27 of the most beautiful places in America
From sea to shining sea and everything in between
America's Most Beautiful National Park
Where: Glacier National Park, Montana
Why We Love It: Views like this are what make this rugged corner of wilderness one of America's most scenic places (plus it's less crowded than Yosemite and the Grand Canyon).
America's Most Beautiful Beach
Where: Honopu Beach, Hawaii
Why We Love It: While there are too many beautiful beaches in Hawaii to pick just one, the remoteness of this stretch of sand on Kauai's Na Pali Coast make it one of our favorites.
America's Most Beautiful City
Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Why We Love It: With cobblestone-lined streets and Antebellum houses in more shades of pastel than you can count, this small city practically defines Southern charm.
America's Most Beautiful Desert
Where: Death Valley National Park, California
Why We Love It: Located on the eastern border of California, Death Valley is America's lowest, hottest and driest point. But that doesn't make watching the sunset from Zabriskie Point any less beautiful.
America's Most Beautiful Island
Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan
Why We Love It: No cars are allowed on this small island on the strait between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, making it an idyllic summer getaway.
America's Most Beautiful Landmark
Where: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington D.C.
Why We Love It: Dedicated to the third President of the United States, this neoclassical building was inspired by the Roman Pantheon and Jefferson's own design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.
America's Most Beautiful Mountain
Where: Grand Teton, Wyoming
Why We Love It: This mountain is so beautiful that it had an entire national park named after it.
America's Most Beautiful Waterfall
Where: Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Why We Love It: Located in the Columbia River Gorge, this two-step waterfall is the tallest in Oregon.
America's Most Beautiful Lighthouse
Where: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina
Why We Love It: While this Outer Banks landmark is the world's tallest brick lighthouse, its graphic black and white spiral is what landed it on this list of beautiful places.
America's Most Beautiful Valley
Where: Cades Cove, Tennessee
Why We Love It: When you visit this isolated valley in the Great Smoky Mountains it feels like you've stepped back in time. Unfortunately, its beauty is no secret so head here in the off season to skip the traffic jam.
America's Most Beautiful Lake
Where: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Why We Love It: Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains on all sides, Lake Tahoe's waters are so clear you can see 70 feet deep.
America's Most Beautiful Town
Where: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Why We Love It: When Thomas Jefferson visited in 1783 he called this small town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature."
America's Most Beautiful Sand Dunes
Where: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Why We Love It: While the Sangre de Cristo Mountains may seem to dwarf them, Colorado's Great Sand Dunes are actually the highest sand dunes in North America.
America's Most Beautiful Coastline
Where: Florida Keys, Florida
Why We Love It: Florida is home to over a thousand miles of America's coastline, including the string of tropical islands that make up the state's southern tip.
America's Most Beautiful Farmland
Where: Skagit Valley, Washington
Why We Love It: You don't need to fly all the way to Holland to see some of the world's prettiest tulip fields, which are located just 60 miles north of Seattle.
America's Most Beautiful Wildflower Bloom
Where: Texas Hill Country, Texas
Why We Love It: The countryside west of Austin and north of San Antonio explodes in a riot of colorful Texas Bluebonnets every April.
America's Most Beautiful Beautiful River
Where: Colorado River, Arizona
Why We Love It: While the Colorado River flows all the way from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, head to Horseshoe Bend near the border of Arizona and Utah for the most Instagrammable view.
America's Most Beautiful Covered Bridge
Where: Arlington Green Covered Bridge, Vermont
Why We Love It: Vermont has over 100 covered bridges, but the structure in Arlington is one of the state's oldest and best preserved examples.
America's Most Beautiful Cavern
Where: Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
Why We Love It: Often referred to as the "Grand Canyon with a roof on top," Carlsbad Cavern is part of a massive system of over 100 limestone caves hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert.
America's Most Beautiful Swimming Hole
Where: Hamilton Pool, Texas
Why We Love It: Located 30 miles west of Austin, the grotto at Hamilton Pool was created thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed.
America's Most Beautiful Train Ride
Where: White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Alaska
Why We Love It: Built in the late 19th century during the Klondike Gold Rush, this scenic railroad climbs nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles giving riders panoramic (and cliff-hanging) views of the surrounding mountains.
America's Most Beautiful Rock Formation
Where: The Wave, Arizona and Utah
Why We Love It: Only 20 people per day are allowed to hike out to this Jurassic-age sandstone formation in the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but all of the advance planning required to see this breathtaking place is totally worth it.
America's Most Beautiful Gorge
Where: Watkins Glen, New York
Why We Love It: Located in New York's Finger Lakes Region, this narrow gorge features 19 waterfalls within the space of just two miles.
America's Most Beautiful Highway
Where: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia
Why We Love It: This stretch of road that meanders 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains is the most visited place in the U.S. National Park Service.
America's Most Beautiful Hot Spring
Where: Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Why We Love It: Located in Yellowstone National Park's Midway Geyser Basin, America's largest hot spring gets its name from its striking colors that fade from bright orange to blue.
America's Most Beautiful Historic District
Where: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Why We Love It: The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans is home to some of the city's best architecture including those famous cast iron balconies and lush green courtyards.
America's Most Beautiful Wetlands
Where: Natchez Trace Cypress Swamp, Mississippi
Why We Love It: The Natchez Trace Parkway is a beautiful drive in general but be sure to make a pit stop at milepost 122 and walk the half-mile boardwalk trail through the water tupelo and bald cypress tree swamp.
America's Most Beautiful National Park
Where: Glacier National Park, Montana
Why We Love It: Views like this are what make this rugged corner of wilderness one of America's most scenic places (plus it's less crowded than Yosemite and the Grand Canyon).
America's Most Beautiful Beach
Where: Honopu Beach, Hawaii
Why We Love It: While there are too many beautiful beaches in Hawaii to pick just one, the remoteness of this stretch of sand on Kauai's Na Pali Coast make it one of our favorites.
America's Most Beautiful City
Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Why We Love It: With cobblestone-lined streets and Antebellum houses in more shades of pastel than you can count, this small city practically defines Southern charm.
America's Most Beautiful Desert
Where: Death Valley National Park, California
Why We Love It: Located on the eastern border of California, Death Valley is America's lowest, hottest and driest point. But that doesn't make watching the sunset from Zabriskie Point any less beautiful.
America's Most Beautiful Island
Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan
Why We Love It: No cars are allowed on this small island on the strait between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, making it an idyllic summer getaway.
America's Most Beautiful Landmark
Where: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington D.C.
Why We Love It: Dedicated to the third President of the United States, this neoclassical building was inspired by the Roman Pantheon and Jefferson's own design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.
America's Most Beautiful Mountain
Where: Grand Teton, Wyoming
Why We Love It: This mountain is so beautiful that it had an entire national park named after it.
America's Most Beautiful Waterfall
Where: Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Why We Love It: Located in the Columbia River Gorge, this two-step waterfall is the tallest in Oregon.
America's Most Beautiful Lighthouse
Where: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina
Why We Love It: While this Outer Banks landmark is the world's tallest brick lighthouse, its graphic black and white spiral is what landed it on this list of beautiful places.
America's Most Beautiful Valley
Where: Cades Cove, Tennessee
Why We Love It: When you visit this isolated valley in the Great Smoky Mountains it feels like you've stepped back in time. Unfortunately, its beauty is no secret so head here in the off season to skip the traffic jam.
America's Most Beautiful Lake
Where: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Why We Love It: Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains on all sides, Lake Tahoe's waters are so clear you can see 70 feet deep.
America's Most Beautiful Town
Where: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Why We Love It: When Thomas Jefferson visited in 1783 he called this small town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature."
America's Most Beautiful Sand Dunes
Where: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Why We Love It: While the Sangre de Cristo Mountains may seem to dwarf them, Colorado's Great Sand Dunes are actually the highest sand dunes in North America.
America's Most Beautiful Coastline
Where: Florida Keys, Florida
Why We Love It: Florida is home to over a thousand miles of America's coastline, including the string of tropical islands that make up the state's southern tip.
America's Most Beautiful Farmland
Where: Skagit Valley, Washington
Why We Love It: You don't need to fly all the way to Holland to see some of the world's prettiest tulip fields, which are located just 60 miles north of Seattle.
America's Most Beautiful Wildflower Bloom
Where: Texas Hill Country, Texas
Why We Love It: The countryside west of Austin and north of San Antonio explodes in a riot of colorful Texas Bluebonnets every April.
America's Most Beautiful Beautiful River
Where: Colorado River, Arizona
Why We Love It: While the Colorado River flows all the way from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, head to Horseshoe Bend near the border of Arizona and Utah for the most Instagrammable view.
America's Most Beautiful Covered Bridge
Where: Arlington Green Covered Bridge, Vermont
Why We Love It: Vermont has over 100 covered bridges, but the structure in Arlington is one of the state's oldest and best preserved examples.
America's Most Beautiful Cavern
Where: Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
Why We Love It: Often referred to as the "Grand Canyon with a roof on top," Carlsbad Cavern is part of a massive system of over 100 limestone caves hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert.
America's Most Beautiful Swimming Hole
Where: Hamilton Pool, Texas
Why We Love It: Located 30 miles west of Austin, the grotto at Hamilton Pool was created thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed.
America's Most Beautiful Train Ride
Where: White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Alaska
Why We Love It: Built in the late 19th century during the Klondike Gold Rush, this scenic railroad climbs nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles giving riders panoramic (and cliff-hanging) views of the surrounding mountains.
America's Most Beautiful Rock Formation
Where: The Wave, Arizona and Utah
Why We Love It: Only 20 people per day are allowed to hike out to this Jurassic-age sandstone formation in the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but all of the advance planning required to see this breathtaking place is totally worth it.
America's Most Beautiful Gorge
Where: Watkins Glen, New York
Why We Love It: Located in New York's Finger Lakes Region, this narrow gorge features 19 waterfalls within the space of just two miles.
America's Most Beautiful Highway
Where: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia
Why We Love It: This stretch of road that meanders 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains is the most visited place in the U.S. National Park Service.
America's Most Beautiful Hot Spring
Where: Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Why We Love It: Located in Yellowstone National Park's Midway Geyser Basin, America's largest hot spring gets its name from its striking colors that fade from bright orange to blue.
America's Most Beautiful Historic District
Where: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Why We Love It: The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans is home to some of the city's best architecture including those famous cast iron balconies and lush green courtyards.
America's Most Beautiful Wetlands
Where: Natchez Trace Cypress Swamp, Mississippi
Why We Love It: The Natchez Trace Parkway is a beautiful drive in general but be sure to make a pit stop at milepost 122 and walk the half-mile boardwalk trail through the water tupelo and bald cypress tree swamp.
America's Most Beautiful National Park
Where: Glacier National Park, Montana
Why We Love It: Views like this are what make this rugged corner of wilderness one of America's most scenic places (plus it's less crowded than Yosemite and the Grand Canyon).
America's Most Beautiful Beach
Where: Honopu Beach, Hawaii
Why We Love It: While there are too many beautiful beaches in Hawaii to pick just one, the remoteness of this stretch of sand on Kauai's Na Pali Coast make it one of our favorites.
America's Most Beautiful City
Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Why We Love It: With cobblestone-lined streets and Antebellum houses in more shades of pastel than you can count, this small city practically defines Southern charm.
America's Most Beautiful Desert
Where: Death Valley National Park, California
Why We Love It: Located on the eastern border of California, Death Valley is America's lowest, hottest and driest point. But that doesn't make watching the sunset from Zabriskie Point any less beautiful.
America's Most Beautiful Island
Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan
Why We Love It: No cars are allowed on this small island on the strait between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, making it an idyllic summer getaway.
America's Most Beautiful Landmark
Where: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington D.C.
Why We Love It: Dedicated to the third President of the United States, this neoclassical building was inspired by the Roman Pantheon and Jefferson's own design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.
America's Most Beautiful Mountain
Where: Grand Teton, Wyoming
Why We Love It: This mountain is so beautiful that it had an entire national park named after it.
America's Most Beautiful Waterfall
Where: Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Why We Love It: Located in the Columbia River Gorge, this two-step waterfall is the tallest in Oregon.
America's Most Beautiful Lighthouse
Where: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina
Why We Love It: While this Outer Banks landmark is the world's tallest brick lighthouse, its graphic black and white spiral is what landed it on this list of beautiful places.
America's Most Beautiful Valley
Where: Cades Cove, Tennessee
Why We Love It: When you visit this isolated valley in the Great Smoky Mountains it feels like you've stepped back in time. Unfortunately, its beauty is no secret so head here in the off season to skip the traffic jam.
America's Most Beautiful Lake
Where: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Why We Love It: Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains on all sides, Lake Tahoe's waters are so clear you can see 70 feet deep.
America's Most Beautiful Town
Where: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Why We Love It: When Thomas Jefferson visited in 1783 he called this small town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature."
America's Most Beautiful Sand Dunes
Where: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Why We Love It: While the Sangre de Cristo Mountains may seem to dwarf them, Colorado's Great Sand Dunes are actually the highest sand dunes in North America.
America's Most Beautiful Coastline
Where: Florida Keys, Florida
Why We Love It: Florida is home to over a thousand miles of America's coastline, including the string of tropical islands that make up the state's southern tip.
America's Most Beautiful Farmland
Where: Skagit Valley, Washington
Why We Love It: You don't need to fly all the way to Holland to see some of the world's prettiest tulip fields, which are located just 60 miles north of Seattle.
America's Most Beautiful Wildflower Bloom
Where: Texas Hill Country, Texas
Why We Love It: The countryside west of Austin and north of San Antonio explodes in a riot of colorful Texas Bluebonnets every April.
America's Most Beautiful Beautiful River
Where: Colorado River, Arizona
Why We Love It: While the Colorado River flows all the way from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, head to Horseshoe Bend near the border of Arizona and Utah for the most Instagrammable view.
America's Most Beautiful Covered Bridge
Where: Arlington Green Covered Bridge, Vermont
Why We Love It: Vermont has over 100 covered bridges, but the structure in Arlington is one of the state's oldest and best preserved examples.
America's Most Beautiful Cavern
Where: Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
Why We Love It: Often referred to as the "Grand Canyon with a roof on top," Carlsbad Cavern is part of a massive system of over 100 limestone caves hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert.
America's Most Beautiful Swimming Hole
Where: Hamilton Pool, Texas
Why We Love It: Located 30 miles west of Austin, the grotto at Hamilton Pool was created thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed.
America's Most Beautiful Train Ride
Where: White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Alaska
Why We Love It: Built in the late 19th century during the Klondike Gold Rush, this scenic railroad climbs nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles giving riders panoramic (and cliff-hanging) views of the surrounding mountains.
America's Most Beautiful Rock Formation
Where: The Wave, Arizona and Utah
Why We Love It: Only 20 people per day are allowed to hike out to this Jurassic-age sandstone formation in the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but all of the advance planning required to see this breathtaking place is totally worth it.
America's Most Beautiful Gorge
Where: Watkins Glen, New York
Why We Love It: Located in New York's Finger Lakes Region, this narrow gorge features 19 waterfalls within the space of just two miles.
America's Most Beautiful Highway
Where: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia
Why We Love It: This stretch of road that meanders 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains is the most visited place in the U.S. National Park Service.
America's Most Beautiful Hot Spring
Where: Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Why We Love It: Located in Yellowstone National Park's Midway Geyser Basin, America's largest hot spring gets its name from its striking colors that fade from bright orange to blue.
America's Most Beautiful Historic District
Where: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Why We Love It: The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans is home to some of the city's best architecture including those famous cast iron balconies and lush green courtyards.
America's Most Beautiful Wetlands
Where: Natchez Trace Cypress Swamp, Mississippi
Why We Love It: The Natchez Trace Parkway is a beautiful drive in general but be sure to make a pit stop at milepost 122 and walk the half-mile boardwalk trail through the water tupelo and bald cypress tree swamp.
From sea to shining sea and everything in between
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Narrowing down the list of America's most scenic spots is clearly an impossible task, but these stunning places are totally worth bumping to the top of your travel bucket list.