Like most good things…humanity had to go ahead and ruin it. While we love a well-planned National Parks trip, nowadays the crowds are overwhelming, traffic and parking is a pain in the ass, and visitors have started disrupting the wildlife. Looking for an equally astonishing but relatively under-the-radar alternative? Head to one of our country’s 155 National Forests. These public lands have just as much beauty, far fewer restrictions (yes, you can bring your four-legged friends), and most times, they’re free.⁠ ⁠ From hiking to biking, skiing and snowmobiling, fishing, rafting, and even windsurfing, the activities are endless. Not to mention the dispersed backcountry camping sites where you can stargaze and chop your own timber. Head to Tongass National Forest in Alaska (the largest national forest in the nation) where you can bear and whale watch among dramatic waterfalls and tidewater glaciers. Or, visit Coconino National Forest in Arizona where you can experience all the elements fr...