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The National and State park programs in the United States are the best in the world, and comprise a stunning variety of geography, climate, and ecosystems. Of the many terrific destinations for each season of the year, below are my topic picks for each.

SPRING

Hawaii, Big Island. White sand, crystal clear water, need I say more? Most flights will leave from Los Angeles and land in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. From there you will take a short flight to the Big Island. Renting a car is the way to go, preferably a convertible since the weather is perfect in March and April.

In addition to the perfect beaches at Hapuna Beach State Park offering swimming, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving; hiking on the Kileuea Volcano is a one of a kind experience. Add to that 11 climate zones of ranging from jungle to desert to alpine forest, and nature lovers have enough to keep busy for weeks. WWW.BigIsland.org is a great place to start getting information, or to book a stay at vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts.

SUMMER

Fort Collins, Colorado. The dramatic front range of the Colorado Rockies is a sight that all nature-lovers should witness at least once. You will almost definitely have to go through Denver, and most probably you will need a car. There are so many opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, and other outdoor activities in the Roosevelt National Forest, they are too numerous to list here. WWW.DiscoverOurTown.com appears to have the best listing for vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts.

FALL

Asheville, North Carolina. Yes, the fall colors here are worth taking a trip to see, especially if you are from out west. Most flights into North Carolina arrive in Raleigh, but it might be worth it to take another leg or fly directly to Charlotte. The plane ticket may cost more, but from Charlotte it is a two hour drive, and from Raleigh it is four.

Asheville is a quaint mountain town with access to the Blue Ridge parkway. There are dozens of small communities in western North Carolina, replete with vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and traditional hotels. Depending on how adventurous you are, there are many outdoors opportunities, including Pisgah National Park and Mt. Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States. WWW.ExploreAshville has plenty of information to get you started planning your trip.

WINTER

Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is an outstanding staging point for hundreds of great winter hiking, camping, and mountain biking outings. Most flights into Tucson will come through Phoenix, which is a two hour drive away. Renting a car is necessary.

The entire town lies in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, boasting peaks of over 9,000 feet elevation and containing multiple ecosystems, ranging from Sonoran desert to pine forest. Saguaro National Monument is located to the east and west of town, offering desert mountain biking and hiking trails in abundance. Tucson was virtually built around winter visitors, and there are many accommodations ranging from world class resorts to quaint bed and breakfasts located near the edges of the city.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Marcus.
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