Americans often zoom straight to the big-name National Parks, leaving the equally stunning State Parks waiting quietly for some love. It’s like choosing a famous chain restaurant over a local hidden gem; you might miss out on the best meal ever. Now, let’s take a road trip beginning in Stockbridge, GA, up through Western New York State, and then head northwest towards Michigan, New England, and spotlight some must-visit State Parks in each state mentioned, with fun facts thrown in to spark your curiosity.
- Stockbridge, Georgia: Amicalola Falls State Park – Home to the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast. Fun fact: Its name means “tumbling waters” in Cherokee.
- Dare County, North Carolina: Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Features the tallest living dune on the Atlantic coast. Surprise: You can hang glide here!
- Abingdon, Virginia: Grayson Highlands State Park – Expect wild ponies to greet you in this park. Shockingly, it’s also near Virginia’s two highest mountains.
- Worcester, Maryland: Assateague State Park – Wild horses roam free on these beaches. Fun fact: These horses are descendants of survivors from a shipwrecked Spanish galleon.
- Washington, DC: Anacostia Park – Offers a break from urban life with riverside walks and recreation. Did you know? It’s one of the oldest parks in the National Park System.
- Livingston County and Wyoming County, New York: Letchworth State Park – Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” It’s fascinating that ice age glaciers formed it.
- Erie, Pennsylvania: Presque Isle State Park – A sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie. Interestingly, it’s one of the best spots for bird-watching in the region.
- Ontonagon, Michigan: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – This park is a backpacker haven with ancient, old-growth forests. Surprisingly, it’s home to one of the few remaining wilderness areas in the Midwest.
- Oglesby, Illinois: Starved Rock State Park – Famous for its fascinating rock formations and waterfalls. Here’s a shocker: The park’s name comes from a legend of a Native American tribe starved on one of the rocks.
Exploring these state parks allows you to see America’s underrated natural beauty. It tells tales of history, culture, and the power of nature. Who doesn’t want to see wild horses on the beach or dunes you can hang glide off?
