WeSalute Review: Your Essential State Park Travel Guide 2026
Where do beauty, history, and scenic serenity come together? State parks, of course. They are all over the United States. Most states have several parks, yet many people do not take advantage of visiting these wonderful places. Whether you are a fan of hiking, skiing, camping, or getting a history lesson, there is a state park available for you to indulge in. Many state park systems offer direct discounts for our service community, so it's always recommended to check directly with the specific state park website to see what they might offer.
Based on over 25 years of experience helping members find the best discounts, this 2026 WeSalute Travel Guide offers affordable and excellent travel experiences for our entire community — active-duty military, veterans, first responders, nurses, medical professionals, and their families. If you are new to WeSalute, start by creating a free account to gain access to hundreds of offers. For even more benefits, including premium discounts you can’t find anywhere else, sign up for WeSalute+ today!
Historic State Parks in the Northeast: Dinosaur Tracks & Mineral Springs
In the U.S. Northeast, Connecticut has a state park unlike any other. Dinosaur State Park consists of 70 acres of preserved land for dinosaur tracks! Here, you can still see Jurassic fossil tracks in sandstone from around 200 million years ago, and then make plaster casts of dinosaur tracks yourself! The Exhibit Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM (closed on Mondays). The cost of visiting the Exhibit Center is $6 for adults (ages 13+), $2 for youth (ages 6-12), and free for children 5 and under. The park grounds, picnic areas, and nature trails are open daily and are free to use.
New York has many beautiful places to visit, one of which is Saratoga Spa State Park, a national historical landmark. It continues to offer shady streamside hiking trails, an abundance of picnic areas, golf courses, tennis courts, and Geyser Creek known for fishing. For summer fun, the park features the Historic Victoria Pool and the Peerless Pool Complex, which are typically open from late June through Labor Day. Saratoga Park is truly a place to go when looking for versatile recreational activities. Vehicle entrance fees apply during peak seasons, and pool admission fees are $8 for adults and $4 for children and seniors (weekdays only).
Lodging, Car Rentals & Activities: Maximize Your Travel Cash
State parks are a great weekend getaway if you live within driving distance, and most are closer than you think! When planning your road trip, the all-new WeSalute Travel platform allows you to seamlessly book your entire itinerary. Even better, you can use WeSalute Travel Cash to instantly lower your out-of-pocket costs at checkout when booking participating hotels & resorts, luxury cruises, car rentals, activities, and more! Basic WeSalute Members receive a one-time $250 Travel Cash gift, while Premium WeSalute+ Members unlock an impressive $3,000 Travel Cash gift annually.
Not booking through WeSalute Travel? WeSalute+ Members enjoy significant direct benefits on ground transportation globally, including up to 35% OFF car, truck, and SUV rentals from Avis. Members also receive a complimentary annual upgrade to Avis Preferred Plus status, enhancing savings and the overall travel experience. Your WeSalute+ Membership includes access to a Personal Benefits Specialist for dedicated support to ensure you maximize these benefits as A Real Thank YouⓇ for your service!
Top State Parks in the South & West: Beaches, Reefs, & Canyons
Over on the western side of the United States, California’s great sunsets and free beaches are sights to see. Huntington State Beach is a must-visit right off the popular Pacific Coast Highway. Here, the rare and endangered California Least Tern still has a nesting sanctuary, as well as a sanctuary for the threatened Snowy Plover. (Friendly reminder: To protect the local wildlife, please stay out of the Snowy Plover Reserve at the south end of the beach and keep dogs off the sand!)
There are incredible beaches to see down South, too. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida, remains a popular destination. This undersea adventure is a sight to be seen. If you aren’t into snorkeling or scuba diving, you can rent a glass-bottom boat to observe the coral reefs. Fishing is permitted in designated areas, and visitors can enjoy walking on short trails, picnicking, or swimming at the beach. Cannon Beach, located in the park, still features remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck!
If you want to visit a waterless state park down south, Texas is the place to be. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is home to the second-largest canyon in the United States — 120 miles long, up to 20 miles wide, and over 800 feet deep. Formed by water erosion, the landscape continues to shift as sediment moves downstream. On-site horse rentals are available through Palo Duro Riding Stables if you would like to view the area on horseback (operating year-round, weather permitting, often by reservation).
Flight Savings & Airline Rewards: The WeSalute Travel "Triple Stack"
Is your next destination a bit too far for a road trip? Fly there instead and gain more time to enjoy the scenic views on your vacation!
When booking your airfare through the private WeSalute Travel platform, you can easily search for flights and "triple stack" points from rewards programs for a massive win. Here’s how it works:
- Use a Rewards Credit Card: Purchase your airfare on WeSalute Travel with a personal credit card that earns you points on travel purchases.
- Include Your Airline Loyalty Number: Enter your frequent flyer number during booking to earn loyalty points directly from the airline’s own rewards program.
- Earn WeSalute Rewards Credits: You will automatically earn WeSalute loyalty points in the form of Rewards Credits. Airline bookings earn 1.25 Reward Credits per $1 spent. As your credits accumulate, you can redeem them toward eligible discounted or free travel in the future (free vacations start at just 35,000 points!).
We are also proud to partner directly with JetBlue, which provides 5% OFF on all flights (including MINT fares) every day without blackout dates. In addition to the fare discount, JetBlue waives fees for two checked bags per person on flights, which alone can save you up to $210 on a round trip! Plus, eligible Military and Nurse members can receive 15% OFF flights with Breeze Airways.
Outdoor Activities in Midwest State Parks: Geocaching & Trout Fishing
If you aren’t looking to go horseback riding or swimming, why not go “geocaching” in Minnesota’s Whitewater State Park? Geocaching is a treasure hunt of a different kind. Using a hand-held GPS or smartphone, you follow hiking trails to a cache container that a previous hiker has placed for you to find. Once you claim your treasure, you replace it with something you would like a future treasure hunter to find! Minnesota continues to have an abundance of state parks and recreational areas, and geocaching is offered in several locations.
If geocaching isn’t your speed, try trout fishing in Missouri’s Montauk State Park. Close to St. Louis and stocked each night from an on-site hatchery, fishing trips here are very successful. Montauk State Park, along with Bennett Spring State Park and Roaring River State Park, is a premier location for trout fishing, with the catch-and-keep season typically running from March 1st to October 31st. They also offer nature walks, live animal demonstrations, mill tours, and scenic hikes around the Pigeon Creek Basin.
Travel & Entertainment Discounts for All Who Serve
While planning your state park getaway, remember the adventure doesn't have to stop at the trailhead. Your WeSalute Membership unlocks premium entertainment discounts across the country. Enhance your vacation by catching a local sporting event, seeing a movie, or visiting a nearby theme park!
WeSalute is here to help you plan your next adventure! For those whose active lifestyles demand a full range of benefits, you can explore the WeSalute Marketplace and our private WeSalute Travel platform for premium savings on car rentals, hotels, airfare, and specialized transit like FlixBus & Greyhound (available exclusively for our Military group).
Before you head out, protect your getaway with WeSalute Travel Protection — covering you anytime you travel more than 100 miles from home. Not a WeSalute+ Member yet? Now is the best time to ensure you get the deepest savings available to you!
Enjoy the outdoors!
