GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted June 2nd,
    2016

    Natural Wonders

    Happy Camper Blog

    Our
    country has such incredibly diverse scenery from coast to coast, and one of
    the best ways to enjoy it is by taking a trip to see some of our many
    spectacular natural wonders. Every state has its share of them, and here are
    a few well worth exploring:

    Avenue of the
    Giants

    Northern
    California

    It’s hard to think of a more majestic (and humbling) sight than a
    stand of ancient redwoods. Avenue of the Giants, located approximately 300
    miles north of
    San Francisco, is a 32-mile stretch of old Highway 101
    that’s surrounded by more than 50,000 acres of redwoods,
    some of which are
    2,00
    0 years old.
    In fact, the area has the largest stand of virgin redwoods in the world, so
    as you drive through, be sure to take time to stop and hike, take a bike ride
    or enjoy a picnic as you take in amazing sights like the Champion Coast
    Redwood that stands an impressive 370 feet tall.

     

    Sand
    Dunes

    Northern
    Indiana

    When you think of the state of Indiana, the
    words “Let’s go to the beach” may not be the first ones that come to mind,
    but in
    reality, Indiana Dunes State Park in northwest Indiana is home to more than
    three miles of beautiful beaches. Best of all, they’re flanked by sand dunes
    that tower nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan. The dunes are thousands of
    years old and provide a fun place to kick back and relax as well as a habitat
    for many types of plants and animals.  Another point of interest,
    the 100-acre J.D. Marshall Preserve, is located approximately 600 yards
    offshore. It is the first underwater nature preserve in Indiana and is
    dedicated to the area where a ship named the J.D. Marshall capsized and sank
    in a storm in 1911.

     

    Mammoth
    Cave

    Southern
    Kentucky

    Mammoth Cave National Park is certainly
    accurately named, since on the surface, it covers 80 square miles, and the
    cave system underground is so massive that no one knows how big it is, even
    though more than 365 miles of it have already been mapped. In fact, new caves
    are being discovered all the time. A variety of tours are available with
    names like Frozen Niagara, Domes and Dripstones, and Gothic Avenue. There’s
    also a Nature Tracks program for kids. Advance reservations for the tours
    aren’t required, but they are recommended.

    Find a campground nearby.

    Stargazing at
    Cherry Springs State Park

    North Central
    Pennsylvania

    Its location at the top of a 2,300-foot high
    mountain surrounded by state forest land that’s relatively undeveloped makes
    Cherry Springs State Park one of the best places to go stargazing on the
    eastern seaboard. The 82-acre park delivers excellent 360-degree views of the
    night sky, and the park’s latitude and longitude also make it ideal for
    viewing the nucleus of the Milky Way galaxy. The nearby Susquehannock Trail
    offers 85 miles of hiking.

    Badlands

    South Dakota

    The scary-sounding name of this area may give
    it a bad rap, but it’s certainly not one that it deserves. It’s an area
    filled
    with
    breathtaking rock formations, native grasslands and wildlife. A great way to
    see the region is by driving the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway, a 30-mile
    loop of Highway 240 that contains nearly 30 scenic overlooks that offer
    excellent photo ops. Badlands National Park also contains a number of hiking
    trails, including a ¼-mile, fully-accessible boardwalk called the Fossil
    Trail where visitors can learn about the now-extinct species like
    saber-toothed cats that once roamed the area.

    Find a campground
    nearby.

    Blue Ridge Mountains
    Skyline Drive

    Virginia

    The spectacular Blue
    Ridge Mountain range spans more than 600 miles from Georgia to Pennsylvania.
    The mountains get their name from the blue haze that floats over them that is
    created by an organic compound released by the region’s trees. A great way to
    take in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains is to travel along Virginia’s
    Skyline Drive that runs 105 miles along the crest of the mountains in
    Shenandoah National Park. It’s a relaxing drive with a speed limit of just 35
    mph and there are 75 overlooks along the way. Sights to keep a lookout for
    include wildflowers, deer, black bear, wild turkeys and other woodland
    animals. RVs and camping trailers are welcome, but you’ll need to be prepared
    to shift into low gear and be able to clear Mary’s Rock Tunnel which is 12′8″
    tall.