Think of the park system and you think of national parks -- but there's not just parks but national monuments, national seashores, national lake shores, national memorials, national battlefields, and more. Confused?

There are over 375 sites in the national park system. Of these, 54 are considered “national parks,” the real biggies. Think of all the favorites you dreamt about when you were growing up: Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains–these are a few of the designated national parks.

But there are plenty of other jewels in the national park system, places that are also well known (or not so well known) and offer great getaways. Here’s a look at the different types of parks in the system and what you might expect to find:

National Monuments. These are historic sites or sites of scientific interest. Muir Woods, Arizona’s Montezuma Castle, Devil's Postpile, and 70 other parks are designated national monuments.

National Preserves. These are natural places that are maintained like the national parks but with the exception that hunting, oil and/or gas exploration or extraction are allowed. Some examples of national preserves are Big Thicket, Big Cypress and over a dozen other parks are considered national preserves.

National Historic Site. These are, like their name suggests, a site (usually a single one) of historic importance. There are over 70 national historic sites in the system including parks that honor Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Harry S. Truman.

National Historic Park. OK, here’s where things get tricky. A national historic park is usually larger than a national historic site with multiple buildings. There are close to 40 national historic parks including the Boston National Historic Park, Chaco Culture in New Mexico, the Lyndon B. Johnson Park, and Harpers Ferry.

National Memorial. This is a memorial either honoring a person or an event. There are close to 30 national memorials in the nation and, unlike national historic sites, they may or may not be located at the site associated with the person or event. Some examples of national memorials include Mount Rushmore and the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii.

National Battlefield. There are various types of park that fall under this designation: national battlefields, national battlefield parks, national battlefield sites, and national military parks. You’ll find these parks in Gettysburg, Richmond, Vicksburg, and other sites.

National Cemetery. There are 14 national cemeteries in the park system; the best known is Arlington.

National Recreation Area. These parks emphasize fun in the sun. Watersports are the top attraction at these parks which include Amistad in Texas, Glen Canyon, Lake Mead, and others.

National Seashore. Another sun and fun destination, these national seashores are found on all the coasts. In all there are 10 national seashores such as Padre Island, Cape Cod, and Assateague Island.

National Lakeshore. These are all found along the Great Lakes. There are four national lake shores: Apostle Islands, Indiana Dunes, Pictured Rocks, and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

National River. You’ll find national scenic rivers, national wild and scenic rivers, and other designations in this category. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is one example of this park.

National Parkway. These parkways are for car travelers and wind along scenic drives such as the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Natchez Trace.

National Trail. These trails wind through multiple states and are popular with hikers. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the best known of these beautiful walks.