Having a baby along shouldn’t stop you from exploring the country’s fabulous national parks. Check out these great parks that your baby will love, too.
Mount Rushmore
There are no words to describe the breathtaking sight of Mount Rushmore and four of the most memorable presidents of the U.S. — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. While your baby may not remember his first trip to Mount Rushmore, he can have lots of fun while he’s there.
Keep your baby up past his bedtime just this once so he can watch the nightly lighting ceremony. Lights bring the carved faces to life in a magnificent way. Put the baby in a hiking carrier to take a scenic hike on the Horsethief Lake Trail, an easy three-mile hike with gorgeous scenery that ends at Horsethief Lake.
Web: nps.gov/moru
Address: 13000 SD Highway 244, Keystone, South Dakota 57751
Phone: 605-574-2523
Yosemite National Park
Aside from the beauty of the pines or a possible bear sighting, Yosemite National Park has a breadth of fun activities for babies. If your baby loves going for a ride, tour the park via bus or bike with the baby in a bike stroller or seat. Take a dip with the baby in one of the park’s natural bodies of water or the outdoor pools at the Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge. Your baby will love playing in the sand at the Merced River.
The baby won’t be the only one in the family to enjoy all of the great activities geared for kids of all ages.
Web: nps.gov/yose
?Address: Northside Drive, Yosemite National Park, California 95389
?Phone: 209-962-7690
Yellowstone National Park
The baby will love the sight of Yellowstone National Park’s many fascinating geysers. To get your baby in the cowboy spirit, take a stagecoach ride out to the Old West Cookout.
Web: nps.gov/yell
Address: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190
Phone: 307-344-7381
Cape Cod National Seashore
Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts has remained largely untainted, making for awe-inspiring sights. Take the baby to the beach, explore one of the museums, bring a lunch for a picnic, or take a gentle hike with the baby in tow and point our lighthouses along the way.
Web: nps.gov/caco
Address: 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts 02667
Phone: 508-771-2144
Acadia National Park
This preserved section of Maine’s rocky shoreline has plenty of activities to do with your baby. Go sailing or whale-watching, take a guided tour via horse-drawn carriage, and give baby his first taste of a popover as you sip tea at the Jordan Pond House. Plan your trip to Acadia National Park around its annual Family Fun Day at Sieur de Monts.
Web: nps.gov/acad
Address: 25 Visitor Center Road, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609?
Phone: 207-288-3338
Fun with baby
Need more great ideas for spending quality time with your baby? Check out Baby’s Day Out City Guide — you’ll discover all the top baby-friendly destinations and how to enjoy them with your little one.
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