A national park is the perfect place to cultivate a lifelong love of nature. Tots will be wide-eyed and wondrous at the towering trees, blue sky and curious critters they encounter in these great green spaces -- best seen from the stroller, child carrier or bike trailer.
Cool option: Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Wash.
Why mama will love it: With mountain vistas, tropical rainforests, and coastal tidepools, it's got three eco-systems to discover; there are several bike paths and stroller-friendly hiking trails (get suggestions from the visitor's center); East Beach has a shallow swimming area with sandy shore for digging and castle making; Sol Duc Hot Springs has a toasty mineral water wading pool (and day use rates), so you can soak with your little one safely beside you; picnic areas are scattered throughout the park for alfresco meals; and there's lodging in and outside the park.
Why kids will love it: In the forest they'll discover bright yellow banana slugs and skittering salamanders, and glow worms after sunset; the tidepools are filled with sea stars, crabs, snails and tiny fish; the Discovery Room in the park's main visitor center has interactive touch tables and a pint-sized Ranger Station playhouse, with puppets, dress-up clothes and more.
Cost: $-$$
When to go: Summer and Fall
Best for: Outdoorsy families
More great options: Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, Calif.; Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Me.; Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colo.
