Georgia, Tennessee

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

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Overview

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was authorized in 1890, the first park of its kind in the United States.  It covers multiple battlefields from late-1863 that straddle the Tennessee-Georgia borderline.  Though the Confederate army initially won at Chickamauga, Georgia, the Union took control of Chattanooga, Tennessee after the arrival of General Ulysses S. Grant with reinforcements in November.  Like Fort Monroe in Virginia, this area then became a beacon for escaped slaves, eventually numbering 2,000 people.

Highlights

Museums, film, driving tour, Point Park, Ochs Memorial Observatory, Cravens House, cannons

Must-Do Activity

Point Park sits on top of Lookout Mountain offering awesome views of the city of Chattanooga and Moccasin Bend on the Tennessee River.  It is also the home of Ochs Memorial Observatory and museum, one reason Point Park charges an admission fee.  The nearby National Park Service (NPS) visitor center displays the 30×13-foot painting The Battle of Lookout Mountain by James Walker.  At the Chickamauga battlefield, a seven-mile long driving tour explains what happened there on September 20, 1863.  The National Military Park also entails seven small military reservations and the Phelps Monument along the road atop Missionary Ridge, east of Chattanooga.

Best Trail

There are miles of trails atop Lookout Mountain and Ochs Memorial Observatory is only accessible by trail (and many stair steps).  It contains a museum dedicated to the Civil War and American Indians, specifically the Cherokee who passed through Moccasin Bend (which has its own three-mile loop trail) on the Trail of Tears in 1838.

Instagram-worthy Photo

The entrance to Point Park is designed to look like the Army Corps of Engineers insignia.

Peak Season

Summer

Hours

https://www.nps.gov/chch/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Fees

$10 per person to enter Point Park or America the Beautiful pass

Road Conditions

All roads paved, but there is limited free parking available at the NPS visitor center near Point Park.

Camping

Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia is about 20 miles southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Related Sites

Fort Donelson National Battlefield (Tennessee-Kentucky)

Shiloh National Military Park (Tennessee-Mississippi)

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Georgia)

  • Point Park offers an excellent view of Chattanooga on the Tennessee River
  • Tiff with a historic painting of the battle
  • Scott with the New York Peace Monument in Point Park
  • Moccasin Bend on the Tennessee River
  • Chickamauga, Georgia
  • Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center
  • Inside the Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center
  • Out back of the Chickamauga Battlefield visitor center

Explore More – Why did President Abraham Lincoln consider capturing Chattanooga (a town of only 2,500) as important as Atlanta?

List

Top 10 Movies Filmed in National Parks

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Many classic movies have been filmed within the boundaries of America’s National Parks due to their iconic landmarks and natural beauty.  Our ranking is partially based on the quality of the movie and partially on the prominence of the setting to the story.  We hope this list brings back some fond cinematic memories.  Click here to check out all of our Top 10 Lists.

10. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

Rocky IV (1985), Shane (1953)

The jagged Teton Range makes for one of the most impressive backdrops in the country.

9. Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska)

Into the Wild (2007)

Chris McCandless was not technically within the park, but several scenes were shot there.

8. Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Georgia to Maine)

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

The movie is not as good as the book, but the scenery and soundtrack are both excellent.

7. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Arizona-Utah)

Planet of the Apes (1968)

This spartan, but beautiful landscape makes for an otherworldly setting for (spoiler alert) planet Earth.

6. Death Valley National Park (California)

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

The sand dunes and canyons here filled in for Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine.

5. National Mall (District of Columbia)

Forrest Gump (1994)

A great scene in a great film takes place on the nation’s front lawn in Washington, D.C.

4. Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota)

North by Northwest (1959)

Cary Grant hanging from the giant carvings was actually a set piece, but most was filmed on site.

3. Devils Tower National Monument (Wyoming)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Who hasn’t sculpted this volcanic monolith out of mashed potatoes after watching this movie?

2. Zion National Park (Utah)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

This off-the-wall classic film featured the natural wonders of southern Utah.

…and finally, our #1 National Park setting for films!

1. Redwood National and State Parks (California)

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Outbreak (1995)

We kept expecting Ewoks to pop out from behind the massive coast redwood trees.

Honorable Mentions

Glacier National Park (Montana)

The Shining (1980)

The Going-to-the-Sun Road was featured as the family drives up to the isolated winter lodge (filmed elsewhere).

Arches National Park (Utah)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), City Slickers II (1993), Thelma and Louise (1990)

Utah’s red rocks are prominent in portions of these three movies.

Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park

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Overview

The hot springs that give this Arkansas town its name were the first site ever set aside by the federal government for protection way back in 1832.  That was forty years before Yellowstone National Park came into existence, and is the reason Hot Springs National Park was commemorated as the first minted of the America the Beautiful Coin Collection in 2010.  It is also the reason that Hot Springs is unlike any other National Park in the system, checking in at only 5,550 acres on either side of a bustling downtown lined with historic bathhouses.

Hot Springs National Park is not one of the 50 covered in great detail in our guidebook to the National Parks (available on Amazon), but as one of the 63 National Parks it is included with a photo.

Highlights

Fordyce Bathhouse, West Mountain Scenic Drive, Goat Rock, Hot Springs Mountain Tower, Balanced Rock

Must-Do Activity

When you visit, it is best to start at the National Park Service (NPS) museum within the former Fordyce Bathhouse, where you will learn that the water is heated not by volcanic activity but by gravitational compression.  Whether or not you pay to soak in the non-sulfurous waters at a privately-owned bathhouse, be sure to fill up a bottle at one of several mineral rich drinking fountains around town.  Then you too can “quaff the elixir” the same way tourists have been doing here for nearly 200 years.

Best Trail

There are several hiking options in the forested hills around the town, including the 17-mile long Sunset Trail that provides access to Balanced Rock.  The Gulpha Gorge Trail leaves from the NPS campground up to vistas at Goat Rock or you can also park at the top of North Mountain and hike down to it on the Goat Rock Trail.

Instagram-worthy Photo

Inside the men’s locker room, a beautiful stained glass ceiling lets in light on the sculpture of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto who came to the hot springs in 1541.

Peak Season

Summer

Hours

https://www.nps.gov/hosp/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

Fees

None to visit the NPS museum in Fordyce Bathhouse, but there is a charge to climb Hot Springs Mountain Tower or visit one of the privately-owned bathhouses (like Buckstaff Baths or Quapaw Baths and Spa).

Road Conditions

All roads are paved, but there are some tight curves on the scenic drive up Hot Springs Mountain.

Camping

The NPS run Gulpha Gorge Campground offers sites with or without electrical and water hookups.

Related Sites

Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Oklahoma)

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (Arkansas)

Buffalo National River (Arkansas)

  • Scott in front of Fordyce Bathhouse
  • The stained glass in the men’s area
  • Tiff next to a steam cabinet
  • Some old signs
  • A view of the fall colors in November
  • Scott and Tiff inside the NPS bookstore
  • Tiff with one of the many springs around town
  • Scenic drive
  • Tiff on Goat Rock Trail
  • View from Goat Rock
  • Beautyberry
  • Tiff taking a sip of spring water at a historic drinking fountain

Explore More – In the roaring 1920s, Hot Springs, Arkansas was like the original Las Vegas attracting athletes, politicians, and which famous mobsters?

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Virginia

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park

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Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park

Virginia

Managed by National Park Service

Established 2002

3,712 acres

Website: nps.gov/cebe

Overview

The Shenandoah Valley was the Confederate States of America’s “breadbasket” in the 1860s and thus had strategic importance during the Civil War. This led to numerous skirmishes and the fight that took place on October 19, 1864 is commemorated at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Not all the land within this park is owned by the federal government, but the National Park Service (NPS) has acquired some acreage and completed a significant amount of work to improve its interpretive signage since our first visit in 2016.

Highlights

Morning Attack Trails, driving tour, Hupp’s Hill Museum, Belle Grove historic plantation

Must-Do Activity

If you need the stamp for your NPS passport, stop at the Visitor Contact Station located in a strip mall in Middletown, Virginia. There you can pick up a free guide to help you follow the driving tour focused on the October 19, 1864 battle fought at Cedar Creek. There is also a free app available on the park’s website.  Managed by a non-profit that organizes an annual two-day reenactment of the battle (which is worth seeing), Hupp’s Hill Civil War Park offers a free museum year-round. You can also pay to take a tour of the manor house at Belle Grove.

Best Trail

The Morning Attack Trails are located next to the NPS Headquarters off Highway 11 with interpretive signage placed on the 300-yard long 8th Vermont Monument Trail, 0.6-mile Thomas Brigade Loop, and 0.7-mile Hayes-Ramseur Loop. The 19th Corps Trails connect the 128th New York Monument on Highway 11 with Belle Grove Plantation.

Instagram-worthy Photo

Available for guided tours (fee) between April and December, the manor house at Belle Grove Plantation dates back to 1797. Union General Philip Sheridan used the house as his headquarters in 1864 and most of his 31,600 troops camped on the property.

A large historic house with a symmetrical facade, situated on a grassy hill surrounded by trees, with other structures in the background.

Peak Season

Fall

Hours

https://www.nps.gov/cebe/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Fees

Admission charged for guided tours of Belle Grove manor house and entrance to Hupp’s Hill Museum.

Road Conditions

Some of the roads on the driving tour are unpaved and not recommended for buses or RVs.

Camping

Head for the hills to camp in Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and George Washington National Forest.

Related Sites

Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania)

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia-Maryland-Virginia)

Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)

Nearest National Park

Shenandoah

Annual reenactment held in October
Exterior of a brick building featuring the National Park Service logo and a door with a sign reading 'Find Your'.
The NPS visitor contact station is located in a strip mall
A large red barn with a silver roof, accompanied by a cylindrical silo, set against a cloudy sky.
Barn at Belle Grove
A group of cows grazing in a green pasture, with a wooden fence in the foreground.
View of the Cedar Creek battlefield in Virginia, featuring informational signs about the Battle of Cedar Creek, a green landscape, and a historical marker.
Signs along Highway 11
A view of a National Park Service sign beside a wet road, with a fallen tree branch on the grass and overcast skies.
There was an eastern redcedar blocking the trailhead parking area on our 2021 visit
Historical exhibit sign titled 'Eve of Battle', detailing the events of October 19, 1864, with a map and illustrations, set in a grassy area near a roadway.
A serene landscape featuring a pond covered with green algae, surrounded by lush trees and a grassy path on one side.
On the Morning Attack Trail
Interpretive sign detailing the Stand of the Eighth Vermont at 5:45 a.m., featuring text about the historical event and an illustration of soldiers in battle, with a fenced historical monument in the background.
A silhouette of a tree beside a weathered wooden fence under a gray sky.
Hupp’s Hill Museum
Hupp’s Hill Museum

Explore More – Belle Grove was owned by Isaac Hite, Jr. and his wife Nelly, who was the sister of which U.S. President?

New Mexico

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

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Overview

Archaeological evidence suggests indigenous farmers lived around the Gila River dating back thousands of years, but the cliff dwellings were only briefly inhabited between AD 1270 and 1300.  After their initial discovery by Anglo-American settlers in 1878 heavy looting occurred, prompting President Theodore Roosevelt to establish Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in 1907.  It is not an easy part of the country to access, but offers two incredibly scenic drives through the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico.  Plan to spend at least a couple days in the area, maybe hiking or backpacking to some hot springs.

Highlights

Museum, film, ruins, scenic views, hot springs in area

Must-Do Activity

The Gila Visitor Center is jointly managed for the 533-acre National Monument and 558,000-acre Gila Wilderness (which in 1924 became the world’s first designated Wilderness).  From the National Park Service (NPS) contact station located just down the road, a one-mile loop trail climbs 180 feet to a well-preserved collection of cliff dwellings.  If you find that you enjoy climbing ladders up to cliff dwellings, then check out Bandelier National Monument and Balcony House at Mesa Verde National Park.

Best Trail

The trailhead also provides access to the Gila Wilderness, so watch for backpackers on the road and black bears along the West Fork Gila River.  Lightfeather Hot Springs is less than one mile from a different trailhead located closer to the Gila Visitor Center.

Instagram-worthy Photo

There are about 40 rooms in the cliff dwelling ruins, which housed approximately ten families.  The south-facing cliff dwellings received the sun in the winter and shade in the summer.

Peak Season

Summer

Hours

https://www.nps.gov/gicl/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Fees

None

Road Conditions

The access roads are paved, but narrow and curvy, especially Highway 15 that heads north from Silver City, New Mexico.

Camping

Upper and Lower Scorpion Campgrounds are located just outside the National Monument boundaries in Gila National Forest.  No permits are necessary to backpack in the Gila Wilderness.

Related Sites

Montezuma Castle National Monument (Arizona)

Fort Bowie National Historic Site (Arizona)

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona)

  • Tiff on the trail to the cliff dwellings
  • Tiff climbing a ladder
  • Scott at the cliff dwellings
  • View from inside the cliff dwellings
  • Tiff inside the cliff dwellings
  • Spiny crevice lizard
  • Lightfeather Hot Springs is a short walk from the trailhead
  • Scott backpacking in the Gila Wilderness (Gila National Forest)

Explore More – The people who built the cliff dwellings were part of what culture, with pottery designs unique to the Tularosa phase (AD 1100 to 1300)?