The USA is home to some of the most famous cities in the world, but it is also where you can see spectacular sights.
In this article we provide a run down of the best natural locations you need to visit at least once in your life.
1. Grand Canyon
Arizona is perhaps the most famous natural wonder of all, the Grand Canyon.
Made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, it is considered by many to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and it is easy to see why. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and 18 miles wide, and was formed by the Colorado River millions of years ago.
The area is of huge significance to geologists because of the ancient rocks that have been preserved within its cavernous interior. Historically the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans, and they are involved in the management and conservation of the area for future generations.
Visiting the Grand Canyon can be a surreal experience. All the well-known clichés of it seeming like another world are true; it can be difficult to comprehend the scale of the landscape, while also coming to terms with where you are.
Depending on the time of day, the red stone dramatically changes colour and contrasts with the shade of the sky above, giving the illusion of an oil painting. Sunset is a great time to visit; the constant changing light results in some fantastic photographic opportunities, and the peace and tranquility of the area at dusk feels slightly unreal.
In the day time, there is the chance to walk or hike (depending on personal preference!) into the canyon, but it can be tough going at times. There is also a company which offers helicopter flights over the canyon if your budget allows.
2. Yosemite National Park
Another of America’s natural wonders is the Yosemite National Park, situated in central California. Occupying over 700,000 acres, the park was also designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, and is internationally recognised for its granite cliffs, groves of Sequoia trees and clear waterfalls.
It is renowned for its biodiversity; it is home to nearly 200 rare plant species, and animals and birds thrive on the green grasslands and natural water sources. Yosemite is managed by the US National Park Service, and tourism is encouraged year round depending on the weather; the park is known to close during mid-winter because of high snowfall.
One of the highlights of Western United States is seeing breathtaking views at the Yosemite National Park which is located in Sierra Nevada mountain range and covers an area of over 1,000 sq miles.
This is a special wilderness park where you will see one of the best natural beauty spots in the world, you will get to see enermous tree's, spectacular waterfalls and also stunning views for miles around. If you are after an adventure trek you might want to climb Mount Lyell which is over 13,000 ft above sea level.
On a visit to Yosemite you will get to see one of the largest trees in the world, the Giant Sequoia and also spectacular waterfalls which can be seen from various locations around the park. If you love nature you will really enjoy visiting this National Park.
There are lots of USA tours available which visit the Yosemite NP and you should try to fit this into any California / West Coast itinerary. To learn more about the area you can visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center to view leaflets, posters and also chat with helpful staff.
You will gain an understanding on how the National Park has developed over time and the types of wildlife species which currently live there. You will also learn more about some of the Native American Indians who have lived in the National Park from the 1980s.
Most people tend to visit the park to take in the natural beauty, whether it’s through walking, hiking or cycling. Traditional chopper style bikes are available for hire; these don’t have brakes, so to stop you need to cycle backwards which can take some getting used to!
One of the major landmarks of Yosemite is El Capitan, a granite monolith reaching a kilometer high and very popular with climbers due to its unusual geology. The Yosemite Valley Visitor Centre and Yosemite Museum are also situated within the park. The museum explains the history and culture, and there is even a life-size replica campsite illustrating how the original indigenous people lived.
3. Other Destinations
These are not the only natural sights this area of America has to offer; popular visitor attractions also include Death Valley, the Joshua Tree National Park and Sedona National Park, the latter of which is dominated by giant sandstone monoliths and a desert-like terrain.
Related Pages
