EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

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13 related destinations with different designations.
Scenic header: Sunsets are one of the most popular times to visit White Sands. Visitors can experience sunset every day of the year. · NPS Photo · Photo credits
MORE REMARKABLE PLACES

Familiar favorites, clearly identified.

National parks, memorials, recreation areas and other destinations complement the monument collection. Each is listed under its current designation.

A place with a story.
California

Alcatraz Island

Part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area

A harbor crossing leads to a former federal prison, military site and place associated with Native American activism. The island’s views and stories reach well beyond its famous cellhouse.

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A place with a story.
Georgia · North Carolina · Tennessee · Virginia · West Virginia · Maryland · Pennsylvania · New Jersey · New York · Connecticut · Massachusetts · Vermont · New Hampshire · Maine

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

A long mountain footpath links communities and protected landscapes from Georgia to Maine. For a day outing, choose one clearly defined section or a visitor gateway.

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Summer colors at Mabry Mill
Virginia · North Carolina

Blue Ridge Parkway

National parkway

A scenic parkway links high ridges, valleys and cultural landscapes. A shorter section with time for overlooks and a walk often makes the best day.

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A place with a story.
Virginia

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

National recreation area

Mountain forests, grassy balds and trail networks offer a different Appalachian landscape. Choose a defined public trail or scenic district rather than aiming for every well-known highland place in one day.

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Photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with puffy clouds floating over.
South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

National memorial

A presidential mountain sculpture anchors a visit with museum interpretation, walking routes and wider Black Hills perspectives. Include the landscape’s continuing significance to Lakota people.

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A slightly curvy section of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Early Fall
Tennessee · Alabama · Mississippi

Natchez Trace Parkway

National parkway

A scenic parkway follows a historic travel corridor through forests, fields and communities. Short walks and interpreted stops help reveal the people who traveled here long before modern roads.

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White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.
New Mexico

White Sands National Park

National park

Brilliant white gypsum dunes rise beneath broad New Mexico skies. A scenic drive and short designated walks reveal the landscape’s textures without requiring a long desert hike.

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