{"id":40429,"date":"2025-09-04T12:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T12:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=40429"},"modified":"2025-09-04T15:59:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:59:23","slug":"hidden-treasures-of-americas-national-parks-are-closer-than-you-might-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/hidden-treasures-of-americas-national-parks-are-closer-than-you-might-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden treasures of America\u2019s national parks are closer than you might think"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jeffrey C. Hallo<\/a>, Clemson University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people think about national parks, they often think about the most famous ones \u2013 places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Denali, Acadia, Glacier, Everglades and the Great Smoky Mountains. These are among the nation\u2019s most sought-after destinations, with awe-inspiring scenery, abundant wildlife and places for adventure and recreation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission is free at most of them<\/a>, and at the rest, it\u2019s competitive with the cost<\/a> of a family meal deal<\/a> at a fast-food joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is much more to the nation\u2019s park system than just the 63 places formally designated as national parks<\/a>. The National Park Service also manages nearly 400 other areas designated for their national significance as battlefields, military or historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, monuments, parkways, recreation areas, trails, rivers and preserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a scholar of parks, recreation and tourism<\/a> who has also published a children\u2019s book about the wonders of the National Park System<\/a>, I have seen how important these places are to Americans. And when the nation grapples with political divisions, civil unrest, social change or pandemics, these public lands \u2013 whether technically national parks or other elements in the wider system \u2013 are debated and fought over<\/a>, protested in and used as an example. But they also provide places to find peace and restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sites of national significance<\/a> are in every state in the U.S. \u2013 and hold surprising treasures no less wondrous than the big-name destinations, potentially right around the corner from your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cliffs
Sea caves on Lake Superior provide stunning natural beauty at a national park that\u2019s less well-known than some others. Royalbroil via Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, CC BY-SA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Enjoyment at the waterfront<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

America\u2019s coastlines, shorelines, lakes and rivers are often prime destinations for vacationers, but access to them can be limited by private development<\/a>, and parking and admission fees can be costly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National parks help protect wide swaths of public access to these popular destinations and the affordability of visiting them for generations to come. Almost all of these water-focused parks allow swimming, beach or shore access, boating and fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Cumberland Island National Seashore<\/a> in Georgia is an idyllic island with wild horses, historic mansions, uncrowded beaches and a maritime forest where you can hunt for fossilized shark teeth and camp among the Spanish moss-covered oak trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Point Reyes National Seashore<\/a> in California has tule elk and elephant seal herds, a picturesque red-roofed lighthouse and fog-swept cliffs along the Pacific Ocean. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore<\/a> in Wisconsin has sea caves<\/a> to explore on kayaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backcountry exploration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When people seek a break from the pace of modern life and the demands of being digitally connected, national parks contain expanses of backcountry, where signs of civilization are sparse, and where profound natural beauty, adventure and solitude are still available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Michigan\u2019s Isle Royale National Park<\/a>, you can see moose and hear wolves howl in the island\u2019s wilderness. In South Carolina\u2019s Congaree National Park<\/a>, you can canoe or kayak on backwater creeks among some of the largest and tallest trees<\/a> in eastern North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve<\/a> allows visitors to explore an otherworldly volcanic landscape of lava flows, cinder cones and lava tubes. Primitive roads there allow people to drive into the backcountry to experience solitude without hiking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National parks also offer a break from looking at this world entirely: 44 properties in the National Park Service system are certified as International Dark Sky Parks<\/a>, where the nighttime environment is protected from invasive light pollution by laws and local regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People
At Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, visitors can walk right from a city center into the park. Ron Buskirk\/UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A break from urban life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In America\u2019s suburbs, and even in the heart of major cities, national park lands bring history, nature, leisure and urban life together. These parks reinforce the idea that national parks aren\u2019t just for long-distance vacations but rather for daily life, enjoyment and reflection not far from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area<\/a> in Minnesota offers roughly 4 million residents<\/a> of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area mostly free access to over 70 miles of the river for all manner of waterborne and shoreline recreation. And just outside of New York City, off Long Island\u2019s south shore, Fire Island National Seashore<\/a> provides an easy escape to a rare coastal wilderness for undisturbed hikes through dunes and salt marshes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot Springs National Park<\/a> in Arkansas is one of the only national parks fully integrated into a small city. An area first preserved by Congress for public recreation in 1832<\/a> \u2013 40 years before Yellowstone became the first official national park \u2013 it offers miles of trails that feel wild, despite their proximity to the downtown area. Its historic Bathhouse Row provides opportunities for bathing in thermal waters, and the park encourages visitors to drink the natural waters at the numerous spring-fed fountains in the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a stronger drink is needed, Hot Springs is the only national park that has a brewery within its boundaries<\/a>, using the park\u2019s thermal spring water in its beers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The Stonewall National Monument in New York City is one of many locations that recognize efforts to improve equality and social justice throughout U.S. history. AP Photo\/Pamela Smith<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lessons from history and culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The National Park System also preserves America\u2019s history and culture \u2013 and reminds people of the country\u2019s collective mistakes and triumphs. The parks help Americans apply the many lessons of history to current issues. Americans can learn what we as a nation and as a collective of people have done \u2013 and what we have always yearned to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independence National Historical Park<\/a> in Philadelphia showcases the birthplace of American democracy, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and signed, establishing a new democracy with sweeping goals of equality and opportunity for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manzanar National Historic Site<\/a> in California and Kalaupapa National Historical Park<\/a> in Hawaii keep alive the stories of forced internments of people who were deemed dangerous or undesirable, reminding Americans that there have been times the nation did not live up to its ideals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site<\/a> in South Dakota and Manhattan Project National Historical Park<\/a>, with sites in Tennessee, New Mexico and Washington, shed light on the technology and politics of warfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Belmont-Paul Women\u2019s Equality National Monument<\/a> in Washington, D.C., C\u00e9sar E. Ch\u00e1vez National Monument<\/a> in California and Stonewall National Monument<\/a> in the heart of New York City \u2013 along with many other similar national parks \u2013 teach Americans about the generations-long ongoing struggles for civil rights and social justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. national parks are more numerous, complex and full of wonder and opportunities for discovery than any one person could fully grasp \u2013 whether a self-proclaimed superfan or a credentialed expert. There is always more to discover, with more stories to hear and more places to see and explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are likely lesser-known gems very close by<\/a> for you to visit. Take a friend, a child or someone who has never been there before. People who use parks love them, and parks supported by love are protected \u2013 by all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeffrey C. Hallo<\/a>, Professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeffrey C. Hallo, Clemson University When people think about national parks, they often think about the most famous ones \u2013 places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Denali, Acadia, Glacier, Everglades and the Great Smoky Mountains. These are among the nation\u2019s most sought-after destinations, with awe-inspiring scenery, abundant wildlife and places for adventure and recreation. Admission is free […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":40430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8025,1862,42,827,10,38,9],"tags":[178,885,891,886,860,1051,10186,13641,1864,2203,4495,10163,420,8686,12239],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40429"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40429"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40431,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40429\/revisions\/40431"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}