Mesa Verde National Park, in southwestern Colorado, is one of those lesser known parks that’s just a jewel in the National Park system. The park highlights the life and homes of the ancient Native Americans, the Anasazi, who lived in the area until around 1300 or so.

Many of their cliff dwellings are open for tours, and visitors can also see museums, hike ancient trails, and learn more about these ancient Pueblo people. It is amazing to stand above these cliff dwellings and realize they were occupied so long ago, and since this park is a little less traveled than many other western parks, you’ll have the chance to see more of the park with less parking and conjestion woes!