Location: California, San Diego, La Jolla/Del Mar area
State Natural Reserve covering 2,000 acres and protecting the critically endangered Torrey Pine; scenery includes sweeping coastal views, rugged canyons, and jagged cliffs.
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Laguna Beach
Iconic 60 foot tower built on Victoria Beach in 1926 – the tower encloses a spiral staircase which provides private beach access for the property owner.
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Rarely visited cave with interesting Buddha images and nice cave formations
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Visit a small show cave with some nice cave formations and over 200 Buddha statues inside which are reportedly over 300 years old.
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
This gateway to the beautiful Khammouane Province is a great base for adventures in the region.
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Explore a beautiful national park with stunning karst scenery and opportunities for caving, trekking, and observing village life.
Location: Laos, Central, Khammouane Province
Travel the length of a 7km river cave by high speed canoe through cathedral-like rooms with 100 meter ceilings. A well-lit section inside the cave highlights some nice formations.
Location: Laos, Central, Vientiane Area
A pair of waterfalls within 2 km of each other: one beautiful multi-tiered waterfall that’s ideal for swimming, and one impressive (seasonal) waterfall that plunges precipitously over a 50 m cliff into a densely forested gorge.
Location: Laos, Central, Vientiane
Sculpture park filled with fascinating depictions of gods, demons, and animals from both Hinduism and Buddhism. Enter through the demons mouth and ascend a multi-level sculpture depicting hell, earth, and heaven!
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Although the town was almost completely destroyed by US bombing raids during the 1960’s and 70’s, remnants of Muang Khoun’s rich ancient history shine through the ruins alongside evidence of their more recent history and role in the Second Indochina War.
Location: Laos, North Central, Luang Prabang
Religious site in Luang Prabang with various Buddhist shrines and temples; the summit provides panoramic views of the area and is popular at sunset.
Location: Laos, Northern, Xiangkhoang Plateau
Experience one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries by visiting the huge Iron Age stone jars clustered on hilltops and valleys throughout the Xiangkhoang Plateau.
Location: Laos, North Central
Former royal capital and current UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beautiful and tourist friendly city is known for its rich religious and cultural heritage, notable and well-preserved architectural elements, and for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Location: Laos, North Central, near Luang Prabang
An incredibly beautiful multi-tiered series of falls with perfect pools of turquoise water, ideal for swimming. Pause on your way in (or out) to see the Asian Black Bears at the Bear Rescue Center!
Location: California, San Diego area
Explore the “secret” caves at Pappy’s Point including the famous “Rum Runner’s Cave”.
Location: California, San Diego
Excellent set of sea caves on the San Diego coast
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Family friendly trail that provides access to The Narrows and features views of the Virgin River and pretty hanging gardens
Location: Peru, Cusco Region
Former capital of the Inca Empire and general tourist Mecca; home to numerous Inca and Spanish colonial historic sites
Location: Belize, Western, Cayo District
Tallest waterfall in Central America, seen from a viewing platform at the edge of a huge canyon
Location: Belize, Western, Cayo District
Short, non-technical and easily accessible scenic cave
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Quick and easy stop for views of a waterfall and a picturesque valley
Location: California, San Diego, Miramar
Great air show featuring historic planes, explosions, and the Blue Angels
Location: California, San Diego, La Jolla
Sea caves along the scenic La Jolla coast with land and sea access options
Location: California, San Diego, La Jolla
Scenic spot for paragliding and hang gliding with lovely coastal views
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Lovely chapel designed by Lloyd Wright in a picturesque setting
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Lake Elsinore
Attractive canyon that’s absolutely covered with California poppies in the spring
Location: California, South Central Desert, East of Los Angeles
Quick hike through a canyon previously inhabited by the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians to a nice (largely seasonal) waterfall
Location: California, South Central Desert, East of Los Angeles
Winter escape famous with polo fields, canyons, spring wildflowers, and the Coachella Valley
Location: California, Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island
Memorial and botanical garden with native plants and nice views
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Nice off-road drive providing access to some more remote areas of the park with nice hiking options and spring wildflowers
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Excellent art installation sprinkled around the Anza Borrego area, featuring large steel welded sculptures
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Black beach with an amazing geometric basalt cliff and an imposing pair of off shore islands with sheer cliffs
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Outdoor pool originally constructed in 1923 filled with geothermally heated water
Location: Iceland, Southern, east of Thórsmörk
Fields of lava rocks overtaken by moss creating a delightful, green, fuzzy, mounded carpet
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Heavily visited large and impressive waterfall with easy access
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Beautiful unmarked and less-visited waterfall – you can even walk behind it for bonus photo opportunities!
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Less visited waterfall tucked away in the back of a short, narrow canyon
Location: Iceland, Southern, south of Thórsmörk
Heavily trafficked tall waterfall that you can walk behind; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Popular double waterfall with very easy access
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice nature reserve composed of a valley and mountain range set amidst glaciers and volcanoes
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
One of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, it’s less visited due to the need for a 4 wheel drive to navigate the access road. Has a bonus waterfall right next to it!
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Peninsula with a large natural arch, historic lighthouse, and beautiful coastal views
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Delightful hidden valley with nice rock formations and waterfalls
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Pristine black sand beach littered with ice chunks, creating a stunning and unusual visual effect
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Iconic Iceland location: beautiful glacial lagoon dotted with an ever-changing array of icebergs breaking off from nearby glaciers
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Lake formed by a volcanic crater with remarkable blue-green water
Location: Iceland, Southwest
Capital city with nice historic streets, a photogenic church, and various shops and restaurants
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large boiling mud pool that expanded violently in 2008 claiming many of the viewing platforms and walkways
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Impressive vertical sea cliffs that are home to thousands of birds (including puffins) in the summer
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Geothermal area with a boardwalk for viewing various mud pots and fumaroles
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Home of the largely inactive geyser “Geysir” and the highly predictable and very active geyser “Strokkur”
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large lake with lava rock formations and shallow caves along its edge
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Large multi-tiered thundering waterfall
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Large lava pinnacles at the edge of dramatic basalt cliffs; you can find puffins here during the warmer months
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Site of a nice hotel and a photogenic church
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Ancient fishing village on a rugged coastline with a notable cave and nice church
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Dramatic peak near a set of beautiful waterfalls; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Picturesque fishing and trading post originally established in 1550 CE
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Series of rapids through a narrow-walled canyon with a natural bridge
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Lovely and unique set of waterfalls that appear to be magically pouring from the hillside
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Great collection of geothermal swimming pools
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Pisgah National Forest
Trail to the south face of Looking Glass Rock that passes its namesake waterfall at the start of the trail
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Wide waterfall in a peaceful setting; easy access via a short trail that can be extended to view Triple Falls
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Lovely three-tiered waterfall in scenic woodlands; a short detour on the brief hike provides a view of Hooker Falls
Location: North Carolina, Asheville
Late 19th century country estate of the Vanderbilts, offering various options to tour the house and grounds, all of which are very nice
Location: North Carolina, Asheville
Extremely scenic highway linking Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains; renowned for its fall colors
Location: North Carolina, Tuckasegee
Large soapstone boulder covered in mysterious petroglyphs that pre-date the Cherokee
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Popular waterfall that you can walk behind; easy access and great colors in the fall
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Previously a waterfall you could drive behind, you can no longer do this, but the access remains absurdly easy
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
The highest waterfall east of the Rockies, it’s so large you can only see the upper half from this location, but at 411 feet, it’s still very impressive.
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
Lovely botanical garden including a great collection of exotic epiphytes (orchids, bromeliads, etc)
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
Public outreach arm of a not-for-profit marine research organization
Location: Florida, Key West
The home of Ernest Hemingway and his family for ten years, and home to a large population of adorable six-toed cats descended from Hemingway’s favorite cat
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Short hike to an impressive natural bridge that you can walk under
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Viewpoint with great views of Bryce’s multi-colored hoodoos, including “Thor’s Hammer”
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Great viewpoint featuring sheer pink cliffs that dwarf multi-colored hoodoos in the valley below
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Excellent viewing area for the main amphitheater, with row upon row of hoodoos that glow in morning and afternoon sunlight
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Great collection of rock formations, including hoodoos and natural arches
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Short and easy trail that’s a nice introduction to Zion with pretty views
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Wide, paved nature trail providing excellent views of The Watchman
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Very short trail to an alcove with a nice hanging garden
Location: Nevada, South of Las Vegas, Goodsprings
Still operational saloon built during the boom period of the Goodsprings mining town in the early 1900’s
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon
Scenic drive just outside of Vegas offering views of beautiful multi-colored cliffs
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Nice short hike through varied desert scenery with various highlights
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Short hike with nice scenery to a fascinating slick rock sandstone formation with colorful striations
Location: Massachusetts, Danvers
Farm offering u-pick services and a variety of activities in the fall, including a corn maze.
Location: Massachusetts, Ipswich
Pretty beach with several miles of trails and boardwalks
Location: New Hampshire, Bath
Two very nice covered bridges in close proximity; also home to what’s reputed to be America’s oldest General Store
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Large cave filled with thousands of Buddha statues
Location: California, Southern Pacific Coast, North of Los Angeles
Great coastal city with various sites of historic interest, including the courthouse built in 1929, a mission founded in 1786, a Chumash painted cave, and a stagecoach-era tavern that’s still in operation
Location: California, Southern Pacific Coast, South of Big Sur
Adorable town for a weekend getaway with several nearby attractions, including the excellent Hearst Castle
Location: Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore
Excellent beach for hanging out with turtles
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, North Shore
Beautiful valley with a rocky black sand beach
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Hilo
Waterfall upstream from an interesting series of carved bowls famous for their churning water in heavy flow
Location: Vietnam, Northern Vietnam
UNESCO heritage site renowned for its emerald green waters and hundreds of sheer-walled limestone islands dotting the bay
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Easy stroll through Tuolomne Meadows to a small cabin at a natural soda spring
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Tuolomne Meadows
Series of stops along the road between Yosemite Valley and Tuolomne Meadows
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Short and easy hike to a year-round waterfall in Yosemite Valley
Location: California, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley
Easy stroll providing views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Lake with fascinating mineral towers (called tufa) exposed due to decreasing lake levels