The 5 Best Vacation Spots for Hiking

Getting ready for a summer hike? Choose from one of these five destinations, from the California coast to the Missouri forests, all of which will make you feel like you're on a vacation.

Island Beach State Park, Jersey Shore

The trails in this state park are all a mile or less, so it's an easy hike through rolling sand dunes to the end of Barnegat Bay. Visitors can take a dip in the ocean or watch the surfers.

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia

Accessible only by passenger ferry, Georgia's largest barrier island is home to 50 miles of trails—along with wild horses and hundreds of species of shorebirds.

Whispering Pines Trail, Hawn State Park, Missouri

This 10-mile path in the Ozarks winds through a beautiful mixed hardwood and pine forest, crossing through clear streams and over scenic ridges.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Home to the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast, with 125 miles of trails. Hike to the lighthouse, built in 1858, or explore Isle au Haut, discovered back in 1604 by a French navigator.

Stornetta Public Lands, California

Roaming along two miles of California coastline, you'll come upon waterfalls, tide pools and harbor seals sunbathing on the rocks.
Bonus: You can bring your dog along.