To celebrate reaching the milestone of our 300th blog post, we are linking to our top 10 posts from 201-300 based on number of likes. Click here to see our Top 10 from the first 100 and 200 (or click here if you want to see all of our Top 10 Lists). Thank you to our readers for continuing to inspire us to visit new National Park Service (NPS) units and share the wonders with you all.
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The Outer Banks of North Carolina have sparked the imaginations of travelers ever since British colonists landed here in 1585. If you are seeking undeveloped beaches that have changed little over the centuries then this is the place to go. The 70 miles of barrier islands protected as Cape Hatteras National Seashore are interrupted only by small seaside villages and one long section by Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Bodie Island and Hatteras Island are connected by bridges, but Ocracoke Island is only accessible by ferry.
Highlights
1870 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 1872 Bodie Island Lighthouse, Ocracoke Island Campground, beaches
Must-Do Activity
The main National Park Service (NPS) visitor center is located at iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse where you can learn about shipwrecks, pirates, and the monumental effort to move the 208-foot tall brick structure in 1999. Further down Highway 12, pick up a free ferry to Ocracoke Island, a renowned vacation destination. Several campgrounds are found along the seashore, including one on Ocracoke. Since this remote strip of sand is not easy to get to, you will want to spend at least a night or two.
Best Trail
Walking the beach and collecting seashells is the most popular diversion, but there are also the Hammock Hills Nature Trail on Ocracoke Island and Buxton Woods Nature Trail on Hatteras Island.
Instagram-worthy Photo
Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina, dating back to 1823, but it is not open to enter inside.
North of Charleston, South Carolina near Fort Moultrie is a National Park Service (NPS) site dedicated to preserving the memory of one of the forgotten framers of the U.S. Constitution. Charles Pinckney served as an officer during the American Revolution and a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Before his death in 1824, he would go on to be four-term Governor of South Carolina, ambassador to Spain, and member of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Highlights
Museum, historic home, nature trail
Must-Do Activity
The low-country cottage that serves as the NPS visitor center and museum was built in 1828, probably on top of the foundation for the Pinckney’s plantation house. It is filled with artifacts and information on the Pinckney family and their slaves that farmed rice and indigo. The NPS rangers were very welcoming to us here when we visited during our Pretirement year in 2016. This site is free to visit and located across from the well-known Boone Hall Plantation (admission charged).
Best Trail
A short trail leads to an overlook of the tidal river area, but watch out for poison-ivy and ticks.
Instagram-worthy Photo
The live oak trees growing on the property are beautiful with twisting branches draped in Spanish moss.
Charles Pinckney’s contributions to the Constitution
Looking out of the house/visitor center onto the plantation grounds
Tiff with a huge live oak tree
Scott (and Wondon) at the tidal river area
Camelia flower
Explore More – The NPS property is only 28 acres of the original 715-acre Snee Farm, part of the original royal land grant given to Richard Butler in what year?
Off the coast of Ventura, California a rugged archipelago is protected as Channel Islands National Park. There is an airplane landing strip on Santa Rosa Island, but most visitors arrive to the five accessible islands by ferry. Often referred to as the “Galapagos Islands of California,” the biodiverse kelp beds are popular with scuba divers and the sea caves attract kayakers.
Learn more in our guidebook to the National Parks, A Park to Yourself: Finding Adventure in America’s National Parks (available on Amazon).
Highlights
Anacapa Island, Inspiration Point, Arch Rock, wildlife
Must-Do Activity
Most visitors arrive by boat, with the majority taking a day trip to tiny Anacapa Island, which you can walk all the way around in about an hour. The ferry ride is exciting in and of itself with gray whale watching, a close swing by Arch Rock, and an unforgettable landing at a dock where it is far too rough to tie up. If you want the chance to see an amazing sunset and sunrise, you have to overnight on one of the five islands (see Camping below). We also highly recommend the kayaking tour of the sea caves on Santa Cruz Island.
Best Trail
On Anacapa Island, a 1.5-mile loop trail leads around the perimeter and accesses iconic Inspiration Point. There are many miles of trails on Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Cruz Islands (and all have designated campsites).
Instagram-worthy Photo
From atop Anacapa Island’s steep cliffs, we watched swimming sea lions warm their flippers in the air and flying brown pelicans catch thermals below where we stood.
There is no entry fee, but reservations are required for all overnight camping ($15 per night) and ferry prices vary by island.
Road Conditions
No roads
Camping
A few years ago, we stayed at the tiny backcountry campground (with no water available) on Anacapa Island in early April when the giant coreopsis flowers were completing their spectacular blooming period. It was a noisy night since the island is a rookery for thousands of western gulls, plus the lighthouse’s foghorn rumbles out a warning four times per minute. There is a large campground near the dock on Santa Cruz Island frequented by endangered island foxes.
Arch RockFerry boat “docking” at Anacapa IslandThe stairs climb from the dock up to Anacapa IslandSunrise lights up the giant coreopsis flowers on Anacapa Island.Western gulls and the lighthouse foghorn can make for a noisy stay.Sunrise on Anacapa IslandScott and Tiff at Inspiration PointA crow sits on the mast of the NPS boat docked at the visitor center in VenturaKayaking around Santa Cruz IslandScott under the dock on Santa Cruz IslandKelp forestInside a sea cave on Santa Cruz IslandSea lionAn endangered island foxDolphins following the ferry boatRaven about the park
This design we created to celebrate Joshua Tree National Park is available on a variety of products at Cafe Press and Amazon.
Explore More – The largest in the archipelago, Santa Cruz Island is 62,000 acres and 76% owned by which non-profit organization?
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On the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, the Delaware River flows through a gap in the long ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. This marks the southern end of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the site of the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center (right off Interstate 80) managed by the National Park Service (NPS). When preservationists fought to protect this area from being dammed in the 1960s it led to the creation of the National Recreation Area surrounding a 40-mile stretch of river designated as the Middle Delaware National Scenic River.
Highlights
Raymondskill Falls, Millbrook Village, Dingmans Falls, floating Middle Delaware National Scenic River
Must-Do Activity
Most of the NPS visitor centers are open seasonally in this resort area on the Pocono Plateau. We visited in the offseason in late September and enjoyed hiking to Raymondskill, Silver Thread, and Dingmans Falls on the Pennsylvania side. On the New Jersey side the main attraction is Millbrook Village, a recreated 1800s town that is open year round. Fishing, swimming, and floating the Middle Delaware National Scenic River are popular in the summer.
Best Trail
There are more than 100 miles of trails within the park, including 27 miles of the famous Appalachian National Scenic Trail that leads to the top of Mt. Minsi for great views of the actual Delaware Water Gap.
Instagram-worthy Photo
A boardwalk trail passes 80-foot tall Silver Thread Falls on the way to 130-foot tall Dingmans Falls.
None for entry, but some sites have a user fee (Smithfield Beach, Milford Beach, etc.) and there are toll bridges across the river in places.
Road Conditions
There are several unpaved roads and toll bridges within the boundaries of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Camping
Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania
Campground options available in New Jersey include Worthington State Forest, High Point State Park, and Stokes State Forest. Dingmans Campground on the Pennsylvania side offers discounts for the NPS Senior Pass. Primitive camping is allowed for thru-hikers on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and along the riverside for boaters. Keep a clean campsite, as black bears are common.
Explore More – The Delaware River is one of the cleanest rivers in the eastern U.S. and attracts large numbers of which nationally symbolic raptor every winter?
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Raven About The Parks 