Downward angle icon Downward angle icon. North Cascades National Park in Washington State is one of the most beautiful places I have ever traveled to. Emily Hart I am a solo traveler who has visited all 50 states and almost every national park in the United States. The beauty of Glacier National Park has brought me to tears many times. I also love traveling to beautiful places like Grand Teton National Park and Sedona, Arizona.
Growing up in the Midwest, I was often exposed to photos on calendars and as wallpaper on my computer screen that seemed too good to be true.
The towering mountains, jagged coastline, and unique rock formations were so different from anything I see in my everyday life that I could never have imagined they existed.
As I began traveling more in my 30s and eventually visiting all 50 states and nearly every U.S. national park, I realized that not only did they all exist, but there were an almost endless number of beautiful places to visit.
Here are the top 10 most beautiful places I’ve visited in the United States.
I have been to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming over 10 times.
Grand Teton National Park has over 200 miles of hiking trails. Emily Hart
I have been captivated by the beauty of the Teton Range ever since I first laid eyes on it nearly 10 years ago.
The jutting mountains, abundant wildlife, and clear blue lake make this park stunning from every angle, and I’ve returned to it many times.
String Lake, Jackson Lake, and Jenny Lake are my favorite easily accessible overlooks, with over 200 miles of hiking trails offering mirage-like views.
Seward, Alaska offers spectacular scenery and plenty of activities.
Seward, Alaska is located on the Kenai Peninsula. Emily Hart
I once traveled alone in a van to Alaska for a few weeks in the summer.
The scenery throughout the state was some of the most beautiful I had ever seen, but Seward was a place I never wanted to leave.
This port city is located on the Kenai Peninsula and is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Seward is a great place to enjoy the mountains and the ocean.
Camp on the beach, kayak the bay or take a sightseeing tour to see puffins, humpback whales and sea otters.
The Georgia coast is full of unique beauty.
Cumberland Island is one of the places I want to visit. Emily Hart
People are sometimes surprised when I put the Georgia coast at the top of my list of the most beautiful places I’ve traveled to in the United States.
While the Georgia coast isn’t obviously as awe-inspiring or mind-blowing as the dramatic vistas and mountain peaks of the West that are often listed on bucket lists, it has a beauty all its own.
I love visiting Cumberland Island to see the wild horses, walk beneath the live oak trees, and relax on over 17 miles of uninterrupted, undeveloped beach.
Visiting Yosemite National Park in California is at the top of many people’s bucket list.
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Emily Hart
No list of America’s most beautiful places would be credible without including Yosemite National Park.
Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite Valley’s towering granite rocks and dramatic waterfalls make it a bucket list destination.
Watch the sunset at Tunnel View, explore nearly 800 miles of hiking trails, or relax beside the Merced River as it flows through the canyon.
In Yosemite you will be surrounded by beauty that is hard to capture or put into words.
Telluride, Colorado offers adventure, luxury and stunning scenery.
Telluride is one of many beautiful places in Colorado. Emily Hart
My home state of Colorado is filled with indescribable beauty, but with so many amazing places to visit, one always stands out: Telluride.
Set in a box-shaped valley surrounded by the state’s famous 14,000-foot mountains, this small town offers adventure, luxury and scenery like no other.
Sedona, Arizona is known for its dramatic red rock formations.
Sedona, Arizona is just two hours north of Phoenix. Emily Hart
Just two hours north of Phoenix and two hours south of the Grand Canyon lies Sedona, Arizona, a mecca for spirituality and adventure.
Sedona is known for its dramatic red rock formations, energy vortexes and bucket-list hiking, mountain biking and stargazing.
In my opinion, there is nowhere more peaceful or beautiful in the Southwest than this town of just under 10,000 people.
North Cascades National Park in Washington state is truly a hidden gem.
The North Cascades is generally one of the least visited national parks in the U.S. Emily Hart
North Cascades National Park is one of the most amazing places I have ever been, yet it is generally one of the least visited of the US national parks.
Despite being just a few hours from Seattle, this little-known national park still goes largely unnoticed, despite its incredible beauty.
Enjoy a scenic drive, visit Diablo Lake, or hike the park’s 400 miles of trails.
New Hampshire’s White Mountains are especially beautiful in the fall.
Franconia Notch State Park is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Emily Hart
While the Northeast doesn’t always get as much praise as its outdoor areas in the West, there’s no shortage of stunning scenery.
One of my favorite places to visit, especially in the fall, is the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
After hiking the Artist Bluff Trail in Franconia Notch State Park, walk through Flume Canyon for even more impressive views.
The drive up California’s Highway 1 to Big Sur is an amazing journey.
Bixby Creek Bridge is a great place to take photos. Emily Hart
With so many beautiful roads across the country, the United States has become synonymous with road trips.
There are many memorable drives, but my trip up California’s Highway 1 to Big Sur and San Simeon was one of the most scenic and stunningly beautiful I’ve ever encountered.
Here, the coast meets the sea dramatically, with impressive cliffs, scenery and beaches.
Stop at Bixby Creek Bridge for some photos, then head over to Pfeiffer Beach to see the unique purple sand.
The beauty of Montana’s Glacier National Park brought me to tears.
Glacier National Park spans over one million acres of land. Emily Hart
I have been to Glacier National Park several times and each time it has left me in tears.
A drive along the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, approximately 50 miles long, will be a treat for the senses as you take in the majestic mountains that surround the falls.
Spend time exploring this over 1 million acre park, where each view surpasses the last.
The park is known for its beautiful glacial lakes and wildlife, including mountain goats, grizzly bears, and bighorn sheep.
