Located about 4 hours east of Flagstaff on Highway 40, Petrified Forest National Park is another Arizona park that is relatively undiscovered. The remains of trees and plants that are thousands of years old and beautifully preserved in rocks of rainbow hues are the highlight of this park, but if you have a few days, there are 52,000 acres of wilderness to explore inside this unusual park.

The closest town to the park is Holbrook, Arizona, and hotels fill up fast in the area. Plan to spend a few hours at the park, so you can hike some of the most popular trails and really get a good look at the petrified wood throughout the area, it is truly amazing. There are several short trails that are good for the entire family, and you can also enjoy horseback riding and camping in this park. For more information, check the park Web site.