As the mercury rises, America's great outdoors begins to call. And there are endless options for fun days in the sun. From state parks packed out with trails to living history museums and sculpture gardens, we've picked the most exciting outdoor attraction in each state. (If you're planning a trip, be sure to check state travel advisories and up-to-date information before you head out.)
Waterfalls, wildflowers and wiggling hiking trails fill this state park atop Northeast Alabama's Lookout Mountain. The top draw is DeSoto Falls, which thunders down 104 feet (32m) over a series of terraces, emptying into a craggy canyon. Visitors can overnight at scenic campgrounds and mountain chalets too.
Alaska is fit to burst with glorious outdoor attractions, but Denali stands head and shoulders above them all – literally. The soaring peak, the tallest in North America, rises to 20,310 feet (6,190m) and is the crowning jewel of its namesake, Denali National Park. Denali Park Road affords fabulous views of the mega mountain and is typically serviced by a shuttle bus in the summer months.
America has beautiful botanical gardens from coast to coast, but Phoenix's Desert Botanical Gardens is one of the standouts. Trails beat through rainbow displays of desert flora, from Joshua trees and saguaros to pretty Blackfoot daisies. A highlight is the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail which hums with pollinators from bees and butterflies to hummingbirds.
This unique park in southwestern Arkansas attracts treasure hunters from across the States. Visitors can pan for diamonds and other precious gems at the volcanic preserve, with knowledgeable staff on hand to identify any uncovered jewels. Beyond the dig site, there are picnic spots and trails spooling past rugged rock formations and through forest.
This Californian peak needs little introduction. It's a symbol of treasure-packed Yosemite National Park, with its waterfalls, glacial valleys and giant sequoias, and it swells to an eye-watering 8,800 feet (2,682m) above sea level. The challenging hike to the summit is tackled by many a park visitor: not for the faint of heart, it's around a 16-mile (26km) round trip that culminates in a series of cables clinging to the near-vertical rock face.
Colorado is a state filled with epic rockscapes, shrub-scattered desert and mountain panoramas – but the aptly named Garden of the Gods still sticks out. The park is known for its otherworldly sandstone pinnacles rising some 300 feet (91m) and shifting shape over millions of years. Visitors typically pour into the park for nature walks, jeep tours and rock climbing adventures.
There's something romantic about Hartford's Elizabeth Park, not least because of the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden with its flower-laced trellises and bright, blooming beds. Some 15,000 rose bushes fill the garden, which dates back to the early 20th century and is sewn with tranquil pathways, plus a gazebo built in 1904.
Delaware's shortbread shores are the state's crowning jewel and visitors can soak them in with a stroll on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The sleek promenade stretches for around a mile, hugged by quirky shops, restaurants and, of course, a sweep of gorgeous white sand. A walk or bike ride is even better at sunset.
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Snorkellers and swimmers are drawn to the coral-filled waters of Dry Tortugas National Park – but those who prefer dry land will find plenty to explore on Garden Key. One of the park's largest islands, it's capped by Fort Jefferson, a brooding 19th-century fort, and its sand beaches are home to nesting sea turtles. Visitors can spend the night at the back-to-basics campground and drink in the notoriously dark skies.
Rock City is as close to a fairy tale as you'll come in the Peach State. The park can be found on top of Lookout Mountain and is best known for the views from rugged Lover's Leap and the towering High Falls cascade. Visitors can also wander through caverns filled with fairy-tale sculptures, drink in alfresco art installations and brave the heights of Swing-A-Long Bridge.
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Among the Aloha State's most famous strands, striking Punaluʻu Beach is all raven black sand and swaying palms. It can be found on Hawaii's Big Island and the inky powder is the result of years of volcanic activity. Best of all, the shores provide a home for Hawaiian green sea turtles too.
Visitors to this National Monument might feel like they've landed on the moon: the stark volcanic panoramas certainly have an otherworldly quality. The craggy landscapes are the result of volcanic eruptions, which left behind striking craters, spatter cones and caves. Most popular is the North Crater Flow Trail, which loops past intricate rope-like lava forms known as pahoehoe.
Fabulous rock formations are the highlight of this state park in northern Illinois. It's all sandstone canyons, creeks and gushing waterfalls, and 13 miles (21km) of trails route through the wilderness. There are tree-shrouded cabins, a lodge and trolley tours too – check here for current availability.
The towering sand mountains of Indiana Dunes National Park are one of the state's star attractions – and Mount Baldy is the mother of them all. An enormous 'living dune' (meaning it's always changing and shifting), it soars to 126 feet (38m) above Lake Michigan. Various hiking routes allow visitors to experience the sandy peak, including the Mount Baldy Beach Trail, which offers stunning views of the lake.
A fascinating indigenous heritage site in the northeast of Iowa, this National Monument stretches out along the Mississippi River and protects hill structures built by the "Effigy Moundbuilders" more than 1,000 years ago. The mounds – held sacred by numerous indigenous American tribes – can be seen on hiking routes including the popular Fire Point Trail. Sweeping views of the Mississippi are a glorious bonus too.
Visitors are whisked back to the Old West at the Boot Hill Museum in southwestern Kansas. There are plenty of indoor attractions – including shopping for goodies at the General Store – but much of the fun is alfresco. Travellers can wander the streets drinking in charming western-style façades and wagons, and even catch a gunfight outside the saloon.
Natural wonders are packed tight in this pretty park in the Bluegrass State. But its greatest treasure is its namesake, Cumberland Falls, a 60-foot (18m) curtain of water known as the "Niagara of the South". It's particularly famous for its glimmering lunar rainbows, created by moonlight refracted in the water. Birdwatching, hiking and horse riding are all favoured activities here too.
An alfresco treasure trove for art lovers, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is one of America's finest. It's host to more than 90 striking works from international creators, all surrounded by beautiful live oaks and native flowers. Visitors can drink in everything from a bold bronze by Henry Moore to a mirror labyrinth by Jeppe Hein. It's part of the New Orleans Museum of Art.
The poster child for Acadia National Park, the Bass Harbor Head Light Station rises from Maine's craggy coastline and dates back to 1858. It's not possible to visit the beacon's interior, so visitors must content themselves with drinking it in from the outside. A trail leads to a fantastic viewpoint for the lighthouse.
This state park is named for imposing Fort Frederick, a defensive stone base built in 1756. And it's a great spot for outdoorsy types too. The fort's hulking stone walls and barracks are surrounded by hiking trails, picnic spots, campsites and the Potomac River. A boat launch in the park means visitors can make a splash too.
There are plenty of outdoor experiences to be had at Massachusetts' Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum dedicated to the Plymouth Colony of the 1600s and the indigenous peoples that called the area home. Collected along the Eel River, the Wampanoag Homesite is a recreation of an indigenous village, complete with traditional houses and gardens. There's also the 17th-century English Village, a replica of the pilgrims' own settlement, with timber-framed houses and even livestock.
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An unlikely green oasis in the Motor City, Belle Isle is an island park that spreads out over a little under 1,000 acres. Lakes, woodland, playgrounds and picnic spots are all packed within its limits, alongside a plant-filled conservatory and an aquarium. Another highlight is the James Scott Memorial Fountain (pictured), an ornate marble monument crowned with lion sculptures and decorated with reliefs.
Artsy Minneapolis has plenty of galleries, but the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – belonging to the Walker Art Center – is a real gem. The free-to-enter arts space has a whole host of cool contemporary sculptures, from giant bronzes to concrete etchings and wrought steel pieces. The star is the mammoth 'Spoonbridge and Cherry' (pictured), the sculpture garden's very first piece.
The Magnolia State is famous for its enchanting cypress swamps which bustle with birdlife and drip in Spanish moss. And the Greenville Cypress Preserve protects a beautiful area of swampland in the west of Mississippi. The park spreads over 16 acres in the Mississippi delta, with boardwalk trails looping past the wooded wetlands and wildflower meadows. It's a home for species from great egrets and the northern mockingbird to tree frogs and salamanders too.
Another avant-garde, alfresco arts space, Laumeier Sculpture Park dates back to the 1970s, beginning with some 40 works gifted by American Pop artist Ernest Trova. Today there are more than 70 mammoth pieces spread out over 105 acres. They range from a giant cat decorated with mosaics to quotes cast in glittering neon. A head turner is 'The Way' by Alexander Liberman (pictured), a hulking piece made from huge red cylinders and the most iconic artwork in the park.
Big Sky Country was made for outdoor adventures and the state has natural wonders in spades. Alpine Lake McDonald, in Glacier National Park, is one of Montana's celebrity sights. Carved out by glaciers, it's the largest and deepest lake in the park, spreading out over 10 miles (16km) and shrouded by snow-crowned peaks. Plenty of trails wiggle around the lake, including the challenging Mt. Brown Lookout route which passes through old growth forest and affords fabulous views over the water from up high.
Chimney Rock is a real head turner – and it's steeped in historical significance too. It comprises a broad, conical base, with a teetering pinnacle that served as a recognisable landmark for pioneers heading west in the 19th century. It rises out from the sweeping plains of western Nebraska with an exhibit-packed visitor centre shedding light on the natural landmark.
Sin City is renowned for its streets drenched in neon – but what happens to Vegas' iconic signs when they retire? Some end up at the Neon Museum and its fascinating Neon Boneyard, essentially a cemetery for out-of-service signs. Visitors can wander the site, drinking in the 200-plus-strong collection of artefacts, which includes everything from a giant Hard Rock Cafe guitar to glittering nods to the Stardust and Sahara hotels.
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This rugged park unfolds in the White Mountain National Forest, in the north of New Hampshire, and is packed out with natural wonders. A top sight is Flume Gorge (pictured), a granite ravine with walls plunging up to 90 feet (27m) and hugged by a wooden boardwalk. Echo Lake, which sits at a lofty 1,931 feet (589m), is ideal for a swim or kayak, while an aerial tramway whisks visitors to the top of Cannon Mountain.
New Jersey's popular Grounds for Sculpture is exactly what it sounds like: a leafy park filled with striking outdoor artworks. There's a huge variety of sculptures scattered about the pretty gardens from bronze cows to mighty metal depictions of King Lear and other figures. Beyond the art, visitors should keep an eye out for the beautiful wisteria-hung pergola and elegant 'Monet Bridge' arching over a pond filled with koi fish and water lilies.
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The powdery, chalk-white gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park are among New Mexico's finest sights. And the Interdune Boardwalk is one of the best ways to experience them. The elevated pathway strikes a route through the rippling sandscape, and outdoor displays along the way offer fascinating info on everything from the resident wildlife to how the dunes were formed.
Central Park is one of New York state's – and America's – bucket list destinations. You'll have seen its vast green expanse in movies and magazines and it's no less impressive in real life. Spread over 843 acres, the Big Apple's "Green Lung" is all sweeping meadows, bridge-spanned boating lakes and wooded trails. Oodles of surprising treasures await, too, from brooding 19th-century Belvedere Castle to the Strawberry Fields area and the Imagine mosaic, a tribute to late Beatle John Lennon.
Soaring Grandfather Mountain is a North Carolina jewel, with parts protected as a state park, and other swathes as a private nature reserve. In the reserve, wonders include the dizzying Mile High Swinging Bridge (which is exactly what it sounds like) and the chance to spot bears and cougars. Trails range from mellow wooded hikes to strenuous mountain treks.
Did you know that North Dakota has a rich Scandinavian heritage? Immigrants from countries including Norway and Sweden travelled to the area in the 19th century, many of them farmers drawn to the Roughrider State's fertile ground. This unique park celebrates the state's Scandi history and culture with a huge Swedish dala horse, a Danish-style windmill, a bronze statue of writer Hans Christian Andersen and more.
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One of Ohio's shining stars, Hocking Hills State Park is a wonderland of grottoes, waterfalls and woodland. Travellers can tour Ash Cave, a spellbinding recess cave with its own little waterfall and plunge pool, and hike the Old Man's Cave trail, which reveals yet more caverns and cascades. There's the chance for camping, canoeing and wildlife watching too: the park is home to deer, birdlife and elusive bobcats.
This stark terrain might look like it belongs in Bolivia rather than Oklahoma state – but the landscape is one of the USA's best kept secrets. Salt Plains State Park is made up from salt left behind by a prehistoric ocean and includes the Great Salt Plains Lake within its limits. Outdoor activities abound here, from swimming in or kayaking on the lake to biking around and enjoying the views.
An icon of Oregon state, Wizard Island rises from Crater Lake, a sapphire-coloured caldera lake that's a vision in its own right. The island is actually a cinder cone formed thousands of years ago, whose pointy shape is said to resemble a warlock's hat. Visitors can soak in views of the isle from hiking trails around the crater rim, or typically get a closer look on a guided boat tour – see here for the latest availability.
An outdoor attraction for history lovers, Gettysburg National Military Park is packed with trails and monuments telling the story of one of the Civil War's most pivotal battles. General Lee's northern invasion was famously thwarted in the 1863 clash, which saw Confederate troops retreat back to Virginia. Typically ranger programmes and living history events bring the past to life, while horseback trails and hiking paths allow visitors to explore at their own pace.
Known as the "People's Park of Providence", Roger Williams Park was established in the 1870s and today it unfolds over 435 leafy acres. The trees are an attraction in themselves with world and native species on display, from the mighty Scarlet Oak to the Norway Spruce. Beyond the canopy, there are landmarks aplenty including the Temple to Music (pictured), a grand alfresco concert venue, and the pretty Japanese Garden.
These dreamy gardens ooze Southern charm – think Spanish-moss-draped oaks and pretty rose beds. Most beautiful of all is the Live Oak Allée, a peaceful passage of the centuries-old trees that dates right back to the 1700s. There's also a 2,000-strong collection of sculptures, scattered across a trio of galleries and the gardens themselves. Visitors can look out for winged horses cast in granite and bronze sculptures of dogs, people and more.
No celebration of the country's alfresco sights would be complete without mighty Mount Rushmore. This legendary mountain carving in the Black Hills of South Dakota sees the faces of four revered presidents hewn into rock: these are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Visitors can wander the grounds, drinking in those famous presidential faces, and spot their state flag along the grand Avenue of Flags.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains the most visited in America and landmarks like the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower make it all the more appealing. The striking tower rises above the hazy mountain canopy, and at 6,643 feet (2,025m) it's the highest point in the state. A swirling, half-mile walk leads to the tower's summit, and from here visitors can drink in beautiful panoramas of the spruce-fir forest.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden is tipped as one of the most beautiful gardens in the States, and it's also the oldest of its kind in Texas. Dating back to 1934, it's a wonderfully varied space with working veggie patches, a cactus plot, a romantic rose garden and a peaceful Japanese garden. There's a grove filled with maple and oak trees for shady walks in the park too.
Utah's rock formations are the stuff of legend, from mighty bluffs like Zion's Towers of the Virgin to intricate hoodoos and pinnacles. But perhaps most fascinating of all are the graceful rock arches that have been formed over millennia. There are more than 2,000 stone arches in the aptly named Arches National Park and Delicate Arch is the most famous of them all. The jaw-dropping, free-standing arch is the largest of its kind in the park and can be reached on a three-mile (5km) trail.
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America's most famous living history museum has plenty to keep visitors busy on a sunny day. Offering a glimpse into life in the 18th century, the site includes everything from a recreated colonial-era garden and carpenter's yard to working archaeological sites. Carriage rides and a stroll through the beautiful arboretum are other ways to enjoy the outdoors.
The Hoh Rain Forest is an unexpected pearl in Olympic National Park, an endlessly diverse landscape that's all peaks and glaciers and rugged stretches of coast. The forest itself takes its name from the Hoh River, a glacial waterway that wiggles down from Mount Olympus. Hiking routes, such as the Hall of Mosses Trail, unfold beneath the canopy, taking walkers past moss-covered maple trees, Douglas firs and red cedars.
The New River Gorge Bridge has become a hero of West Virginia, and the New River Gorge was named America's 63rd national park in 2020. The bridge itself tops out at 876 feet (267m) and has long been popular with BASE jumpers, who parachute from the lofty structure on 'Bridge Day' each year. Those without such a head for heights can drink in the bridge on hikes, scenic drives and rafting adventures.
Pattison State Park offers a true back-to-nature experience. It spreads over more than 1,400 acres and is packed with rivers, woods and wetlands – though its trophy sight is Big Manitou Falls. The cascade is the highest in Wisconsin and one of the highest east of the Rockies at 165-feet (50m) tall. Its smaller twin, Little Manitou Falls, is also pretty as a picture, crashing over craggy rock from 31 feet (9m).
One of America's most colourful natural sights, Grand Prismatic Spring manages to stand out even in a wonder-filled national park like Yellowstone. It's the largest hot spring in the country, with a diameter of 370 feet (113m), and its vivid colours – deep azure, yellow and orange – come from rings of bacteria that flourish in the hot waters.
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