by Matthew Furst

With more than 12,000 miles of coastline, the United States has enough sand, mountains and water for everyone. And fortunately, much of this majestic land is protected within the borders of national parks. So whether you seek sunrises or sunsets, volcanoes or redwoods, the perfect view is out there waiting just for you. Here are the best U.S. Coastal Parks:

Biscayne Bay, Fla.
It is worlds away from downtown Miami, even though the city is within sight of Biscayne Bay National Park. The park is a rare combination of brilliant waters, lush islands and coral reefs. The park is encrusted with more than 10,000 years of human history, including pirates, shipwrecks and pineapple farms. In Biscayne Bay, you’ll enjoy boating, snorkeling, wildlife watching and the simplicity of relaxing in a beach chair, gazing out over the marvelous bay.

Katmai, Alaska
If you enjoy backpacking, kayaking and bear sightings, Katmai is the place for you. Created in 1918 to preserve the famed Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes (an amazing 40-square-mile ash flow deposited by Novarupta Volcano), Katmai National Park and Preserve is better known today for its abundance of fish, brown bear population, remote wilderness and rugged coastline at the southern base of the Alaska Peninsula.

Redwoods, Calif.
No other place in the world puts life into perspective like the Redwoods National Park: standing beneath the world’s tallest tress will do that. But trees and viewpoints isn’t all the Redwoods offers. An amazing diversity of life, from salmon to Roosevelt elk, exists here. No matter what your interests, the Redwoods has something that will make your jaw drop.

Arcadia, Maine
Home to the tallest mountain along the Atlantic coast, Arcadia National Park is a perfect mix of awe-inspiring beauty and East Coast refinement. Visitors come to enjoy the scenery, hike the granite peaks and bike the historic carriage roads.

Chesapeake Bay
While Chesapeake Bay stretches from New York to Virginia and is too big to be considered one park, this wild watershed encompasses what all coastal parks aspire to be: vast water trails, museums, historic communities and unrivaled scenery. No matter which part of this landscape you choose to explore, you will not be disappointed.

Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii
This park is a result of millions of years of volcanism, migration and evolution. Located on the big island, the Hawaii Volcanoes Park is a mix of sea, unique ecosystems and, of course, volcanoes. Visitors will gain glimpses of lava and experience a world of unmatched beauty.

Amistad, Texas
Formed along the Rio Grande, between the borders of Texas and Mexico, Amistad is known for its water, prehistoric rock art and its wide variety of plants and wildlife. It is a unique piece of the American Southwest and visitors will find there are never enough hours in a day to soak up everything this park has to offer.