10. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
The temperature in this unique, popular park is never higher than 80 degrees Fahrenheit in May. More importantly, the winters are cold and snowy and summer not only means higher temperatures but, believe it or not, it’s monsoon season. Here you will discover ancient, colorful towering trees that are more than 200 million years old.
The lovely landscape of the rainbow-colored Painted Desert is also impressive. There are many things to do here including biking, hiking, and taking ranger-led tours. You can even drive around and enjoy an outlook or two.
Be sure to see Puerco Pueblo. It features the remains of an ancient 12th and 13th-century village. Stop in at the historic Painted Desert Inn which is now a museum. Check out the intriguing Newspaper Rock petroglyphs and Hopi murals as well.
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