We’re continuing our break from regular posts to highlight attractions in our area that we have enjoyed with our families.

If you have a location you would like to highlight or share for our mini-series, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out at unexpected.ever.afters@gmail.com to inquire into including your recommendation on the Unexpected Ever Afters blog.

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Several years ago, we took our kids on their first visit to a National Park and they’ve been hooked on the National Park System ever since. There are literally hundreds of Parks around the country, each highlighting their area’s unique historical, cultural, and natural features; we have really appreciated the opportunities to learn while also getting to be out in nature, but it’s the Junior Ranger Program that has generated the most excitement at each stop.

The National Park Junior Ranger Program offers a free and fun way to engage kids of all ages in the education and stewardship of many historic and natural sites around the country. The program, which is offered at most National Park sites, usually entails completing a short booklet that contains information related to that specific site. With the booklet in hand, our kids set off on a National Park scavenger hunt, the excitement of spending the afternoon outside amplified by the search for clues. The requisite number of pages to complete in the booklet varies depending on the age of the individual and the information is typically gathered from the visitor center, monument plaques, or simply by exploring the park. My kids love completing the tasks because once the booklet has been completed, a park ranger reviews the work and administers a Junior Ranger pledge while conferring a special badge.

This program is a great way to experience the wide range of natural landscapes around our country as well as learn more about the history and culture surrounding each unique area. Here are a few helpful tips based on our experiences: be sure to check the park’s website or call ahead to confirm hours, as some of the smaller visitor centers have limited open hours and some also offer special activities and presentations that might be of interest. Be sure to ask for a Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor’s Center as soon as you arrive in order to complete the booklet while you explore the park. If you run out of time to turn in the material, you can also mail the completed booklets in order to receive a badge.

Below are the parks my family has visited over the past three years. As I reflected and looked back on pictures, I thought of at least a dozen reasons why I would highly recommend every stop! Each one offers interesting information and highlights the natural beauty surrounding the area. My kids love to promote the program, too. My daughter says, “I really like how they make it fun for kids and how they reward you (with a badge), that’s really fun!” and my son says, “Filling out the booklet is a great way to learn about the area’s history and collecting badges will soon become a hobby for you!” Most of the parks listed below offer free parking and free access to the park (exceptions are noted). This is just a small sample of the more than 400 sites that comprise the National Park System around the United States. Check out the National Park Service website for a complete list of sites to locate one near you and when you visit, be sure to check out the Junior Ranger Program!

Minnesota

• Voyageurs National Park in International Falls
  • The park covers a large area and there are several Visitor Centers – make sure to check which one is open before mapping to that location
• Grand Portage National Monument in Grand Marais
  • Be sure to check Heritage Center and Historic Depot hours before visiting
• Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone
• Mississippi National River Recreation Area in St. Paul
  • Paid ramp parking or metered street parking
  • Free Visitor Center is located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota building

Iowa

• Effigy Mounds National Monument in McGregor
• Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch
  • Presidential Library and Museum are closed for renovations until 2026

Wisconsin

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway in Saint Croix Falls

South Dakota

• Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone
  • Paid parking lot but free access to the park
• Badlands National Park in Interior
  • Free parking at Visitor’s Center but there is vehicle entrance fee
• Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs
  • Free parking and access to park but cave tours are offered for a fee

Wendi is co-author of The Unexpected Ever Afters blog and enjoys sipping extra hot coffee, sharing a love of reading with her kids, and exploring bike trails.

photo credit: personal photos