America’s Most Underrated National Parks

Established to preserve and protect what Teddy Roosevelt once deemed “our greatest national asset,” America’s National Parks are tranquil and affordable options for families seeking escape from the pressures of city life. Here are six family-friendly National Parks across the country that we love for their unique offerings and stellar kids programs.

Though nearly a century removed from its last eruption, Lassen Volcanic National Park still bears the telltale signs of an active geothermal area—adventurous families need not search far and wide to encounter boiling mud pots, festering fumaroles, and churning hot springs.

Together, parents and their children have the rare chance to experience not one but four varieties of volcano, either taking part in the historical Pioneer Program or venturing out via bike, boat, horseback, or kayak. The park features ten family-friendly trails, four of which are accessible by stroller.

Kids can also participate in one of Lassen Volcanic’s 13 children’s programs for preschoolers through tweens. For tots, puppet shows explain local flora and fauna while Chipmunk Cards help with tracking the park’s local wildlife. For 7- to 12-year-olds, the two-hour Junior Ranger adventure provides an explorer’s backpack stuffed with binoculars, a magnifying glass, rock identification cards, and other helpful tools for discovering and mapping the park’s robust ecology.

Who says you need to go out west for the best in nature? Boasting a network of rugged hiking trails, old carriage paths, and granite peaks strewn across thousands of acres of protected coastline, Acadia National Park in Maine is a hiker’s dream right here on the East Coast. Whether your family is ready to hike your way to the summit of the 1,500-foot Cadillac Mountain, bike along the sprawling Park Loop Road, or simply take in the local ecological wonders at the Wild Gardens of Acadia, this park has a little something for everyone.

To literally get the lay of the land, Acadia Quest is a year-round integrated park experience, using hiking, biking, walking, and water activities to foster awareness about local ecology and topography. From mid-May to October, kids ages 5-12 can forage for clues in scavenger hunt bingo and partake in ranger-led outings (think: hawk watches and beaver tours) as part of the Junior Ranger Program. But envy not, parents—the park also offers a senior ranger program for guests over 18.

Featuring the largest and most pristine assemblage of ancestral Pueblo structures on the planet, Mesa Verde National Park is a gem of American antiquity. Essentially unchanged since the 13th century, Mesa Verde offers families a terrific opportunity to step into the annals of lesser-known Mesoamerican history.

The park is home to over 400 public campsites, but for families who don’t want to rough it completely, the Far View Lodge atop an 8,000-foot-tall mesa offers modern accommodations with private stargazing-friendly balconies. Back out on the main grounds, kids love the Spruce Tree house—a cliff dwelling constructed over 800 years ago with over 130 rooms ripe for exploration—and Balcony House, with tons of meandering tunnels to crawl through.

Final itinerary tip: Don’t miss Mesa Verde’s Indian Arts and Culture Festival from May 25 to June 1, full of kid-friendly activities like nightly tribal dancing, the annual Bear Dance and Pow Wow, and traditional food tastings.

Featuring more than 80,000 acres of water and just 10 total miles of roads, Voyageurs National Park is the ultimate water park. Families with waterborne wanderlust will delight in its thousand-plus glacial islands, all accessible by boat.

Named for the Franco-Canadian trappers and explorers who canoed the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, Voyageurs remains largely unchanged from the days of its eponyms. Families wishing to take a step back in time can sign up for the North Canoe Voyage program, an interactive trip aboard a 26-foot replica of those used to first explore the territory, and learn age-old river navigation techniques and paddle salutes.

In the summer months, the park’s placid lakes are ripe for family fishing expeditions, featuring robust walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass populations—not to mention mild weather for terrific camping in over 175 park-approved sites. If you’re visiting in cooler seasons, don’t fret; the park’s cross-country ski rental and snowshoe loan programs are great for exploring the preserved frozen landscape.

Home to some of the country’s most stunning vistas, Grand Teton National Parkfeatures one of the tallest peaks in North America, sprawling blue glaciers, and over 300 species of birds. While it’s one of the smaller national parks in terms of net real estate, Grand Teton’s range of activities and programs is just as exciting and active as any. ‘

To get acquainted with the wildlife, board one of the park’s 15-person rubber rafts and travel down the Snake River for a half-day trip, during which you’ll spot all sorts of animals from moose and pelicans to coyotes and blue heron. Or explore the magnificent terrain on your own terms via the 25 family-friendly hiking trails.

Younger visitors should be sure to pick up a copy of The Grand Adventure, an activity-based newspaper for kids focusing on park geology, wildlife, and American-Indian culture. The park is also home to the Teton Junior Science School, which offers weeklong programs for third through sixth graders throughout the summer months. Eight- to-12 year-olds can also partake in scavenger hunts, short hikes, habitat games, and more in the daily 90-minute Junior Ranger programs.

For families who can’t choose between winter and summer travel, Rocky Mountain National Park offers a two-pronged vacation experience. At the park’s higher elevations, families will find a winter wonderland with year-round snowfall. Back in lower altitudes, visitors encounter lush meadows and prairie amidst idyllic 70-degree conditions.