure. Although many of the more well-known parks are out west, there are 58 in total scattered across the country. If you decide to visit a smaller one, there are some advantages like fewer crowds and it is more likely you will be able to do more once inside the park. But no matter where you go, it is a perfect opportunity to make a road trip out of it. Maybe even make a road trip playlist to make it even more official!
You can get in some good hiking.
There are plenty of opportunities for hiking in every park. They have hikes for beginners, professionals and everything in between. I know that hiking isn’t for everyone, so there are also opportunities to see some amazing views without hiking at all. Of course, I recommend hiking, but at the south rim at Grand Canyon all you have to do is drive up to the rim, walk a few feet and then you can see the canyon perfectly. The National Park systems do their best to make sure there is something for everyone, which can make your visit even more enjoyable.