The Often-Overlooked Spot You Don't Want To Skip When Visiting A National Park

With 59 official national parks in the United States alone and hundreds more preserves, monuments, historic sites, and recreational areas, you never really have a shortage of interesting places to camp and visit. Whether you are choosing from one of the top national parks for RV camping or you're sorting through the best U.S. national parks to visit if you love birding, there is an abundance of sites to choose from and national park activities you may not know about. One very important and often-overlooked way you can get the most out of your national park visit is by starting at the visitor's center. Every one of the 59 major national parks in the United States has a visitor center. Some larger parks, like Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, have multiple visitor centers. If you're not making it a requirement for yourself to start your trip at the visitor center, you're missing out.

National park visitor centers are not just a place to grab a map. You can stop at the restroom before heading out hiking and exploring, let the kids take a quick break, and learn some really interesting history and facts about the particular national park you are visiting. Eager to start their hiking or camping adventure, many people skip the visitor center entirely. Yet, these centers offer plenty of unique resources to help you make the most of your park visit.

The visitor center is the perfect starting point for your national park adventure, sparking excitement for all there is to see and do during your visit. According to a discussion on reddit, some national park visitor centers are favored over others due to the views and services they offer. Some of the favorites mentioned include Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park, Rim Village Visitor Center at Crater Lake, and Great Basin Lehman Caves Visitor Center, which has a charming and relaxing front porch with nice views. 

If you are visiting national parks with children, be sure to ask about the Junior Ranger Program. Most parks offer this program; however, it's best to check the park's website beforehand to make sure. This ensures your kids won't be disappointed and can access materials when you get there. Being part of the Junior Rangers is an exciting and fun part of these trips for the younger kids in the family. Many visitor centers also have gift shops where you can enjoy browsing and purchase souvenirs, enjoy concessions if available, and participate in any programs or special events the park sponsors. The best way to find out what each national park offers is to visit the park's website before your trip and find out what you can expect and look forward to. You can also get information on park hours, great hiking trails, and points of interest to look out for that you may not have known about.