• Introduction
• 1. Baxter State Park
• 2. Channel Islands National Park
• 3. Denali National Park and Preserve
• 4. Everglades National Park
• 5. Isle Royale National Park
• 6. National Bison Range
• 7. Safari West
• 8. San Juan Islands
• 9. Tucson’s Sonoran Desert
• 10. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Best for: bears, bison, bighorn sheep, moose, and wolves

Famous for its geothermal activity, Yellowstone’s awe-inspiring entertainment isn’t only steam-spewing: the preserve is also a hotbed for wildlife activity. The park, which unfolds in parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, provides one of the most natural and uninterrupted ecosystems in the U.S. – visitors are regularly stopped in their tracks by bison herds crossing the road, black bears visible from their car windows, or by the howls of a growing gray wolf population. The park’s also conveniently close to Grand Teton National Park, a preserve named for the jagged Teton Mountain Range – stunning views await. www.nps.gov/yell; www.nps.gov/grte

Smart Splurge Hotel: Find true rustic luxury at the spacious villas and cabins of Jackson, Wyoming’s Spring Creek Ranch. Set on a bona fide wildlife sanctuary, the hotel offers naturalist-guide-led wildlife safaris tailored to meet guests' animal interests, as well as stunning views of the towering Tetons on the horizon (practically the same sights and terrain guests enjoy at the neighboring über-exclusive Amangani resort, for a fraction of the cost). www.springcreekranch.com

Great Value Hotel: The most requested hotel in Yellowstone, the log cabin-style Old Faithful Inn is located adjacent to the Old Faithful Geyser and comes with a high-ceilinged, welcoming lobby, with a gigantic stone fireplace. www.travelyellowstone.com

When to Go: While animals can be spotted year-round (especially at dawn and dusk), visitors during spring and early summer can spy big mammals out with their young, and are more likely to catch predators on the prowl. Predictably, though, the warmer months are more tourist-heavy.

See Sonoma Travel Guide | See Montana Travel GuideSee Maine Travel Guide