Washington, DC, is known for its beautiful gardens, gigantic memorials, and monuments, and it's easy to forget that it is housed within a designated national park.

The National Mall

The National Mall chronicles American history in every branch, stone, and walkway. It begins at the base of the capitol building and extends west toward the Lincoln Memorial.

Harpers Ferry is a unique park encompassing land in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.

Harpers Ferry National Park

The Appalachian Trail runs through it, creating sweeping vistas. The park rests around the site of John Brown's abolitionist uprising, which resulted in his hanging in 1859.

With more than 400 miles of explored cave structures, visitors should only expect to see part of this national park on one trip.

Mammoth Cave National Park

In addition to the caves, you can go hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, and camping. The park has been deemed an International Biosphere Reserve and a stargazer's haven.

As part of the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains, this park's land was home to many indigenous peoples and their cultures for thousands of years.

Great Smoky Mountains Park

Visitors can explore old-growth forests and ancient habitats. The views are unsurpassed at Clingmans Dome's observation tower, the highest point in the park.

The Cuyahoga Valley is a uniquely historical location, as it was the impetus for the Clean Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The park continues to place wetland regeneration at the forefront, and there are over 125 miles of hiking trails with spectacular waterfalls, rock gorges, and forest vegetation.