The national parks are beautiful, but all that hiking and camping can work up an appetite. Maybe that’s why so many parks feature a legendary restaurant or lodge that serves iconic dishes. For example, The El Tovar Hotel is a true destination along the edge of the Grand Canyon, greeting guests from humble to presidential since 1905 and serving up memorable dishes like Salmon Tostada with fire-roasted corn and greens with a tequila and prickly-pear vinaigrette. Then there’s Signal Mountain Lodge at Grand Teton National Park, Roosevelt Lodge at Yellowstone, and the Spotswood Dining Room at Shenandoah National Park. What’s more, most of these restaurants have a few signature dishes that nearly all visitors must try. For example, at Acadia’s Jordan Pond House, the popovers are so popular that the patio is often full!

Part recipe-driven cookbook and part escapist lifestyle book filled with national park photography, The National Parks Cookbook features dishes from all of the top national park destinations. Through deep research, interviews with the chefs behind the scenes, and extensive travel, author Linda Ly (The New Camp Cookbook) shares recipes not just from the top 10 national parks (though they get their own chapter!) but all of the regional favorites from north, south, east, and west. Whether you’re serving up a dessert that reminds your family of their last trip or cooking up a dinner to get everyone excited about your next national park destination, you’ll find something perfect for eating on the patio and dreaming of the great outdoors.