The Southwest of the USA have many sights to offer but you do not have infinite vacation plus not all of them are as good as the others. This is a short guide about the locations you should check out. I have been at all of them and must say, they are breathtaking :-). They made me an USA fan. Can’t wait to go there again :-).

Zion National Park includes one hundred fifty thousand acres of canyon country. It is located at the east side of St. George in Utah. It includes the narrow and vibrant Kolob Canyons along the north as well as the huge dense mountain. Most travelers tend to come to Zion National Park just to visit Zion Canyon.

With the numerous ecological marvels in Utah, Zion Canyon is the most magnificent with its red and white granite cliffs that soar up to two thousand five hundred feet from the North Fork in the Virgin River. You can enjoy visitor amenities and the best viewpoints. If you are into hiking, you can take pleasure in different hiking trails including ten-minute easy strolls and the more difficult trails for the trained hikers. Zion provides the most variety of hiking trails in all of the national parks. This includes the well-known Narrows Trail located at the upper part of the Virgin River. Many panoramic views along the canyons await the visitors.

You can reach the Zion main canyon by state highway 9 that continues to the east through a tunnel going to Mount Carmel Junction, to Bryce Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon and Yosemite are part of the Southwest National Parks. Starting the year 2000, Zion National Park introduced access to free shuttle tours from Springdale town.

Grand Canyon in the South Rim of Arizona is overcrowded and expensive and there can be problems with accommodation and parking spaces. However, thousands of tourists still flock to the Grand Canyon because of it is one of the most popular natural tourist attractions in the United States of America.

Canyonlands National Park includes the large area of rock formations located in the Southeast of Utah, surrounded by the Green and the rivers of Colorado. Different astonishing rock formations with various colors are carved by millions of years of combined rivers and small streams. Canyons, spires, buttes, mesas, arches and countless stunning rock formations make up the five hundred square miles of the national park. Since 1964, the Canyonlands was selected to be a national park. Because some areas are inaccessible, the best way to explore Canyonlands is through overnight hikes and 4WD motor vehicle.

The mountains in the western Sierra Nevada in central California are the location of Yosemite National Park. The area consists of countless forests, meadows, lakes and granite peaks with the sceneries of Alpine. Through the Yosemite Valley runs the Merced River. You can easily access various picnic spits, trails and viewpoints.

I suggest that you explore other areas of the Yosemite National Park and enjoy the well-preserved wilderness with perfect sceneries. Other Sierra national parks are the Sequoia and the Kings Canyon.

In Yosemite National Park, you can see the three groves of huge sequoia trees and two groves around Crane Flat. In the southwest area near the Wawona private village, the most well-known Mariposa Grove of Big Trees are located. Around the protected hillsides of the national park, there are more than four hundred massive sequoias, including the Grizzly Giant, which is known to be the largest and is almost three thousand years old.

A good question, there are quite a few national parks. I have been in many of them and loved it. Still, it is not possible to see all national parks within 3 weeks (only if you hurry - but I would not do that). This guide will take you from California, to Utah and then to Arizona.

So, which parks to visit?

Yosemite is one of the most popular destinations among outdoor lovers because of its exceptional wilds and the diverse means to enjoy its surroundings. Yosemite has been converted into an adventure playground for river rafters, skiers, bikers, base-jumpers and rock climbers. Whatever activity you enjoy, I suggest that a good pair of boots is still the best gear you have to take when traveling to Yosemite.

Wawona Sequoias is the place to go if you want to stroll but if you enjoy an exciting climb, go to Tuolumne. However, if you want to discover and see the stunning nature of the place same as me, just take pleasure in walking to take in the serenity of nature.

Yosemite consists of more than eight hundred miles of trail hike. You can choose from the different itineraries and the first thing that you have to do is to make up your mind in where to go first.

Yosemite Valley has many popular trail sites. Expect some of the trails to be easy especially around the bottom of the valley, while some trails can be more demanding. These trails are those that have granite walls that shape the Valley. Spots such as Glacier Point, Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls have different switchbacks, steep landscapes, and sudden changes in weather situations. The difficulty of your hike will be completely forgotten when you reach the top of the valley with its magnificent view. I suggest that you bring plenty of food, warm clothes and water during the hike. Most of the areas around the valley can be accessed during daytime only. If you are planning to visit overnight, you must check out their camping guidelines for your safety and protection.

On the other hand, some of the best and the most vivid rock formations in the United States is the Bryce Canyon National Park. You can see the strange rock formation in its pink hues with the sunlight. You can take a driving tour to be able to have a closer view of the rock formations in the afternoon.

If you are into rafting, I recommend one of the utmost adventures in North America, the Colorado River, which can be visited through the Grand Canyon. When you hire a rafting outfitter, make sure to choose the best because the wet and wild experience is quite expensive. It is best to plan your vacation for at least a year ahead of time. Rafting trips in the Grand Canyon can be booked fast and the regulations of the National Park only let restricted number of boats every season. Watercraft has four types that include oar rafts wherein the guide will do all the necessary works, the paddle rafts in which you can paddle while the guide steers, the motorized rafts with an outboard motor and the traditional dories type that can have four persons, including the guide.

The America’s oldest National Park is the Zion National Park, which is located in the Southwest of Utah. Zion National Park can be visited by a trip to Bryce Canyon going to the northeast and the north rim of the Grand Canyon going to the south.

Your trip will take you from, Yosemite, to Zion, to Bryce and then to finally Grand Canyon. You could also start the trip the other way around :-). Keep in mind, it will take a while from Yosemite (California), to Zion (Utah). Hope I helped you guys a little :-). Don’t forget to let me know if you ever did the tour!

The Yosemite Valley is a sight to behold, as it boasts of mile-high glaciers and granite rock formation. It is not just an ordinary valley, but one epic wilderness attraction in the United States. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, I tried visiting this mountainous site, and found that camping is the best solution for a fun-filled stay. The granite walls are a wonder, with monolith rocks and spires rising up from different sides fill the view. The highest crest in the valley is known as the Eagle Peak. They say that the Valley itself has slowly curved to the left, and now is curving back to the right.

Within the vastness of Yosemite Valley, only 5% is recognized as exposed territory while the rest is still plain wilderness. This is what makes it beautiful and tranquil, and a perfect way to experience nature. The climate in Yosemite is typically warm and dry during the summer, but most rainfalls occur during the months of January, February, and March. However, beware of forest fires, as they may sometimes occur unexpectedly. Sometimes however, fire staff within the park performs grove burns which are prescribed by forest administration. During winter, snow forms on the mountain caps, and this snow melts in the Sierra to form creeks and lakes. These creeks flow to the Valley to form waterfalls, a wonderful addition to the valley’s immense beauty. The Valley has a biological community of diverse creatures and plants, ranging from tall, old trees such as giant Sequoias and wildflowers, to certain forest inhabitants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

The early inhabitants of Yosemite have been Native Americans or the Indian tribespeople who lived for as long as 8,000 years and existed to develop a culture which is solely based on their surroundings. Writers and artists discovered the Yosemite Valleye and exposed this to the world. Eventually, tourism began, but the government has succeeded in maintaining the wilderness of the valley up to this day.

The park is open daily to tourists who wish to spend a day hiking near the valley, and enjoy the sunset. There are number of trails which I was unfortunate not to have tried. They are the John Muir trail which goes to Mount Whitney, the Mist trail which has views of the Vernal and Nevada Falls, the Four Mile trail which leads to the Glacier Point, and the Yosemite Falls trail which obviously leads to the top of the Yosemite Falls.

Visiting the Yosemite Valley has invited countless memorable photographs in my mind. It’s an outdoor experience like no other, and living near these kinds of places gives us a sense that there is really a higher being allowing these places to come to existence. Nature has a way of recreating and changing and it never loses its beauty. Even the deepest of disasters, the strongest of storms, results into valleys and streams which flow beautifully with the mountains and oceans. Yosemite Valley is one such site, because it captivates you with its seemingly shy beauty, and its masculine tall mountains, that seem to stretch up to the sky and allow the rains to fall tremendously hard to keep the lands green and lush.

California State is known to have diverse landscape such as rivers, deserts, lakes, wind-tousled peaks, and redwood glens, Yosemite, Big Sur, Death Valley and Mt. Lassen. The California State Parks System has various beautiful treasures of cultural and natural heritage. To be able to enjoy the real wonder of California, I suggest that you try experiencing the outdoors and discover its hidden wealth. Try packing on your backpack and go to the Los Padres National Forest just near Ojai and the mystic Lake Tahoe. You can enjoy swimming after a good hike in Ojai surrounded with granite canyon. I recommend that you go on boating to one of the islands of the Channel Islands National Park in South California. Camping is possible while you enjoy the sea lions in the area.

Smith River in the north is also a recommended spot where you can see the magnificent view. You can

find the world’s best fisheries in the Sacramento River and in Redding. Monster bass can be seen in Clear Lake and Lake Caritas as well as in the San Joaquin River. For ocean enthusiasts, I’d prefer the Monterey, Oxnard and the Crescent City where you can enjoy the beach, the pier or different sport-fishing boats. You can also find a wide array of seafood such as sea bass, salmon, lingcod swirling and yellowtail. Different activities are also in store for the beach lovers including sailfish hooking in Catalina Island and boating in the San Diego coast. Do not forget to visit the Mexican isles, which is home for big blue fin tuna.

Enjoy the sight of various animals such as hawks, deer, dolphins and whales while going on a biking trip. The California landscape has a thirty-mile loop, which will take you along the ocean as well as in the forest. The beautiful scenery is one of the many reasons why most cyclists love going to California. If you love mountain climbing, I definitely suggest Mt. Tamalpais in Marin that is known to be the mountain biker’s haven. You also have to visit other wonderful places in the California State such as Mt. Shasta, Downieville, Mammoth Mountain’s Bike Park and the Death Valley. You need to try the gondola ride they offer going to the summit of the mountain as well as the ninety plus miles of pleasurable trail. It felt like heaven as I went on biking to the wine grapes area, viewing the soaring snowcapped peaks of the mountains as well as the well-known bridge along the Pacific. You can have a choice whether you want to take a tour by different companies or just enjoy by yourselves. I tried breakfast and shopping at the farmer’s market and it was quite an experience. I even had the chance to see a deer passing by.

Sequoia National Park has huge trees while the Joshua Tree National Park provides strange species of cactus. The Yosemite Half Dome appears to be a moonlit face, which makes it interesting for the tourists. Twenty percent of the California territory is sheltered. However, there are abundant locations wherein you can enjoy camping. You can select a safe and suitable itinerary as well as parking sites for your RVs near Lake Tahoe.

You should not miss other spectacular national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef and Zion National Park, among others.

Are you tired of your everyday life? If so, then we highly recommend you going on a vacation. Vacations are there to take individuals out of their stressful habitat and putting them in a habitat that is not stressful at all. When looking for your next vacation spot, we recommend you looking into California. California is full of a lot of extraordinary things. One thing you will find in California is called Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. If you are an individual that liked poppies then this may be the best place for you. However, if you are looking to catch sight of the poppies, you will have to pay attention to the time of the year you go because poppies do not blood all year long.

As you may already know, you will only find poppies growing in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve during the spring. Generally, poppy season comes about in late February and will last until Mid-March to Mid-May. If you like other types of wildflowers, you will be able to find those after the springtime. When you are wondering what type of flowers are in bloom at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve then you can always check the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve web site.

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in California is not all about poppies. In Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve you will find all types of different wildlife. Some of the wildlife you could find in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve includes the gliding hawks, side-blotched lizards, gopher snakes and some rattlesnakes. If you come across a rattlesnake we may call you unlucky. Also, a part of the wildlife in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is bobcats and coyotes. On the North Poppy trail you will be able to find a natural spring. The natural spring is a great place to go, relax, sit and watch the wildlife passes by.

As we mentioned, you will be able to find rattlesnakes in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, the rattlesnakes are active in the daytime on warm days and during the hot evenings. Keep in mind that the rattlesnakes are poisonous but they will not attack you unless you startle or threaten them. If an adult rattlesnake attacks you in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, the bites will often be dry because they like to preserve their venom. However, the young rattlesnakes are not able to control their venom yet so you need to be careful.

On the trails at Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve you will find many different burrows. The trails may house gophers, mice, beetles, scorpions, kangaroo rats or snakes. On the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve there are gift shops and eating facilities. You will also find picnic tables that are shaded. While you sit at the picnic tables you can watch the San Gabriel Mountains.

At the park there is a $5.00 parking fee but that is not bad at all. We believe Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in California is one of the best parks there is. If you are into nature and beautiful views, then you can count on coming across all of the above. When you are hiking through the trails that Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve has to offer you, you should take a friend or family member along with you.