Top 10 Places I Recommend Visiting This Summer

By Clyde A. Sasquatch

Last updated May 6, 2025

Summer is right around the corner and it’s time for me to pack my bags and see some sights. Now, I’ve never really been a fan of big cities. The hustle and bustle is just too much for me, not to mention all the noise, and I can never seem to find a good cab or Uber driver. Don’t get me started on the suburbs. There’s just something about the great outdoors that calls to me. Though I do like to mix it up, there are a few places that I come back to time and time again. And, since I don’t believe in gate-keeping nature, I’m here to share this list with you, so you can go out and enjoy your summer, ‘squatch style.

Banff National Park

Hear me out, our neighbors to the north don’t just have Tim Horton's and funny sounding currency, they also have some gorgeous sights to see, like Banff National Park. Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, is Canada’s oldest national park and one of the most breathtaking natural reserves in the world. Now, this national park is HUGE, spanning over 6,600 square kilometers of rugged mountain terrain, turquoise glacial lakes, dense coniferous forests, and abundant wildlife, including elk, grizzly bears, and mountain goats and even the occasional Sasquatch. Iconic landmarks such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Icefields Parkway offer unparalleled scenic beauty and opportunities for hiking, skiing, and photography. 

Mount Rainier National Park

Being a big fan of the PNW, it’s hard to not recommend the whole region. In fact, I sometimes get a little carried away and can be spotted occasionally moving from campsite to campsite. I can’t help it. That being said, Mount Rainier National Park does hold a special place in my heart. The national park is home to the towering, snow-capped Mount Rainier, a 14,410-foot stratovolcano that dominates the skyline and serves as the park’s centerpiece. Established in 1899, the park covers over 370 square miles of diverse terrain, including ancient forests, alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers, and over 25 glaciers—the most on a single peak in the contiguous United States (sorry Alaska). Its vast wilderness offers a haven for wildlife such as black bears, marmots, and mountain goats. I've even been known to make a guest appearance or two on the hiking trails. Even if you can’t make it out during the summer, the park offers year-round beauty and adventure. 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Next up on my list are a couple of places that people wouldn’t expect, starting with Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is nestled between Cleveland and Akron in northeastern Ohio and is a unique mix of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural landmarks along the winding Cuyahoga River. On my yearly pilgrimage to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I usually set aside a couple of days to explore the park as well. Established as a national park in 2000, it spans over 33,000 acres of rolling hills, dense forests, wetlands, and open farmlands, offering visitors a peaceful getaway from a largely urban area. The park features over 125 miles of trails, including the popular Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, as well as scenic waterfalls like Brandywine Falls, historic sites, and opportunities for birdwatching, biking, and kayaking. 

Indiana Dunes National Park

Not to be confused with Indiana Jones. Indiana Dunes National Park is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana. The park is actually one of my more recent additions to my list, officially designated a national park in 2019. It spans over 15,000 acres and is home to more than 1,100 species of plants, making it one of the most biologically rich areas in the U.S. National Park System. One of the reasons I enjoy it so much is because it’s covered in a diverse landscape of sandy beaches, towering dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests. The park offers 50 miles of trails, scenic views of Lake Michigan, and recreational opportunities like swimming, hiking, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing. Its blend of natural beauty, ecological diversity, and proximity to populated areas makes it a unique and accessible destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Everglades National Park

Now, this next recommendation doesn’t come lightly - Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park, located in southern Florida, is the largest tropical wilderness of its kind in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vast, slow-moving "river of grass”. If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking, “Florida, really?” Yes, really. However, please take note, try and make this an early-summer or late-summer trip to avoid peak mosquito season. Warning aside, it really is a beautiful park, spanning 1.5 million acres, hosting a unique ecosystem of sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, cypress domes, and coastal estuaries that provide critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife, including alligators, manatees, panthers, and over 350 species of birds. It offers visitors a chance to explore this subtropical wilderness through activities like airboat tours, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and hiking along scenic boardwalks. If you do decide to visit in the summer, you hopefully get to see some beautiful rainstorms, while running from mosquitos.

Redwood National Park

It’s the forest moon of Endor. How cool is that? Plus, Ewoks are basically just tiny sasquatches. So, really, it’s like we’re cousins, and who doesn’t love family? The Redwood National and State Parks, located along the northern coast of California, are home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, towering coastal redwoods that can reach over 350 feet in height and live for more than 2,000 years. This vast network of parks, encompassing nearly 140,000 acres, also includes prairies, rivers, oak woodlands, and rugged coastline, creating a diverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife like Roosevelt elk, black bears, and bald eagles. Visitors can explore miles of scenic trails, drive through ancient forests, or walk along misty beaches, all while experiencing the awe-inspiring scale and serenity of these primeval giants. The park is not only a sanctuary for biodiversity, but also a powerful reminder of the natural world's grandeur and resilience.

Yellowstone National Park

It’s exactly like the show, I think, but with less Kevin Costner. Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the first national park in the world, is a vast and geologically active wilderness located primarily in Wyoming, with portions in Montana and Idaho. Covering over 2.2 million acres, the park is renowned for its dramatic geothermal features like Old Faithful geyser and the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring, as well as its deep canyons, alpine rivers, and expansive forests. Yellowstone is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bison, wolves, elk, and grizzly bears, making it a premier destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as any sasquatch who like to travel. Its unique combination of natural wonders, ecological diversity, and historic significance continues to inspire millions of visitors each year.

Arches National Park

I’ve got nothing witty for this one. Arches National Park, located in eastern Utah, showcases a surreal desert landscape filled with over 2,000 natural stone arches, towering rock spires, and balanced formations sculpted by wind and time. The park spans over 76,000 acres of red rock terrain, offering striking views and iconic sites like Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch. Its vibrant sunsets, dramatic geology, and starlit skies attract hikers, photographers, and adventurers year-round. 

Yosemite National Park

Because of Half Dome and the El Capitan Theater. Yosemite National Park, located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, is famed for its awe-inspiring granite cliffs, ancient giant sequoias, thundering waterfalls, and scenic alpine meadows. Encompassing over 750,000 acres, the park’s centerpiece is Yosemite Valley, where iconic landmarks like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls draw climbers, photographers, and nature lovers from around the world. Fun fact, if you’ve seen the documentary, “Free Solo”, I’m in the director's cut. I actually climbed up with Alex Honold but it really messed with the narrative being told so we decided to let him have the spotlight. I don’t particularly enjoy being in the public eye anyway. Beyond the valley, vast wilderness areas offer backcountry hiking, serene high-country lakes, and rich biodiversity. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yosemite represents the enduring beauty of the American wilderness and has played a crucial role in the history of national park preservation.

Grand Teton National Park

I mean, what else is there to do in Wyoming? Though I suppose it’s better than Idaho. Grand Teton National Park, located in northwestern Wyoming just south of Yellowstone, is renowned for its dramatic mountain scenery, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife. Dominated by the rugged peaks of the Teton Range, including the iconic Grand Teton at 13,775 feet, the park spans over 310,000 acres of alpine terrain, glacial valleys, and lush meadows. Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, mountaineering, boating on Jackson Lake, and wildlife viewing, with chances to see moose, bears, elk, and bald eagles. The park’s striking landscapes and serene beauty make it a beloved destination for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike.

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