Woman hiking on the Root Glacier with a mountain in the background in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

10 Incredible Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Alaska is home to the largest U.S. National Park—Wrangell-St. Elias, which sprawls a whopping 20,600 square miles and is actually larger than if you combine Yellowstone, Yosemite, AND the entire country of Switzerland! This park, tucked away in southeastern Alaska, is a unique mix of quirky small towns, pioneering history, and the largest swath of untouched wilderness in the United States. If you want to explore this incredibly remote corner of the U.S. for yourself, here are 10 incredible things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Couple sitting on a rocky outcropping at Diamong Point along the Endless Wall Trail overlooking the New River Gorge in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

8 Incredible Hikes in New River Gorge National Park for All Skill Levels

New River Gorge, located in southern West Virginia, is the newest U.S. National Park. The park protects the New River and the surrounding gorge that its waters have carved over the millennia, with fascinating geology and several different microclimates, where unique plant and animal life thrive. If you want to explore this incredible landscape for yourself, the park offers nearly 100 miles of trails, with lots of old growth forests, rugged sandstone walls, and overlooks that provide dramatic views of the impossibly deep gorge waiting to be explored on foot. So here are the 8 best hikes in New River Gorge National Park that you need to add to your bucket list. After my husband, Justin, and I spent a week here, tackling as many trails as we could, here are the 8 best hikes in New River Gorge National Park that you need to add to your bucket list.

View of New River Gorge on a sunny day from the Grand View Overlook in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

11 Incredible Things to do in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

New River Gorge, located in West Virginia, is the newest in the beloved U.S. National Park system. The park protects the New River and the gorge that it's cut through the surrounding limestone, which is home to unique wildlife and plant species and a fascinating history of Native Americans, European settlers, and the coal industry. If you want to experience this unique corner of the United States, here’s 11 incredible things to do in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. 

Couple sitting on rocky outcropping with the New River Gorge Bridge in the background along the Long View Trail in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

Long Point Trail in New River Gorge National Park: Everything You Need to Know

New River Gorge National Park is known for a number of things, including rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and the spectacular New River Gorge Bridge, which holds the impressive title of being the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere! There are some incredible viewpoints of this bridge in the park, but the best one is found along the Long Point Trail, which provides unobstructed views over the gorge below. So if you want to experience one of the most stunning views in West Virginia, here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Long Point Trail in New River Gorge National Park. 

Couple sitting at the Diamond Point Overlook along the Endless Wall Trail in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

Endless Wall Trail in New River Gorge National Park: Everything You Need to Know

New River Gorge, located in West Virginia, is one of the U.S.’s newest national parks, but already has incredible infrastructure, including viewpoints, campsites, and hiking trails. One of the most famous hikes in New River Gorge is the Endless Wall Trail, which offers tons of dramatic viewpoints over the Gorge. If you want to experience this incredible hike for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Endless Wall Trail. 

Couple walking on the top level of Fort Jefferson with turquoise water in the background in Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida

8 Incredible Things to do in Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park offers a slice of pristine tropical paradise, located 70 miles off Key West, Florida. This definitely isn’t the easiest national park to get to—the only way to reach this isolated place is via boat or sea plane. So if you’re going through the time, effort, and expense to reach this remote park, you might be wondering exactly what there is to do here. Here’s 8 awesome things to do in Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the best hidden gems in the United States. 

Woman standing in water next to a brick moat wall next to Fort Jefferson at sunset in Dry Tortugas National Park off Florida

How to Get to Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida: Everything You Need to Know

Key West, Florida is a popular destination for bachelorette parties and winter getaways, but did you know that it’s also home to the most remote national park in the contiguous United States? Dry Tortugas National Park, which lies 70 miles off the coast of Key West, offers a vibrant coral reef that’s teeming with life, white sandy beaches, and Fort Jefferson, which holds the impressive title of being the largest brick structure in the entire Western Hemisphere. If you want to experience one of Florida’s best hidden gems, here’s exactly how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the most remote places in the United States.

Couple sitting in a tent while camping with Fort Jefferson in the background in Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida

Camping in Dry Tortugas National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, is the most remote national park in the Lower 48. The park consists of seven isolated islands in the Gulf of Mexico, only a few of which travelers are allowed to visit.  Most people visit the park as a day trip from Key West, but, for a lucky few adventurous travelers, you can actually camp in Dry Tortugas National Park, allowing you to take in the punchy sunsets, starry skies, and pristine beaches—essentially all to yourself. My husband, Justin, and I have visited over 40 U.S. National Parks and camping at Dry Tortugas is easily one of our favorite experiences in our beautiful public lands.  So if you want to experience one of the most unique and remote places that the contiguous United States has to offer, here’s everything you need to know about camping in Dry Tortugas National Park.

Couple sitting on a brick wall along a moat at Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park off Key West, Florida

Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park: Everything You Need to Know

The Florida Keys is one of the most popular road trip destinations in the United States, but did you know that they’re also home to the most remote national park in the lower 48? Located 70 miles off Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park offers a unique mix of Civil War history, abundant wildlife, and tropical natural beauty. But despite the Keys’ popularity and the park’s stunning landscape, it remains one of the least visited national parks in the United States. If you want to experience this incredible place for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida’s best-kept secret.

Aerial view of Monkey Island in Homosassa, Florida

Visiting Monkey Island in Florida: Everything You Need to Know

Florida is known for its kitschy attractions, from rubber ducky-themed bars to underwater mermaid shows. One of its quirkiest attractions is Monkey Island in the Homosassa River in central Florida, a small island that’s known for acting as an Alcatraz of sorts for mischievous spider monkeys. If you want to visit this goofy stop for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Monkey Island in Florida. 

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