If you’re anything like me, you probably enjoy your vacation in the hotel room, watching TV, or at the pool. Vacation typically means somewhere you can relax and do virtually nothing. Although this kind of vacation definitely has its perks, sooner or later it’s time for an adventure. One way to step outside your comfort zone is to take a vacation to a national park and get off the beaten path. At first you might be unsure, but trust me, the views, photos, and experiences will be well worth your efforts. Here are eight reasons you should plan to visit one of America’s parks or monuments sometime soon.

1. Travel to different states!

If you live in the Southeastern section of the country like I do, snow-capped mountains aren’t something you see very often. And if you’re accustomed to the big sky and huge golden fields of the Midwest, a trip to the Everglades in Florida will give you the opportunity to get to know a completely different region of the States. Seeing different states and sights inspires awe, which is something people don’t always experience during ordinary days at home or at work.

2. See famous national landmarks!

So much American history happened in different areas of the country. In the South, you've got Civil War memorials. In the East, you can see so much of the work our Founding Fathers did. In the West, you learn about the Gold Rush. Many people have dedicated their career to preserving memories of iconic events that happened through national parks and monuments. Even if you aren’t really interested in seeing places like Mount Rushmore or the Little Bighorn Battlefield, it’s good to check out historical sites while you have the chance.

3. The gorgeous scenery!

There are so many gorgeous sites all over our country, but especially in our national parks. I live in the mid-South, and I'm used to seeing green hills and fields. But places like the Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Utah, this gorgeous pond in Montana...it's so different than what I'm used to!

4. Trees, rocks, canyons, and wildlife!

The animals are some of the things I love most about going to national parks. You’ll see creatures with weird names that you didn’t even know existed (Ever heard of a hoary marmot before?). Canyons and rock formations are a pretty incredible sight to see. And all the different trees and flowers! There's so much to see. When travelling, our eyes are opened to how delicately and intricately this world was made.

5. A chance to bring out your adventurous side!

Go hiking. Watch bears (being careful to stay 100 feet away, of course). Swim in a pond.Try food at random restaurants in the mountains. Maybe you’ll get lucky and the wildlife will join you for lunch! Trust me, it happens. If you’re accustomed to sitting in a hotel during vacation, then be prepared to get out and do things that you otherwise might not be comfortable doing.

6. The photos you come home with!

You’ll have pictures of all kinds of things – a bald eagle, the Grand Canyon, the enormous pizza you ate at that restaurant in Wyoming. Don’t be too discouraged if the photos don’t do the scenery justice. They’ll look a lot better when you get home and pull them back out. It's the memories that count.

7. Imagination!

If you have an artist brain like me, the beautiful mountains, overpopulated ski towns, and sunlit glades of national parks will likely stimulate your creative side. Journal every day about what you see, and don’t forget the important things, like where you went and what you did each day.

8. You will want to go back, trust me!

Once you’ve done it once, you’ll want to return over and over and over again. I went to Yellowstone National Park with my family when I was sixteen and since then, I’ve been back to Yellowstone and have also traveled to other parks and monuments in multiple states. It’s addictive. Your life will never be the same after you travel to a national park.