Tags
beaches, Destination, Destination Ideas, National Park, RV Camping, RV Destinations, RV Life, RV travel, Summer Travel, Travel, Travel Destination
It’s summertime, and there’s almost no better place to be than the beach. The warmth of the sun upon your face, the sound of waves splashing against the shore, the blue water stretching into the horizon…Let’s go!
Among the most beautiful beaches you can visit are those in national parks. Thousands of miles of shoreline around lakes and along oceans are protected in our parks, and just like the wildlife and rock formations you’re apt to find in most of them, the beaches won’t disappoint either.
Here are six must-see beaches at our national parks that can be reached via an RV.
Ocean Path Trail
Acadia National Park
Cobble beaches and hard bedrock make up most of the shoreline for the Atlantic Ocean that surrounds the Maine park’s many islands. A rare exception is the 4.4-miles round trip Ocean Path Trail that heads from a sand beach to sea cliffs.
Convoy Point
Biscayne National Park
This boardwalk trail is flat and easy, running along the Florida mangrove shore known as Convoy Point. You’ll follow the blue-green waters of Biscayne Bay and be able to spot some small, mangrove-covered islands. Bring a lunch; there’s a picnic area below palms overlooking the bay. Part of the boardwalk also takes you out over the water. As the bay is shallow and quite clear, you’ll have no trouble spotting the bottom.
Swiftcurrent Nature Trail
Glacier National Park
The first 0.6 miles of the trail at this Montana park heads through an evergreen forest with several short spur trails leading to beaches along Swiftcurrent Lake. Meltwater from Grinnell Glacier feeds the lake, making for a crystal clear albeit cold water.
Leigh Lake Trail
Grand Teton National Park
Several alpine lakes perfect for a family outing sit at the Wyoming park’s central String Lake Area. The 1.8-mile round trip trail heads around a shimmering blue lake through green pines with gray Mount Moran soaring in the background. During summer, enjoy a picnic on the beach and then a swim in the cool waters.
Ruby Beach Trail
Olympic National Park
The Washington park’s Pacific Ocean shoreline features gushing sea stacks, piles of driftwood logs, and colorful, wave-polished stones. To enjoy all three, take the 1.4-mile Ruby Beach Trail. Some of the driftwood here has floated in from the distant Columbia River.
Coastal Trail
Redwood National Park
With more than 40 miles of pristine Pacific Ocean coastline, the northern California park is the perfect place to see tide pools and sea stacks. The latter is visible from many highway vistas but to get close up to a tide pool – a small body of saltwater that sustains many colorful sea creatures on the beach at low tide – explore the 1-mile segment (2-miles round trip) of the Coastal Trail at Enderts Beach south of Crescent City.
About the author:
Rob Bignell is the author of several hiking books, including the bestselling “Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks.”
David P. ~ “I had to use Coach-Net for coach jack problems. The person who helped me resolve the problem, Pat, was very helpful and I was able to continue my journey. This was the first time I had to use it and it worked out great! When time to renew, I most definitely will. Thanks, again, for all of the help.”
Nothing quite so effectively displays Mother Nature’s beauty than a sunrise or sunset, those few moments each day when the world shines golden and with incredible serenity.
Day hikers can walk to one of the first spots where the sun touches America each morning via the South Ridge Trail in Maine’s Acadia National Park. The trail is a 7.2-miles round trip to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which is the highest summit on the Eastern seaboard. Though the hike would be done in the dark, with moonglow and flashlights, the trail is traversable. Acadia’s ancient granite peaks are among the first places in the United States where the sunrise can be seen. Be sure to bring a blanket to lay out on the cold rock and take a seat looking southeast.
Fairyland really does exist – it’s smack dab in south central Utah, where a maze of totem pole-like rock formations called hoodoos grace Bryce Canyon National Park. Hoodoos are unusual landforms in which a hard caprock slows the erosion of the softer mineral beneath it. The result is a variety of fantastical shapes. Take the Queens Garden Trail, which descends into the fantasyland of hoodoos. When hiking during the early morning, sunrise’s orange glow magically lights the trail’s contours.
About 1 million Mexican Freetail bats live in Carlsbad Caverns. During the day, they rest on the ceiling of Bat Cave, a passageway closed to the public. At sunset, to feed for the evening, the bats dramatically swarm out of the cave in a tornadic-like spiral, their silhouettes stretching into the distant horizon. An open-air amphitheater allows visitors to safely watch the bats’ departure in an event called The Night Flight. The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail, a half-mile loop, also allows you to watch the bats disperse across the New Mexican desert.
Among the Grand Canyon National Park’s most spectacular sights – sunrise and sunset – can be seen within walking distance of Grand Canyon Village in Arizona. While the South Rim Trail extends several miles along the canyon edge, you only have to walk to Mather Point, where views of the canyon shift like pictures in a marquee at both sunrise and sunset. Another great spot that’s a little less crowded is Ooh Ahh Point on the South Kaibab Trail, which is east of the village and south of Yaki Point. The aptly named Ooh Ahh Point is less than 200 feet below the rim.
You can enjoy views of sunrises and sunsets covering up to a hundred miles on the Clingmans Dome Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At 6625 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and along the Appalachian Trail, as well as the third tallest east of the Mississippi. A half-mile trip leads to the summit. How incredible are the sunsets? They can be crowded, as those hoping to photograph the stunning scenery line up 45 minutes before the sun descends.
A full 95 percent of Florida’s Biscayne National Park sits underwater, a turquoise blue paradise laced with vividly colored coral reefs – and nothing quite says romance like a sunset over this tropical ocean. Adams Key offers a quarter-mile trail from the dock through the hardwood hammock on the island’s west side; most of the route skirts the beach, where the sunset can be enjoyed.
Clambering over boulders and ambling across strangely angled slickrock – and watching needles aglow at sunset – await on Canyonlands National Park’s Slickrock Trail in southeastern Utah. The 2.9-mile loop trail generally follows a mesa rim. Plan to walk the trail about an hour or so before sunset; on the final mile, tall thin rock formations called needles fill the horizon, glowing crimson as the sun sets.
RVs are a gift that keeps on giving. Not only do they give us the freedom of the open road, but they’re our ticket out of summer’s hottest months. Why not put those hot climate vacation destinations on the back burner and point your rig to cooler climates instead? These three summer destinations are hot places to keep cool this summer.
Dock your RV at Duluth’s funkiest waterfront RV park on the shores of Lake Superior and you might think you’re on the San Francisco Bay. This seaport city has undergone a renaissance over the last few years, welcoming visitors with miles of trails, forests to explore and tasty cuisine. A few typical RV parks are situated on the edge of Duluth but for a more unique experience, park your rig at 
Mark Twain’s famous saying is still true: the coldest winter you’ll ever experience is a summer in San Francisco. Bring a sweater and watch the unprepared tourists shiver as they walk along Fisherman’s Wharf in their bermuda shorts – it’s a riot! Don’t worry about parking your rig on San Francisco hills, however. The closest RV parks to San Francisco are located safely outside of the hustle and bustle. If you just want a place to sleep so you can focus on exploring the city, 
Cool off and enjoy plenty of elbow room near the Canadian border in the spectacular Rocky Mountain playground surrounding Kalispell Montana. This thriving mountain community is in an outdoor paradise cooled by the snowcapped peaks of 
Located in southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park lie side by side to form “The Land of the Giants”. These two majestic national parks received this very-appropriate nickname due to the significant giant sequoias found there. They are two of the nation’s oldest national parks and include a spectacular range in elevation from warm foothills to cold alpine peaks. Be sure to stay long enough to explore both parks as you don’t want to miss the natural beauty they offer. Take some time to hike a trail, take a wilderness trip, visit a cave, explore the ski and snowshoe trails during the winter, go horseback riding or just take in the scenery. There is plenty to do and see.
The centerpiece of this national treasure is the Giant Forest. The largest trees on earth are found here, including General Sherman, which is the world-record holder for the most massive living thing. Dozens of magnificent groves of sequoias can be seen in just 3 square miles.
Moro Rock
Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940 and covers 461,901 acres and consists of 2 sections. The smaller, General Grant section includes the famous General Grant Tree, and the Redwood Mountain Grove. This Mountain Grove is the largest remaining natural grove of giant sequoias in the world with 15,800 sequoia trees. This section is accessible by way of paved highways.
Zumwalt Meadow
Start your trip in Virginia at 
Mother Nature won’t make promises about when leaves will turn or which locations will have the best fall color. Do Internet searches for phrases like “Fall foliage report for (city name)” and you’ll find current information on places you want to visit. As you plan your fall foliage RV road trip destinations, keep an eye on the weather and remember that warm days and cool nights offer the greatest promise for colorful scenery. However if frost conditions occur, leaves will turn color faster so you’ll have to plan accordingly.
Located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Flag City RV Resort offers the fine amenities and conveniences that RV travelers enjoy at the highest quality RV resorts, including swimming pool and heated spa, large clubhouse, convenience store, 2.8 acres for picnicking and recreation, and much more! This resort is located just minutes from Lodi Lake and just 5 miles from The Delta, offering over 1000 miles of navigable waterway. Get out on the water and enjoy the best Central California boating, fishing, water skiing, and windsurfing. And, be sure to check out a few of the exciting day trip destinations close by for shopping, dining, golfing, or general site seeing.
