By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-16 18:28:18 | Updated at 2024-11-16 20:25:41
2 hours ago
A seasoned traveler who has visited all 50 states has revealed the best natural wonders across the country.
Katherine Parker-Magyar, a travel writer who has been to all seven continents and 86 countries, describes herself as someone with 'an incurable case of wanderlust'.
The New York-based freelancer recently listed her favorite travel spots and explained why they stood out from others.
Here are her top eight recommendations of incredible wonders to see:
1. The Great Basin Desert
Katherine Parker-Magyar, a travel writer who has visited all seven continents and 86 countries describes herself as someone with 'an incurable case of wanderlust'
The Great Basin Desert is one of the four deserts and the only cold desert in the US.
It spreads from the Sierra Nevada Range in California to the Wasatch Range in Utah and from southern Oregon to southern Nevada - which is why it is named 'Great Basin'.
Famously known to be covered in snow, Magyar described it as 'truly otherworldly'.
Writing for Business Insider, she said: 'While there, I felt like I'd landed on the moon in the best way.
'I once spent an unforgettable autumn morning watching the sunrise while floating above the desert in the annual Great Reno Balloon Race, in awe of the foothills of Sierra Nevada cast in pastel hues below.'
2. Northern Lights in Alaska
The Aurora Borealis have long been a source of great wonderment and mystery for travelers across the world.
The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is between late August to mid-April from 11pm to 2am near Fairbanks
The dancing ribbons of light are created when energized particles from the sun hit the Earth's atmosphere and transform into a cinematic atmospheric phenomenon.
The best time to see the northern lights in Alaska is between late August to mid-April from 11pm to 2am near Fairbanks, according to Alaska.org.
3. The Teton Range in Wyoming
The Teton Range, a part of the the Rocky Mountains, are one of the most magnificent mountains that stretch approximately 40 miles in a north–south direction of Wyoming.
The Grand Teton National Park encompasses the range and is widely known for its rich wildlife, pristine lakes and majestic alpine vistas.
The Teton Range, a part of the the Rocky Mountains, are one of the most magnificent mountains that stretch approximately 40 miles in a north–south direction of Wyoming
After the visiting the Park, Magyar said: 'I remember the very first time I saw the Tetons as a child on a cross-country road trip with my family. I was simply blown away by the beauty of the range, which seemed to embody the wild possibilities of the American West.
'Of the many peaks, valleys, and rivers to explore, my favorite activity remains kayaking on Jenny Lake, which was formed by glaciers over 12,000 years ago.'
4. The Mount Desert Island in Maine
Known as the the largest island off the coast of Maine and the second biggest on the East Coast, the Mount Desert Island is home to the Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor.
Known as the the largest island off the coast of Maine and the second largest on the East Coast, the Mount Desert Island is home to the Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor
With a local population of approximately 10,000 people, the island becomes a blooming vacation spot during the summer months and is mostly visited by wealthy socialites and celebrities.
'I spent time in Maine on a sailing Outward Bound as a teen and still return every year, eternally convinced that time spent on Mount Desert Island is the way life should be,' the writer said about the island.
5. The Puʻu Pehe rock in Lānaʻi, Hawaii
The Puʻupehe Platform, also known Puʻu Pehe and in tourist literature as Sweetheart Rock, is located off the southern coastline between Mānele and Hulopoʻe Bays.
The Puʻupehe Platform, also known Puʻu Pehe and in tourist literature as Sweetheart Rock, is located off the southern coastline between Mānele and Hulopoʻe Bays
The 80 feet long rock has long been a favorite site for watching mesmerizing sunsets by travelers.
'I embarked on a pre-dawn hike up to the lookout from Four Seasons Lānaʻi, traversing the cliff's edge past Hulopoʻe Beach, and was rewarded with one of the most memorable views I'd seen in my life', Magyar wrote in Business Insider.
6. Redwood Forest in California
Renowned for the world's tallest trees, The Redwood National and State Park protects nearly half of the world's old growth redwoods, including some that are 370 feet tall.
To see them, visitors can drive through the Avenue of the Giants - a well-paved road with lots of pull-outs for parking. The road also opens up to short hikes.
Renowned for the world's tallest trees, The Redwood National and State Park protects nearly half of the world's old growth redwoods, including specimens that are 370 feet tall
Magyar wrote in Business Insider: 'I first visited as a middle schooler, and when I returned in my 20s, I was shocked anew at their height — they can be about 300 feet tall. I'd grown taller, and yet they remained gigantic.
'There's nothing more humbling than walking among giants that have existed on this planet for over 1,000 years.'
The park is also a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
7. Florida Keys islands
The Florida Keys are a string of islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of Florida between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
The Florida Keys are a string of islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of Florida between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
The small pieces of land are popular tourist destination for fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving and are especially known for their turquoise blue waters and pink sunsets.
8. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
Located entirely inside the state of Arizona, The Grand Canyon is one of America's most beautiful wonders and encompasses 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands.
Located entirely inside the state of Arizona, The Grand Canyon is one of America's most beautiful wonders and encompasses 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands
The site is one of the 'most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world,' according to National Park Service.
'There's a reason that the Grand Canyon is so famous as a US natural landmark: It's breathtaking in scale and the vivid colors of the rocks reflect the weathering of millions of years of erosion,' Magyar wrote.
