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Surprising sights in the States

Alvord Desert, Oregon

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho

Supai, Arizona

It’s hard to believe that this secluded slice of America’s backyard exists within the Grand Canyon (the second most-visited national park in the US). But it does. The Havasupai Tribe have lived in the village of Supai since AD 1300 and, in part down to the arduous eight-mile trek it takes to reach it, the area has stayed largely off the tourist radar. Those who commit to the hardy hike will be rewarded with waterfalls plunging towards eye-popping blue pools reminiscent of Turkey’s Pamukkale.

Helen, Georgia

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Rawah Wilderness, Colorado

Firefall, Horsetail Fall, California

Jungle Gardens, Avery Island, Louisiana

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Tucked into the cliffs in the Mesa Verde National Park, you’ll find Cliff Palace, the largest such dwelling in North America. Built by the Ancestral Puebloans between about AD 1190 and 1260, today you can take a tour of this magnificent 150-room site. However you’ll need to be relatively fit to do so: the hour-long walk involves a 100-foot (30m) vertical climb, stone stairs and ladders too. 

Incredible ancient ruins in the USA you probably didn’t know existed

Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee

This dramatic waterfall in the US could just as easily be in New Zealand – the cascade bears a striking resemblance to the country’s famed Humboldt Falls. But these thundering waters have their home in eastern Tennessee in the eponymous Fall Creek Falls State Park. One of the greatest natural wonders in the country’s east, the falls rush over tree-topped rock, crashing 256 feet (80m) into the lake below. There are more than 200 campsites here too, so you’ve no need to rush your adventures. 

Amazing images of the world’s most stunning waterfalls

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

Sequim-Dungeness Valley, Washington

The Palouse, Idaho/Washington

Bonsai Rock, Nevada

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Cà d’Zan, Sarasota, Florida

This glittering residence was inspired by the palazzos of Venice and was built in the Venetian-Gothic style during the Roaring Twenties. It was the home of notorious circus master John Ringling and his family, and the eccentric character lived here right up until his death in 1936. Since then, the home has been donated to the state of Florida and has undergone extensive renovations. Today visitors can enjoy tours of the ornate space, peering into private bedrooms and sumptuous communal areas, and drinking in the tile-embellished terra cotta façade too. 

Pfeiffer Beach, California

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska

Glowing a cool blue, these stark ice caves could have been plucked straight from Scandinavia. Instead you’ll find them some 12 miles from Alaska’s capital, Juneau, carved into the 12-mile Mendenhall Glacier. To reach them is no easy feat as you’ll need to hike across a vast ice field often scrambling over slippery rock faces on your approach. The ethereal caves are worth the effort though and as the glacier is sadly receding at a rapid pace, it is best to make the trip sooner rather than later.

Discover more places under threat from climate change

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

It’s hard to believe this towering waterfall is just a 30-minute jaunt from Portland. Crashing over more than 600 feet (182m) of craggy bluffs, the two-tiered Multnomah Falls collect in a deep blue pool at the base. The best view over the falls is from Benson Bridge, built in 1914, and refurbished after a damaging fire – suspended 70 feet (21m) in the air, you’ll be close enough to feel the spray. 

Holland, Michigan

It’s not hard to see why this charming Michigan town is called Holland. Hundreds of Dutch immigrants settled here in the hope of making their fortune in the mid-1800s, and this heritage makes itself immediately known: expect windmills, striped tulip fields, Dutch-style architecture and a traditional clog factory where you can see shoemakers at work. With spring comes the Tulip Time Festival, when more than five million flowers carpet the town.

These American destinations feel like you’re in another country

Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, Hawaii

Luray Caverns, Virginia

These otherworldly caverns, the most extensive in the eastern United States, open out below the Shenandoah Valley’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The sand-colored stalagmites and stalactites have sprouted over millions of years, and winding tunnels give way to echoing chambers. Most fascinating of all is Dream Lake: its 20 inches of water look much deeper due the reflections on its glittering surface. There’s also an organ that uses the rock formations to make sweet music.

The world’s most fascinating caves and caverns

Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

As the name might suggest, this park’s winning feature is its dramatic rock formations. Starved Rock State Park is home to a total of 18 canyons, with waterfalls forming during springtime and after heavy rain. Its web of trails reaches across 13 miles and takes hikers past rocky gorges, wildflower-filled meadows and, in the winter, ice sculptures formed from frozen watery cascades. 

The most beautiful state park in every US state

Glass Beach, California

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Skagway, Alaska

This railway route touts itself as the most scenic in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. The snow-dusted mountains, pink and yellow wildflowers and rambling hills appear almost Alpine. The railroad, whose construction began in 1898, instead rattles through Alaska towards Canada, leaving from the little city of Skagway. The White Pass Summit Excursion is the most traditional of routes, a 40-mile jaunt taking in the teetering peak of its namesake mountain pass. 

Discover more bucket-list adventures in Alaska

Haiku Stairs, Hawaii

Nicknamed the Stairway to Heaven for good reason, this dizzying staircase lines Oahu’s green Ko’olau mountains, and was built back in 1942 by the US Navy. Sadly, due to safety concerns, there are calls for the stairs to be demolished. The stairs, almost 4,000 of them, have been closed to the public for several years now and you’ll face a hefty fine if you attempt to trespass on them. However, the (legal) Kulana’ahane trail, a challenging forested hike, offers decent views of the stairway while it remains. 

Castello di Amorosa, California

A castle such as this one could easily be found in Italy’s wine regions but it has pride of place in California’s Napa Valley instead. Influenced by the medieval fortresses of Tuscany, Castello di Amorosa makes Italian-style wine to match and has won plenty of awards for its offerings. Take a guided tour of the property and its vineyards, before sampling the winery’s varietals for yourself. 

Don’t miss our area-by-area guide to California’s wine regions

Ice Caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore boasts all manner of natural wonders, from craggy rock formations and wind-battered cliffs to sandy strands – but none are more intriguing than the ice caves that form here each winter. The caves are accessible from a trail beginning at the Meyers Beach parking area and winding downwards (you’ll walk up to six miles in total depending on how many of the caves you take in). Their opening times are entirely dependent on conditions – check the NPS website if you’re planning a visit. 

Painted Hills, Oregon

Leavenworth, Washington

You wouldn’t expect to find this German-style village nestled at the foot of the Cascades Mountains, but downtown Leavenworth is a picture of Bavaria. Take in the Bavarian-style architecture, visit the colorful and quirky Nutcracker Museum, before a hike in the mountains. Visit in October to experience Leavenworth’s beer-soaked take on Oktoberfest. 

Discover 35 of Germany’s most beautiful towns and villages

Bowling Ball Beach, California

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Watkins Glen State Park, New York

The gorge in this state park is so picturesque it could have been carved by hand. Some 19 waterfalls exist in the Finger Lakes region, formed as a stream beats its way through the narrow, moss-covered glen. Trails hem each side of the gorge, following the water’s path – opt for the Gorge Trail, a 2.5-mile loop that takes in the 50-foot (15.2m) Cavern Cascade, the most impressive of all the falls.

Unspoiled American destinations to escape the modern world

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, New Mexico

Midway Ice Castles, Utah

These undulating ice terraces look as though they belong in the Arctic. They’re actually man-made, the vision of Utah-based architect Brent Christensen, who erects these icy towers in the city of Midway come winter. Each of the dazzling castles, with its hand-shaped turrets and tunnels, weigh around 25,000,000 lbs, and draw visitors from all over Utah and beyond.

Stunning images of the world’s amazing ice and snow festivals

Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii

The rugged red and green rocks of Hawaii’s Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park look more suited to Mars than Earth. ‘Na Pali’ means “high cliffs”, and the tallest mountains here soar to 4,000 feet (1,200m). The best way to take in the prismatic peaks is from the Kalalau Trail, a hardy, 11-mile route that rewards its hikers with a sandy beach at the end. The trail has recently reopened (due to damage caused by flooding) and online reservations are required in advance.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Palouse Falls State Park, Washington

Cumberland Island, Georgia

Wild horses roam Cumberland Island, the biggest of Georgia’s barrier isles, at 18 miles long. It has windswept dunes and petrified trees, and a sprawling, unspoiled coast. Home to endangered loggerhead sea turtles – its tranquillity is such that you’ll feel far further away than seven miles off Georgia’s mainland. A ferry leaves the city of St Mary’s from March through to November, and the island offers hiking, biking and swimming opportunities, plus dark skies perfect for stargazing.

America’s best spots for stargazing

Thor’s Well, Oregon

Caddo Lake, Texas

Texas’ Caddo Lake could be straight from a fairy tale, its elegant cypress trees reflected in the water’s ripple-less skin. The Span­ish moss draped across the branches make the waterways all the more ethereal. Take to the lake’s 26,810-acre expanse, and paddle between the moss-cloaked trees, before jumping back on land to explore the depths of the forestland on foot. Overnight at one of the historic cabins perched on the lakeside.

Red Sand Beach, Hawaii

Solvang, California

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska

Eternal Flame Falls, New York

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Mono Lake, California

Misty Fiords National Monument, Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii

Skagit Valley tulip fields, Washington

Boldt Castle, New York

The USA is not known for its fortresses, but this European-inspired castle in New York’s Alexandria Bay delivers. It was built in the early 1900s for millionaire George C. Boldt and his beloved wife, who passed during its construction, leading Boldt to abandon his extravagant project. With its Italian-style gardens and whimsical turrets, it rivals the many castles on the Continent for sheer fairy-tale factor. The castle can be reached by boat, and is open throughout the summer and fall. 

Fairy-tale castles you never knew existed in the USA

Bombay Beach, California

Most visitors to America are au fait with ghost towns, but ghost beaches are another matter. Once a thriving resort area modeled on the French Riviera, Bombay Beach was all but destroyed by the ever-increasing salt levels of the Salton Sea, which killed off its marine life and frightened away tourists. Today some residents remain in the surrounding area, with the beach otherwise attracting photographers and film crews with its apocalyptic expanse.

Discover the eeriest ghost towns in America

Turnip Rock, Michigan

Twenty-foot-tall trees sprout from this unusual rock formation in Port Austin. Thought to resemble a turnip due to its squat shape and the generous greenery on its surface, the rock has been formed by the wear and tear of the waves over millennia. You can rent kayaks from the mainland and paddle out to see the structure (since much of its surrounding land is private, it’s not possible to see it from the shore). The round trip is seven miles, so best suits those with some kayaking experience.

Read more: America’s most stunning lakes

Fly Geyser, Nevada

The kaleidoscopic Fly Geyser in Black Rock Desert is a unique sight indeed – but this rainbow wonder was actually formed by human error. In the 1960s, a geothermal energy company drilled on the site, in the hope of striking a usable power source. The water they hit was not warm enough for their purposes, but they failed to properly seal the opening they’d made. Today the geyser still spews searing water and steam, and the brilliant colors are formed by the algae it’s covered in. 

Jaw-dropping photos of America from above

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

You’d be forgiven for thinking these vast, golden dunes were in the Sahara Desert but they’re actually in Colorado, in the aptly named Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The loftiest dunes in North America, the sand mountains are framed by blue skies and flanked by snow-capped peaks – they’re best explored on a sled or a sand board, or after dark when the inky sky above is flecked with stars.

Secret wonders hidden in the world’s largest deserts

Hamilton Pool Preserve, Texas

This natural swimming hole wouldn’t look out of place in the Mediterranean – in fact it’s just over 20 miles west of Austin. A 50-foot (15m) waterfall feeds the green pool, which was once entirely underground, before the sheltering limestone roof above it collapsed. The pool is now a popular spot for a dip in the summer months – you’ll need a reservation to access it.

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