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Skip to main contentSkip to site footer * Trending: * WSBS Mobile App * Bulletin Board * Winter Watch * Submit Birthdays Your Hometown Station * Home * On-Air * All DJs * Shows * Listen * Listen Live * WSBS Free APP * WSBS on Alexa * WSBS on Google Home * Playlist * Month Playlist * Recently Played * Contests * Win $500 Target Gift Card * Newsletter * Contact Us * Help & Contact Info * Send Feedback * Advertise * More * Home * On-Air * All DJs * Shows * Listen * Listen Live * WSBS Free APP * WSBS on Alexa * WSBS on Google Home * Playlist * Month Playlist * Recently Played * Contests * Win $500 Target Gift Card * Newsletter * Contact Us * Help & Contact Info * Send Feedback * Advertise Listen Now Heather DeLucaHeather DeLuca Britney Spears Oops...i Did It Again Britney Spears Oops!... I Did It Again Lisa Loeb Nine Stories Stay Lisa Loeb Nine Stories Reality Bites (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Jonas Brothers Only Human Jonas Brothers Happiness Begins Naked Eyes Always Something There To Remind Me Naked Eyes Naked Eyes Sia Cheap Thrills Sia Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul) - Single VIEW ALL RECENTLY PLAYED SONGS * Visit us on Youtube * Visit us on Facebook * Visit us on Twitter * * INSTAGRAM * * * Unbelievable! Massachusetts Is DEAD LAST In The Country For This UNBELIEVABLE! MASSACHUSETTS IS DEAD LAST IN THE COUNTRY FOR THIS Eric Greene Eric GreenePublished: November 7, 2023 Andy Dean * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter Every day in this country, this particular action occurs approximately 2,400 times. Or, to put it another way, every 36 seconds. Some of the reasons why it happens include(but are not limited to) lack of sexual intimacy, emotional distancing, resentment, lack of respect, and a breakdown in communications. Sign up for the WSBS 860AM Newsletter GET THE BEST OF WSBS 860AM DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EVERYDAY Powered By 00:02/11:07 10 48.8M 10.4K Shakira's Best Dance Breaks Share Next Stay What am I referring to? To quote the late, great Tammy Wynette's 1968 hit, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E". And that stat I mentioned above is correct: A divorce happens somewhere in this country every 36 seconds on average. Divorce is never easy. At best, you just hope you and your spouse can at least end things before you angrily and bitterly despise each other. The angel on your shoulder says you should still remain friends, at the very least. After all, you did love this person at one time, right? Recently, the folks at BetMassachusetts.com, using data from the National Center for Health Statistics, determined the states with the highest and lowest divorce rates per 1,000 women. And, although data for five states was not included (California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico), the surprising thing to me was that Massachusetts came in last. But wait--that's a good thing! Out of the remaining states, Massachusetts ranked last with a divorce rate of only 1%! For comparison's sake, the state that's home to Sin City, Nevada, was #1 with a divorce rate of 4.2%. Hmmm, Las Vegas and a high divorce rate--coincidence? Here are the 5 states with the highest divorce rate according to BetMassachusetts.com: 1. Nevada 2. Oklahoma 3. Wyoming 4. Alabama/Arkansas(tied for 4th) 5. Arkansas/Alabama(tied for 4th) And here are the five states with the lowest divorce rate: 1. Massachusetts 2. Illinois 3. Texas 4. Maryland 5. Kansas Good for us, Massachusetts! Way to stick by our partners for "better or worse"! Take a look at the full rankings by visiting Bet Massachusetts' website here. RANKED: HERE ARE THE MOST POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang #50. Great Basin National Park Arlene Waller // Shutterstock #50. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 120,248 - Percent of total national park visits: .18% Located in Nevada, Great Basin National Park has both warm desert valleys and mountains that reach up to 13,000 feet. Visitors can see fossils, caves, rock formations, and even a glacier. Thanks to its wide elevation range, the park is home to a large spread of biodiversity, including 73 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, and more than 800 plant species. #49. Guadalupe Mountains National Park ShuPhoto // Shutterstock #49. GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 151,256 - Percent of total national park visits: .22% Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas has the four highest peaks in the state and protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, making the park a geologist's paradise. The Guadalupes were once home to the Mescalero Apache Native Americans, and pictographs from early settlers can still be seen in the park's caves. At one point, the Guadalupe Mountains were all underwater in the Delaware Sea. #48. Pinnacles National Park Yhelfman // Shutterstock #48. PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 165,740 - Percent of total national park visits: .24% Pinnacles National Park in California was born after several volcanoes erupted, forming the unique landscape of the park, which is packed with canyons, rock spires, and woodlands. When the park was established in 1908, it was only 2,060 acres, but has now grown to 26,000. Because of hot summer temperatures, Pinnacles is most popular in the winter months. #47. Channel Islands National Park Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock #47. CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 167,290 - Percent of total national park visits: .25% The gorgeous Channel Islands National Park in California is comprised of five islands, each with a unique history. The northern islands were once home to the native Chumash people and eventually European explorers who harvested fish from the channel waters. The unique environment surrounding the islands contributes to a huge amount of biological diversity that represents 1,000 miles of the West Coast of North America. #46. Virgin Islands National Park Sean Pavone // Shutterstock #46. VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 167,540 - Percent of total national park visits: .25% Virgin Islands National Park comprises two-thirds of the island of St. John and almost all of nearby Hassel Island. First inhabited between 2,500 and 3,000 years ago, St. John was home to the Taino people, colonial Europeans, and enslaved Africans. Today the park offers stunning beaches, hikes to what were once plantations when sugar monopolized the economy, a bird-viewing deck overlooking a salt pond, and petroglyphs carved by the pre-Columbus Taino. You may also like: Must-drive roads in every state #45. Carlsbad Caverns National Park Doug Meek // Shutterstock #45. CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 183,835 - Percent of total national park visits: .27% Located in southern New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park's 119 caves were born when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone millions of years ago, leaving behind a treasure trove of caverns. The Big Room in Carlsbad Cavern is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America and takes an hour and a half to cross, according to the National Park Service. Birders from around the globe flock to Rattlesnake Spring to see some of the 300 documented bird species. #44. Voyageurs National Park BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock #44. VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 263,091 - Percent of total national park visits: .39% Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is 40% water, so many visitors navigate the park by boat. The park is known for its spectacular view of the stars, and the aurora borealis is sometimes visible. Moose, wolves, and black bears are just a few of the animals that call the park home year-round. #43. Redwood National Park Bob Pool // Shutterstock #43. REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 265,177 - Percent of total national park visits: .39% While Redwood National Park in California is famous for the tallest trees on the planet, the park also protects coastline and prairies. Visitors can watch the gray whale migration at the Klamath River Overlook and walk on gray sands at Gold Bluffs Beach with remains from the state's mining era. Animals including Roosevelt elk, California sea lions, eagles, and banana slugs call the park home. #42. Mesa Verde National Park Sopotnicki // Shutterstock #42. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 287,477 - Percent of total national park visits: .42% Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado protects nearly 5,000 archaeological sites that have preserved the history of the ancestral Pueblo people. They inhabited the land for almost 700 years, building dwellings into the cliffs and establishing communities before moving away. Visitors can both see and explore several of the cliff dwellings through tours and hiking trails. #41. Mammoth Cave National Park Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock #41. MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 290,392 - Percent of total national park visits: .43% Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park is known for housing the world's longest cave system, which stretches 400 miles. Though famous for its caves, the park also has more than 70 threatened or endangered species that include birds, crustaceans, and fish. It is believed that the first human entered Mammoth Cave 4,000 years ago. You may also like: US airports with the most delays #40. Haleakala National Park MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock #40. HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 319,147 - Percent of total national park visits: .47% Haleakala National Park in Hawaii is home to a volcano with a 10,000-foot summit, and is the highest point on Maui. Native Hawaiians have lived on this land for more than 1,000 years, making this an important cultural site. According to the National Park Service, many of the legends surrounding Haleakala focus on the demigod Maui, and natives consider the summit to be the place where Maui snared the sun in order to slow its passage through the sky. #39. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park SL-Photography // Shutterstock #39. BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 341,620 - Percent of total national park visits: .50% The canyons and rock spires at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado can reach a surface temperature of up to 120 degrees. Many of the desert creatures that call the park home use ephemeral pools in rocks as their main water source. Some of the canyon's formations are up to 500 million years old, and contain sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous stones. #38. Petrified Forest National Park Felix Lipov // Shutterstock #38. PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 384,483 - Percent of total national park visits: .57% Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is home to the gorgeous Painted Desert and Crystal Forest, where petrified logs shine with quartz crystals. The site in the park known as Newspaper Rock contains more than 650 petroglyphs between 650 and 2,000 years old. The landscape of the park features mesas and buttes created by erosion. #37. Big Bend National Park Eric Foltz // Shutterstock #37. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 393,907 - Percent of total national park visits: .58% Big Bend National Park in Texas offers spectacular views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape as well as the Rio Grande. Visitors to the park can even enter Mexico through the park's Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry. Big Bend has more species of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the United States. #36. Biscayne National Park NPS // Wikimedia Commons #36. BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 402,770 - Percent of total national park visits: .59% Biscayne National Park located just next to Miami is an ocean-lover's paradise, with crystal clear waters, colorful coral reefs, and more than 500 species of reef fish. Visitors also have the chance to spot manatees, sea turtles, and pelicans. Though the park comprises several islands, 95% of the park is actually water. You may also like: Must-do activities at every national park #35. Kings Canyon National Park Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock #35. KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 415,077 - Percent of total national park visits: .61% Kings Canyon National Park in California boasts giant sequoia trees, a tall granite dome with sweeping views, and a marble cavern known as Crystal Cave. Because the park has an elevation gradient of more than 13,000 feet, it plays host to around 1,300 plant species and 300 animal species. #34. White Sands National Park Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock #34. WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 415,383 - Percent of total national park visits: .61% The park is aptly named, featuring wavy white sands over nearly 300 square miles in New Mexico's Tularosa Basin. This is the world's largest gypsum dunefield, and the park preserves a major part of it. Visits can include the park's historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lucero Ranch on the shore of Lake Lucero and the White Sands Missile Range Museum and Trinity Site, where in 1945 the first atomic bomb was tested. #33. Wind Cave National Park Zack Frank // Shutterstock #33. WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 448,405 - Percent of total national park visits: .66% Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is famous for its rare boxwork cave formations that consist of paper-thin intersecting lines of calcite. Other unique formations include popcorn, frostwork, dogtooth spar crystals, and flowstone. Exploration of the cave began in 1881 when brothers Jesse and Tom Bingham discovered a small hole in the ground, which was the cave's sole natural opening. #32. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock #32. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE - Recreational visits in 2020: 461,532 - Percent of total national park visits: .68% Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is famous for the tallest sand dunes in North America, that stretch 30 miles across. The park is also home to five alpine lakes, forests, meadows, and grasslands. Popular activities in the park include sand sledding and sand boarding as well as horseback riding and swimming in the Medano Creek. #31. Gateway Arch National Park Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock #31. GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 486,021 - Percent of total national park visits: .72% Unlike many other national parks, the Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri is located in a major city and isn't focused on preserving wildlife. The park contains the 630-foot Gateway Arch monument and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. The courthouse was where the first two trials of the landmark Dred Scott case were held in 1847 and 1850. The arch is the nation's tallest monument. You may also like: 25 extreme getaways #30. Canyonlands National Park Manamana // Shutterstock #30. CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 493,914 - Percent of total national park visits: .73% Utah's Canyonlands National Park features a unique landscape of canyons, mesas, and buttes formed by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Even though the park is considered a desert, its high elevation gives it a varying climate; temperatures here can fluctuate as much as 50 degrees in a day. This, combined with the low annual rainfall, make the park a perfect home for drought-resistant plants such as cacti, yuccas, and mosses. #29. Lassen Volcanic National Park Zack Frank // Shutterstock #29. LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 542,274 - Percent of total national park visits: .80% Each rock at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California is a result of a volcanic eruption, given that the park has been volcanically active for 3 million years. The world's four volcanic types--shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome--are all present at the park and located in close proximity to each other. Park visitors can also check out the park's several fumaroles, mud pots, and boiling pools. #28. Theodore Roosevelt National Park Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock #28. THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 551,303 - Percent of total national park visits: .81% Located in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park's dominating feature is the badlands, which are colorful, rolling hills consisting of rock that are millions of years old. Erosion and other natural processes like lightning strikes and prairie fires continue to shape the badlands today. The park is of course named for the U.S. president who first came to the Dakotas in 1883 to hunt bison. #27. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park jo Crebbin // Shutterstock #27. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 589,775 - Percent of total national park visits: .87% Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the Kilauea Volcano and periodically erupting Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa has the most mass of any mountain on Earth, occupying a volume of about 20,000 cubic miles. The park was created to preserve the natural setting of both Kilauea and Mauna Loa, as well as the Big Island's native plants and animals. #26. Crater Lake National Park Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock #26. CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 670,500 - Percent of total national park visits: .99% Crater Lake National Park in Oregon was formed when a volcanic eruption at Mount Mazama triggered the collapse of a tall peak, forming the deepest lake in the United States. The crater, also known as a caldera, is 5 to 6 miles long and 3,900 feet deep, making it the seventh-deepest lake in the world, the National Park Service reports. Because the lake doesn't have any inlets or outlets, the water comes entirely from precipitation, giving it a clear blue hue. You may also like: 25 of the world's most expensive hotel rooms #25. Everglades National Park Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock #25. EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 702,319 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.03% Everglades National Park is of such biological importance that it is also a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance. The park protects rare and endangered species, including the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther. Bird watching is a popular activity in the park, with blue herons, bald eagles, and red-shouldered hawks to spot. #24. Saguaro National Park kojihirano // Shutterstock #24. SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 762,226 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.12% As its name suggests, Saguaro National Park in Arizona protects giant saguaro cacti, a symbol of the American West. The average lifespan of one of these cacti is 125 years old, and it produces sweet fruits. The park is also home to a variety of animals, many of which can only be found in the southern part of the state, including kangaroo rats, roadrunners, and horned lizards. #23. Sequoia National Park Virrage Images // Shutterstock #23. SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 796,086 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.17% Sequoia National Park is adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park in California and was the first park established to protect a living organism: its native sequoia trees. Since World War II, Sequoia and Kings Canyon have been administered jointly. In 2014, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep were reintroduced to the park for the first time in 100 years as part of a recovery effort for this endangered species. #22. Death Valley National Park Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock #22. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 820,023 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.21% Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada is home to the driest, lowest, and hottest spot in North America. The park was once home to a variety of different people, including the Timbisha Shoshone Native Americans, Chinese workers, the Basque people, and Japanese American internees, according to the National Park Service. Today, visitors can experience the park's sand dunes, salt flats, and a dry lakebed known as the Racetrack Playa. #21. Badlands National Park Matt Ragen // Shutterstock #21. BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 916,932 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.35% The striking landscape of Badlands National Park in South Dakota contains one of the world's richest fossil beds. At one point, it was home to the rhino and saber-toothed cat. The Badlands were formed nearly 70 million years ago by erosion and deposition of sediment when an ancient sea was located where today's Great Plains are. Erosion will eventually entirely erase the Badlands. You may also like: 20 tips for the ultimate road trip #20. Capitol Reef National Park Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock #20. CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 981,038 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.44% Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is famous for the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline extending almost 100 miles and considered a "wrinkle on the earth." The fold was formed 50 to 70 million years ago as a warp in the Earth's crust, and erosion has exposed the fold at the surface. The park has some of the darkest night skies in the United States, so much so that it has been designated an International Dark Sky Park. #19. New River Gorge National Park & Preserve Steve Heap // Shutterstock #19. NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,054,374 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.55% New River Gorge National Park & Preserve consists of 70,000 acres along the New River, a whitewater river in southern West Virginia that despite its name is one of the oldest on the continent. From the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the sides of the valley fall almost 900 feet into the deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can go whitewater rafting or canoeing, rock climbing, bird watching, camping, hiking, or biking along an old railroad grade. #18. Mount Rainier National Park Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock #18. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,160,754 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.71% Located in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park is famous for housing the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. Mount Rainier is the highest volcano in the Cascade Range, and experiences about 20 small earthquakes a year. Some of the animals that visitors regularly spot at the park include mountain goats, ravens, elk, and black bears. #17. Arches National Park Manamana // Shutterstock #17. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,238,083 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.82% Arches National Park in Utah lives up to its name and has more than 2,000 natural stone arches, the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. These sandstone geological formations are the result of erosion and a thick layer of salt beneath the rock surface. The arches are impermanent, however; the 71-foot Wall Arch collapsed in 2008. #16. Hot Springs National Park Zack Frank // Shutterstock #16. HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,348,215 - Percent of total national park visits: 1.98% Known as "The American Spa," Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas has thermal waters with soothing properties. Typically, hot springs pop up in areas with volcanic activity and are rare in the central part of the continent. These hot springs are situated along a fault on the western side of Hot Springs Mountain. You may also like: Famous tourist destinations being impacted by climate change #15. Bryce Canyon National Park ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock #15. BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,464,655 - Percent of total national park visits: 2.16% Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah has the world's largest collection of hoodoos, pillars of rock left standing after erosion. Bryce Canyon contains a series of natural amphitheaters and bowls, the most famous being Bryce Amphitheater, which is full of the park's iconic hoodoos. The park is one of three national parks to house the Grand Staircase geological formation, which is a giant sequence of sedimentary rock layers. #14. Shenandoah National Park Jon Bilous // Shutterstock #14. SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,666,265 - Percent of total national park visits: 2.45% Just 75 miles from the nation's capital, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia showcases the Blue Ridge Mountains and is home to 90 perennial streams, many of which turn into cascading waterfalls. While many native species have been lost over time, today the park has more than 200 bird species, 50 mammal species, and more than 35 fish species, the National Park Service reports. The park is popular with hikers, with 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail. #13. Glacier National Park Pung // Shutterstock #13. GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 1,698,864 - Percent of total national park visits: 2.50% Glacier National Park in Montana is responsible for housing streams that flow into the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson's Bay. Because of this, it has become home to a variety of plants and animals, so much so that it has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. The park was carved from glaciers dating back 10,000 years, exposing bedrock that has helped scientists understand the Earth's movement. #12. Yosemite National Park Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock #12. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,268,313 - Percent of total national park visits: 3.34% Yosemite National Park in California is home to the 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls, the largest waterfall in North America. With 800 miles of hiking, there's plenty to explore, including enormous granite mountains, such at Mt. Lyell, the park's tallest point. Visitors can enjoy the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees, the peaceful Hetch Hetchy Valley, and rock formations carved by ancient glaciers. #11. Indiana Dunes National Park Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock #11. INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,293,106 - Percent of total national park visits: 3.38% With 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline for swimming, surfing, and paddling, beachgoers may forget they're in Indiana. For those interested in hiking and biking, there are more than 50 miles of trails of varying difficulty through dunes, wetlands, forests, and prairies, with a handicap accessible trail at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. Note that the only area with lifeguards present is West Beach--also the only site with a fee--during the summer months. You may also like: World's happiest countries #10. Joshua Tree National Park Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock #10. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,399,542 - Percent of total national park visits: 3.53% Joshua Tree National Park in California was named after its picturesque, spiky Joshua trees. Mormon immigrants named the trees after the biblical Joshua after noticing that the limbs looked as if they were outstretched in prayer. Many of the park's animals, including the Scott's orioles, wood rats, and desert night lizards, depend on the tree for food and shelter. Keys View in the park offers an incredible view of the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault, and San Jacinto. #9. Olympic National Park f11photo // Shutterstock #9. OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,499,177 - Percent of total national park visits: 3.68% Olympic National Park in Washington has temperate rainforests, glacier-topped mountains, and more than 70 miles of coastline. The park was established in 1938 to protect some of the state's quickly vanishing forests, and now protects one of the largest remaining blocks of temperate rainforest in the lower 48 states. Visitors to the park can see Mount Olympus, which stands 7,980 feet high, on a clear day. #8. Acadia National Park Romiana Lee // Shutterstock #8. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,669,034 - Percent of total national park visits: 3.93% Acadia National Park in Maine protects the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline in the United States, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern coast of the country. Granite ridges in the park were formed by glaciers that measured up to 9,000 feet thick, and evidence of their presence is visible throughout the park. #7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Zack Frank // Shutterstock #7. CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,755,628 - Percent of total national park visits: 4.06% Near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves the beauty of the Cuyahoga River and showcases the historic route of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Popular attractions at the park include the 65-foot Brandywine Falls waterfall, Beaver Marsh, and the National Park Scenic train. The park is home to an astounding 900 plant species, 194 bird species, and almost two dozen reptile species. #6. Grand Canyon National Park Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock #6. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 2,897,098 - Percent of total national park visits: 4.26% Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is synonymous with its world-famous canyon that is 18 miles wide and 1 mile deep. The park encompasses more than 1 million acres and consists of raised plateaus and structural basins. The Grand Canyon is considered one of the best examples of arid land erosion in the world. It has a rich and diverse fossil record, and the land offers a detailed record of three out of the four geological eras. You may also like: America's biggest travel nightmares (and how to avoid them) #5. Grand Teton National Park Zack Frank // Shutterstock #5. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 3,289,638 - Percent of total national park visits: 4.84% Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has a rich history beginning 11,000 years ago when nomadic paleo-Indians harvested berries, crafted stone tools, and fished in lakes, leaving behind evidence for historians. The weather in the park can get unbearably cold: The lowest temperature ever recorded was -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The center line of the 2017 solar eclipse was visible from the park, sending it into totality against the backdrop of its glacier-carved landscape. #4. Rocky Mountain National Park Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock #4. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 3,305,199 - Percent of total national park visits: 4.87% Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is home to some of the highest mountains in the continental United States. Sixty mountain peaks measure in at more than 12,000 feet high, making the park a popular destination for hikers. Visitors can fish at more than 50 lakes and streams. #3. Zion National Park Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock #3. ZION NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 3,591,254 - Percent of total national park visits: 5.29% Zion National Park was Utah's first national park and is famous for its landscape of giant colorful sandstone cliffs. Around 12,000 years ago, the first people to visit this land tracked mammoths, giant sloths, and camels until those animals died about 8,000 years ago, the National Park Service says. Because of the range in elevation in the park, it has more than 1,000 diverse plant species. #2. Yellowstone National Park Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock #2. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 3,806,306 - Percent of total national park visits: 5.60% Yellowstone National Park spans three states: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. As the world's first national park, Yellowstone has plenty to offer, including the famed Old Faithful geyser, Mt. Washburn, and the Mammoth Hot Springs. The park is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth, making it home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. #1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Dave Allen Photography // Shutterstock #1. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - Recreational visits in 2020: 12,095,720 - Percent of total national park visits: 17.81% Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee is the most biodiverse park in the National Park system, with more than 19,000 documented species. The Smokies are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. On average, more than 85 inches of rain falls in the park each year, fueling 2,100 miles of streams and rivers that flow through the park. You may also like: Top rated museums in the U.S. SEE THE MUST-DRIVE ROADS IN EVERY STATE Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones Alabama: Lookout Mountain Parkway Jim Bauer // Wikipedia Commons ALABAMA: LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN PARKWAY Prepare for 93 miles of mountain laurel and rhododendrons. Lookout Mountain Parkway spans three states from Alabama to Tennessee, and it’s home to the world’s longest yard sale. Every August, people holding yard sales line the parkway with everything from bike parts and overalls to antique china and vintage luggage. Alaska: Seward Highway Kate Mereand // Wikimedia Commons ALASKA: SEWARD HIGHWAY The 127-mile stretch between Anchorage and Seward is designated as a national forest scenic byway, offering astounding views of the glaciated Kenai Mountains. After heading out from Anchorage, make a quick pitstop at the Turnagain Arm Pit Shack for some roadside BBQ and Southern-style fried okra. Arizona: Apache Trail Bernard Gagnon // Wikimedia Commons ARIZONA: APACHE TRAIL Interested in rugged sandstone canyons and a ghost town? The Apache Trail, also known as Highway 88, snakes 45 miles through Arizonian peaks and valleys in an area historically known for its mining towns. For Wild West fun, stop by the Goldfield Ghost Town, a dusty old town with a steakhouse saloon. Arkansas: Crowley Ridge Parkway Wikimedia Commons ARKANSAS: CROWLEY RIDGE PARKWAY The Crowley Ridge Parkway emerges from northeast Arkansas, running along Crowley’s Ridge for over 200 miles. Besides touring Civil War battlefields and bountiful orchards, visitors can stop by the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott, where Ernest and Pauline Pfeiffer converted their old barn into a writing studio for Hemingway. California: Pacific Coast Highway Diliff // Wikimedia Commons CALIFORNIA: PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY Running along roughly 650 miles of craggy cliffsides on the Pacific Coast of California, Highway 1 boasts the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Sur, the boardwalk of Santa Cruz, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the Danish Village of Solvang, the surf of both Santa Barbara and Malibu, San Diego’s Sea World and more. The longest drive between In-N-Out locations is just over three hours. Colorado: Pikes Peak Highway DrunkDriver // Wikimedia Commons COLORADO: PIKES PEAK HIGHWAY Beginning at 7,400 feet, Pikes Peak Highway climbs an additional 6,715 feet in only 19 miles to the mountain’s summit, which tops out at 14,115 feet. Don’t forget a fishing pole, as the highway has three different well-stocked lakes to cast a line into. Connecticut: Connecticut River Loop Kevinpepin // Wikimedia Commons CONNECTICUT: CONNECTICUT RIVER LOOP You don’t have to travel to Europe to see a castle: There’s one along the Connecticut River Loop. Passing through the iconic New England towns of Essex and Old Lyme, this 32-mile loop boasts a 20th-century castle. The Gillette Castle, built between 1914 and 1919, was originally owned by actor William Hooker Gillette, most notable for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Delaware: Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway Hagley Museum and Library // Wikimedia Commons DELAWARE: BRANDYWINE VALLEY SCENIC BYWAY The Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway is for the old soul romantic. Along the approximately 12.25 miles of 20th-century mansions and enchanting gardens, stop by the 60-acre wild garden at the Winterthur Museum (former estate of Henry Francis du Pont) or see simply luscious native orchids in the garden of Mt. Cuba Center. Florida: A1A Coastal Byway Elbie Ancona // Wikimedia Commons FLORIDA: A1A COASTAL BYWAY This 72-mile, mostly two-lane roadway boasts nearly 100 different art venues and premier galleries. Along the A1A, make a pit stop in St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, to view the “Lost Colony” collection at the St. Augustine Art Association, which includes the works of E.B. Warren, Walter Cole, Tod Lindenmuth, William L’Engle, Emmett Fritz and others. Georgia: Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway Thomson20192 // Wikimedia Commons GEORGIA: RUSSELL-BRASSTOWN SCENIC BYWAY With views of the Chattahoochee River and the Appalachian Mountains, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway’s 41-mile loop offers some of the most luscious views of Georgia’s timberland. Four different states can be seen from the top of Brasstown Bald Mountain. Hawaii: Hana Highway slehfer // Flickr HAWAII: HANA HIGHWAY Aptly nicknamed “The Divorce Highway,” the Hana Highway in Maui is 52 miles of heart-stopping hairpin curves and one-lane bridges. Its dozens of blind spots make the roadway both dangerous and exhilarating. Imagine renting a convertible roadster to enjoy the seaside cliffs and waterfalls. Idaho: Mesa Falls Scenic Byway Brenton Cooper // Flickr IDAHO: MESA FALLS SCENIC BYWAY Only 26 miles long from its starting point in Ashton to its endpoint in the Island Park area, the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is home to two of the most stunning waterfalls in the West, the Lower and Upper Mesa Falls. Plan to picnic at the base of the Upper Mesa Falls, which plunges a whopping 114 feet—as tall as a 10-story building. Illinois: Ohio River Scenic Byway Daniel Schwen // Wikimedia Commons ILLINOIS: OHIO RIVER SCENIC BYWAY The Ohio River Scenic Byway in Illinois travels along the Ohio River for 188 miles, passing through the Shawnee National Forest. For breathtaking views of the woodlands along this route, buckle up and hit the byway between spring and fall when the wildflowers are in full bloom. Indiana: Historic National Road Xnatedawgx // Wikimedia Commons INDIANA: HISTORIC NATIONAL ROAD Thomas Jefferson commissioned Indiana's 156-mile Historic National Road in 1806, making it the country's first federally funded interstate. For those looking for a retro experience, a pit stop at National Road Antique Mall in Cambridge City is essential. With over 85 antique dealers, finding vintage glassware will be as easy and breezy as the drive. Iowa: Loess Hills National Scenic Byway Bill Whittaker // Wikimedia Commons IOWA: LOESS HILLS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY With 200 miles of rolling hills and quiet prairies, the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway is a road made for rolling the windows down. Take in farm after farm and wrap up the drive with wine tasting at Bodega Victoriana. Kansas: Flint Hills National Scenic Byway Patrick Emerson // Flickr KANSAS: FLINT HILLS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY Flint Hills National Scenic Byway travels along the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, home to prairie dogs, tall grass and monarch butterflies. Grab brisket sandwiches and fried mushrooms at Hays House Restaurant in Council Grove—the restaurant was established in the mid-1800s by Seth Hays, great-grandson of American pioneer Daniel Boone. Kentucky: Country Music Highway, U.S. 23 J654567 // Wikimedia Commons KENTUCKY: COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY, U.S. 23 The relatively young Country Music Highway of eastern Kentucky wasn’t recognized as a National Scenic Byway until June 2002. The 144-mile highway is a tribute to all the county music stars born in the region, including Loretta Lynn, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, and more. Around the area in June? Add the Seedtime on the Cumberland music festival to the list of necessary stops. Louisiana: Cajun Corridor Byway Tim Boyd // Wikimedia Commons LOUISIANA: CAJUN CORRIDOR BYWAY No need to pack a picnic lunch on this road trip—eat your way across the 34-mile Cajun Corridor Byway one shrimp, crawfish and oyster at a time. Get gumbo at Suire's Grocery & Restaurant in Kaplan, devour a crawfish po’boy at Bon Creole in New Iberia, and wash everything down with oyster shots at Black’s Oyster Bar & Seafood in Abbeville. Maine: Acadia All-American Road National Parks Service MAINE: ACADIA ALL-AMERICAN ROAD Passing through Acadia National Park, the 40-mile Acadia All-American Road winds its way around overgrown forests and small coastal fishing towns. Shake off road fatigue in Bar Harbor, a picturesque yacht and lobster boat paradise in “Down East” Maine. Bar Harbor Lobster Company offers reasonably priced lobster plates and French fries and a rum bar to boot. Maryland: Mason and Dixon Scenic Byway Famartin // Wikimedia Commons MARYLAND: MASON AND DIXON SCENIC BYWAY Ease into the 102-mile Mason and Dixon Scenic Byway with downtime (and maybe a little fishing) at the Prettyboy Reservoir in Hampstead. If passing through Westminster during the middle of July, cruise over to Common Ground on the Hill Music & Arts Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Massachusetts: Mount Greylock Scenic Byway Jstergis // Wikimedia Commons MASSACHUSETTS: MOUNT GREYLOCK SCENIC BYWAY 16.3 miles is a short distance to go for such a spectacular view. At 3,491 feet in elevation, Mount Greylock gifts its road trippers with a panoramic view of five different states. Henry David Thoreau climbed to the top of Mount Greylock in July 1844, and after a night’s rest, he claimed to experience a kind of enlightenment. Michigan: M-22 gabe popa // Flickr MICHIGAN: M-22 Hit the 116-mile M-22 scenic drive along Lake Michigan in the fall, when Manistee, Benzie and Leelanau counties are blanketed in hues of gold and orange. Find time to explore the lighthouses of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or nibble a Greek pizza at Riverfront Pizza in Glen Arbor before visiting The Cottage Book Shop. Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Kubber333 // Wikimedia Commons MINNESOTA: PAUL BUNYAN SCENIC BYWAY The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway is 54 miles of country roads in the middle of Minnesota. Never without a lakeside view, this byway showcases lots of sandy beaches and swimming holes. Pull over at Pelican Lake to play a game of horseshoes on Breezy Point Beach. Mississippi: Natchez Trace Parkway Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons MISSISSIPPI: NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY Crossing three different states, the Natchez Trace Parkway spans 444 miles of four diverse ecosystems. The riverine forest of lower Mississippi is a safe corridor for all kinds of mammals, and it’s not uncommon to see red foxes, deer and river otters. Avid birder? Don’t forget the binoculars—the Natchez Trace is home to 134 confirmed species of birds. Missouri: Glade Top Trail Ralph Arvesen // Flickr MISSOURI: GLADE TOP TRAIL Cutting through the Mark Twain National Forest, the glades of this 23-mile trail are home to the roadrunner and Bachman's sparrow, a state endangered species. In the summer months, the rolling countryside is covered in yellow and purple coneflowers, daisy-like flowers that attract both birds and butterflies. Montana: Going-to-the-Sun Road Ken Lund // Flickr MONTANA: GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD Open seasonally, the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana’s Glacier Park is 50 miles of big mountains, plunging waterfalls and massive glaciers. For 33 miles of the drive, there isn't a single service station or restaurant to be found. However, travelers may meet a few mountain goats and bighorn sheep near Logan Pass. Nebraska: Outlaw Trail Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons NEBRASKA: OUTLAW TRAIL Infamous for harboring thieves and notorious ruffians, the Outlaw Trail along Nebraska Highway 12 stretches 231 miles from South Sioux City to Valentine. Make a stop in Crofton to hide out at the Historic Argo Hotel for a night or two, unless the paranormal activity in the hotel’s basement is too spooky. Nevada: Valley of Fire Road Stan Shebs // Wikimedia Commons NEVADA: VALLEY OF FIRE ROAD It doesn't have the most inviting name, but the Valley of Fire Road is 23.3 miles of desert bliss. Surrounded by bright red Aztec sandstone formations, this bumpy roadway winds through the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s oldest state park. Hollywood is a big fan of this desert valley—in fact, it was here that Captain Kirk fell to his death. New Hampshire: Mt. Washington Auto Road Famartin // Wikimedia Commons NEW HAMPSHIRE: MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD Opening with one dirt lane in August 1861, the Mt. Washington Auto Road is considered America’s oldest manmade attraction. Its steep, winding climb and the area’s ever-changing weather conditions make the drive unpredictable and dangerous. Drivers fond of heights and narrow mountain roads sans guardrails will find this roadway exhilarating. New Jersey: Palisades Interstate Parkway Ken Lund // Flickr NEW JERSEY: PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY From the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey to the Bear Mountain Bridge in New York, the Palisades Interstate Parkway runs a total of 42 miles, offering stunning cliffside views of the Hudson River. 11 miles of the Palisades Interstate Parkway are in New Jersey, and this portion of the parkway boasts three different lookouts, each over 400 feet high. New Mexico: Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway Shelia McClune // Wikimedia Commons NEW MEXICO: ENCHANTED CIRCLE SCENIC BYWAY The 83-mile loop of the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway in New Mexico crosses the Rio Grande, the sage-covered mesa of Taos Canyon, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Hondo River and many colorful towns along the way. Brake for chicken-fried steak and eggs at Shotgun Willie's in Red River. New York: Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway Stilfehler // Wikimedia Commons NEW YORK: CAYUGA LAKE SCENIC BYWAY Cascading waterfalls, quaint farms and villages and 16 different wineries make this road a must-drive. Looping all the way around Cayuga Lake, this 86-mile upstate byway has its own wine trail. And what would wine country amid waterfalls and gorges be without a handful of bed and breakfasts? North Carolina: Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap Wikimedia Commons NORTH CAROLINA: TAIL OF THE DRAGON AT DEALS GAP Searching for a blood-tingling section of asphalt? With 316 hairpin curves in only 11 miles, the Tail of the Dragon has the thills that serious drivers dream about. This roadway isn’t about its woodland scenery—it’s about the road itself. Motorcycles and sports cars are highly recommended. North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Scenic Byway Sharon Mollerus // Flickr NORTH DAKOTA: THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK NORTH UNIT SCENIC BYWAY The Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Scenic Byway is more than a mouthful—it’s a 13.7-mile loop through the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The open prairies of this region are home to bison and prairie dogs. Pause at the Oxbow Outlook toward the end of the byway for a sweeping panoramic view of the Badlands. Ohio: Hocking Hills Scenic Byway James St. John // flickr OHIO: HOCKING HILLS SCENIC BYWAY The Hocking Hills Scenic Byway takes drivers deep into the rolling woodlands of southeast Ohio. Spanning from Rockbridge to South Bloomingville, this 32-mile roadway of unique rock formations, lush gorges and misty waterfalls is beyond blissful. Insider tip: push this drive off until fall, when the foliage is positively divine. Oklahoma: Wichita Mountains Byway Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons OKLAHOMA: WICHITA MOUNTAINS BYWAY Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Byway meanders 93 miles through rocky lowlands, prairies full of wildflowers and a handful of small towns. Grab a latte and blackberry scone at Cobblescones Coffee in Medicine Park before hitting the road to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where it's not uncommon to hear a few wild turkeys gobble. Oregon: Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Jeffery Johnson // Wikimedia Commons OREGON: VOLCANIC LEGACY SCENIC BYWAY From one volcano to another, the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway begins in Mount Lassen, California, and ends nearly 500 miles away in Crater Lake, Oregon. The piney mountains and green valleys on the drive are gorgeous, but the scenic crown of this road trip is worn by the dark blue waters of Crater Lake that fill the caldera of Mount Mazama. Pennsylvania: Gateway to the Endless Mountains Nicholas A. Tonelli // Flickr PENNSYLVANIA: GATEWAY TO THE ENDLESS MOUNTAINS The Gateway to the Endless Mountains takes drivers deep into the greenery of what could be mistaken for Middle-Earth but is actually Pennsylvania. With spectacular views of the slowly winding Susquehanna River, this road offers 34 miles of natural splendor and wine. Stop in at the Grovedale Winery for a flight of red or white. Rhode Island: Ocean Drive Daderot // Wikimedia Commons RHODE ISLAND: OCEAN DRIVE Ocean Drive, also known as “Ten Mile Drive,” traverses 10 miles along the Atlantic through Newport, Rhode Island. The drive is dotted with Gilded Age mansions, seaside towns and boutiques and sandy beaches. Around in July? Stretch your legs at the Newport Music Festival, which hosts over 60 classical concerts. South Carolina: Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway Mld74 // Wikimedia Commons SOUTH CAROLINA: CHEROKEE FOOTHILLS SCENIC BYWAY Rolling past orchards of peach trees and roadside farm stands, the Cherokee Foothill Scenic Byway runs along the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 112 miles. Two of South Carolina’s most historic bridges are on the route. These are the Poinsett Bridge, the state’s oldest bridge (built in 1820) and the Campbell Covered Bridge, the only covered bridge remaining in the state. South Dakota: Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway Sharon Mollerus // Flickr SOUTH DAKOTA: WILDLIFE LOOP STATE SCENIC BYWAY Custer State Park's 18-mile Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway in South Dakota could theoretically take about 30 minutes to navigate, but it depends how many buffalo and bighorn sheep end up blocking the road. The windswept prairies surrounding the byway are home to deer, elk, coyote, prairie dogs, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats and a band of burros. Wildlife Loop, indeed. Tennessee: East Tennessee Crossing Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons TENNESSEE: EAST TENNESSEE CROSSING The East Tennessee Crossing stretches 83 miles from the Cumberland Gap to the Cherokee National Forest. This route follows the original trail of the Cherokee Warriors’ Path, used by Native American tribes for trade. In Morristown, pile out of the car for a tour of the Crockett Tavern Museum, built on the site of the Davy Crockett's boyhood home. Texas: Lonesome Highway InSapphoWeTrust // Wikimedia Commons TEXAS: LONESOME HIGHWAY Why lonesome? Because drivers are more likely to encounter a tumbleweed than another vehicle on this highway. Spanning roughly 50 miles from Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Pine Springs, Texas, the Lonesome Highway is a straight and lonely shot into the Guadalupe Mountains. Bring along some Hank Williams. Utah: Scenic Byway 12 Christian Mehlfurer // Wikimedia Commons UTAH: SCENIC BYWAY 12 Designated an All-American Road, Scenic Byway 12 runs 123 miles through multiple state and national parks, including Kodachrome Basin, Escalante Petrified Forest, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef. When you hit Escalante, pull over for the views and the coffee at Kiva Koffeehouse. Vermont: Mad River Byway Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons VERMONT: MAD RIVER BYWAY The Mad River Byway winds through Vermont's Mad River Valley for 36 miles and features views of rugged mountain ridges, meandering rivers, farm stands and towns. Pick strawberries and blueberries at the Hartshorn Organic Farm in Waitsfield and eat the bounty on the banks of the Mad River. Virginia: The Crooked Road Virginia State Parks // Wikimedia Commons VIRGINIA: THE CROOKED ROAD Bluegrass and country music fans, this 300-mile roadway is for you. The Crooked Road travels through the Appalachian Mountains, connecting major heritage music venues. Notable sites include the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and the Blue Ridge Music Center & Museum. Inspired? Pick up a handmade fiddle or banjo from Barr's Fiddle Shop in Galax. Washington: Olympic Peninsula Loop Ron Clausen // Wikimedia Commons WASHINGTON: OLYMPIC PENINSULA LOOP The Olympic Peninsula Loop is 329 miles of Pacific Coast beaches, mountain rainforests, bridges and artsy townships. And according to author Stephenie Meyer, the region’s near-constant drizzle is highly agreeable to sparkly vampires: Forks, the setting of the "Twilight" series, is on the Olympic Peninsula Loop. West Virginia: Highland Scenic Highway Lakegirl79 // Wikimedia Commons WEST VIRGINIA: HIGHLAND SCENIC HIGHWAY The Highland Scenic Highway is a 43-mile corridor through the Monongahela National Forest of West Virginia. Enjoy a sack lunch on the grassy banks of Summit Lake and, if you have a fishing pole in the trunk, consider fishing for trout. Take a second stop at the Falls of Hills Creek, which boasts three cascading waterfalls. Wisconsin: Great River Road National Scenic Byway Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons WISCONSIN: GREAT RIVER ROAD NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY Rambling through 33 picturesque river towns, Wisconsin’s 250-mile Great River Road National Scenic Byway awards its road trippers with parks, nature preserves, dairy farms, festivals, concerts, historic tours and more. Be sure to stop and shop the unique boutiques in Stockholm. Wyoming: Beartooth Scenic Byway R Robinson // Wikimedia Commons WYOMING: BEARTOOTH SCENIC BYWAY At 10,947 feet in elevation, the Beartooth Pass on the Beartooth Scenic Byway is one of Wyoming’s highest and most dangerous roads. This breathtaking two-lane roadway travels 67 miles from southwest Montana to northwest Wyoming, twisting its way to Yellowstone National Park. Warning: services along the route are limited, so plan the trip accordingly. LOOK: ROUTE 66’S QUIRKIEST AND MOST WONDERFUL ATTRACTIONS STATE BY STATE Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66. Gallery Credit: Kery Wiginton Grant Park (Chicago) f11photo // Shutterstock GRANT PARK (CHICAGO) Many choose to begin a Route 66 journey at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park--Chicago's oldest--before heading west. To find the original "Historic 66 Begin" sign, travelers can head to the southern side of Adams Street and look west toward Wabash Avenue. The "End Historic Route 66" sign can be found at the intersection of Jackson and Michigan avenues. Mural City (Pontiac, Illinois) IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons MURAL CITY (PONTIAC, ILLINOIS) There are 23 murals in Pontiac, including the Route 66 shield on the back of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum. Roadtrippers can grab a mural guide at the museum or follow the red painted footprints for a walking tour. Lauterbach Giant (Springfield, Illinois) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons LAUTERBACH GIANT (SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS) The Lauterbach Giant is a giant fiberglass statue towering over the parking lot of Lauterbach Auto Service in Springfield. The "muffler man" has been around since 1978. He used to hold a tire but now clutches an American flag. In 2006, his head had to be replaced when a tornado took it off. Chain of Rocks Bridge (Madison, Illinois) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE (MADISON, ILLINOIS) The Chain of Rocks Bridge, constructed in 1929, sits 60 feet above the Mississippi River and links Madison with St. Louis. The mile-long historic structure is popular with motorists and cyclists. The bridge got its name from a 17-mile series of rocky rapids called the Chain of Rocks that made the river difficult to navigate, which is why the Corps of Engineers built a dam to cover them in the 1960s. The bridge cost $2.5 million to erect, which was twice the original estimate at the time. World's Largest Catsup Bottle (Collinsville, Illinois) MikeGassmann // flickr WORLD'S LARGEST CATSUP BOTTLE (COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS) Drivers can find the World's Largest Catsup Bottle a little south of downtown Collinsville. The 170-foot-tall historic water tower was completed in 1949 for the Brooks Foods plant, which is no longer open. If it didn't have water in it, it could hold 640,000 bottles worth of catsup (or ketchup, as the tomato-based condiment is commonly called today). Henry's Rabbit Ranch (Staunton, Illinois) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons HENRY'S RABBIT RANCH (STAUNTON, ILLINOIS) Drivers will have to get out of their car to fully enjoy the fuzzy friends at Henry's Rabbit Ranch, though appointments are necessary to get a complete tour. Visitors can also get a glimpse of VW Rabbits and pick up some Route 66 gifts and memorabilia. Old Log Cabin (Pontiac, Illinois) diannlroy.com // flickr OLD LOG CABIN (PONTIAC, ILLINOIS) Drivers can get their day started at the Old Log Cabin restaurant in Pontiac with some freshly made eggs and hashbrowns. This quaint spot originally opened in 1926 as a roadside lunchroom and gas station. The owners now serve customers from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Sunday. Locals love the cheeseburgers, homemade coconut cream, and rhubarb pie. (Former) World's Largest Rocking Chair (Cuba, Missouri) AbeEzekowitz // Wikimedia Commons (FORMER) WORLD'S LARGEST ROCKING CHAIR (CUBA, MISSOURI) The World's Largest Rocking Chair (its actual name) may have only been created to break the Guinness World Record for the largest rocking chair. Nevertheless, the Fanning Outpost decided it made a great roadside attraction. The 42-foot-tall steel rocker had to be able to move back and forth to break the world record in 2008, but it has since been secured in place. The rocker was the largest in the world until 2015, when a 56.5-foot-tall chair was built in Casey, Illinois. 66 Drive-In Theatre (Carthage, Missouri) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons 66 DRIVE-IN THEATRE (CARTHAGE, MISSOURI) Most of the drive-in theaters in the U.S. have vanished since their heyday of the 1950s. The 66 Drive-In Theatre is one of only around 325 drive-ins remaining in the U.S. The theater is open from early April through mid-September each year. Route 66 State Park (Eureka, Missouri) Yinan Chen // Wikimedia Commons ROUTE 66 STATE PARK (EUREKA, MISSOURI) The Route 66 State Park visitor center is located at the former Bridgehead Inn, built in 1935, and offers plenty on the iconic highway's history. The park also offers nature trails and picnic sites where road-weary travelers can stretch their legs or have a bite. Meramec Caverns (Stanton, Missouri) Ronincmc // Wikimedia Commons MERAMEC CAVERNS (STANTON, MISSOURI) Motorists passing through Stanton can stop in for a guided tour of the Meramec Caverns, a multi-level, natural underground wonder that has been a tourist attraction since 1933. Some say the cave was a hideout for Jesse James and his crew. To get the full experience, visitors should be prepared to walk a well-lit 1.25 miles for about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Wagon Wheel Motel (Cuba, Missouri) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons WAGON WHEEL MOTEL (CUBA, MISSOURI) The Wagon Wheel Motel has been around since 1935, making it the oldest continuously running motel on Route 66. The historic inn still beckons weary drivers with original flashing neon lights from the '40s. The original wood doors, windows, and floors from the 1930s have been updated. Devil's Elbow, Missouri Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons DEVIL'S ELBOW, MISSOURI Devil's Elbow is situated in the Ozark Mountains and the Mark Twain National Forest, making it one of the more scenic stretches of Old Route 66. Be sure to check out the classic diners, bars, and grills in the area for a big taste of nostalgic Americana. Cars on the Route (Galena, Kansas) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons CARS ON THE ROUTE (GALENA, KANSAS) Only about 13 miles of Route 66 wind through Kansas, but Cars on the Route--the old Kan-O-Tex service station--is worth a stop. The station now has a "Cars" theme and is home to the mining boom truck that inspired the character Tow Mater in the animated film. It was first restored by Betty Courtney, Melba Rigg, Renee Charles, and Judy Courtney, which is why the gas station was dubbed "Four Women on the Route" for several years. Galena Mining & Historical Museum (Galena, Kansas) marada // flickr GALENA MINING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM (GALENA, KANSAS) The Galena Mining & Historical Museum--which sits inside the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas train depot--educates passersby on the history of this mining town. Visitors can also learn about how Pixar animators based the fictional town of Radiator Springs--from the movie "Cars"--on this small Kansas town. Brush Creek Bridge (Cherokee County, Kansas) southernbellefabrics // pixabay BRUSH CREEK BRIDGE (CHEROKEE COUNTY, KANSAS) The historic Brush Creek Bridge, also known as Rainbow Bridge, was constructed in 1923. Iowa bridge designer James Barney Marsh created the Rainbow Arch design and patented the construction elements in 1912. Route 66 motorists used the 130-foot bridge to cross Route 66 until the interstate was built in the 1960s. Williams' Store (Riverton, Kansas) TheWhitePelican // Wikimedia Commons WILLIAMS' STORE (RIVERTON, KANSAS) In 1925, Leo Williams built a small community store and deli that he ran with his wife until the Eisler family purchased the business about 50 years later. Today, Williams' Store offers groceries, sandwiches, and Route 66 souvenirs. Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station (Baxter, Kansas) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons BAXTER SPRINGS INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS SERVICE STATION (BAXTER, KANSAS) Baxter Springs is one of only three towns Route 66 drivers pass through while in Kansas. The town's Independent Oil and Gas Service Station is one of the locations worth a drive-by. What's interesting about the gas station is that it looks more like someone's home than a place to fill up. After the Great Depression, some oil companies redesigned their buildings to have more of a domestic feel that might make their customers feel more comfortable. Milk Bottle Grocery (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress MILK BOTTLE GROCERY (OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA) The historic Milk Bottle Grocery was built in 1930 and is hard to miss: The 350-square-foot building has a giant milk bottle perched on top of it. Since its creation, many dairy companies have paid to advertise their names across the side of the sculpture. The landmark is a popular spot for Route 66 motorists to snap photos and has been home to a variety of businesses including a cleaners, realty office, Vietnamese sandwich shop, and landscape architect. Blue Whale (Catoosa, Oklahoma) The Erica Chang // Wikimedia Commons BLUE WHALE (CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA) The Blue Whale is exactly what it sounds like. Zoologist Hugh S. Davis originally built the sea mammal replica as a place where his grandchildren could play and swim. The whale took two years to create and was completed in 1972. Davis's daughter still owns the whale, but swimming is no longer allowed. There are some picnic tables nearby for motorists to take a driving break for lunch. Lucille's Service Station and Roadhouse (Hydro, Oklahoma) Batterup55 // Wikimedia Commons LUCILLE'S SERVICE STATION AND ROADHOUSE (HYDRO, OKLAHOMA) Built in 1929, Lucille's Service Station is no longer offering gas, but the building has been restored to its original condition. The vintage pumps are still on site and a historical marker tells visitors about how the station began. Included in that history is a bit about the station's namesake, Lucille Hamons, who ran the business for more than 50 years. Allen's Conoco Fillin' Station (Commerce, Oklahoma) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons ALLEN'S CONOCO FILLIN' STATION (COMMERCE, OKLAHOMA) Built around 1930, this service station--also known as Hole in the Wall Conoco Station--offered a place for Route 66 travelers to fill up. It did start out selling Conoco gas but switched to Phillips 66 in 1938. Word on the street is that Bonnie and Clyde may have even fueled up here. Allen's Conoco Fillin' Station may have originally been a gas station, but the tiny green and red structure--built out from the side of a building--is now a souvenir shop. Totem Pole Park (Foyil, OK) Jana Taylor // Wikimedia Commons TOTEM POLE PARK (FOYIL, OK) Artist Ed Galloway created his Totem Pole Park--located about 3.5 miles off Route 66--as a place to show off folk art made of stone and concrete. Many of the pieces depict birds and Native American images. The largest totem pole in the park is 60 feet tall. The original construction lasted from 1937 to 1961 and was restored from 1988 to 1998. Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress CADILLAC RANCH (AMARILLO, TEXAS) In 1974, a group of San Francisco artists decided to bury 10 Cadillacs made between 1949 and 1964 nose-first into a Texas field. Millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, who died in 2014, funded the art installation. Graffiti is encouraged, so road trippers can stop by and leave their own mark on the cars before heading further west. The site is off Exit 66 of Interstate 40. VW Slug Bug Ranch (Conway, Texas) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons VW SLUG BUG RANCH (CONWAY, TEXAS) If Cadillac Ranch is too crowded, motorists can drive a few miles from Amarillo to the lesser known VW Slug Bug Ranch in Conway, Texas. The scene is similar to Cadillac Ranch, except the cars are Volkswagen beetles instead. To find the art installation, motorists can plug "Conway Inn & Restaurant" into GPS. Midpoint Cafe (Adrian, Texas) Marcin Wichary // Wikimedia Commons MIDPOINT CAFE (ADRIAN, TEXAS) Adrian, Texas, marks the official midpoint of Route 66. There's even a white line on the road and a sign noting the distance between Chicago and Los Angeles--both are 1,139 miles away. Hungry motorists can stop in for a burger at Midpoint Cafe, which served as inspiration for Flo's V8 Cafe in the animated movie "Cars." Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe (Shamrock, Texas) Judson McCranie // Wikimedia Commons TOWER STATION AND U-DROP INN CAFE (SHAMROCK, TEXAS) Constructed in 1936, the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe on historic Route 66 includes a retail store, the Tower Conoco Station, and the U-Drop Inn Cafe. The latter got its name from a local boy who won a naming contest. The structure is now a visitor center, chamber of commerce office, and community center. Leaning Tower of Texas (Groom, Texas) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress LEANING TOWER OF TEXAS (GROOM, TEXAS) Truck-stop owner Ralph Britten created the Leaning Tower of Texas to drum up business. The structure slants at an 80-degree angle with the ground and was quite the sight for unaware tourists who thought it was falling. Motorists regularly popped into the nearby truck stop to alert Britten, who would calm their fears and invite them in for a quick bite. While the tower is still in position, Britten's truck stop has since burned down. Big Texan Steak Ranch (Amarillo, Tesas) Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH (AMARILLO, TESAS) Travelers should bring their appetites when they visit the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The restaurant, which opened in 1960, is home to the 72-ounce steak. Diners can eat for free if they finish their 4.5-pound steak--and the sides--in one hour. Tired motorists can sleep off their meals at the nearby Big Texan Motel. Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari, New Mexico) ahisgett // flickr BLUE SWALLOW MOTEL (TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO) The historic Blue Swallow Motel was built in 1939 and is still around today, making it the oldest motel still operating on New Mexico's part of Route 66. The neon lights beckon guests off the road, where they can stay in vintage-style rooms that are fully restored. Some even have detached garages. Tee Pee Curios (Tucumcari, New Mexico) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress TEE PEE CURIOS (TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO) After spending a night in the Blue Swallow, travelers can stop by Tee Pee Curios, a 1940s-era gas station-turned-gift shop. The store offers jewelry, pottery, and any number of Route 66 souvenirs. Guests enter the shop through a concrete wigwam built around the front door. A Route 66 shield is painted on the side of the building. Clines Corners Retail Center (Clines Corners, New Mexico) Alan Levine // Wikimedia Commons CLINES CORNERS RETAIL CENTER (CLINES CORNERS, NEW MEXICO) This New Mexico travel center has been serving Route 66 travelers since it first opened in 1934. Drivers can park their RVs overnight, or stop in the cafe for breakfast, a burger, or a burrito. 66 Diner (Albuquerque, New Mexico) ahisgett // flickr 66 DINER (ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO) To get the full '50s dining experience, avid tourists flock to the 66 Diner in Albuquerque. The spot used to be a gas station but was converted into a diner in 1987. Guests can view one of the largest PEZ collections in America while sipping on a milkshake or malt. El Rancho Hotel (Gallup, New Mexico) Richie Diesterheft // Wikimedia Commons EL RANCHO HOTEL (GALLUP, NEW MEXICO) The historic El Rancho Hotel, built in 1936, bills itself as a favorite of movie stars who filmed Westerns in the area in the '30s and '40s. John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, and Humphrey Bogart all stayed there. Route 66 travelers can book a room named after one of the stars. Blue Hole (Santa Rosa, New Mexico) Mary P Madigan // flickr BLUE HOLE (SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO) This natural sinkhole with sapphire-colored water was a fish hatchery in the 1930s. The Blue Hole became a recreation area in the 1970s and is now a popular spot for swimmers and scuba divers. The water is 81 feet deep and about 60 degrees, fed by a network of artesian springs connected to the Pecos River. Hackberry General Store (Hackberry, Arizona) Pavel Å pindler // Wikimedia Commons HACKBERRY GENERAL STORE (HACKBERRY, ARIZONA) The Hackberry General Store has been around for about 80 years, but it's easy to miss. Visitors should keep an eye out for two vintage gas pumps (which don't work anymore) out front. The owners have adopted some interesting decor: the walls and ceiling are covered with old license plates, patches, and money donated from around the world. Travelers should check out the re-creation of an old '50s diner before picking up some Route 66 souvenirs. Winslow Corner (Winslow, Arizona) Arizona Parrot // flickr WINSLOW CORNER (WINSLOW, ARIZONA) Travelers who want to take it easy should make sure to stop by the corner where Old Highway 66 meets North Kinsley Avenue in Winslow, Arizona. The 1972 Eagles song "Take it Easy" inspired an installation called "Standin' On the Corner" Park," a statue of a man with a guitar standing on the corner near a red flatbed truck. The town of Winslow didn't create the park until three decades after the song was written, partially because Interstate 40 bypassed the town and cut down on tourist traffic. Angel and Vilma's Original Route 66 Gift Shop (Seligman, Arizona) traveLink // pixabay ANGEL AND VILMA'S ORIGINAL ROUTE 66 GIFT SHOP (SELIGMAN, ARIZONA) Angel Delgadillo, now in his 90s, turned his barbershop into a Route 66 gift shop in 1987 after he helped establish the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Delgadillo--known as the "Guardian of Route 66"--still cuts hair on occasion, though he's been semi-retired since the '70s. Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In (Seligman, Arizona) Scottb211 // Wikimedia Commons DELGADILLO'S SNOW CAP DRIVE-IN (SELIGMAN, ARIZONA) Motorists can stop in for a root beer float or a burger at Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In. Visitors should take a close look at the walls and ceiling, which are covered with patches, money, and other paraphernalia donated from visitors around the world. Juan Delgadillo opened the shop in 1953, and his son still runs the business. The town of Oatman (Oatman, Arizona) Nick Fox // Shutterstockrizona THE TOWN OF OATMAN (OATMAN, ARIZONA) Visitors to Oatman, a former mining town, can get a glimpse of bighorn sheep or mingle with burros (small donkeys) that roam the city streets. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard got married in nearby Kingman and may have honeymooned in the Oatman Hotel, which remains open as a museum and restaurant. Wigwam Village Motel #6 (Holbrook, Arizona) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress WIGWAM VILLAGE MOTEL #6 (HOLBROOK, ARIZONA) Tired motorists can sleep off a long day on the road at the historic Wigwam Village Motel #6 (there are five previous versions across the U.S.). Chester E. Lewis, charmed by wigwam villages he'd seen in Kentucky, opened the motel in 1950. There are classic cars on display out front, but the rooms have been renovated to include more modern amenities like air conditioning and cable TV. The Lewis family still owns and operates the business today. Grand Canyon National Park Luca Galuzzi // Wikimedia Commons GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Access to Grand Canyon National Park isn't right off Route 66, but seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World is worth a detour. From Williams, Arizona, drive 60 miles north to get to the South Rim. Meteor Crater (Meteor City, Arizona) Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress METEOR CRATER (METEOR CITY, ARIZONA) Sometime between 5,000 and 50,000 years ago, a meteor crashed into northern Arizona and formed a massive crater that's been turned into a popular tourist attraction. The site is only minutes from Interstate 40 and the old Route 66. If it's too hot, visitors can pop into the Meteor Crater Visitor Center on the crater's rim to view the crater from a comfortably air-conditioned room. Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch (Oro Grande, California) daveynin // Wikimedia Commons ELMER LONG'S BOTTLE TREE RANCH (ORO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA) A popular spot for an Instagram photoshoot, Elmer Long created his now-famous Bottle Tree Ranch out of bottles he collected as a kid. Years after he retired, he started hanging the empty glass bottles onto metal pipes that scatter rainbows of light when the sun shines through them. Visitors can try to spot the column topped by a rake--it's Long's favorite. Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe (Victorville, California) Angel DiBilio // Shutterstock EMMA JEAN'S HOLLAND BURGER CAFE (VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA) Opened in 1947, Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe has been serving Route 66 visitors for more than 70 years. It also made a cameo in "Kill Bill Vol. 2." Hungry motorists can get eggs and pancakes for breakfast or chow down on a burger--and ice cream sundaes--for lunch. Rt. 66 Museum (Victorville, California) Sanfel // Wikimedia Commons RT. 66 MUSEUM (VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA) Motorists can stop by the California Route 66 Museum to learn some history and take some photos in the '50s diner or VW Love Bus. There's a Model T on the grounds and an old outhouse. Visitors can make a pit-stop in the library and gift shop to get some Route 66 memorabilia before heading back to the road. Original McDonald's (San Bernardino, California) Tamsin Slater // flickr ORIGINAL MCDONALD'S (SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA) The first McDonald's opened in 1948 close to Route 66 (the exact location is 1398 N. East St. at West 14th Street in San Bernadino). In 1954, businessman Ray Kroc met the McDonald brothers in California while selling the brothers milkshake mixing machines. The rest is franchising history. Cucamonaco Service Station (Rancho Cucamonga, California) Einbierbitte // Wikimedia Commons CUCAMONACO SERVICE STATION (RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA) The canary yellow Cucamonga Service Station was built in 1915 and remained a gas station until the '60s. It fell into disrepair in the '70s but has since been restored and turned into a museum. Roy's Motel & Cafe (Amboy, California) ahisgett // flickr ROY'S MOTEL & CAFE (AMBOY, CALIFORNIA) Roy's opened in 1938 and is located in Amboy, which some call a ghost town. The sign is a particularly popular photo spot for Route 66 road-trippers. While some hope the cafe is fully restored in the future, visitors can still pop in and thumb through old newspapers or buy a souvenir and some snacks. Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, California) IVAN IVANOVICH DAN // Shutterstock SANTA MONICA PIER (SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA) In 1926, the original end to the route was at Seventh and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. That spot wasn't a very scenic end for drivers after a long trip. So in 2009, the Route 66 Alliance and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation decided to erect an "End of the Trail" sign on the pier. To get there, motorists drive toward the pier and then walk out about 200 feet. The end sign is just past the Bubba Gump shrimp franchise and just before the Playland arcade. LOOK: STUNNING VINTAGE PHOTOS CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration. Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks. Gallery Credit: Alexander Raeburn Driving through a tree Hulton Deutsch // Getty Images DRIVING THROUGH A TREE A group travels by horse-drawn carriage through a giant sequoia tree. Sequoias are some of the largest trees in the world and can live over 3,000 years. Photographing falls MPI // Getty Images PHOTOGRAPHING FALLS William Henry Jackson photographs Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point in California. Yosemite Falls is one of the world's largest waterfalls, dropping a total of 2,425 feet. Travel views of Yosemite National Park Genthe, Arnold // Library of Congress TRAVEL VIEWS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK A young woman ties her horse up for a rest with Yosemite's iconic, snowcapped, mountainscape in the background in the early 1900s. President Roosevelt at Yosemite Corbis Historical // Getty Images PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AT YOSEMITE On a three-day exploration led by Muir, President Theodore Roosevelt explored the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove. Roosevelt was instrumental in early projects to conserve land for national parks. You may also like: The 50 best beach towns to live in First boat on Yellowstone Lake Smith Collection/Gado // Getty Images FIRST BOAT ON YELLOWSTONE LAKE Two men set out on Yellowstone Lake in a boat named The Annie. The image was captured in 1871, just a year before Yellowstone became America's first national park. Grand Canyon, Arizona Genthe, Arnold // Library of Congress GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA Around the start of the century, this image shows a man gazing over the Grand Canyon before the park went from being a national monument to an established national park in 1919. Grinnell Glacier Underwood & Underwood // New York Public Library GRINNELL GLACIER George Grinnell and his wife, Elizabeth, on a glacier named after them. Mr. Grinnell was an influential historian, conservationist, and naturalist, who helped map the West while working to advocate for native people. Saint Mary Lake Kiser, Fred H. // New York Public Library SAINT MARY LAKE Jagged mountains surround Saint Mary Lake in Montana's Glacier National Park. Pictured across the lake is Goat Mountain. Petrified Forest Genthe, Arnold // Library of Congress PETRIFIED FOREST Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is home to fossilized trees made up of almost solid quartz. This natural process of turning trees into stone occurred over millions of years. You may also like: Least visited destinations in the world Lake Nanita Colorado Association // New York Public Library LAKE NANITA Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Lake Nanita is the largest body of water in the park. It's situated between Longs Peak and Grand Lake. Mark Twain log Curtis, C. C. (Charles Clifford) // New York Public Library MARK TWAIN LOG Known as the "Mark Twain Tree," this giant sequoia was cut down in 1891 in what later became Kings Canyon National Park. The trunk was sent to New York and London to be displayed in museums. Sketching cliff dwellings Corbis Historical // Getty Images SKETCHING CLIFF DWELLINGS A worker sketches the Navajo area, White House Ruin, during the Wheeler Survey, which was run by Lt. George Wheeler. The survey took 15 years at a cost of $2.5 million. You may also like: Reasons behind State Department travel warnings for 25 countries Steamer queen Hulton Archive // Getty Images STEAMER QUEEN Glacier Bay National Park of Alaska contains 3.3 million acres, and includes fjords, glaciers, and temperate rainforests. It is one of the most vast conservation areas on the globe. Washington Column Sepia Times // Getty Images WASHINGTON COLUMN Benjamin West Kilburn enjoys a tranquil scene in the Yosemite Valley circa 1870. This was 20 years before the valley and surrounding lands became the nation's third national park. Muir Glacier Corbis Historical // Getty Images MUIR GLACIER John Muir became one of Glacier Bay National Park's earliest advocates during his travels there to study glaciology. He noted early on that Yosemite may have been created by these same massive ice sheets. Tourists in Yellowstone National Park Corbis Historical // Getty Images TOURISTS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Two visitors drive along a raging river in Yellowstone National Park. Humans have been exploring this area from as far back as 11,000 years ago. Roosevelt and Muir PhotoQuest // Getty Images ROOSEVELT AND MUIR A group of explorers, including conservationist John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt hiked among Yosemite Valley's redwood trees. On the valley and trees, President Roosevelt remarked, "There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods..." Yellowstone River through the Grand Canyon Ingersoll, T. W. (Truman Ward) // New York Public Library YELLOWSTONE RIVER THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON The Yellowstone River flows through the Grand Canyon. European explorers first set eyes on the canyon in 1540, long before it was part of the landscape of America. In the Bad Lands Edward S. Curtis // Getty Images IN THE BAD LANDS Pictured amidst the Pine Ridge Reservation, Native Americans ride on horseback through the Badlands in South Dakota. The area has been inhabited by tribes including the Lakota and Arikara for nearly 11,000 years. Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park Galloway, Ewing // New York Public Library YOSEMITE FALLS, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Yosemite Falls is the largest of numerous waterfalls in the park. The falls all experience increased flow during the spring and early summer when snowmelt is at its peak. You may also like: What 50 top tourist destinations looked like 50 years ago Grand Falls of Yellowstone River from Point Lookout, 360 feet high Ingersoll, T. W. (Truman Ward) // New York Public Library GRAND FALLS OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER FROM POINT LOOKOUT, 360 FEET HIGH The Grand Falls of Yellowstone flows into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Geologists believe the park was formed some 140,000 to 160,000 years ago after a volcanic eruption about 640,000 years before. Sea waves crashing against rocks Smith Collection/Gado // Getty Images SEA WAVES CRASHING AGAINST ROCKS Waves crash into Thunder Hole on Mount Desert Island in Maine's Acadia National Park. Acadia was the first designated national park east of the Mississippi River. Franklin Lane with group at Mount Rainier Bettmann FRANKLIN LANE WITH GROUP AT MOUNT RAINIER Franklin Lane, secretary of the interior, was also a conservationist and influential political adviser. Here he travels with a group to explore the sites around Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. Old Faithful Geyser Cone, steaming Ingersoll, T. W. (Truman Ward) // New York Public Library OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER CONE, STEAMING A lone explorer stands beside Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in the late 1800s. Today, the regular eruptions can be viewed from anywhere on the park's live stream. Tourists at cliff dwellings Lee, Russell // New York Public Library TOURISTS AT CLIFF DWELLINGS A group of tourists explores Pueblo homes built into the cliffs at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The park was created in 1906 in order to preserve the homes of the ancestral people who lived there for 700 years. Fern Lake United States. National Park Service // New York Public Library FERN LAKE Located in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Fern Lake is one of many stops on the Fern Lake Trail. Shown here is an early explorer's boat tied up lakeside dating between the late 1800s and the early 1900s. You may also like: World's happiest countries Photographing canyon wall Universal History Archive // Getty Images PHOTOGRAPHING CANYON WALL With one hanging from the rope and the other holding it, brothers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb precariously photograph a section of the Grand Canyon wall. The duo started a successful photography business based in the region, which allowed them to continue exploring. Ice skaters at Yosemite National Park Corbis Historical // Getty Images ICE SKATERS AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Visitors to Yosemite National Park enjoy skating on a frozen lake in the early 1900s. The vast, protected park has a land mass comparable to the size of Rhode Island. Ranger driving car on railroad Corbis Historical RANGER DRIVING CAR ON RAILROAD Affixed with railroad wheels, this specially designed Ford carried rangers like C.K. Jordan, shown here on a forest fire watch in the Northern California wilderness. Continental Divide over Shoshone Lake Underwood & Underwood CONTINENTAL DIVIDE OVER SHOSHONE LAKE This westward view shows Shoshone Lake and from the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide Trail, which traverses the lands from Mexico to Canada, was first forged by Indigenous peoples long before the land became a protected section of the American West. You may also like: Famous tourist destinations being impacted by climate change Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Staley, Harry // New York Public Library SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VIRGINIA An early modern explorer is shown here in Shenandoah National Park located in Virginia. The park was first inhabited some 8,000 years ago by Native Americans who used the land to hunt and gather food, and create tools for consumption and trade. General Sherman Tree, Sequoia National Park, California Unknown // New York Public Library GENERAL SHERMAN TREE, SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA Located in California's Sequoia National Park, the General Sherman tree is the world's largest tree at 275 feet tall. The base of the tree is over 36 feet in diameter. Sandstone Cliffs in Zion National Park, Utah Ewing Galloway // New York Public Library SANDSTONE CLIFFS IN ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH Once utilized by native tribes 8,000 years ago to track giant sloths and mammoths, Zion Canyon was later settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1860s. Due to flash floods, early settlers faced great difficulty in the park as the sudden onslaught of raging waters could wash away entire towns. Corbin Hollow boy Rothstein, Arthur // New York Public Library CORBIN HOLLOW BOY This boy was one of many who were considered the "Hollow Folk" who lived in the Shenandoah National Park, seemingly cut off from modern society. They lived in cabins built of mud and logs, and were a fascination of anthropologists due to their alleged lack of religion, government, and social structure. Grand Canyon Unknown // New York Public Library GRAND CANYON Visitors to the Grand Canyon bask in the sun at the canyon's edge in 1939. The park went from national monument to official national park status 20 years prior in 1919. Glacier National Park, Montana Hileman, T. J. // New York Public Library GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA Peaks rise in the distance over an alpine lake in Glacier National Park. The park straddles the Continental Divide, which explains its extreme weather patterns. Formations at Bryce Canyon Lee, Russell // New York Public Library FORMATIONS AT BRYCE CANYON Consisting of 35,835 acres, Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park contains some of the most wild and jagged rock formations in the western United States. The land was home to various native tribes for thousands of years prior to it becoming part of the national park system. You may also like: Must-do activities at every national park Sequoia giganteum Dove, Adam // New York Public Library SEQUOIA GIGANTEUM A traveler stands inside the hollowed out trunk of a giant sequoia tree in the Mariposa Grove of Yosemite National Park. Giant sequoias like this one survive even the hottest of forest fires, which are a necessary part of the tree's propagation. The heat allows their cones to open and release their seeds. Gate to government reservation, Hot Springs, Arkansas Detroit Publishing Co. // Library of Congress GATE TO GOVERNMENT RESERVATION, HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS The natural geological features of this area inspired the United States to protect the land in 1832. In 1921, five years after the formation of the National Park Service, the land was officially included as a national park. Estes National Park, Colorado National Photo Company Collection // Library of Congress ESTES NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO Towering rock formations dot the landscape in Estes, Colorado, an area which borders Rocky Mountain National Park. The protection of these lands were due in large part to the Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association, which worked to keep industry from disrupting this area of natural wonder. You may also like: U.S. airports with the most delays Cowlitz Glacier Photographs Division Washington, D.C. // Library of Congress COWLITZ GLACIER A team of workers bands together to rescue a victim who has fallen into a crevasse in Rainier National Park on the Cowlitz Glacier. Flowing southeasterly off of Mount Rainier, the glacier consists of two parallel ice streams. Mount McKinley APIC // Getty Images MOUNT MCKINLEY Dog sled teams rest in front of Mount McKinley, now called Denali, in Denali National Park in Alaska. It is the tallest mountain in North America, rising to over 20,000 feet. Mountaineer sketching on rope swing Bettmann // Getty Images MOUNTAINEER SKETCHING ON ROPE SWING An early mountaineer sketches from a rope swing in Utah's Zion National Park. The sport of mountaineering began to take hold in the United States in the early 1900s and advanced after World War II as new equipment began to be used to climb cracks in mountain facades. Death Valley Rock Topical Press Agency // Getty Images DEATH VALLEY ROCK An early visitor sits atop a unique stone formation in California's Death Valley in 1930. Shortly after this time, President Roosevelt's newly created Civilian Conservation Corps worked to develop the park infrastructure by building roads in order to make the land more accessible to visitors. Utah Hulton Archive // Getty Images UTAH Rock formations in the desert area known as Arches National Park. The park began as a national monument, designated by President Herbert Hoover in 1929, and was established by Congress as a national park in 1971. You may also like: Top-rated museums in the U.S. Vehicle and Badlands geological formations Corbis // Getty Images VEHICLE AND BADLANDS GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS A car drives through the Badlands of South Dakota in August 1934. The land was once home to saber-toothed cats and rhinos. Seminole woman canoeing in the Everglades ullstein bild // Getty Images SEMINOLE WOMAN CANOEING IN THE EVERGLADES A Seminole woman paddles with a child through the vast expanse of watery terrain now known as Everglades National Park. The Seminole tribe fought to keep its land out of the hands of American settlers during a series of wars in the 1800s. Summer vacation in the 1950s Robert Alexander // Getty Images SUMMER VACATION IN THE 1950S Beside a rock formation is a Plymouth, shown in 1953, in California's Joshua Tree National Park. The park is home to unique plant species and rock formations created by the harsh conditions of the desert winds and seasonal rains. Arizona Erich Andres // Getty Images ARIZONA A person stands beside a saguaro cactus in 1962. Saguaro National Park was formed in part to protect this species of cactus, which is the largest in the country, growing upwards of 50 feet into the air. Crater Lake Archive Photos // Getty Images CRATER LAKE Crater Lake is the deepest lake in North America, going down 1,943 feet below its surface. The surrounding park named after the lake was created in 1902. You may also like: Most fun cities in America Source: Unbelievable! Massachusetts Is DEAD LAST In The Country For This Filed Under: Berkshire County, lifestyle, Massachusetts Categories: Local News, News Comments Leave A Comment AROUND THE WEB ANYONE WITH ARTHRITIS SHOULD WATCH THIS (BIG PHARMA COMPANIES HATE THIS!) 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