The Oregon coast showcases breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean including dramatic scenery of the rugged shoreline and windswept sandy beaches. There’s a paved highway that spans nearly 585 kilometers along the coastline, creating perfect conditions for a road trip with plenty of opportunities to explore.
Category: United States
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is situated in the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington. It contains three different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rainforests and the rugged Pacific shoreline. There are several trails, viewpoints and other activities in the park to enjoy the scenery.
Seattle
Seattle is known as the Emerald City for its abundance of lush greenery. It is also surrounded by water and mountains. It is the largest city in Washington as well as the Pacific Northwest region in the United States. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the city life or explore nature, sometimes at the same time.
A bit of Nevada
Nevada is the driest state in the United States. It boasts of providing endless entertainment with plenty of casinos, shows and events, and has a vibrant nightlife. It also contains deserts, mountains and dramatic rock formations, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is one of the biggest canyons in the world. It is located in northern Arizona and measures 446 kilometres long, nearly 30 kilometres wide and over a kilometre and a half deep. Grand Canyon National Park encompasses much of the Grand Canyon and it is divided into two main sections, the North Rim and South Rim, each with their own visitor center, scenic drives, viewpoints and hiking trails.
Lower Antelope Canyon
Northern Arizona is known for its rugged desert landscape which features many iconic canyons, including Antelope Canyon. This slot canyon was formed over time when water from flash flooding or heavy rains carved its way through the Navajo sandstone cliffs, creating narrow passageways and ripples and wave-like patterns in the rocks.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, the largest concentration found anywhere in the world. These arches have formed over time, starting from cracks in sandstone fins that begin to widen from mechanical and chemical weathering. Besides arches, the park also contains other geological formations including spires, pinnacles, towering sandstone cliffs and balanced rocks. There is a paved scenic drive through the park that provides access to many viewpoints and hiking trails to catch a better glimpse of the desert scenery and interesting rock features.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah. Its dramatic desert landscape has been sculpted over time by the Colorado River. It contains countless canyons, rock pinnacles, mesas, buttes, arches and spires. The park consists of four districts: the three land districts of Island in the Sky in the north (the most accessible and visited district), the Needles in the east (filled with backcountry roads and colourful spires) and the Maze in the west (the most remote and rugged district), and the Green and Colorado rivers that divide the park.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for having the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. These red rock pillars are made of sandstone and have been shaped and formed throughout the years by uneven weathering and erosion. And because it sits at a higher elevation, this area can experience some heavy snowfalls, especially in the winter.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is located in red-rock country in southwestern Utah. Despite its name, it seldom snows here. The park features dramatic sandstone cliffs, colourful canyons, petrified sand dunes and lava flows and offers plenty of hiking trails to enjoy the desert landscape.