You don’t need to leave the States to catch a glimpse of history. The U.S. is home to not only 58 national parks but 10,234 state parks and more than 2,596 designated landmarks. Check out these nine historic spots you need to visit this year:
Not to be confused with the Californian coastal town, this historic spot is actually in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns features over 100 spectacular caves left behind after sulfuric acid dissolved the limestone in the rock.
The Waterton Glacier Peace Park was created in 1932 after Alberta’s Waterton Lake National Park combined with neighboring Glacier National Park in Montana. Together, the two formed the world’s first International Peace Park. Waterton sits on the northern border of the U.S., offering vast prairies, lush forests and, of course, glacial bodies straight out of the Ice Age.
Hundreds of cliff dwellings are perched high above Southwestern Colorado’s plain at Mesa Verde National Park. Established in 1906, Ancestral Pueblo people lived in Mesa Verde between 600 and 1300 A.D. Be sure to plan your visit ahead of time, as this national park covers 5,000 archeological sites across 40 miles of road.
At 3.3 million acres, this Alaskan paradise is one of the world’s largest international protected areas. Glacier Bay National Park offers icy waters, crashing glaciers and vast mountain summits to explore.
You can’t miss Yosemite’s granite cliffs the next time you visit central California, a national landmark nestled in central California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Covering 1,200 square miles, there is so much to see within the deep valleys and mountain peaks – including one of the tallest waterfalls in North America.
Discover the world’s longest cave system in south central Kentucky. There are over 400 miles of complicated chambers and perplexing labyrinths to gaze at in Mammoth Cave. Listen to the tales of past cave explorers – from prehistoric to pioneers – in the echoes are carried through its halls.
This historic landmark, constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D., has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Be sure to do your research in advance if you plan on making the trip to Northern New Mexico’s Taos Pueblo as unexpected community closures can occur due to religious activities or weather.
You could fill an entire lifetime of travel at historic locations around the U.S. Plan your next trip to one of Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ 4,200+ worldwide locations and experience all the world, and Today’s Best Western, has to offer.