Parksmaxxing: The Ultimate Guide to America’s Parks
Category: National Parks
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There’s a certain type of American who has been to Disney World 3 times and Yellowstone zero. There’s another kind who drove to the Grand Canyon, took a picture of the South Rim, and left. And then there’s the parksmaxxer – someone who shows up at a unit of the National Park System, that nobody’s…
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Congaree National Park is a national park experience that feels like the opposite of Yellowstone and Yosemite. We visited this floodplain in August of 2025 during the peak of the heat and mosquito season and had a great time. This complete guide will share everything you need to know to make the most of one…
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We visited Mammoth Cave in May 2026 and completed the Historic Tour, Domes & Dripstones Tour, Great Onyx Lantern Tour, and Green River Bluff Trail. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 mapped miles of underground passages. During our 1.5-day visit, we completed three cave…
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We expected to see big trees at Sequoia National Park, but we were not prepared for how large they really were. If you want to see trees larger than most buildings, 6000 feet up in the California mountains, plan your next visit to Sequoia. Quick Facts Location: Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, California Time Needed: 1-2…
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We went into Kings Canyon expecting a continuation of Sequoia – but what we experienced surprised us. While the roads were scary, the drive was worth it, as rushing rivers, waterfalls, and granite-slab mountains greeted us in a personal way with few crowds. Quick Facts Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains, California Time Needed: 1-3 days Best…
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Packed with bison, views, and prairie dogs, the Black Hills, and Badlands, South Dakota is a great place for your next family vacation. In this post, I will share my experiences on a 5-day western South Dakota vacation, along with tips, tricks, and sample itineraries to help you make the most out of your trip.…
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Overview Of Wind Cave National Park Wind Cave National Park is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota and is known for its rare and impressive boxwork formations. This park contains one of the longest cave systems in the world! While most visitors travel to Wind Cave for cave tours, there is as much action…
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Overview Of Badlands National Park Located outside the Black Hills in Southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park is one of the most unique landscapes in the country. Badlands is iconic, known for its dramatic formations, canyons, and prairies. The park covers 244,000 acres (381 square miles) and is home to abundant wildlife, most notably bison,…
