Best Spectacular Places

These are places that are certainly worth visiting but the park wasn’t extensive enough with multiple things to do to get on the list of Best National Parks.

6. Gateway Arch – St. Louis, MO

The view of the arch is spectacular as is the view from the top of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. As an engineer, I can appreciate the work that went into making the world’s tallest arch. Plus, the ride to the top is fun! We visited in December when the crowds weren’t too bad. I’ve heard tales that visiting in the summer means long lines.

5. Meteor Crater – Winslow, AZ

As often as we see meteor crashing into the earth in movies, seeing the real results of a meteor is fascinating. They say that a 60-story building would fit below the rim of the crater. Binoculars are required to see 6’ high wood astronaut at the center of the crater (they trained here for the moon). I hesitated listing this since it costs quite a bit ($18 per person), but I enjoyed it.

4. Hoover Dam – NV

The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are in TV shows, movies, and commercials. Yet, this massive engineering project has to be seen to appreciate it. Everything here is big (crowds too). The views are just as big. Plus, you get the fun in saying “I was there!”

3. Dinosaur National Monument – Jensen, UT

This park was featured in a Reading Rainbow show back in the 1980’s but I still remember it. The feature at this park that is spectacular is a wall of dinosaur bones. A building was built around it. You can touch the bones as you dream about a world full of dinosaurs.

2. Crater Lake National Park - OR

The views here are sublime. The lake is deservedly on many Most Beautiful Lake lists. Make sure you get out of the car and take a hike. We hiked while wearing shorts alongside five foot high snow in July.

 

1. Petrified Forest National Park – Holbrook, AZ

The trees aren’t standing, but lying down. Over time, silica replaced the wood making it into rock. Some of these “rock trees” look just like wood while others are gorgeous with different colors. A fun part of the park is the curse. Take a piece of petrified wood and you’ll be cursed. People mail the park pieces of rock all the time to stop the curse or at least the feeling of guilt. However, buying a piece that came from private land sold at a shop seems to be OK.