The South-Central United States has four parks with the designation of National Park, in three states, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas. They are as varied as the states themselves, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see both the natural and cultural diversity within each state and each park.

Big Bend National Park
Location: The big bend of the Rio Grande, Texas. No cities nearby cities.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/

Seasons: Open year round. The park website has information about the best seasons to visit.
Hours: Check website for entrance and visitor center hours.
Fees: $20 per vehicle. Good for up to seven days at any park entrance. Check website for information on passes.
Camping: Available for $14 for developed campgrounds.

Big Bend National Park earns its reputation as one of the last remaining wild corners in America. Diversity of the Big Bend environment--mountain, desert and river--has led to the nickname “three parks in one.”

This national park offers something for every visitor. You can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, bird watching and river activities. Big Bend attracts visitors looking for a rugged outdoor experience, as well as those whose just want to take a quick look. If you’re going to hike, bike or camp, be sure to learn all you can about being safe in this primitive environment.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Location: Salt Flat, Texas
Website: http://www.nps.gov/gumo/

Seasons: Open year round.
Hours: Check website for entrance and visitor center hours.
Fees: $5 per person. Good for up to seven days. Check website for information on passes.
Camping: Available for $8 per campsite.

Though not very well-known, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to what many consider to be the finest fossilized reef on earth. The Park Service describes it as a hiker’s paradise where visitors can look at fossils and learn about Permian Age geology.

If you are looking for a place for bird watching and wildlife observation, this park should suit you perfectly. You’ll also be able to learn about the culture of this timeless landscape. Be sure to pack your camera.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Location: Border area of Tennessee and North Carolina
Website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

Seasons: Open twenty-four hours a day, every day, year round. However, the visitor centers are closed on Christmas Day.
Hours: Check website for visitor center hours.
Fees: Park entrance is free.
Camping: Available, fees vary. Check website for more information.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2009, has the distinction of being America’s most visited national park. These mountains are some of the oldest on earth and are home to thousands of species of plants and animals. The Park Service says that 10,000 species have been documented, while many thousands more are thought to go unseen. Because of this diversity and abundance, this park has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nation.

In addition to the natural environment, you will be able to explore the deep cultural history of the area. The sheer number of things available in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park makes means that you should do your research before you go. The Park Service advises that a first visit can be overwhelming if you don’t.

One of the most popular and spectacular times of the year to visit is in the fall. During October and November the fall foliage on the one hundred or so species of trees attracts leaf-peepers from around the world. It is an extremely busy time for the park, but well-worth enduring some traffic delays.

Hot Springs National Park
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Website: http://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

Seasons: Open year round. However, the visitor center is closed on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and New Years Day.
Hours: Check website for visitor center hours.
Fees: Park entrance is free.
Camping: Available for $10 per night. Check website for more information.

Hot Springs, like Eureka Springs, grew up around springs that were thought to enhance health and well-being. Hot Springs became a popular destination as “The American Spa.”

Hot Springs National Park was part of the Louisiana Purchase and designated what we would call a protected place by President Andrew Jackson in 1832, making it the nation’s oldest “national park.” First called the Hot Springs Reservation, it was officially designated a national park in 1921.

This is not your typical American national park experience. No wide open spaces here. The park surrounds the northern part of the city and is actually a part of the urban landscape. The visitor center, in the Fordyce Bathhouse, offers information and exhibits about the history of Hot Springs. To see the hot springs you will have to visit Bathhouse Row and to sample them you have to go to a bathhouse. While you’re there, be sure to check out the Artist-In-Residence Program and the resulting artwork.

These beautiful national parks, open year round, offer you views of their diverse landscapes and cultural history, along with recreational activities and simple relaxation.