National Parks Guide

Curiosity is in your nature. What's it like to share a walk among ancient sequoias? How awe-inspiring is stargazing in a sprawling desert? When curiosity is in your nature, adventure is sure to follow. Spark your sense of wonder with a vacation to unforgettable national parks near Shell Vacations Club resorts all over the map.

This year, Shell Vacation Club is partnering with the Parks Project, empowering owners to both enjoy and help preserve the national parks.

Death Valley National Park
For the epitome of "sun-kissed," drive 2 hours from Desert Rose Resort to reach Death Valley National Park. This below sea-level desert brings extreme heat and a different kind of sea salt. Visit the Badwater Basin salt flat and its unique salt polygons, then marvel at the Devils Golf Course and the view from Zabriskie Point.

Grand Canyon National Park
One of the world's most epic canyons awaits at Grand Canyon National Park. Walk around the edge on the Canyon Rim Trail, hike into the canyon itself, or raft down the Colorado River to experience the Grand Canyon in a whole new way. From Desert Rose Resort, it's just over 2 hours to the West Entrance.

Joshua Tree National Park
Hike through surreal desert landscapes in Joshua Tree National Park. Two hours away from Peacock Suites, the park has a fascinating variety of rare plants and animals, including its namesake Joshua Tree — a spikey, spindly oddity that looks to be straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. Try the 0.7-mile Discovery Trail, an easy looping hike designed by local students.

Saguaro National Park
Witness cacti towering 40 feet in the air at Saguaro National Park, just 25 minutes from Starr Pass Golf Suites in Tucson, Arizona. Hike through forests of cacti, see all kinds of desert blooms, and make sure to stay for a magnificent desert sunset.

Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a surreal blend of winding canyons and sheer cliffs with colors that will leave you awestruck. Gorge walk through the Narrows, hike iconic Angels Landing, and horseback ride through the desert. From Desert Rose Resort, it's just under a 3-hour drive.

Channel Islands National Park
From Peacock Suites, it's two hours to the marina where you can hop on a boat to the five islands of Channel Islands National Park. Each of these California islands offer unique experiences, and Santa Rosa Island has those secluded white-sand beaches you've been searching for. Plus, summer is the perfect time to spot humpback whales as they migrate north.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The most popular national park is Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a reason. A 1.5-hour drive from Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley, explore this wooded utopia full of wildlife, amazing sightseeing opportunities, cascading waterfalls, and so much more. Be sure to experience the historic cabin trails at Cades Cove or the peak views at Clingmans Dome.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is two hours from all of your Big Island resorts — Paniolo Greens, Kona Coast Resort, and Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village. But this day trip is worth it to experience two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Kea. Be sure to time a hike up Mauna Kea for sunrise or sunset — it's a magical sight to see the sun sinking below the clouds.

Club Wyndham Durango
Just over an hour away from Club Wyndham Durango, Mesa Verde National Park is home to one of the greatest and best-preserved concentrations of ancestral Pueblo people cliff dwellings, dating back to the 10th century. About 600 homes have been found, and many are open to the public to tour and hike.

Club Wyndham Palm-Aire
Biscayne National Park stretches over the northern Florida Keys, featuring coral reefs, cool dive sites, and mangrove forests. Most of this park is water, so be sure to tour it by boat. Or, hop on a different kind of boat and take an airboat swamp tour through Everglades National Park. Stay at Club Wyndham Palm-Aire, which is just over an hour away from both.

Club Wyndham Sedona
Just under 2.5 hours from Club Wyndham Sedona, Northeast Arizona is home to the Petrified Forest National Park and its collection of 225-million-year-old wood that has become almost solid quartz. It's also where you'll find late Triassic fossils and the most diverse collection of prehistoric pottery fragments in the southwest.