After nearly a decade of road trips and park hopping, there are three national parks that still feel like magic every single time.
These places didn’t just give us pretty photos—they shaped the way we travel, how we see the world, and turned us into true national park people.
1. Yosemite National Park
The park that started it all.
We visited Yosemite in September 2015 to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was part of a bigger California road trip, and in classic us fashion… we didn’t have reservations.
We lucked into a last-minute yurt at Curry Village (then called Half Dome Village).
And let me tell you: if there’s a Heaven on Earth, Yosemite Valley might be it.
The crisp morning air, the scent of pine, granite cliffs rising above golden meadows—it felt surreal. I remember sitting outside eating dinner in the village just thinking about how it felt like we were back in the 90s. No one on phones (there wasn’t any service), good conversation, and enjoying God’s beauty. No TVs or technology of any sort, actually. Just us and nature. And that was all we needed.
Must-see highlights & tips:
- Glacier Point – one of the best panoramic views in the entire park.
- Yosemite Falls & Bridalveil Fall – even when water levels are low, the surrounding scenery is breathtaking.
- Mirror Lake Trail – peaceful and relatively easy.
- Wildlife: Deer, coyotes, and if you’re lucky, a black bear (always from a distance).
- Visit in September – still warm during the day, cool at night, and fewer crowds than peak summer.
Nine years later, Yosemite is still the place that convinced us: yes, we’re 100% national park people and this is how we would shape our vacations moving forward.
2. Zion National Park
We first visited Zion in November 2018, as part of a road trip through Colorado, Arizona, and Utah.
Another “no reservations” trip that turned out better than we could have planned. We stayed at the Cliffrose Springdale, which was walking distance to the park entrance.
Driving into Zion Canyon felt like entering another world: towering sandstone cliffs glowing red and orange, the Virgin River winding below, and crisp fall air that smelled like sage.
Must-see highlights & tips:
- The Narrows – If you have older kids, you will want to check this out. Hike in the river between canyon walls (check water levels and weather). Same with Angel’s Landing – only recommended if you have much older kids.
- Emerald Pools Trail – family-friendly, with waterfalls and pools.
- Canyon Overlook Trail – short hike with an epic payoff view.
- Wildlife: Bighorn sheep (they were plentiful when we went), mule deer, wild turkeys, and more.
- Visit in late fall – cooler temps, colorful leaves, and fewer crowds.
Taking the shuttle through the canyon felt like being on a slow-moving safari, surrounded by cliffs that seemed to catch fire at sunset.
3. Glacier National Park
August 2020, the middle of the pandemic. Half the park was closed, our oldest was still in diapers, and yet: Glacier still blew us away.
We stayed in Columbia Falls, and even with limited access, the mountains felt almost unreal—jagged, dramatic, and impossibly beautiful. They were majestic, really.
Must-see highlights & tips:
- Going-to-the-Sun Road – even just driving this is an experience (we loved hiking parts of the the Highline Trail above it).
- Trail of the Cedars – short, accessible, and magical.
- Avalanche Lake Trail – this one is a little long, so you will either want to have kids you can carry in a backpack carrier (this one is our favorite) or kids who are comfortable hiking about 6 miles.
- Wildlife: Our first wild grizzly bear sighting (from a safe distance), plus mountain goats, marmots, and you may even see a moose.
- Visit in late summer – most snow has melted, and alpine trails finally open.
Seeing a grizzly in the wild was both humbling and unforgettable—the kind of moment you remember for the rest of your life.
What these parks have in common
- They’re close enough to other parks that you can plan a multi park trip. We visited all of them as part of bigger road trips (that’s just our style).
- They all have unique places to stay (sometimes last minute – that’s our style, but not everyone is okay with that and you may not always find a place).
- Each park felt different—granite cathedrals, sandstone canyons, glacial peaks—but all of them reminded us why we keep coming back: the feeling of wonder that never gets old.
If you’re dreaming of your next trip, you truly can’t go wrong with any of these three.
Related Posts You’ll Love:
How We Pick Where to Stay on Road Trips With Kids (and Why it Makes All the Difference)
Summer Special: How We Survived (and Loved) a 5,000-Mile Road Trip With Three Little Kids






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