Finding the right National Park may not be as simple a task as you might think. When a person visits a National Park they are looking for pristine, untraveled wilderness with a various array of landmarks and geological formations. For most people, the number one reason to vacation in a National Park is to find nature's secluded places in order to elude the monotony of urban life for some fresh, clean, air. There are numerous national parks in the country, each with their own unique appeal. You can head for the conventional National Park destinations such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, or Moab. In many visitor's eyes, Yellowstone is really the front runner in National Park destinations because of how many recreational opportunities if offers. At Yellowstone you have the history of the nation's first and oldest national park in the world, along with a wide range of geological features such as geysers, hot springs, undeveloped animal habitat, and archeological sites that are nearly 12,000 years old.

According to public opinion, the best national parks are those that are family friendly, accessible, and that provide a wide range of activities. Some parks like Moab tend to be too oriented towards specific activities such as mountain biking, while others are directed mostly towards camping. These parks, although equally nice, appeared to be less favorable among the reviews of many travelers because they tended to get boring.

Glacier bay in Alaska

Of all the National Parks that you can camp at besides Yellowstone, people also love Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska . At Glacier Bay visitors were struck by the geological beauty of the area and how it is still being created as they watch. It is one of the few places in the world where giant retreating glaciers can be seen, along with the fjords and shores that they create. This is not a park for an everyday traveler and involves careful planning. However, those who took the time to really plan it out found that this isolated park is like few places they have ever been. The park offers extensive hiking areas and camping sites. For the more rugged and risk taking traveler, kayaking and white water rafting is readily available. And because of the remoteness of the park and the low tourist numbers each year, hunting, fishing, and whale watching are all available inside the park.

grand teton in wyoming

Grand Teton National Park personifies the beauty of the western United States and visitors are quickly awestruck at the magnificence of the blue mountain lakes and jagged peaks reaching over head. Often times visitors will come to Grand Teton on their way to the Yellowstone valley but many find themselves staying longer then planned because of the parks easy reservation process and kid friendly atmosphere. The park service and various outdoor businesses even offer rock climbing trips up the Grand Teton peak, one of the parks main attractions. Most visitors like this park because of its isolation, great camping spots, and easy going atmosphere. Visitors have found that the park service and rangers are more accommodating then those in some of the more popular parks. Like Glacier Bay, Grand Teton National Park also offers white water rafting and kayaking trips and is the gateway to the Salmon River where visitors will find breath taking views as they weave through carved out canyon walls.

All three parks are very popular because they offer many guided tours, have very helpful park rangers, and have access to a myriad of activities. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are in the closest proximity to other attractions because they are near each other, while Glacier Bay is much more isolated. All three are very kid-friendly, offering programs through the park service for children usually under the age of 13.

what not tips  

• Make sure to buy a park pass at least two weeks in advance to avoid incurring any last minute entry fees.
• Book hotels or lodging in advance if you do not plan on camping. Often times rates will go up the later you book because of the limited amount of rooms.
• Do not feed any wildlife in the parks unless it is in a designated area where it is allowed. Feeding the animals can make them dependant on humans and take away their natural survival abilities.
• When hiking do not deviate from the marked trails or pick wild flowers/berries. This disturbs the natural ecosystem.
• Throw any trash in animal-proof trash cans. Keep any food items in animal-proof containers as well.
  

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	Yellowstone	Grand Teton	Glacier Bay
entry fee	$25 plus 10 dollars for each person in car, good for entry at Yellowstone and Grand Teton	$25 plus 10 dollars for each person in car, good for entry at Yellowstone and Grand Teton	Free
nearby attractions	Grand Teton , various parks in Montana , Wyoming , and Idaho	Yellowstone , Fossil Bute National Monument	Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Sitka National Historical Park, Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve
permits needed	Many various permits needed for fishing and hunting and in some areas camping. Contact the park service to find out more.	$50.00 fee for weddings, for commercial film use a special permit is needed	Camping permits are required for all camping although the fees are free. Boating permits are also required and they're free too.
for kids	Park led scavenger hunts, games, wildlife viewing, and Junior Ranger Program	Young Naturalist Program, Junior Ranger Program	Junior Ranger Program, tour boats
other features or comments	* geysers and hot springs are all over and easy to reach. * easy to see wildlife from car. * very kid friendly	* great for a few days. * lots of wildlife * incredible views	* one of the most pristine and untouched travel destinations left in the world. * very popular with those who have visited
unique concerns	* can become quite crowded	* somewhat isolated * limited lodging if you don't camp	* difficult to travel here * isolated * can be boring if you aren't interested in glaciers