Happy Groundhog Day! Groundhogs have short ears and a short tail, and can weigh up to 11 pounds. They have two layers of fur: A dense grey undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that gives the groundhog a “frosted” appearance. Despite how they look, groundhogs are good swimmers and tree climbers. Photo of a groundhog eating a flower at Shenandoah National Park by National Park Service.

Winter in south Florida means highs in the 70s, making it a great time to visit Big Cypress National Preserve. With over 729,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, Big Cypress is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals, including the rare Florida panther and the iconic American alligator. The sunrise views are also outstanding. Photo by National Park Service.

Bobcat Draw Wilderness Study Area in southwest Wyoming is made up of a vast maze of colorful rock and clay badlands. Layers of differing hardness erode into multi-hued arches, hoodoos, spires and other fanciful landforms. There are no developed trails in the area, but hikers can discover the area’s unique landscapes along their own routes while enjoying a majestic backdrop of the 13,000 foot snowcapped peaks of the Absaroka Range. Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado gets its name from the fantastic remains of extinct animals embedded in the rocks. Petroglyphs tell the stories of ancient cultures. Later, homesteaders and outlaws found refuge here. Today, the mountains, desert and untamed rivers flowing in deep canyons support an array of life. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history or scenery, Dinosaur National Monument offers much to explore. Photo from the Cub Creek road by National Park Service.