For the Best National Parks, Head West from Minnesota

Minnesota has plenty of great state parks. But the state has just one national park. That is Voyageurs National Park. Unfortunately, Voyageurs did not make the top ten list from Trip Advisor of the best national parks in the country. Many of the top ten destinations are a fairly simple, daylong drive from Minnesota. My kids went on an outdoors excursion last year and visited several scenic spots in Wyoming and Colorado.

If you want to visit one of the best, review your options with these rankings.

No. 10 Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier is called the "Crown of the Continent" according to Trip Advisor. Whitewater rafting is one of the draws here.

No. 9 Acadia National Park, Maine

No. 8 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

We hit Yellowstone as a family when the kids were pretty little. Highlights included a moose in the campground one morning and cool views of the geysers.

No. 7 Yosemite National Park, Calfornia

Granite cliffs and amazing waterfalls are reportedly among the big draws of Yosemite.

No 6 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Horseback riding, hiking and the wildflowers in the spring are attractions of the Great Smoky Mountains, says the report.

No. 5 Zion National Park, Utah

Trip Advisor states, "The spectacular rock formations, rugged canyons, tumbling rivers and pine-blanketed peaks of Zion National Park provide a southwestern wonderland for unparalleled camping, hiking, canyoneering, and climbing."

No. 4 Bryce Canyon, Utah

No. 3 Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Marvelous mountain peaks make Grand Teton National Park top-three worthy.

No. 2 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

This park is likely on the bucket list for many. Theodore Roosevelt called the Grand Canyon "the one great sight which every American should see," according to Trip Advisor.

No. 1 Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali makes the top of the list thanks to having the highest point in North America. Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, rises to 20,320 feet. I was fortunate enough to be traveling with the Express hockey team through Alaska about 15 years ago, but unfortunately, the cloudy conditions prevented us from seeing the peak from the highway.

If you are looking for a staycation that keeps you close to home, check out the details on Minnesota's state parks by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website.