In need of a family (or family-free) vacation away from the stress of home or work or city life, but don't want and can't find the motivation to travel all the way to Europe or Asia to find it? Well, there's nothing wrong with being a "lazy American" in this day and age, especially when there are plenty of amazing sites across the Unites States just as breathtaking as the Alps or the Mediterannean, but much more affordable to visit. Below is a list of 10 places every lazy American should see at least once before retiring to cable TV:

Location: Northwest of Boulder, Colorado

Why Visit: Aside from its majestic mountain views and the crystal clear streams that flow through its territory, Rocky Mountain National park hosts an abundance of wildlife and array hiking trails sure to please the energetic child or obsessive compulsive photographer. Sites of interest in the park include Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, and Longs Peak, among others. The nearby town of Estes Park provides a number of lodging and shopping opportunities. A great family vacation destination.

Activities: Fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, horseback riding, cross country skiing.

Location: The border of Montana and south of Canada's Alberta province

Why Visit: Glacier National Park is the go-to place for nature lovers and history buffs alike. The parks boasts more than 700 miles of trails and provides spectacular views of alpine meadows, deciduous forests, and hundreds of lakes of which only 131 have been named. Throughout its history the region was occupied by numerous Native American tribes, including the Salish, Flathead, Shoshone, Cheyenne, and most recently the Blackfeet. At the turn of the nineteenth century the Great American Railway crossed the continental divide at Marias pass, in the south of the park's territory.

The mountains that run through the park were carved by enormous glaciers in the last ice age, which melted away over the past 15 thousand years.

Activities: The park is geographically estranged from large cities so shopaholics may reconsider Glacier National Park as their destination of choice. Boat lovers, campers, and fishers will be in paradise.

Location: Northwest Arizona

Why Visit: Grand Canyon National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the United States and arguably the most spectacular. The Grand Canyon itself is considered to be one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. The many colorful rock formations that make up the towering gorge of the canyon, though which the Colorado river flows date as far back as Precambrian times.

Activites: Hiking, taking mule trips, following guided tours.

Location: The majority of the park is in Wyoming, but the park also extends into areas of Idaho and Montana.

Why Visit: According to the park's website, nearly three million tourists from across the globe travel to Yellowstone National Park each year. The sites attractions include Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Mammoth Hotsprings, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Heyden Valley, and more.

Activities: Horseback riding, backcountry hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, boating and recreation

Location: Kings Canyon National Park is located east of Fresno, California in southern Sierra Nevada. The park is just north of Sequioa National Park, and the two parks are administered as a single unit by the National Park Service.

Why visit: The largest trees and most breathtaking canyons in the world can be found in the forests of these parks. Attractions at Kings Canyon include the General Grant Grove, the Redwood Mountain grove (largest national Giant Sequoia grove on Earth) and Kings canyon among others.

Adjoining Sequoia National Park has attractions as well, including Tunnel Log, a giant Sequioa through which cars can drive, Cresent Meadow which has been dubbed "the gem of the Sierra", Moro Rock which offers spectacular views of the parks foothills and the Great Western Divide.

Activities: Camping, Fishing, Biking, Backpacking, and clearly some wonderful photography opportunites that won't require photoshop.

Location: Covers areas in Madera, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties of east central California.

Why Visit: Aside from the diverse ecosystem of the park, which allows for a broad range of activites, Yosemite National Park's El Capitan is known as one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. Other popular natural sites at Yosemite include Yosemite Falls, the Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, and Tuolumne Meadows.

Activities: Participating in tours, walking, hiking, biking, rafting, swimming, camping, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.

Location: Hancock and Knox Counties, Maine

Why Visit: Definitely provides a number of opportunites for family outings. The parks attractions include Cadillac Mountain, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Carroll Homestead guided trail, Wonderland and Ship Harbor trails, Jordan Pond house, an ampitheater which provides daily programs from May to October, and more.

Activities: Tidepooling, bird watching, bicycling, climbing, picnicking, swimming, boating (canoeing and Kayaking), whale watching

Location: Virginia (covering part of the Blue Ridge Mountains)

Why Visit: Attractions at Shenandoah National Park include Skyline Drive, Skyland (which is the highest altitude location in the park), Bearfence Mountain, Appalachian Trails, Pinnacles (a high altitude picnic area), and much more. It provides the perfect opportunity for escape, and offers some amazing sites for a Sunday drive.

Activities: Horseback riding, backcountry camping, biking, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing.

Location: Southwest South Dakota

Why Visit: Badlands National Park differs from other parks on this list, because the geography is gently rolling prairie as opposed to mountainous. It also has an extensive Native American history which should please the history buff. Attractions include Loop Road, which is the main route through the park, Badlands wall, a ridge running through the park which is the site of many fascinating rock formations, Notch Trail, Sage Creek Wilderness Area (home to buffalo, bighorn sheep, black footed ferrets, and prairie dogs), and Fossil Exhibit Trail, which is a quarter mile trail where many fossil remains can be found.

Activities: Hiking, camping, photography, wildlife viewing, bicycling, horseback riding.

Location: South central Oregon

Why visit: Located in a volcanic region of the northwestern United States, Crater Lake has a number of natural wonders including bright blue waters, quaint villages, and unique rock formations. Attractions at Crater Lake include Mazama Village, Munson Valley, Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, Rim Drive, and the Pinnacles.

Activities: Hiking, walking, camping, photography.