Desert Dreams

November is one of the best times of year to visit the lower 48's largest national park, Death Valley. It's a place to revel in calming solitude, ancient beauty, warm daytime temperatures (November averages in the mid-70s), and very few people. Get acquainted with the park's charms by driving the 2.5-mile Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road, which winds and loops through canyons and badlands in an old borax mining region. Hikers can explore Golden Canyon, a glowing gorge of orange and red sandstone with a side trail rising to massive views of formations resembling soft-serve marble ice cream. The playful Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is one of the best places in the country for catching a sunset. Walk a few minutes toward a giant dune, climb a spine, and watch as sinking daylight splashes over the mountains in shades of purple, pink, and peach. Logroll down the dunes and follow the moonlight, or your flashlight, back to the car.

TIP: It's the shoulder season, so before starting out on any hikes check in with the visitor center to find out about trail conditions and weather.