Kevin, It depends on what your definition of a good birding spot is. <grin> Here's a few quick thoughts: Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado Great Western montane birding but not very high species-wise. If you've never been to the Rockies, this would be a sensible decision. You wouldn't get as many species as Minnesota, but what you saw would certainly be different than what you get in the mid Atlantic. Temps would be bearable to cold in summer, depending on where you're at. You have the added benefit of a corresponding ABA/Lane guide [for Colorado]. Some selected goodies might include White-tailed Ptarmigan, Pine Grosbeak, Gray Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Northern Goshawk, Clark's Nutcracker, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota I'm not familiar with this park, but North Central Minnesota offers more than 90 breeding species--one of the highest in North America. Kim Eckert's book on birding there is the best reference. You can also get a smattering of suggestions from Jerry Cooper's Planning N.A. Birding Trips, too. Great Smoky Mountain National Park in TN Pleasant scenery, lots of humidity, and decent, but not terrific birding. You'll get a few goodies, but many of the birds would be the same as what you can find in the mid Atlantic. Big Bend National Park in Texas A great birding place in April-May. June-August can be unbearably hot. July rains help cool things off, though. This is your best shot among your choices to pick up a true rarity. ABA/Lane guide for Texas Rio Grande covers Big Bend well. Even with the heat, I might be tempted to make this my first choice. Some selected goodies might include Colima Warbler (sings from April thru June), Varied Bunting, Gray Vireo, Lucifer Hummingbird (find a blooming agava and sit and wait!), Phainopepla, Hepatic & Summer Tanagers, Inca & Com Ground Doves, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Canyon Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Black-chinned & Black-throated Sparrows, Blue-throated, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Screech-Owl, etc... -Greg Miller Lusby, MD