Travels With Tom True Trivia Quiz

Answer: Arizona

Arizona, nicknamed 'The Grand Canyon State', has great swathes of desert terrain and large expanses of forested high country. The Coconino National Forest, Monument Valley, the Sonoran Desert, the Kaibab National Forest and Meteor Crater are just a few of the state's natural wonders that attract visitors each year.

The Saguaro National Park is located near Tucson, and in addition to the cacti, despite the harsh desert climate, there is abundant flora and fauna to be seen. The saguaro cactus can live to 200 years, doesn't flower until it is 35 years old, and can grow to 50 feet tall.

The saguaro blossom is Arizona's state flower.

Answer: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. In addition to the lush meadows and towering sequoia forests, the park also boasts waterfalls, jagged rock formations and small glaciers. El Capitan and Half Dome are both popular destinations for rock climbers.

The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, mule deer, bobcats, bighorn sheep and many more. Located in the Sierra Nevadas, in east central California, Yosemite offers a multitude of opportunities for exploration of this magnificent area.

Answer: Yellowstone National Park

Declared the first national park in 1872, Yellowstone was created by the eruption of a 'supervolcano' approximately 640,000 years ago. Consisting of three volcanic calderas, the area is subject to frequent small tremors and earthquakes, with the Yellowstone caldera still an active volcano. Mud pools, hot springs and geysers are common in the park, with the Old Faithful geyser being one of the most popular sights. Most of Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming, but the park extends into Montana and Idaho.

Answer: Glacier National Park

Located in northwest Montana, the region was shaped by the movement of vast glaciers during the last ice age. There are still glaciers in the park, 27 in total, but they are in retreat. Glacier National Park is largely covered with conifers, although at lower elevations there are extensive aspen and cottonwood groves.

The area's wildlife includes grizzly bears, cougars, elk and wolverines. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, which took eleven years to build (1921-1933), crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass.

The name suits the road's impressive grade, but is actually taken from a nearby mountain of the same name.

Answer: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns is located in the Chihuahuan Desert and is home to the deepest (1,590 ft.) limestone cave in the country. The caves are renowned for fantastic stalagmites and stalactites, and rare creations of calcite and aragonite. The cave complex is comprised of over 100 known caves, and exploration of the system is ongoing.

Some of the most popular can't-miss cavern attractions are the King's Palace, the Hall of the White Giant, the Green Lake Room and the Queen's Chamber.

Answer: Custer State Park

At 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in the country. Located in the heart of the Black Hills of South Dakota, the park is also a designated wildlife preserve and is home to bison, elk, mountain lions and wild burros. Nearby attractions include Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

The Needles Highway twists and turns between incredible rock formations and through numerous tunnels. The Needles Eye, a granite spire standing about forty feet tall, is located just outside of one of the tunnels.

Answer: Petrified Forest

One of Arizona's finest attractions, the Petrified Forest is comprised of the remains of 225 million-year old forests. Once a floodplain, the forests were washed into it and covered with volcanic ash and silt. Their decay was slowed, and silica-rich water seeped through, encasing the trees. Later, the land went through repeated sinking, flooding and upheaval.

The upheavals resulted in exposing the crystallized trees. Eerie and compelling, the park has continued to change, with erosion exposing and breaking more logs.

The Rainbow Forest Museum has an impressive collection of other artifacts found in the park, including Native American rock art and dinosaur fossils.

Answer: Grand Canyon National Park

Perhaps the most famous of the national parks, the Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring landmarks in the country. Over 200 miles long, and in places more than one mile deep, the park draws millions of visitors yearly.

The southern rim is the most popular visitor destination because of its accessibility, but the northern rim boasts equally scenic views. There are hiking trails and guided mule trips, and on the Colorado River, boat and raft trips are available to explore the lower reaches of the canyon.

Answer: Badlands National Park

A region rich with fossils, the Badlands are located in southwest South Dakota. The area is stunning, with isolated buttes, pinnacles, spires and ridges. Of particular beauty are the wind-sculpted forms of the Sage Creek Wilderness Area. The area was a Native American hunting ground and the location of bitter conflict between them and the settlers.

In 1890, the famous Sioux Ghost Dances were held in the southern part of the park.

Answer: Mammoth Cave

Situated in Kentucky's Green River Valley, Mammoth Cave National Park is the world's longest cave system. In an area of limestone cliffs and hills, amid a vast hardwood forest, there is beauty both above and below ground. Since the Ice Age, a unique combination of geological circumstances has shaped the area's limestone and sandstone into a complex labyrinthine series of interconnected passages, shafts and caves. Two of the park's memorable attractions are Frozen Niagara and Echo River. And the caves are not lifeless - there are more than 200 known species of animals living in Mammoth Cave.