1Planning the Vacation

Start your research by asking your friends and extended family members to offer up recommendations for places that they have enjoyed.

You should also do extensive research online to find out not just which national parks are the best choices.  It is also a great place to find the fee for entrance, camping, etc.   You should also make note of any rules about campfires, using off-road vehicles, and pets to help you make your decision.

2Visit Utah’s National Parks

While Utah may be covered in many feet of snow during the winter months, during the spring, summer, and autumn it is a wonderful place to spend a family vacation. With several national parks to visit, you are sure to find one that is a perfect option for your family’s vacation.

• Arches National Park

  The Arches National Park is home to the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches; spread out of 73,000 acres this red and arid desert is a great place to take in the sights offered in the form of these amazing arches.

  In addition to viewing the beautiful stone arches, this national park offers the following activities:

  • Biking: While bikes must remain only on established roads, there are still great opportunities for road and mountain biking.
  • Camping: With only one campground in Arches National Park it is important that you make camping reservations early in order to secure your campsite! There are 55 individual sites that are offered at a very budget-friendly $15 per night!
  • Rock Climbing: There are excellent rock climbing routes available in the Arches National Park.  However, it is important to remember that this is not the best rock climbing environment for novice climbers! More advanced skill sets are generally required.
  • Hiking: There are numerous hiking trails around Arches National Park.  Take advantage of the amazing scenery and hike on trails suitable for hikers of all fitness levels!

In addition to Arches National Park, Utah is home to several other national parks that are worth researching or even paying a visit to when you are in the neighborhood!

• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Take the time to visit the national parks of Utah website for more information: http://www.utah.com/nationalparks.

3

Visit the Grand Canyon

One of the oldest national parks in the country, the Grand Canyon is amongst the best in affordable family vacations.

Located in Arizona, this historic park is a great place to take in the sights offered by one of the natural wonders of the world.

• There are tremendous hiking and horseback riding trails available.  However, you should consider any respiratory or heart concerns you may have before planning this because of the altitude.
• Pets are welcome visitors to the Grand Canyon however you should be sure to keep them on their leash at all times and abide by the park's rules related to pets in the park.
• Consider taking a bus or an air tour so that you can see the sights more efficiently and on a grander scale.
• Bring your bikes so that you can take advantage of the many riding trails in the park.

Visit the Grand Canyon’s website to find out more information about what is available to you.

4

Acadia National Park

Consider spending your family vacation in Maine taking in the natural sights at Acadia National Park, one of the best family travel destinations. This national park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life as well as to the tallest mountain on the US Atlantic coast!

Whether you are looking for excellent hiking opportunities, biking the amazing scenic trails, or simply just sitting back and enjoying the incredible sights that nature has to offer you, you are sure to find something to make this more than an affordable family vacation.  It will become a vacation to create long-lasting memories.

There are two campgrounds at Arcadia National Park.

• The Blackwoods Campground offers a pricing schedule of between $10 and $20, depending on the time of the year that you visit.
• The Seawall Campground offers a $14 daily fee if you walk to your site or a $20 daily fee if you take your vehicle.

Visit the Arcadia National Park’s website for more information: http://www.nps.gov/acad.

 

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Visit the National Park Service website - http://www.nps.gov - to find out more information about the many amazing national parks in the US. From watching Old Faithful erupt on cue to watching alligators in the Everglades, there is a national park to appeal to every member of your family!

 

To help your family get the most out of your affordable family vacation consider renting an RV that will comfortably house your whole family. An RV rental can make things a lot easier for your family should you opt to drive to one or more national parks during your vacation.

What Do You Think?

Have you vacationed in any of the other national parts that you think people would enjoy?