Justin and I are planning a week-long trip in the September or October timeframe this year. We'd like to go out of state this time, since our last couple years' major trips have been in Texas or closeby (Texas -- Big Bend NP, Del Rio - Amistad NRA; Arkansas -- Petit Jean SP, Queen Wilhelmina SP, etc.)
Sadly, we haven't been to very many of the U.S. National Parks together, despite our best efforts to the contrary. The only park's we have really explored, as opposed to manic drive-throughs en route to somewhere else, are Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado, Big Bend NP here in Texas, and Great Smokey Mountains NP in Tennessee. We did a quick day trip through Zion NP in Utah some years' back while visiting family in Las Vegas, NV, but the Zion trip was so brief it hardly counts as a visit. Add in a couple National Forests in Arkansas, and that's the extent of my out-of-state explorations. Justin's been to more National Parks, but only as a child, so we're both in desperate need of connecting with areas we've not yet explored.
A week isn't a long time, so we're not anticipating really experiencing everything there is to see and do in a place. But we want to at least get a taste... We'll probably go the hotel/motel route, though camping or renting a trailer again (like we did for Big Bend) are also options.
Ideas? Where would you go in the U.S. if you had a week to spare and wanting to hike, view wildlife, relax, take photographs, learn (natural history, etc.) and come back feeling like you've had a productive trip?
Top states on our list right now, which then need to be collected into top destinations in those states -- (in no particular order):
Wyoming
Utah
Florida
Colorado (*We've been here many times and love the state, but probably will omit it from contention since we 'know' it better; we want a trip to someplace completely new to us.)
California (*I was born there but haven't been back in 25+ years. All I remember is the beach.)
Tennessee (*Been once, years ago, mostly in tourist-trap areas)
North Carolina (*Been once, years ago; hiked Chimney Rock Park)
Really, any state we haven't been to 'regularly' and as a couple is in contention, which leaves most of the U.S.A. available.
