2. Glacier Bay National Park And Preserve

Gustavus, Alaska

At the other end of the “nearby” scale is Glacier Bay in Alaska. It’s not that it’s hard for most visitors to get there — they let the captain drive. Cruise ships are the primary means of visitor access to Glacier Bay. So for most, planning your trip means planning your cruise; not a bad way to visit a park.

If you cruise to Glacier Bay, rangers will board your ship to give interpretive talks. Some cruise lines even have retired rangers on board to give programs, not in Glacier Bay, but during the rest of the cruise.

If you want to see Glacier Bay, unlike most others, you’re going to need to fly or take a ferry into Gustavus and get a ride (likely a taxi van) into Bartlet Cove on the one road with access to the park. From there, you can hike, camp, kayak, and explore the park on the dayboat. This is not as luxurious as the cruise experience but provides a much more intimate visit to this hidden gem.

3. Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve

Mosca, Colorado

Mounds of sand seem to be a running theme on this year’s list, so let’s get to our second sandpile on the list, and the absolute tallest: Great Sand Dunes.

Great Sand Dunes is a celebration of sand. Not only can you hike the dunes (it’s not easy), but you can sled them (now we’re talking). You can rent sand sleds or sandboards outside the park for an experience you’ll never forget.

If gravity isn’t something you choose to play with, there are other fun activities in the park including wading in Medano Creek. The creek runs in the spring — May is usually the best month.

There’s a campground, but to really get the ultimate dune experience, get a backcountry permit at the visitor center and camp in the dunes. Your overnight reward is experiencing the dunes under the sky of an International Dark Sky park — unforgettable.