10 of the most beautiful places in the US, according to someone who's been to all 50 states

From my first glimpse of the Teton Range astir a decade ago, I've ne'er gotten complete its beauty.

The jutting peaks, ample wildlife, and clear bluish lakes make this parkland stunning from each vantage points and person led to maine coming backmost much than a twelve times.

The String, Jackson, and Jenny lakes are immoderate of my favourite accessible viewpoints, and the much than 200 miles of hiking trails return visitors to vistas that consciousness for illustration a mirage.

I erstwhile spent a fewer weeks successful the summertime traveling solo successful a van done Alaska.

Although the views passim the authorities were immoderate of the astir beautiful I've ever seen, Seward was the spot I ne'er wanted to leave.

The larboard metropolis is connected the Kenai Peninsula and serves arsenic the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Seward is the cleanable spot to bask the mountains and the sea. Camp connected the beach, kayak successful the bay, aliases return a sightseeing circuit to spot puffins, humpback whales, and oversea otters.

Although not arsenic evidently awe-inspiring aliases in-your-face arsenic the melodramatic Western vistas and mountaintops often seen arsenic bucket-list locations, the Georgia seashore has a genuinely unsocial beauty.

I emotion visiting Cumberland Island to respect the chaotic horses, locomotion beneath the unrecorded oak trees, and relax connected much than 17 miles of uninterrupted and undeveloped beaches.

Just 2 hours northbound of Phoenix and 2 hours southbound of the Grand Canyon lies the belief and escapade mecca of Sedona, Arizona.

Sedona is known for its awesome reddish rocks, power vortexes, bucket-list hiking, upland biking, and stargazing.

In my opinion, there's nary spot arsenic serene and spectacular successful the Southwest arsenic this municipality of conscionable nether 10,000 people.

Colorado, my location state, is afloat of indescribable beauty. But pinch truthful galore gorgeous areas, the 1 that ever stands retired is Telluride.

In a container canyon surrounded by the up to 14,000-foot mountains the authorities is known for, the mini municipality offers adventure, luxury, and views you won't find anyplace else.

Located successful California's Sierra Nevada mountains, the towering granite and awesome waterfalls of the Yosemite Valley are bucket-list items for a reason.

Watch the sunset astatine Tunnel View, hike connected immoderate of the astir 800 miles of hiking trails, aliases relax adjacent to the Merced River, which runs done the valley.

In Yosemite, you'll beryllium surrounded by beauty that can't beryllium captured aliases described.

The Northeast doesn't ever get the praise that outdoor areas successful the West might, but it has nary shortage of singular landscapes.

One of my favourite places to sojourn — specifically successful the autumn — is the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

I propose hiking Artists Bluff Trail successful Franconia Notch State Park earlier stepping done Flume Gorge for much awesome views.

North Cascades National Park is 1 of the astir stunning places I've ever visited, yet it's typically 1 of the least-visited US nationalist parks.

Despite being conscionable hours from Seattle, the lesser-known nationalist park still flies somewhat nether the radar contempt its singular beauty.

I urge taking a scenic drive, visiting Diablo Lake, and hiking connected immoderate of the park's 400 miles of trails.

Although location are galore awesome drives successful the US, my travel on California's Highway 1 to Big Sur and San Simeon was the astir scenic and jaw-droppingly beautiful I've encountered.

Here, the seashore dramatically meets the sea, pinch awesome cliffs, views, and beaches.

Be judge to extremity astatine Bixby Creek Bridge for a photograph op and proceed to Pfeiffer Beach to spot the unsocial purple sand.

I've visited Glacier National Park respective times, and each travel has brought tears to my eyes.

Driving the astir 50-mile scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road is simply a feast for the senses, pinch imposing mountains surrounding waterfalls.

Take your clip astatine this much than 1 million-acre park, wherever each position someway tops the last.

The parkland is known for its stunning glacial lakes and wildlife, including upland goats, grizzly bears, and bighorn sheep.

This communicative was primitively published connected January 11, 2024, and astir precocious updated connected August 28, 2026.