Eight centuries ago, for reasons still not fully understood, they got up and left. After roughly 700 years of living around and atop two slender mesas now recognized as part of southwestern Colorado, a society simply got up and left.

On a clear sunny day in the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington State, the locals often remark “The Mountain is out.” Gaze eastward and you, too, will see The Mountain, a 14,410-foot-tall (4,392 m) volcano towering over the landscape in all its glacier-flanked glory. It’s a sight to behold. It’s also the centerpiece of Mount Rainier National Park.

Rugged mountains, wild forests, and glacially-fed rivers and streams have earned North Cascades National Park in Washington State the name “American Alps.” Protected alongside two national recreation areas (Ross Lake and Lake Chelan) bordering the park, this North Cascades National Park Complex offers visitors almost 700,000 acres of true wilderness experience.

Gem of the Northwest, Olympic National Park offers a spectacular trifecta of national park settings.

Padre Island National Seashore in Texas protects 66 miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, and five species of sea turtle. Not only is this national seashore a birder’s paradise, but there are plenty of activities open to the visitor, from beachcombing to fishing to exploring the remote areas by driving down the beach.

Threads of the Late Triassic Period more than 200 million years ago run rampant through Petrified Forest National Park, and not just in the trunks of stone trees that dot this multi-hued landscape in northeastern Arizona.

Teasing those threads out, though, takes a keen eye, and time. Unfortunately, the park road runs just 28 miles (40 km) through its 93,532 acres (37,851 hectares), so unless you exhibit some discipline you'll cruise down the pavement, stop momentarily at the 22 overlooks, and be gone in a very small number of hours. 

Caves, condors, high peaks, woodlands, and meadows. Pinnacles National Park in California, named after the eroded remnants formed from volcanic eruptions over 20 million years ago, offers visitors a contrasting variety of environments to explore.

Redwood National and State Parks is a mosaic of landscapes in Northern California where grow forests of tall, tall trees reaching heights beyond 300 feet (91 m) and between 800-2000 years in age. While there are 37 miles (60 km) of coastline to explore within these parks, it’s really all about the trees.

A visit to Rocky Mountain National Park may have you singing Rocky Mountain High once you have experienced the splendid scenery of rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and montane meadows, viewed the spectacular sight of elk sparring for the right to control the harem, and heard the echoing sound of those same elk bugling during the mating season.

Split into east and west districts, with Tucson, Arizona, smack dab in the middle, Saguaro National Park is home to the nation's largest cacti. Travel to this national park and you will not only see plenty of saguaro, but also cholla, prickly pear, pincushion, and barrel cacti. Visit in spring and there’s a good chance of brilliantly-saturated blooms on those same cacti.