Top 10 Guided Tours

Our National Parks offer a number of guided tours, hikes, programs and activities for the whole family to enjoy. I've put together a list of the Top Ten guided tours that Tara and I have done in the National Parks. As I was compiling the list, I realized that we haven't done too much of these. Nevertheless, here are the Top 10:

10. Kettle Falls Tour - Voyageurs National Park

Cruise comfortably along Lake Kabetogama to the historic hotel at Kettle Falls Dam in this beautiful park in northern Minnesota. The cruise was very nice and not a big crowd (only about 20 people can fit on the boat), therefore reservations are a must. We saw some bald eagles and other birds and the ranger on board provided lots of interesting stories about the history of the park. Once you get to the Kettle Falls area, you have about 2 hours to explore the dam, the historic hotel (which you can still reserve a room for the night if you wish, it is the only lodging in the park and his only accessible by water), and grab a bite to eat (lunch not included with tour price).

9. Buckstaff Bathhouse - Hot Springs National Park

Maybe this is cheating, I don't know if this counts as a guided tour, but it is definitely a pampered tour. 😁 Step back in time and go through the traditional bath experience that was all the rage in the 20s and 30s. If you wish, you can do it au naturel (or in a swimsuit if you're not comfortable with that). You'll have you're own bath where you can soak for about 10 minutes in nice hot water, an attendant will scrub you down, then you take a sitz bath, vapor closet, and a needle shower. It's definitely a unique experience.

8. Domes and Dripstones Tour - Mammoth Cave National Park

The Domes & Dripstones is the great tour for families at Mammoth Cave. It's not too long and is a good showcase of both distinct sections of the cave (the dry part and the formations of Frozen Niagara). The tour starts with a huge descent down a number of stairs way to the bottom of the cave (make sure to use the railings), you hear lots of stories about the history of the cave and then it concludes with the spectacular Frozen Niagara.

7. Cranberry Islands Tour - Acadia National Park

Acadia offers some of the greatest views in the country, and the Cranberry Islands Tour is a great way to observe the rocky coastline of Mount Desert Island from the crystal blue waters of Frenchman Bay. We saw some seals, birds, and the spectacular "cottages" of the wealthy elite dotted along the shore. You have a short 40 minute stay on Cranberry Island and the tiny village of Islesford. It's pretty short, but it's enough time to see the small museum and the historic church. A very pleasant and beautiful tour.

6. Cliff Palace Tour - Mesa Verde National Park

The tour of the largest cliff dwelling in North America is impressive and awe-inspiring.

5. King's Palace Tour - Carlsbad Caverns National Park

This section of Carlsbad Cavern is only available to visit on a guided tour. This tour was very cool. Carlsbad Cavern is a simply amazing cave that left Tara and I breathless. Our tour guide was very entertaining and well-informed and she gave us the experience of total blackout for about a minute (which is always incredibly frightening) and then lit a candle to experience the cave in a whole new light, no pun intended.

4. North Canoe Program - Voyageurs National Park

This is a very fun tour where you learn about the history of the Voyaguers (French trappers) and then board a model of a 26-foot north canoe and paddle out on Lake Kabetogama. The best part is that your tour guides are dressed in traditional Voyageur garb and stay in character the whole time. It's lots of fun and entertaining.

3. Yankee Freedom III Ferry - Dry Tortugas National Park

One of the few ways to visit this National Park is to board the ferry: Yankee Freedom III in Key West (it operates almost every day of the year) and head out to the Dry Tortugas. It's an all-inclusive trip and they take care of everything for you. You might want to take some Dramamine for those high seas (but if you forgot to pack any they have some on the boat you can purchase). They provide breakfast, lunch, guided tour of Fort Jefferson, and snorkel gear. The staff are super friendly and helpful and will make your stay at Dry Tortugas unforgettable.

2. Shark Valley Tram Tour - Everglades National Park

Tara and I loved this tour of the Everglades. Not only is the natural scenery amazing, the wildlife you will see along this tour is spectacular. There were lots of birdwatchers on our tour, so they were going crazy due to all the exotic birds we saw. And of course, lots of lots of alligators. I thought we would be lucky and see one or two, we saw DOZENS. The tour guide was right, by the end of the tour the novelty of seeing an alligator will wear off. 😃 Also, our tour guide was amazing for this tour. Very entertaining and informative.

1. Balcony House - Mesa Verde National Park

Gear up for this adventurous tour at Mesa Verde National Park (known as the "Indiana Jones" tour). This exquisite cliff dwelling is a bit of a task to get to. First up is the climb on a 32-ft ladder, then the tour of the historic dwelling (once again, our tour guide was fantastic) and then squeeze through 12 foot, 18 inch wide tunnel and up a narrow pathway back to the top of the plateau. This was an exciting and thrilling tour.