: History runs deep in the valley! 1. The most famous fire occurred in 1969 due to decades of toxic waste dumping. Watch the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain: Well worth the early wake up call. Location: Tennessee, North CarolinaInteresting Fact: The smoky mountains earned its name from the smoky fog that hovers over the mountains. Win, win.2. Another phenomenon is to be in the Great Smokies when the fireflies do a synchronistic light show during their two-week mating season. So, while the east coast doesn’t have a high number of national parks, they pack a punch with the incredibly diverse geography they offer. If you’re looking to avoid the congestion, arrive early in the morning. 7 Best East Coast National Parks 1. Location: MaineInteresting Fact: For half of the year, Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the park, is the first spot in the US to catch the rays of the rising sun. 12 STUNNING NATURE PHOTOS OF ASHEVILLE TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT TRIP, THE BEST YELLOWSTONE AIRBNBS FOR EVERY BUDGET, PLANNING A TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need, YELLOWSTONE WITH KIDS: 10 Unforgettable Adventures Your Kids Will Love, 10 STUNNING ASHEVILLE AIRBNBS YOU HAVE TO SEE. When To Visit: The best time to visit is mid-December to mid-April, the driest time of the year in subtropical Florida. The park spans 51 square miles and claims the land along the river between Akron and Cleveland. Wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. The biggest attraction of the park and a real gem is the Cades Cove scenic drive. And since the National Park is located directly within the town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, it’s surrounded by shops, restaurants, and roads. The Cedar Creek Canoe Trail is a well-managed trail that winds for 15 miles through the Congaree wilderness. See why it’s the hottest new city…, We spent one glorious month in Asheville, North Carolina trying to see if it was the right place…. National Parks of the East Acadia National Park. For those wanting to take in the scenery from their car, you can do the historic 105-mile drive on Skyline Drive. There is no water, electricity, wifi, or amenities on the island, so you must bring everything with you. Everyone raves about the parks on the west coast, but where’s the love for the national parks on the east coast? And it’s so green! Stroll the Boardwalk Loop: Despite over 25 miles of trails in the park, you don’t wanna miss the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop trail. Congaree National Park is easily one of the most underrated national parks on the east coast. The East Coast offers a national park experience like no other, from the vast beauty of the Maine wilderness to the vibrant historical sites of the New York City area. WHOA. The first and premier national park of the east, Acadia is today one of the most dramatic, that Maine has to offer. We've compiled a list to help guide you through one of our favorite destinations! Tours change according to the season, so the National Park Service site is the best place for updated information. Being the longest trail in the park, hikers typically take 4-5 days to complete it. Visit in the winter when the park is blanketed in white! Flamingo: Here there’s a beautiful waterfront, amazing mangrove forests, and tremendous wildlife (think manatees and crocodiles). Make sure to check each individual park, since some parks charge per person while others charge per car.There are discounts for the disabled, active military, and senior citizens. And they’re all incredible. Isle Royale is one of the least visited national parks on the east coast, let alone in the whole NPS system! Hike up Clingmans Dome: Head up the mountain and head straight to the summit observation tower via a 1-hour hike. A perfect representation of New England’s natural beauty, Acadia National Park is the highlight of any trip to Maine. It’s super popular in fall when the park is bursting with color. Read a bit about the prehistoric people, environmental disasters, and comebacks before visiting — especially if you’re a history buff. One day is enough to see the park by boat and do a short hike, but add on another day if you want to include a long hike. Don’t miss the Mahogany Hammock Trail, aPa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower, and Anhinga Trail. Biscayne is basically a HUGE aquatic wonderland and is the largest marine sanctuary in the U.S. National Parks system — it’s 173 thousand acres. The park is known for its stunning fall foliage come Autumn, and is said to be absolutely magical after a fresh snowfall in the winter. Most people spend a day at the park, but if you are planning to camp, three days should make the 2 1/2 hour ferry ride to get there worth it. Look no further than Acadia National Park on Maine’s scenic shores. Visiting in the summer months will mean high humidity, rain, and mosquitoes. It takes about three hours, but with over 75 scenic overlooks, you could easily spend a full day stopping along the way to take in the sights or take hikes along the road. I did however have to make a cut-off somehow! You’ll get fantastic views of the vast Cuyahoga Valley. Several different tours are available from historical tours, tours for people with limited mobility, kid based tours, adventurous spelunking tours, and more. Welcome to Shenandoah. While the park is primarily a water destination, there is a short nature walk (.75 miles round trip) near the visitors center that is perfect if you’re visiting with kids or if you have limited mobility. Hot Springs is by far one of the most unique national parks on the east coast! Biking is another popular past time at the park, whether it’s biking the Park Loop Road or biking any of the 45 miles of old fashioned carriage roads that meander through the park. Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site Martin Van Buren National Historic Site National Parks of New York Harbor (NJ, NY) Niagara Falls National Heritage Area North Country National Scenic Trail Sagamore Hill National Historic Site : Hopkins, South Carolina (~2 hours from Charleston and ½ hour from Columbia), FREE (no entrance fee or annual pass required), Looking for some towering trees? A gravel path leads you to mangroves and a bird sanctuary. And thankfully, the water from the thermal springs is piped directly into the bathhouses! Take a jacket as the temps at the 6,643 foot peak will be much chillier than at lower elevations! Late spring and fall are particularly attractive times to visit the park, but you will have to contend with the possibility of rain flooding the park.Where To Stay: Airbnb Congaree Vines. By far the biggest highlight of the park, occurring between mid-May and mid-June. After all, the east coast is packed with amazing natural scenery that will keep you exploring year after year. Visitors have the option of a variety of different cave tours to choose from, so plan ahead! Choose from The Buckstaff Bathhouse and/or The Quapaw Bathhouse. Just know the area’s a humid subtropical climate, so prepare for that if you plan to do any longer hikes. AND you can totally drive to the summit. The national park pass allows you entrance into over 2000 federal land parks for a one-time annual fee. WHY IS EVERYONE MOVING TO BOISE, IDAHO? For those looking for a more leisurely trail, the 1.7 mile Bluff Trail hike is an easy loop through the forest. I never truly appreciated nature until I moved to California, so now I need to get back to the other side of the country to check these parks off! Keep reading to discover places that should be at the top of your list of destinations as you plan your next vacation. Totally bucket list worthy! Lodging In and Around the Park: Stay in the park at The Lodge at Mammoth Park if you can – it’s worth it! The park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains, and there’s green ridges and pastoral valleys to admire. Time frames can be shortened for someone who enjoys traveling faster. After you’ve explored the water, hike through the 25 miles of trails to get another perspective of this southern old-growth forest. A few recommended stays: The Inn on Mount Desert, The Harborside Hotel Marina & Spa, and The Bar Harbor Inn and Spa. The park is located within the Blue Ridge Mountains (a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains), and it’s a sight to be seen. Venture deep underground and you’ll see the dripping stalactites and stalagmites, squeeze through tight spots, and enjoy the underground world. You can see out more than 100 miles on a clear day! Come in late spring to see the waterfalls in all their glory – they’re really flowing in May. Paddling the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail: Float past some of the largest trees you’ll probably ever see (in your life! Be prepared to rough it! One of the most popular areas in the Great Smoky Mountains – known for its broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains. Copyright ©2020, A Passion and A Passport. Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia This narrow, 18-mile-long Atlantic island is packed with photoworthy scenery, including salt marshes, sand dunes, and oak and pine forests. Four hundred miles of Mammoth cave has been explored, and it’s estimated that the cave system continues an extra 600 miles. : Double check the weather before the go – frequent flooding occurs. Why, you ask?! These two campgrounds are renowned for … The Great Smoky Mountains are practically a mecca for outdoor lovers! Written within the backdrop of a painful breakup with his fiance, Conor Knighton takes readers on a journey to America’s national parks peppering in fascinating history about the parks and his own personal stories. When To Visit: The park is open year-round, but in the winter and early spring, many campgrounds and visitor centers will be closed. Besides all the aquatic sea life in the park’s intertidal zones, expect to see bears, whales, seabirds, and even the occasional moose. Most of the elk population congregate around the Cataloochee area in the southeastern section of the park. Being another one of the least visited national parks on the east coast, you’ll probably see more birds and fish than people! There’s historic lighthouses to explore, hiking, and sightseeing cruises. Congaree is one of only three places in the Western Hemisphere where this happens! Location: VirginiaInteresting Fact: Shenandoah is home to the densest population of black bears in the United States. The park is home to hundreds of animal species, including the Florida panther (yes, really), the endangered leatherback turtle, and West Indian manatee. Don’t even attempt an outdoor soak. One day is enough to do a guided ranger tour and a small outing, but a long weekend will allow you to enjoy the park and all it’s water activities fully.

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