Did you have a big trip planned to celebrate the 123rd Anniversary of Yosemite National Park this week? Guess again, because thanks to the government shutdown, you aren't getting in. Don't worry - visit one of these incredible state parks instead!


Due to a congressional stalemate, the government has officially ground to a halt today, and with it, hundreds of national parks, monuments, and memorials have sent their employees home on furlough and closed their doors. That means you won't be able to visit any of the 401 National Park Service sites, civil war battlefields, national museums such as The Smithsonian, or even the Statue of Liberty.



So what do you do if you've already purchased your flight, packed your bags, and booked the hotel? If you're one of the millions of travelers sure to have your vacation affected by the shutdown, let us make a suggestion: visit a state park instead!

While the vast majority of federal services have been shuttered for who knows how long, state and local operations will continue running, which means you can visit these eye-popping places (or hundreds of other underrated local parks):

Watkins Glen State Park in New York


Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park


Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire


Don't let the government shutdown get you down, just do what a real adventurer would do - adapt! There's countless waterfalls, beaches, forests and more just waiting to be discovered in the country's state and county parks.