3 National Parks You May Never Heard Of, But Need to Visit

The U.S. is a massive country, and for every popular tourist destination, there are countless places just as beautiful and exciting, but far less crowded. The U.S. boasts 421 National Parks spread across more than 84 million miles. While people are now recommended to stay away from crowds it is the perfect opportunity to explore some of the less traveled but equally beautiful wildlife preserves.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

True to its name, this protected site boasts one mammoth cave. It is actually the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 million miles underground that have been mapped. The park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Inside of the caves, you can find fossils and preserved ancient artifacts.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

National parks are not exclusively nature and landscapes. Believe it or not, there is a conserved historical park dedicated entirely to jazz, located right in the middle of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Jazz is considered one of the few uniquely American art forms. The park tells the story of jazz—the history, the culture, and where we are today. The New Orleans Jazz Museum is a fascinating place to visit, and of course, there is always a variety of street performances to keep you entertained. 

Sumter National Forest, South Carolina

Inducted as a national park by FDR in 1936, this park was named after Thomas Sumter, an American hero during the American Revolution. The park offers various activities including shooting ranges, four different motorbike and ATV tracks, hunting, fishing, and more. There is even an abandoned train tunnel and tracks from the Civil War era.