The Palouse, Washington and Idaho
Trip Ideas

20 of the Most Beautiful Places in America

Listen up, Americans: Let's take a second to appreciate all the astounding landscapes Mother Nature has gifted us. From Alaska and Arizona to Maine and New York, here are 20 of the most jaw-dropping places in the USA.

A Brooklyn-based writer and editor, Chelsea's work has appeared in Matador Network, The Huffington Post, the TripAdvisor blog, and more. When not planning her next trip, you'll usually find her drinking way too much iced coffee (always iced—she’s from New England) or bingeing a Netflix original series.

See recent posts by Chelsea Stuart

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Antelope’s title as Arizona’s most photographed site is a testament to its otherworldly beauty. Go during the day when light streams through the surreal sandstone, illuminating the wavy rock’s vibrant red, pink, and orange colors.

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Trip Ideas Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Kenai Fjords, Alaska

Forty glaciers from the Harding Icefield dominate this national park on Kenai Peninsula’s southeastern coast. Once you’re done ogling at the goliath glaciers, peel your eyes for wildlife sightings. Humpback whales, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and sea lions are commonly spotted.

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RELATED: Your Perfect Week in Alaska

Kenai Fjords, Alaska Mountain Range

White Mountains, New Hampshire

The Granite State’s White Mountains are THE place to be come leaf-peeping season. Follow the 34.5-mile stretch that is the Kancamagus Highway (or “Kanc,” as locals call it) from Lincoln to Conway and you’ll find it devoid of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and stores of any kind—unrivaled White Mountain views are the only thing to focus on.

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White Mountains, New Hampshire - Fall Leaves

Crater Lake, Oregon

Every year, visitors from all around the world converge on the rim of Crater Lake to stare down upon its pristine surface. The famously clear and crisp caldera—the deepest in the States—was born of a volcanic eruption 6,000-8,000 years ago, and is fed today by snow and rain.

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Trip Ideas Trip Ideas grass sky outdoor reflection water Nature leaf River autumn nature reserve vegetation wilderness Lake wetland mount scenery red pond tundra reservoir landscape bog tarn state park national park mountain bank tree meadow surrounded hillside lush Crater Lake, Oregon
Jetsetter Guides Road Trips Trip Ideas sky mountain outdoor Nature water snow Lake landform geographical feature crater lake reflection loch mountain range fell fjord reservoir bay national park surrounded
Trip Ideas tree outdoor sky night star red astronomical object galaxy astronomy outdoor object Night Sky
Trip Ideas sky outdoor water Lake reflection Nature mountainous landforms body of water landform atmospheric phenomenon loch wilderness mountain cloud reservoir morning snow landscape crater lake fjord mountain range Sea land day

The Palouse, Washington and Idaho

The Palouse’s most recognizable feature is its loess hills—whimsical rolling knolls formed by wind-blown sediment. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of Washington State, the pastoral prairie region turns a lush green every spring as wheat and barley crops begin to grow.

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The Palouse, Washington and Idaho
The Palouse, Washington and Idaho

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Old Faithful may be Yellowstone National Park’s most iconic attraction, but Grand Prismatic Spring—the third largest spring in the world—garners sizable crowds of its own. How do you explain the thermal pools’ vibrant bands of blue, yellow, and orange? The variation in hue is due to heat-loving bacterial microbes that live on the cooler outskirts of the spring.

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RELATED: 11 Under-the-Radar National Parks

Trip Ideas grassland outdoor ecosystem field highland plain sky hill atmosphere morning grass hill station landscape ecoregion mount scenery rural area prairie pasture meadow Nature dawn sunlight plateau steppe crop plant plantation computer wallpaper agriculture paddy field horizon savanna Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Just a half-hour drive east of Portland, Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is positively overflowing with waterfalls (there are more than 50). Of all the cascades, the—arguably—most impressive is two-tiered Multnomah with its 611-foot fall and charming bridge that connects two easy hiking trails.

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Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Trip Ideas outdoor sky habitat Nature shore Coast Sea body of water atmospheric phenomenon natural environment Beach water Ocean hill loch bay rock cliff Lake terrain wave sand cove hillside lush highland
Trip Ideas tree outdoor ground habitat wilderness natural environment Forest woodland ecosystem trail plant conifer temperate broadleaf and mixed forest woody plant temperate coniferous forest old growth forest path biome park wooded Jungle dirt area wood

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Arizona is full of dreamy viewpoints, but we can hardly peel our eyes from Horseshoe Bend. One of the American Southwest’s most scenic sites—just north of the Grand Canyon—the spot is named for the path the Colorado River snakes through the landscape’s 200-million-year-old Navajo sandstone cliffs.

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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast State Park stretches more than 17 miles along the island’s northwestern shore. Seeing as the name directly translates to high cliffs, it should be a given that Na Pali’s claim to fame is its soaring, emerald green mountain range that hovers 4,000 feet over the Pacific.

RELATED: The 10 Best Hotels in Hawaii

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Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii Sunset

Antelope Valley, California

Antelope Valley’s 1,780-acre poppy reserve explodes in its signature fiery orange hue every spring. Take a drive along the eight-mile Mojave Desert Grassland track with a camera in hand, but don’t forget to put it down every once in a while to appreciate the sheer number of blooms.

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Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley, California
Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley, California
Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley, California

Lake Tahoe, California

Straddling the border of California and Nevada is Lake Tahoe—the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada range. The clear alpine beauty formed more than two million years ago, with the majority of its shape having taken place during the ice ages.

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Lake Tahoe with snow capped mountain
Trip Ideas water outdoor Lake sky mountain Nature reflection body of water wilderness loch shore Sea reservoir flock bay landscape crater lake pond surrounded
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The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Ideal leaf-peeping, farm-to-table dining, renowned art institutions, and rural hamlets—they’re all to be found in the Berkshires, a mountainous region of western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut.

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The Berkshires, Massachusetts
Kayaking in The Berkshires, Massachusetts
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
Picnic in The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Maroon Bells, Colorado

One look at the Maroon Bells—two Rocky Mountain peaks mirrored by Maroon Lake and blanketed in fields of wildflowers—and you’ll understand why they’re one of the state’s most photographed features. FYI: despite that fact, photos don’t nearly do them justice.

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Maroon Bells, Colorado
Maroon Bells, Colorado

Angel Oak, South Carolina

This low-country live oak is estimated to be 400-500 years old. Though it’s located on Johns Island, the mammoth tree—with a canopy that extends more than 2,000-square-yards—is a staple on any Charleston-area itinerary.

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RELATED: 9 Cutest Small Towns in America

Angel Oak, South Carolina

Acadia National Park, Maine

Most iconic national parks can be found out west, but New England would never let anyone forget that they harbor one as well: Acadia. Hugging the Atlantic coastline, the park is all rocky shores, granite mountain peaks, and wildlife—from white-tailed deer and bobcats, to moose and peregrine falcons. Hike to Cadillac Mountain’s summit, and you’ll look out over Maine’s rugged terrain from the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard.

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Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park, Maine Waterfall
Acadia National Park, Maine

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

More than 200 miles of backcountry hiking trails draw visitors to northwestern Wyoming each year. Just 10 miles south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton holds its own with 310,000 acres that encompass the entirety of the 6- to 9-million-year-old Teton range, parts of Jackson Hole valley, prehistoric flora and fauna, and glacier-formed lakes and rivers.

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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Trip Ideas grass outdoor mountainous landforms habitat mountain Nature wilderness grassland natural environment agriculture ecosystem field plain flower meadow valley prairie mountain range hill cloud morning landscape rural area plateau Forest sunlight wildflower plantation Lake plant lush highland
Trip Ideas snow outdoor mountain sky Nature atmosphere night Winter outer space freezing phenomenon astronomical object geological phenomenon galaxy dawn star mountain range evening space tree landscape computer wallpaper astronomy horizon Night Sky distance
animals caribou grass Greenery moose Nature remote serene Trip Ideas Wildlife outdoor animal mammal fauna pasture standing grassland meadow grazing white tailed deer field green deer flower lush

Turnip Rock, Michigan

Few people know about Turnip Rock—a tiny island just off Port Austin, Michigan’s shore in Lake Huron—but that’s part of what makes it so cool. Get a closer look at the geological oddity by kayaking its shallow surrounding waters.

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Turnip Rock, Michigan

Central Park, New York City

NYC may be strapped when it comes to wide open spaces, but Central Park always comes in clutch when we need some time outside. Eight-hundred-forty-three-acres of green lawns, cultivated gardens, and man-made lochs mean there’s always something new to see.

RELATED: The Best New Hotels in NYC to Book Now

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Trip Ideas water sky outdoor Sea rock Coast shore promontory Ocean islet tree coastal and oceanic landforms Nature cape tropics bay calm formation stack landscape computer wallpaper cliff cove plant day distance Island Central Park, New York City
Bridge at Trip Ideas water sky outdoor Sea rock Coast shore promontory Ocean islet tree coastal and oceanic landforms Nature cape tropics bay calm formation stack landscape computer wallpaper cliff cove plant day distance Island Central Park, New York City

Niagara Falls, New York

With 30 million visitors each year, we think everyone’s in agreement with us on this pick. Make it to the border between New York and Canada and you won’t be disappointed. Believe it or not, a mind-boggling six million cubic feet of water plunges over the falls every minute.

RELATED: The Best Hotels Near Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Aerial View of Niagara Falls, New York

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington

The Pacific Northwest’s Skagit Valley lights up every spring with hundreds of acres of tulip fields sprinkled between La Conner and Mount Vernon. Drop by during their month-long festival each April to check out the show gardens, art exhibits, wine tastings, barbecues, and cultural weekends that accompany the annual bloom.

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington
Trip Ideas flower flowering plant plant field tulip ecosystem meadow spring botanical garden ecoregion Farm seed plant grass petal plant stem crop lily family landscape sky annual plant wildflower colored
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