Outdoor adventures for families who don’t like to hike

Want to spend time in nature but you don’t want to sweat? Try fishing! Whether you’re fly fishing for trout at Yellowstone or catching smallmouth bass in the Great Smoky Mountains, there are plenty of national parks that welcome anglers young and old. Biscayne National Park even offers fishing classes in both English and Spanish.

Be sure to research fishing regulations wherever you go, and don’t forget to download a Junior Ranger Let’s Go Fishing booklet for the kids.

Our recommendation: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Home to over 900 islands and spanning a watery stretch along the Canadian border, Voyageurs National Park is made up of 84,000 acres of water and 655 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Kabetogama and Rainy Lakes are especially popular for families, and you’ll find a variety of fish, including Walleye, Northern Pike, and even Lake Sturgeon. Visitors can hire a fishing guide, rent a boat, or bring their own boats.

Many national parks offer breathtaking scenic drives, a more accessible outdoor activity for families with small children or those with limited mobility. For example, the nine-mile Artist’s Drive in Death Valley National Park has vistas of colorful rock formations that require only a few steps from parking areas. And the four-mile Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park features stunning mountain overlooks, as well as the opportunity to spot wildlife like bears, deer, or wild turkeys from the car.

Our recommendation: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Most easily accessible by car, the bright blue Crater Lake sits inside the caldera of an extinct volcano that erupted in prehistoric times. Spend half a day driving the entire 33-mile perimeter of the lake via Rim Drive road, which gives you access to famous overlooks like Phantom Ship, Pinnacles, and Cloudcap.

Some national parks offer motorized tours on buses, trams, or trolleys, helping you get to all the hotspots without the hassle of hiking or driving your own vehicle. Watch the landscape roll by while listening to rangers talk about park history on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, for example. Or take a bus tour in Denali National Park to access Alaskan parklands with preserve status.

Our recommendation: Everglades National Park, Florida
The Everglades ecosystem is home to 150 species of trees, 40 species of mammals, all kinds of colorful birds, and an impressive array of reptiles and amphibians, including crocodiles and alligators. A guided tram tour through Shark Valley will make your visit an educational experience for family members of every age.

Dozens of state and national parks across the US are designated as International Dark Sky Parks, including Arches National Park, Big Bend National Park, and Cape Lookout National Seashore. Many of the parks offer astronomy programs for visitors of all ages, and enjoying the night sky is a unique and memorable outdoor activity for families.

Our recommendation: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
While many Dark Sky parks and reserves in the United States are located in the west, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument features some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. You’ll find spectacular views almost anywhere in the monument, including the Katahdin Loop Road Overlook and Haskell Hut.