As the weather heats up, there's no better time to plan a trip to one of America’s beautiful National Parks.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, there nearly 400 national parks in the U.S., including national monuments and other historic sites, covering 84 million acres of land.

Each area has its own restrictions regarding driving and camping, so make sure to visit the National Park Federation website as you plan your visit.

When you're out communing with nature, don't forget your camera.  You may be able to even win some big bucks at the same time.

The National Park Foundation has partnered with the cloud-based solutions company ACTIVE Network and Air Wick to hold its annual photography contest-- with a grand prize of $10,000.

Amateur photographers are encouraged to submit a photo from a visit to one of the national parks. Your picture could even be featured on the annual federal Recreational Lands Pass--a ticket to more than 2000 federal recreation sites.