Don't Forget About the USA's Incredible State Parks
I have written elsewhere on this site about America’s amazing National Parks, and whilst the National Parks were the cornerstone of our journey across the USA, we also visited a small number of incredible State Parks. Prior to embarking on our journey, we were probably slightly ignorant and uninformed when it came to America’s State Parks, but it is fair to say that our journey wouldn’t have been the same without them.
In short, you definitely shouldn’t overlook State Parks in your rush to visit their often more famous national counterparts. Whilst I’m sure that each state has some great ones to visit, here are four that we would highly recommend:
1. Arizona: Red Rock State Park.
Located near, and visible from fabulous Sedona in Arizona, Red Rock State Park has the sort of scenery that makes you pinch yourself.
Whilst a clue to the landscape is in the name, this is only half the story. The rock formations intermingled with abundant greenery and cut through by Oak Creek are stunning. Even if you don’t step foot in the park, the views of it from viewpoints within the town of Sedona itself are awe-inspiring.
2. Utah: Dead Horse Point State Park
Located just outside of Moab and sandwiched between two stunning and vaunted National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands), Dead Horse Point State Park more than holds its own. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the overlook of the Colorado River and Canyonlands NP from Dead Horse Point was the single most memorable vista of our entire trip.
Whilst it is somewhat self-defeating to make comparisons between incredible places, I actually found the view of the Colorado River here to be more arresting and impactful than even the Grand Canyon itself.
3. Texas: Brazos Bend State Park. Navigating around the Houston urban sprawl, it is difficult to imagine such a haven for wildlife existing so close by. Now, there is plenty of wildlife to see here, but the highlight for most people will undoubtedly be the preponderance of alligators. For us, this included one particularly large gator that decided to relax (jaws open) across the path that we needed to walk down to get back to our car!
There is also an excellent nature centre with friendly and informative rangers who are able to give you deeper insight into the ecology of the park, its residents and Texas more broadly.
4. California: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
So technically, a State Natural Reserve, as opposed to a State Park, but for our practical purposes, there was little difference. On our drive down California's Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, there were an incredible range of highlights. Right at the top of the list though was our stop Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
The rocky coastline, bays and water colour alone were fully worth the stop. What made it even more special however was that Point Lobos is home to a notable colony of Sea Lions. Whilst we did in fact get closer to the Sea Lions in San Francisco Harbour, the chance to witness the colony at this amazing natural location was breathtaking. With our binoculars, we were able to observe them both on the rocks and also swimming in the water. We could have watched them for hours, and the way that their voices carry so far in spite of the coastal wind is something truly remarkable.
If you are carrying on down the coast and want another slice of nature, then another must-stop further south is Elephant Seal Vista Point. This is home to an enormous, vocal and somewhat pungent colony of Elephant Seals. This was the sort of incredible experience that I thought would only have existed on isolated outcrops of rock in some inhospitable part of the ocean.
PS. You will really struggle to get the most out of these parks without your own vehicle. To ensure you get the best prices and options on rental cars and vehicles, it is really worth using a site such as Discover Covers.
The Considered Journey is a travel blog focused on travel reviews, travel tips and travel guides, all focused on travel inspiration with a view to helping you make the most of your trip and maximise your travel time.
Having travelled across Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and parts of Africa, we have a host of experiences to share with you. As our focus is on helping you make the most of your trip and maximise your travel time, we highlight the best things to eat, best things to drink, best places to go, and best things to do. In addition, we have written a range of airline reviews, hotel reviews, airport lounge reviews and credit card reviews, and also cover topics such as travelling as a couple, career break travel and sabbatical travel.
We understand that circumstances vary from trip to trip, so we cover everything from luxury travel to some more budget travel options, and the traditional to the modern.
Comments