Not all of us are snowbunnies. Come the chill winds of winter, our escape fantasies tend towards leaning against a sun-warmed rock, walking barefoot and carefree along a beach, or witnessing a flower blooming unshielded by panes of glass. National parks are perennially favorite destinations. And guess what most are open year-round. For some national parks, winter can be the preferred time to visit temperatures are milder and crowds thinner.
Winter can even offer a new, intriguing view of parks that are known as summertime favorites.
But finding an enjoyable snow-free national park in winter takes a little strategy. . . Go to the tropics. This is a no brainer, except for being wary of hurricanes. So if palm trees are shading your dreams lately, you can hardly go wrong with a vacation at Virgin Islands or Hawaii's Haleakala national parks. Go the deserts.