The 10 must see National Parks on the East Coast

March 8, 2021 United States Travel

The 10 must see National Parks on the East Coast

The 10 must see National Parks on the East Coast

When most Americans think about National Parks they think about the western United States and big parks like Yellowstone, Zion’s and the Grand Canyon. There are National Parks in Ohio, Texas, and Missouri. They are all over the country, but the East Coast always seems to be forgotten.

I want my readers to know that there are fabulous National Parks on the East Coast as well! They may not be as big as their Western brothers or sisters, but they are just as beautiful and even more diverse.

Whether you are visiting Maine or Florida you are in for some beautiful parks! I have organized them from North to South so you can find the park you want to visit easily.

Acadia National Park

Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew

Acadia National Park is one of the few designated National Parks on the east coast, located in coastal Maine. What we love about Acadia is that the greatest parts of the park are easily accessible for all types of visitors.

When you are more of a laid-back traveler, you can take a relaxed stroll along Ocean Path to Thunder Hole and take in the surrounding ocean views. Whereas for the adventurous souls, we recommend climbing up the exciting and challenging Beehive Trail and Precipice Trail for a bird’ birds-eye view.

There is, however, one feature in the park no one should miss, and that is catching a sunrise at the top of Cadillac Mountain.

Every season brings something new to Acadia from enjoying snowshoeing in the winter, to having an idyllic picnic at the beach in the summer or admiring the spectacular fall foliage on the scenic Park Loop Road.

Submitted by Rachel and Dana Reed of travelingfoundlove.com

Check out my post about where to stay near Acadia National Park.

Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore has 40 miles of prime sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. There are also salt marshes, kettle ponds, and wild cranberry bogs. Besides swimming and beachcombing, hiking and biking are popular on the Cape. Historical sites such as the Marconi Station, where the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England occurred, and scenic lighthouses are spread throughout the park.

Hikers can choose from 11 trails including an exploration of Great Island or a boardwalk stroll through a picturesque white cedar swamp.

Three paved bike trails in the national seashore wind through the dunes and the seaside forests. The bike trails join the 26 mile Cape Cod rail trail for a longer ride.

Cape Cod National Seashore is a dog lover’s destination. Leashed dogs are allowed on the wild parts of the beaches beyond the lifeguarded areas. There are also many pet-friendly places to stay and restaurants.

By Karen at Outdoor Adventure Samper

Check out my post A week in Cape Cod

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Established in 1940, the Manassas National Battlefield Park has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966. This East Coast National Park is where two major American Civil War Battles took place. It was in Manassas town, to the north of the battlefield that the railroads of the Manassas Gap and Orange and Alexandria joined. This direct connection from the Washing Richmond Railroad and the Shenandoah Valley was of strategic importance during the Civil War.

It was at this battlefield that the First and Second Battles of Bull Run were fought in 1861 and 1862. Confederate forces won both. The First Battle of Bull Run was where General Thomas Jonathan Jackson received the nickname ‘Stonewall”, based on this stubbornness. The battle was also the first major land battle of the Civil War.

The Manassas Battlefield visitor centre on Sudley Road by the park’s south entrance is open from 0830 until 1700. The Manassas orientation film lasts 45 minutes and is superb. The park also contains a map of the battle areas and exhibits of Civil War-era uniforms and weapons and a map of the battle areas. Entrance to the site and guided tours are free (and are highly recommended).

Author: Sarah Carter, ASocialNomad

Check out my day trips to Virginia post to find things to do near Manassas National Park.

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park lies just 75 miles from Washington DC. It is an easy day’s trip for city folks who want to tramp through forests, go on long hikes in the park, explore cascading waterfalls and jump over trickling streams. There are over 200,000 acres of protected land. You can expect to see black bears, white-tailed deer, bats and even a bobcat! Stony Man and Hawksbill peaks exceed 4,000 feet.

To the north, the closest entrance is Front Royal. It is highly recommended to start your tour at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. I highly recommending purchasing Shenandoah National Park: 50 Must-Do Hikes for Everyone by Johnny Molloy.

Skyline Drive weaves its way across western Virginia. According to the National Park Service, it takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the park on a clear day. The drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park.

By Terri at FemaleSoloTrek.com

Historic Jamestown

Historic Jamestowne is the 1607 site of the first English settlement in the Americas. It is managed, in part, by the National Parks Service and has been an active archeological site for 25 years.

Many of the 4,000 items unearthed here are on display at the nearby archeology museum. Finds include pottery, glass bottles, pistols, and coins as well as human remains.

Building sites include remains of the church where Pocahontas married John Rolfe, remains of outbuildings, a food cellar, and much more.

Venture out to the Jamestown glasshouse to see ruins of the original furnaces used by early glassblowers. Artisans dressed in period attire use 17^th century tools and methods to make glass art.

Not far from Historic Jamestowne is the Jamestown Settlement Living History Museum. Here visitors will find full-scale replicas of the original Fort James buildings, a Powhatan village, and ships that brought colonists from England. Interpreters demonstrate daily life of the early settlers.

So much history and fun make Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement a destination for visitors of all ages.

Submitted by Tracy of sunshineandvine.com

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country attracting around 9 million visitors each year. The national park straddles the line between North Carolina and Tennessee and boasts a diverse array of wildlife species, including deer, elk, and about 1,600 black bears. It is one of the few national parks with no entrance fee, and is a great place to visit year round.

There are six entrances to the park, yet the majority of visitors settle around the Gatlinburg area. In addition, there are four visitor centers inside the park: Sugarlands, Cades Cove, Clingman’s Dome, and Oconaluftee filled with information about the ecology and history of the park. In 1926, this area became a national park, yet the federal government had difficulty obtaining areas of the land as it was occupied by local farmers. During the Great Depression, the CCC created many of the trails, campgrounds, bridges, and restored the old settler’s homes and mills.

Today, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has some of the best East Coast hikes with over 300 hiking trails. People from all over the world come to hike the famed Appalachian Trail, or AT. Some other notable hikes are Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops, Mt. LeConte, Clingman’s Dome, Laurel Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Grotto Falls. The Cades Cove Picnic Area is another very popular area where visitors can see remnants of pioneer life. There are also backcountry camping options and a variety of lodging accommodations inside and just outside the national park to suit the needs of travelers.

Submitted by Margie at dqtravel.net

Wright Brothers Memorial

One of the most satisfying – and surprising – National Parks we’ve been to on the East Coast of the United States is the Wright Brothers Memorial in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As travel writers with a deep passion for seeing the world, there’s no substitute for seeing the place where the Wright Brothers famous first flight took place firsthand. It forever changed the way we all travel.

It was an easy drive to get to the east coast of North Carolina from where we live in Raleigh, the state’s capital city. We visited the Visitor’s Center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills in two parts because of the weather. The Visitor’s Center and museum is a perfect indoor activity for a rainy day in the Outer Banks.

We spent a few hours there the first day we visited, when paid a small entrance fee to enter the National Park. All tickets remain valid for 7 days so you can go back another day to see the outdoor part if you don’t have time to do both in one day or the weather is bad, which is what we did. (If you have an annual pass for National parks it is valid here.) We loved the short and non-strenuous 20 minute walk up to the memorial obelisk, commemorating the famous brothers. You can also see the markers on the grass indicating how far their attempts at flight went various different times they attempted it!

This small but mighty park has earned its immensely important place in history and is a must-see if you visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

Mikkel Woodruff, Sometimes Home

Cape Hatteras National Park

Located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras National Park is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature. This national park’s most notable feature is its lighthouse, recognizable by the back and white candy stripes. One of North Carolina’s seven lighthouses, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is the tallest and most distinctive. It’s even the tallest brick lighthouse in the country! Visitors can climb the steps to enjoy a view of the area. (Please note that climbing is currently restricted.)

The visitor’s center is located on the lighthouse’s grounds, along with the Museum of the Sea. Visitors will find information about the history of the lighthouse and area. The lighthouse warned mariners to stay away from the barrier islands and indicated their position along the coast. Please note that the ticket booth for the lighthouse is separate from the visitor’s center.

Hikers can visit one of six trails, ranging from short and easy to much longer. There’s even a paddle trail for those wishing to explore the Pamlico Sound. Opt to stay at one of the few resorts or, better yet, camp out on the beach. Several Cape Hatteras National Seashore areas allow both off-road vehicles and campers to get right up to the ocean.

Visiting Cape Hatteras is a perfect stop along your tour of NC’s lighthouses.

Recommended by Annick from The Common Traveler

Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve is a 720,000-acre area of south Florida rivaling Everglades National Park nearby. It’s huge and often overlooked by visitors in the area but is definitely worth visiting. It’s primarily a water park and best to see by kayak or canoe. If you’re comfortable navigating the mangroves and swamps on your own, you can bring your own vessels or rent them in Everglades City. If not, you can join a ranger-led tour.

There are also boat tours through park service that will take you out into the neighboring 10,000 Islands or you can do a classic airboat tour from Everglades City.

If you want to stick to foot travel, there is the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, the Marsh Trail, the Fire Prairie Trail, the Gator Hook Trail, the Kirby Storter Boardwalk, and of course, off-trail hiking if you’re up for an adventure. There are tons of old logging roads in the area to hike on but they may have water on them.

While you’re here, you’ll have to stop at the visitor centers. There is the Welcome Center closer to Everglades City and this is a great place to look for manatees out back in the winter. The Oasis Visitor Center is about halfway through the park on the Tamiami Trail and is great for seeing alligators. It’s also the terminus for the Florida Trail.

Submitted by https://redaroundtheworld.com/

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, with a 1.5 million acre wetlands preserve on the southern tip of Florida. Considered one of the great biological wonders of the world, it has been declared a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and Wetland of International Importance.

There’s more to the Everglades than just alligators. The Everglades are home to 36 threatened or endangered species, including the Florida Panther and the American Crocodile. Sightings of both are rare. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist.

Everglades National Park features a variety of activities, including hiking trails, bike trails, wildlife viewing, camping, bird watching, and boating. A popular activity is to take an airboat ride through the Everglades, where you glide over the sawgrass in search of alligators.

At the Shark Valley Visitor Center, there is a 15-mile Tram Loop that is closed to motorized traffic, except tram tours. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has the largest old-growth cypress trees on the planet, as you wander the 2.1 mile long boardwalk. In Big Cypress National Preserve, you’ll find alligators along the canal banks. If you have limited time to explore, you are able to still get a feel of the Everglades through the trails at the Royal Palm Visitor Center.

Contributed by Debbie Fettback from WorldAdventurists.com.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos

One of the most remote National Parks on the East Coast is Dry Tortugas National Park. Located 68-miles off the coast of Key West, Florida a visit to this national park requires travel by ferry or seaplane. Dry Tortugas National Park is a cluster of small islands, home to the historic Fort Jefferson, and surrounding coral reefs. Construction of Fort Jefferson began in 1846, when the United States focused on protecting trade in the Gulf of Mexico. During the Civil War, the fort was used as a Union military prison even though fort construction was never officially finished.

Approximately 99% of this national park is underwater, protecting fragile coral responsible for supporting a wealth of marine life. Green, loggerhead, and hawksbill sea turtles can be found living here. Snorkeling, birdwatching, and exploring Fort Jefferson are popular activities for most day trip visitors.

One of the best ways to experience this park is by camping at Dry Tortugas National Park. Space for camping on the main island of Garden Key is limited and it’s recommended to book a camping reservation 9-12 months in advance. Dry Tortugas National Park is certainly a unique park to visit, be sure to visit the small bookstore inside Fort Jefferson to get a souvenir to remember your visit!

By Meg Alexander https://www.htwtravel.com

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