Jace Lamonica
You know that feeling when a place surprises you in the best way? It’s rare, and it usually doesn’t happen where everyone flocks. That’s why this list matters. These destinations get overlooked, but they deserve more love. You might just find your next favorite place hiding in plain sight.
The Wave, Arizona
It’s a geological wonder sculpted over 190 million years. The Wave lies within the Coyote Buttes North area, straddling the Utah-Arizona border. Because it’s protected, only 64 people per day are allowed in via a lottery system. Consequently, it remains pristine and eerily quiet.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Contrary to its name, the Great Basin is a treasure trove of contrasts. Here, Wheeler Peak rises over 13,000 feet, while ancient bristlecone pines, some older than 4,000 years, cling to the slopes. Furthermore, the Lehman Caves beneath the surface reveal limestone formations sculpted by slow-moving water over millennia.
Great Sand Dunes, Colorado
The Great Sand Dunes form the tallest dunes in North America. They reach up to 750 feet, shaped by wind patterns between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and San Luis Valley. When spring and early summer come, Medano Creek flows at the dunes’ base to create a temporary beach-like oasis.
Solvang Village, California
Founded in 1911 by Danish immigrants, Solvang retains its Scandinavian charm through windmills and bakeries serving flodeboller and kringle. It’s located in Santa Barbara County and surrounded by over 120 wineries. Moreover, the village celebrates Danish heritage through events like Danish Days, complete with parades and Viking reenactments.
Tule Lake National Monument, California
This site holds painful memories. Tule Lake was one of ten U.S. internment camps during WWII, but it also became a segregation center for Japanese Americans labeled “disloyal” after resisting forced confinement. Today, the National Park Service preserves remnants of the camp, including guard towers and barracks.
Craters Of The Moon, Idaho
Stretching over 600 square miles, this vast field of lava rock is an otherworldly spectacle. Formed by eight major eruptive periods of 15,000 and 2,000 years, the Craters of the Moon include spatter cones and cinder fields. In the 1960s, NASA astronauts trained here to simulate moonwalking.
Canyon De Chelly, Arizona
Located within the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “d’SHAY”) has been continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years. Today, Navajo families still live and farm within its canyon walls. Towering sandstone cliffs guard ancient dwellings carved into sheer rock faces.
Letchworth State Park, New York
A dramatic gorge carved by the Genesee River, with cliffs rising to 600 feet, awaits exploration. With three breathtaking waterfalls and over 60 miles of hiking trails, this area features scenic overlooks and charming stone bridges, offering a unique escape often overshadowed by Niagara Falls.
Palouse Hills, Washington
A sea of soft, rolling hills covers this agricultural region in southeastern Washington and parts of Idaho. Shaped by glacial floods and wind-blown loess soil, the Palouse is known for wheat and mesmerizing symmetry. Additionally, Steptoe Butte offers a panoramic view that photographers and painters dream of.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
This secluded island, only reachable by ferry, is a paradise of 17 miles of pristine beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. Once home to the Carnegie family, its historic ruins remain, and the island’s wild horses and loggerhead sea turtles roam freely through its natural beauty.
Blackwater Falls, West Virginia
Named for its tea-colored water stained by fallen hemlock with red spruce needles, Blackwater Falls is among West Virginia’s most photogenic sites. The 57-foot waterfall rushes through a gorge in the Allegheny Mountains, with boardwalks and trails offering panoramic views, particularly vibrant during the fall foliage season.
Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna, a tiny town at the base of Denali, is full of personality. With its clapboard buildings and dogsled tours, it has a unique charm. It even once elected a cat named Stubbs as mayor, serving unofficially for a remarkable 20 years.
Garden Of The Gods, Illinois
No, not the one in Colorado. Illinois has its own Garden of the Gods inside the Shawnee National Forest. Here, wind and water have sculpted ancient sandstone into bizarre formations like Camel Rock and Anvil Rock. The Observation Trail, though short, reveals sweeping views across rolling woodlands.
Hamilton Pool, Texas
Situated away west of Austin, Hamilton Pool is the remains of a collapsed limestone grotto that left behind a shimmering jade-green swimming hole and a dramatic waterfall spilling from its lip. Formed thousands of years ago, the site is now a protected preserve. Also note: Swimming isn’t always permitted here due to bacteria levels.
Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
This place was nicknamed the “Wonderland of Rocks.” It is a maze of towering stone spires and balancing boulders created by volcanic eruptions years ago. The 8-mile scenic drive and over 17 miles of trails offer countless photo ops and surprises. Remarkably, it’s also where the Chiricahua Apache once resisted U.S. expansion.
New River Gorge, West Virginia
New River Gorge, designated a national park in 2020, is one of North America’s oldest rivers. Carving through sandstone, it creates a prime spot for rock climbers and hikers. The New River Gorge Bridge, a stunning steel arch structure, ranks among the longest in the world.
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Stretching over 30,000 acres, the Bonneville Salt Flats are a dazzling sheet of white that looks like snow but crunches like dried earth. Formed from an ancient lake, this reflective terrain hosts land-speed races where drivers push the limits. Beyond motorsports, photographers and travelers love it for its mirror-like quality.
Makoshika State Park, Montana
Montana’s largest state park flies under the radar despite its dramatic badlands and hoodoo formations. Makoshika (pronounced “ma-KO-shi-ka”) means “bad land” in Lakota, and it’s true: nothing grows easily here. However, that’s part of its charm. Fossils from triceratops and other dinosaurs have been found in the eroded hills.
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Just outside Los Alamos, Bandelier blends natural beauty with archaeological intrigue. The monument preserves ancestral Puebloan dwellings carved directly into soft volcanic tuff, along with petroglyphs and ceremonial kivas. The Main Loop Trail winds through Frijoles Canyon, offering visitors the chance to climb ladders into ancient Puebloan dwellings along the way.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Dry Tortugas, 70 miles from Key West, is a hidden gem. Reached by boat or seaplane, this national park features the unfinished Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century coastal fortress. Its turquoise waters invite snorkeling, where coral reefs and sea turtles abound, while the fort holds naval history within its walls.
