Currently, there are 58 National Parks in the U.S. From national monuments and historical sites to places of conservation, there’s no shortage of National Parks. But how can you pick the best one to visit? Here are six suggestions:

Haleakalā National Park

A special place in Hawaii, this park explores the history of Hawaiian culture. The landscape is uniquely Hawaiian, with sub-tropical rainforests and volcanic terrain, which makes hiking here an unforgettable experience. Haleakalā National Park is also home to a variety of endangered species which exist nowhere else.

Denali National Park

Six million acres make up Alaska’s Denali National Park. Taiga forests blend into the alpine tundra and snowcapped mountains as you travel higher in elevation. This park is also home to North America’s tallest peak, Mt. McKinley, at 20,320-feet. If you’re ready to climb one of the seven summits, this is a good place to start.

Biscayne National Park

Located just outside of Miami, Florida, this park holds 10,000 years of human history. From shipwrecks to pineapple farmers, you’ll have the chance to learn about it all. Additionally, Biscayne National Park protects the sensitive coral reefs in the area. You can explore the park by boat or canoe, or choose to snorkel through the aquamarine waters.

Zion National Park

From sandstone cliffs to slot canyons, Zion National Park is one of the Southwest’s gems. One of the most popular hikes in the park is The Narrows. This hike takes you through the Virgin River along the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The Subway, another popular hike, requires bouldering, rappelling and wading through waters. If you’ve got a sense of adventure, go for it!

Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park

These parks are so close together, you can’t visit just one. Yellowstone was the first National Park, established 1872. Today, the 3,500-square-mile, which spreads from Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is visited by more than three million people each year. The volcanic hotspot is home to more than 100 animal species, canyons, alpine forests, rivers, hot springs and geysers.

Less than 100 miles away, is Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are some of the most magnificent mountains found in the United States. Both of these parks are beautiful and easily explorable, making these two National Parks must-sees for teens with wanderlust.

For more on National Parks, visit FindYourPark.com.

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Contributed by Lauren Topor

Preparing for your graduation day is always an exciting time. As you order your cap and  own and choose a memorable quote to be published beside your yearbook picture, you may also find yourself wondering what life will be like after high school.

Perhaps you’ve already picked out a few colleges that you’d like to attend. You may even have a pretty good idea about what you want to study. However, if you’re feeling exhausted from pulling all-nighters just to study for an exam or complete the last batch of your homework assignments, you may want to consider taking a gap year before diving into college coursework.

What is a gap year?

When you choose to take a gap year, you’re essentially giving yourself a year or semester off before entering into college. You can use this time to earn extra cash for tuition payments, participate in study abroad programs or internships, and even volunteer for a cause you feel passionate about. Aside from helping you feel more prepared for college, a gap year is also useful for gaining valuable life skills and experiences.

Many high school and college students take a shorter gap year alternative during the summer – think of it as a gap summer – that tends to save them money and also avoid the classroom time lost when taking a full gap year.

How can I benefit from taking a gap year?

If you’re feeling burned out from coursework and want to break free from the classroom for a while, then a gap year could be just what you need. In addition to refreshing your mind, a gap year can help you determine what direction you want to take in life. As you explore different opportunities and expose yourself to the outside world, you’ll learn more about yourself and discover what field sparks your interest for future studies.

How can I make the most of my gap year?

There are many different ways to use your gap year wisely. If you’re a giving person that loves to help others in need, you can serve as an active volunteer in your community. Another great way to spend this time off would be to apply for an internship in a field of your choice. You’ll get to experience what it feels like to be in the working world firsthand, and you’ll gain valuable skills that can be applied in your daily life.

Finally, if you’re more of an adventurous type, you may want to try learning a new language through a study-abroad program.

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Contributed by Nedda Grady

There you are: Sitting on the beach in a beautiful seaside town when suddenly the weather turns for the worse and your sunny vacation has turned into seemingly endless days of wet, gray slosh. Vacation ruined, right? Wrong. A kink in your plans can turn a vacation into an exploration. (Trust me, I’ve been in Cancun during the rainy season.)

Remember that little café you saw just off the beach? Try ducking in there for an espresso or to experience other local fare. Do some people-watching. Find out where to grab an umbrella and get back out on the town.

How about visiting the local museum? Almost every town has a museum of some sort – even if it only tells the history of the town. What better way to really get to know the place you’re visiting?

Or, better yet, talk to the locals. What do they do when it rains? Where do they like to hang out? What are their recommendations? The people who live in your vacation spot know the off-the-beaten path places most visitors miss – and where daily life happens. A little stumbling around and chatting can make you new friends and put you in places the vast majority of vacationers miss out on because they’ve only taken the opportunity to swim, surf and sun themselves (not that there’s anything wrong with that either!).

Instead of ruining your vacation, a little (or a lot of) rain could be just the thing to make your trip memorable – by getting you off the beach and into the cafes, museums and other interesting places that make up the real fabric of your vacation spot. Rain gives you the perfect excuse to turn your vacation into an exploration. Grab the opportunity by the horns.

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Contributed by William Pate

There are many ways to go about traveling. Many ideas that adults throw out there for traveling may sound unappealing at first; but if you can do something like these five ideas below, you are bound to enjoy it just as much as an adult.

Connect with the great outdoors. Whether you are going on a guided tour or exploring on your own, getting out in nature is something that is fun for everyone. Consider exploring the Outback in Australia and seeing kangaroo hop across the desert and finding spiders the size of your hand. Also, a backpacking trip into the wilderness where you can scale challenging mountains or traverse long plains can be so enjoyable. Even an organized safari in a place like Africa will be exciting for you and everyone you are with.

Pack up for a cross-country road trip. The United States is massive and has an enormous amount of diversity in people and scenery. Hitting the open road means you’ll be challenged along the way, laugh at the inevitable mistakes you make, and be amazed at the interesting places you find. The great thing about cross-country trips is that they are enjoyable with friends or family.

Give back by volunteering. One of the most rewarding travel experiences is volunteering in another place. You may or may not think you have enough life experience to share with other people, but volunteering is about passion and a desire to give back. You can express this passion by teaching people English abroad or taking care of precious and threatened animals in a country like Costa Rica. Consider volunteering abroad, whether it is for 2 weeks or 2 months.

Relax on a cruise. Who doesn’t love chocolate covered everything at the buffets! Although cruises are very prearranged and organized in advanced, they can still offer a lot of spontaneity because of the variety of things offered aboard ship. Also, there are excursions offered off the ship while docked; these include fun things like snorkeling, rafting, horseback riding, or zip-lining.

Immerse yourself in the culture. There is something incredible about meeting people from new places. When you go to Peru, you’ll meet the locals, descendants of the Incas, who live on the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca. When you go to Jordan, you’ll meet the locals Bedouin people and partake in their famous group camping trips in the desert. Although other cultures may seem so different, traveling and meeting them can teach you that the essence of people is good.

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Contributed by Kristin Melody