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Best spots at the height of the summer season.
National Parks
Summer and the great outdoors go hand and hand, and the outdoors just don’t get much greater than in our national parks. The US counts 388 of them, and you could easily spend a weekend hiking any of them. Of course, two of the most spectacular ones – the Grand Canyon and Yosemite – offer more than hiking. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is truly a sight to behold: A vast abyss of multi-hued canyon walls stretching some 277 miles long and as much as a mile deep, the Grand Canyon was sculpted over millions of years by the pulsating Colorado River. Another gem, Yosemite National Park is a preserve of breathtaking Sierra Nevada valley-and-mountain scenery, jutting granite rock formations, giant sequoia trees, and magnificent cascading waterfalls. For hikers, bikers, or white-water rafters, or simply those who prefer to appreciate the views, these pristine land reserves are meccas for nature-lovers.
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