1

Olympic National Park

Image: Georg Eiermann

Let’s kick off our ranking with Olympic National Park, located in the state of Washington. The park was designated as a National Park in 1938 during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency.

What makes this National Park so remarkable? Well, it has three distinct ecosystems : the temperate rainforest (which is the only one in the contiguous United States), the rugged coastline, and glaciated peaks. This variety of landscapes brings a rich biodiversity to the area that is definitely worth visiting!

2

Joshua Tree National Park

Image: James Lee

We know it’s in the name, but did you know Joshua Trees aren’t actually trees ? They belong to a subgroup within the yucca species. These plants can live for over 150 years, and you can find them in this park, among other places.

Similar to Olympic National Park, this park features three separate ecosystems: a part is within the Colorado Desert, it also includes California juniper, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Mojave Desert where you’ll find the famous Joshua trees.

If that wasn’t enough reason to pay a visit, you have to know that this park has one of the darkest skies in Southern California, providing an excellent opportunity to spot the Milky Way galaxy!

3

Grand Teton National Park

Image: Michael Kirsh

Located in Wyoming, this National Park is home to what is believed to be the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains: they are only between six and nine million years old!

In Grand Teton, you’ll find incredibly tall mountain peaks (the highest reaching 13,770 feet) and a wide variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, gray wolves, coyotes, moose, and more.

Established in 1929, the park was later combined with the Jackson Hole National Monument, in 1943. Today, the town of Jackson Hole, located to the south of Grand Teton is the main hub of activity in the area. And, if you visit, you can actually make it a two-for-one trip because it's only 10 miles away from Yellowstone National Park, which will be featured later in this list!

4

Acadia National Park

Image: Raphael Assouline

Acadia National Park receives over 3.5 million visitors each year, and that has secured a position in this ranking. The park features granite mountains, rocky coastlines, ponds, lakes, and all kinds of plants and wildlife. It is an Atlantic shoreline beauty!

The park was first named Sieur de Monts National Monument by President Wilson in 1916. In 1919, it was renamed Lafayette National Park, but that wasn’t the end of it. In 1929, the name officially changed to Acadia National Park, honoring "Arcadia," a region in Greece that is pretty similar to the park!

5

Yosemite National Park

Image: Jota Lao

Although it is not one of the top three most visited national parks in our country, the park’s popularity is undeniable because it was the one park that paved the way for the National Park System as we know it today. The establishment of this area as a national park is largely credited to John Muir, a Scottish naturalist who recorded the beauty of the area and raised awareness around it.

Today, Yosemite covers an area of 759,600 acres and is home to granite cliffs, giant sequoias, mountains, glaciers, streams, and waterfalls. It is predominantly classified as wilderness and is, of course, a protected area.

6

Rocky Mountain National Park

Image: Lauren Lopes

This national park is a gem in Colorado and the 4.5 million visitors it receives each year is a testament to that. The park boasts rugged mountain terrain, alpine lakes, and dense forests—making it simply breathtaking.

It was established in 1915, and it is home to Longs Peak , which stands at an impressive 14,259 feet, and the famous Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in the country! Besides, this park is home to over a thousand types of wildflowers and 280 species of birds, just to mention a few details that make it an incredible place in America!

7

Yellowstone National Park

Image: Nicolasintravel

Yellowstone National Park is a true icon of the American West, and with over 4 million visitors each year, it’s easy to see why. The park lies across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, and it showcases wilderness at its best: geysers, hot springs, rivers, and canyons co-exist within the area. It is also home to the famous Old Faithful , the visitor’s favorite: an ever-erupting geyser!

Yellowstone holds the honor of being the very first national park in the world, having been established in 1872. The idea of preserving this vast and unique landscape for future generations was revolutionary at the time, and it laid the groundwork for the global national park movement. Have you had the chance to visit it yet?

8

Zion National Park

Image: Jamie Hagan

This deserted wonderland is located in Utah and it is known for the towering red sandstone cliffs and deep canyons as well as the glowy rock formations .

Established in 1919, it was Utah’s first National Park, and it is home to over 100 miles of trails. Car access to the park is limited, so there are plenty of hiking trails within the area. Moreover, this park is home to the second largest freestanding arch in the world which is 287 feet in length.

If you visit the park, you will surely make a stop at the Zion Lodge. But, did you know this is not the original construction? The original structure was struck by a fire in 1960, so the one you see today is actually a second version of it!

9

Grand Canyon National Park

Image: Michael Kirsh

You probably thought this was the most visited park in our country, but there’s another that holds that title! As for the Grand Canyon, it still is incredibly popular, and receives over 6 million visitors every year!

Located in Arizona, the Grand Canyon stretches 277 miles long and a mile deep. It was established in 1919 and it is only second in the ranking due to the powerful and awe-inspiring sights. That’s why it is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World .

Across the canyon, visitors can enjoy the Colorado River, where water carves layers of rock that have been in the area for millions of years. No words can capture its beauty, you just have to visit it to understand it.

10

Great Smoky Mountains

Image: Micah Williams

To close our ranking, we present the most visited National Park in America: the Great Smoky Mountains. Did you guess it right? Even if you did, you would have never guessed the number of visitors right: a shocking 13 million visitors a year ! Now, the reasons? Almost as many as its visitors.

The National Park was established in 1934, but the mountains that are housed in it were formed millions of years ago. It spans the borders between North Carolina and Tennessee and it is best known for its mist-covered mountains, lush forests, and the remarkable biodiversity of plants and animals.

With 800 miles of hiking trails, among which you’ll find the Appalachian Trail, preserved historic buildings, and peaceful retreats, it’s no surprise that the number one park on our list is also a favorite among visitors. Do you agree?

1

Independence Day

Image: Jason W

Nothing beats a classic apocalyptic alien invasion, where extraterrestrials arrive to destroy the planet, but encounter a group of humans willing to give everything to save humanity. This is the premise of Independence Day (1996), one of the most famous disaster films. Starring Will Smith, the movie marked a turning point in science fiction, showcasing visual effects that, although they may not be as surprising today, set a new standard at the time.

2

Armageddon

Image: Javier Miranda

It’s hard to keep track of how many explosions light up the screen in Armageddon (1998), but rest assured, there are a lot of them. This film follows the classic natural disaster formula: a massive asteroid threatens Earth, and the only hope for survival is to destroy it. When the planet’s at risk, who better to call than Bruce Willis? Alongside Ben Affleck, he steps up to risk everything in a race against time.

Do you also remember this movie every time you hear Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"? You are one of us!

3

The Day After Tomorrow

Image: Mason Mulcahy

A new Ice Age threatens humanity after a series of devastating storms strike the planet in The Day After Tomorrow (2004), a film that takes climate change and pushes its possible consequences to the extreme. With spectacular disaster sequences and visuals, the movie became a total box office success worldwide.

4

I Am Legend

Image: Natalya Letunova

Imagine waking up one day and realizing that you are, as far as you can tell, the last survivor in the city. This is what happens to scientist Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, in I Am Legend (2007). The now-classic apocalyptic theme is a deadly virus that has devastated humanity, and it is Dr. Robert Neville who appears to be the only one capable of doing something to reverse the effects of this.

5

Interstellar

Image: Guillaume Le Louarn

In 2014, we saw one of the most exciting movies to hit the big screen: Christopher Nolan's Interstellar . Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike for its visual effects and its complex and thrilling plot, this film is one of those you’ll find hard to forget. Set on an Earth that is becoming uninhabitable, Matthew McConaughey plays Cooper, a former NASA pilot who joins a mission to travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new place for humanity.

Fun fact: It’s not surprising that it has been well received even by the scientific community, since a Nobel Prize–winning physicist collaborated on the script.

6

Planet of the Apes

Image: Mateusz Suski

In the original Planet of the Apes (1968), the story takes us to a distant future planet where chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans have evolved to possess human-like intelligence and social structures, dominating that world while humans are reduced to an oppressed species. Featuring one of the most shocking and unforgettable plot twists in cinema history, the film stands as an essential classic of dystopian science fiction.

7

Night of the Living Dead

Image: Daniel Jensen

We couldn’t leave Night of the Living Dead off this list, the 1968 film that changed cinema forever. While the concept of "zombies" may feel familiar today, this George A. Romero’s film was the first to present the idea of the dead rising again and becoming a real threat to the living.

8

12 Monkeys

Image: Liam Andrew

Bruce Willis is once again called upon to help humanity (or what remains of it) in the 1995 film 12 Monkeys , this time alongside none other than Brad Pitt, who earned an Oscar nomination for this role. Set in a dark future, most of humanity has been wiped out by a deadly virus, and Willis’s character must travel back in time to gather information about its origins and help find a way to stop it.

9

Dawn of the Dead

Image: airci K

Of course, George A. Romero wasn’t going to appear just once on this list. In 1978, Dawn of the Dead was released, once again portraying the end of the world brought on by the return of the undead. A group of survivors takes refuge in a shopping mall, but human conflicts soon emerge as a threat equal to, or even greater than, that posed by the zombies themselves.

10

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Image: Michael Herren

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) is definitely a science fiction classic. Unlike the other films on this list, its catastrophe is not inevitable; disaster can still be avoided. Rather than centering on spectacular destruction, the film delivers a philosophical warning to humanity. An alien visitor arrives on Earth to deliver a stark message: abandon nuclear violence, or face devastating consequences.

1

Fala Roosevelt

Image: Nathália Arantes

A star in his time, the charming dog we knew as Fala was a great companion to Franklin D. Roosevelt during his time in the White House .

The dark-coated Scottish Terrier arrived in 1940 as a gift for Roosevelt and reached his peak of fame thanks to the President's remembered "Fala Speech" from 1944 , in which he jokingly mentioned the dog.

While we all knew him by his nickname, it is said that the pet's full name was actually "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill," in homage to a Scottish ancestor of Roosevelt.

2

Bo and Sunny Obama

Image: Zé Maria

Bo and Sunny , the Obamas' two Portuguese Water Dogs, became famous across the country and even internationally.

Bo came to the White House as a gift from JFK's younger brother , Senator Ted Kennedy, in 2009 . His peculiar name was a decision by Barak's daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, in honor of Michelle Obama's father. His presence in the media was frequent, and he even had his own web page for fans to dedicate gifts or words of affection to him. Sunny, meanwhile, came into the family 4 years later, in 2013, and became Bo's faithful companion.

And here's a fun fact : The Portuguese Water Dog breed was chosen by the Obama family because its coat is hypoallergenic , which helped prevent the allergies of their eldest daughter, Malia, from being triggered.

3

Socks Clinton

Image: jbc

Choosing a name for your pet is no easy task. But this was not the case for Bill Clinton and his family.

Socks , adopted from a shelter in Little Rock, Arkansas, was easily recognizable by his peculiar appearance. With black fur and white paws , it was almost as if this cat's name was printed on him.

When Clinton came to the White House in 1993 , Socks quickly became a star and even appeared in merchandise and toys with his face on them.

4

Buddy Clinton

Image: Siep van Groningen

But it wasn't all rosy for Socks Clinton.

When Buddy , a beautiful chocolate Labrador Retriever, arrived in the family in December 1997 , Socks didn't receive him in the best way. Let's just say they got along like "cats and dogs." Fortunately, it is said that after a while, they got to know each other and got along much better.

Like his cat brother, Buddy also garnered media attention and became quite famous. As a celebrity, people would often ask for photos with him!

5

Checkers Nixon

Image: Matteo Vistocco

If we discuss true dog celebrities, we can't overlook Checkers , Richard Nixon's iconic Cocker Spaniel.

Joining the family in 1952 , Checkers didn't become a "presidential pet" or reside in the White House. However, his name didn't go unnoticed during Nixon's campaign as the Republican candidate for vice president.

You probably remember the iconic "Checkers Speech" of 1952 , in which Nixon mentioned Checkers in a move that mimicked Roosevelt's "Fala Speech" and ultimately contributed to Nixon's election as Vice President.

6

Liberty Ford

Image: David Moynihan

Liberty , with her playful and friendly personality, was the first Golden Retriever to inhabit the White House.

Liberty came to the Ford family in 1974 when Gerald was already President of the United States. Some stories suggest that Ford had a deep connection with Liberty. It is said that Ford had a special sign that he would use with the dog, particularly when he wanted to end an awkward or heavy conversation. When Liberty received the signal, she would approach and warmly greet the guest.

Some of Liberty's most typical appearances during the Ford administration were her walks along with Susan , the youngest daughter of the Ford family.

7

Pushinka Kennedy

Image: Berkay Gumustekin

Now it's the turn of Pushinka , a dog that wasn't born in America but went on to become a loved presidential pet!

But she was not just any puppy. She was the offspring of Strelka , one of the first dogs to travel into space and return safely aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2 in 1960.

After her space journey, Strelka gave birth to a litter of puppies, including one named Pushinka . In 1961 , Pushinka was gifted to John F. Kennedy by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka lived happily in the White House during JFK's presidency, and she even had offspring in the halls of the Executive Mansion! What an extraordinary life for a pup, right?

8

Macaroni Kennedy

Image: Zosia Szopka

But Pushinka was not the only pet in the Kennedy White House. Among the animals in the presidential family was Macaroni , a pony gifted to Caroline , daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

Isn't it true that almost every girl dreams of having a pony? Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, made Caroline's dream come true by giving her this cute gift in 1962 .

Of course, it quickly became the little girl's favorite and was often photographed with her. Macaroni was quite a celebrity at the time, and even made the cover of Life magazine in 1963!

9

Millie Bush

Image: Rafaëlla Waasdorp

Even though the 90s might feel like they were just yesterday, it's been quite a while since then, and some unforgettable events took place during that decade.

For example, a presidential pet "wrote" a book . That's right! Millie's Book , published in 1990 , was ghostwritten by Barbara Bush's chief of staff and tells the life in the White House from the dog’s perspective. But Millie was not only a bestselling author , she was also an honorary member of the American Kennel Club!

Millie, an English Springer Spaniel , joined the family of Barbara and George H. W. Bush in 1985 as a gift from friends. She remained with Bush until 1997, and even after her passing, some of her puppies continued to be part of the family.

10

Barney Bush

Image: paje victoria

Shortly after George W. Bush was elected President of the United States in 2000 , a cute Scottish Terrier named Barney came into his life.

With his playful personality, Barney stole everyone's attention during his time in the White House. He was also the star of the "Barney Cam" videos during the holiday season, in which the little dog was seen roaming around the White House and playing with family and staff members, always wearing his distinctive blue, red, and white patriotic collar . Do you remember him?