3 Amazing National Parks in the US to Visit with Your Family

Brought to you by Family Experiences by Trafalgar

Make your next family holiday a memorable and fun adventure by spending time exploring the great outdoors. Get a feel for some of these beautiful parks by taking a guided holiday that features them as key stops.

Yellowstone National Park

This vast wilderness recreation area covers almost 9000 square kilometres, most of it in the state of Wyoming but with parts spreading into Idaho and Montana. It is said to be the world’s first national park and attracts around 4 million visitors each year. It’s impossible to cover it all in one visit but be sure to see the Upper and Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and to take a guided walk with a savvy local specialist along the iconic boardwalks to pick their brain for insider knowledge and see hydrothermal springs, geysers and waterfalls as well as a diverse array of wildlife (Yellowstone is home to 67 mammal species and 300 bird species). Keep the kids engaged by picking up a Junior Ranger book for US$3 from any visitor centre in the park. Once they’ve completed the activities inside they’ll earn a Yellowstone Junior Ranger patch – perfect for show and tell back at school.

Grand Canyon National Park

This is truly a bucket-list destination. Most people see this breathtaking gorge from the South Rim but during the summer there are also stunning views from the North Rim. Those with older children can try a hike – there are stacks of trails ranging in distance and difficulty so check the canyon’s website to choose the best one for your group. With so much ground to cover, seeing the canyon as part of a guided holiday is a hassle-free way to get to all the best viewpoints thanks to a clear itinerary and a coach that will take you from spot to spot with ease. There are several other national parks that also have stunning canyons: visit Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah or drive through one of the four districts (the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the Green and Colorado rivers) in Canyonlands National Park, also in Utah.

Grand Teton National Park

The dramatic and rugged peaks of this park make it a must for adventurers and its steep trails attract hardcore hikers keen to conquer the challenging paths. If you’re only here for a short visit as part of a guided holiday, learn more about area by taking a scenic stroll with a ranger and your travel director, or spend some time on Snake River. As well as jumping in for a swim or trying your luck at fishing, it’s also possible to kayak or join a “float trip” down the river whereby you simply hop on a watercraft and flow with the current. Look to the shoreline and the sky as you glide past and you might spot bald eagles, osprey or great blue herons, all of which nest in the park. Visit as part of a guided holiday and you’ll finish your day with an authentic Wild West dinner at a homestead built in 1898.

Explore more of the US on a Wild West adventure with Trafalgar.