Arguably the most famous national park on the planet, Yellowstone lives up to its title as ‘The World’s First National Park.’ Unique hydrothermal and geological features such as the famed hot springs draw in millions of visitors every year, as does the unique opportunity to spot wildlife like bears, bison, elk, and wolves. Watch geysers erupt, speed down a river on a raft, or simply take a hike in the park’s 1,300-mile trail system, one could spend an entire lifetime exploring Yellowstone and only have just scratched the surface.
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Hop aboard a three-hour ferry and arrive at the Channel Islands—a wonderfully remote landscape off the coast of southern California that’s remarkably easy to reach. It encompasses five islands, with Anacapa Island being well-known for its iconic lighthouse. There are over 2,000 species of plants and animals here, many of which aren’t found anywhere else in the world (including the island fox). The northern Channel Island of Santa Rosa, where the Native American Chumash resided, has a human history of over 13,000 years and there are significant archeological sites. (For example, this is the island where Arlington Man was discovered, the oldest known human remains in North America.)
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