Visit USA 2020 Travel Planner

20 visitusa.org.uk N a t i o n a l P a r k s BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS It might be a little harder to reach than some national parks, but Big Bend is more than worth the trip. The dreamy Chihuahuan Desert and the rugged Chisos Mountains can be explored on foot, bike or horse, while rafters and canoeists ride the mighty Rio Grande, as it rumbles through Santa Elena Canyon. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA Close your eyes and pretend you’re in paradise. Open them overlooking Yosemite Valley and you’ll believe that you’ve arrived. Waterfalls pour down from monumental granite peaks, splashing up rainbows against forest and sky, while black bears and mule deer wander the meadows below, and some of the world’s largest sequoia trees soar above magical Mariposa Grove.  EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA One of the world’s great wilderness reserves, the Everglades offers classic airboat tours that zip through its wetlands – and a whole lot more. Take time to walk its forest trails, explore its mysterious swamps and kayak its Ten Thousand Islands, and you’ll be captivated by the fragile beauty of this remarkable land. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA The ‘Golden State’ has incredible parks, from the other-worldly Death Valley to the waterfalls of Yosemite, and towering trees of Redwood on the California coast. Where two deserts meet (the Colorado and Mojave) lies another: Joshua Tree, named after the magical branching yucca forests that grow nowhere else on the planet. Stay for sunset or camp under the stars. KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, ALASKA Whether you’re looking for an escape from busy urban life or just want to spend time amidst some of the planet’s most spectacular scenery, Alaska is the place to go. Katmai adds another treasure into the mix: grizzly or brown bears that come to feast on the sockeye salmon which spawn in the rivers here during the summer months. ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH One of Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ – which also includes Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches and Bryce Canyon – Zion is an adventure playground of soaring sandstone cliffs and canyons. See tumbling waterfalls along the Emerald Pools Trail or hike the Virgin River to see The Narrows under hanging gardens above. PICTURED Main image: Florida's Everglades National Park; Inset: Yosemite National Park S i x o f t h e b e s t . . .