Death Valley National Park-The hottest and driest of the national parks in the United States travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

Hottest, Driest, Lowest: A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of stone wilderness. Home to the Timbisha Shoshone and to plants and animals unique to the harshest deserts. A place of legend and a place of trial. Death Valley. While it is unarguably a harsh and imposing place, the conditions make for some fascinating landscapes. The region is also home to many unique species of plants and animals that have had to adapt to this harsh desert environment. Open year round, the park is best visited in a well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicle, and even so a summer trip requires a fair bit of forward planning and care. Between April and October temperatures easily top 100 degrees – you don’t want to get stuck out in the blazing heat. But as long as due precautions taken, a trip to this hottest of spots, should prove to be an exciting and unforgettable experience.