Just across the Santa Ana River lies the City of Orange, a masterclass in unique urban planning. Its historic core revolves around a distinctive roundabout shaped like an orange, encircling Plaza Park—the vibrant heart of the city. This is home to the renowned Orange International Street Fair, a multicultural celebration of food, music, and community diversity. Born from local efforts to beautify the Orange Circle, the event now supports nonprofit organizations with all proceeds. Nestled in Ol

Nicknamed the land of the sleeping rainbow by Native Americans, Capitol Reef National Park boasts a stunning desert landscape of colorful buttes, canyons featuring ancient rock art, Mormon pioneer history, and diverse hiking trails. Less crowded than other Utah parks, its an unmissable gem for nature lovers.

Standing at nearly 3,600 feet from base to summit, El Capitan is one of the worlds largest granite monoliths. Its sheer vertical face draws elite climbers worldwide, with the first ascent achieved in 1958. Today, its a bustling hub for big-wall climbing. Through the Yosemite Climbing Associations Ask-a-Climber program (www.yosemiteclimbing.org), visitors can peer through a telescope at El Capitan Bridge (12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., mid-May to mid-October) to observe climbers and get expert answers

Discover Utah Olympic Park, the legendary host of the 2002 Winter Olympics ski jumping, bobsledding, skeleton, Nordic combined, and luge events. This world-class facility continues to host national competitions, featuring Nordic ski-jumping hills from 10m to 120m and a premier bobsled-luge track. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team trains here year-round—in summer, freestyle jumpers land in a bubble-filled jetted pool, while Nordic jumpers practice on plastic-covered hillsides. Check the schedule by p

Far more than a stunning floral display, Butchart Gardens is a designated national historic site and a masterpiece of early 20th-century horticulture. Its meticulously maintained blooms, elegant fountains, and gardens drawing from Japanese, Italian, and other global influences transform what was once a depleted limestone quarry. Vast and rolling, the gardens easily accommodate the summer crowds from tour buses.Food outlets and gift shops line the entrance, including the acclaimed Dining Room Res

Nestled on Kauaʻis breathtaking North Shore, Limahuli Garden is one of the islands most exquisite destinations and a must-visit for any itinerary. This premier site preserves rare species unique to the region and Limahuli Valley itself, while showcasing plants introduced from around the world. Guided and self-guided tours follow a scenic 0.75-mile trail through its beautifully landscaped front gardens. The 985-acre preserve extends deep into the valleys sheer cliffs, where dedicated conservation

Spanning 53,000 acres along Highway 101, Humboldt Redwoods State Park safeguards some of the worlds oldest redwood trees and contains three-quarters of the planets 100 tallest trees. Lacking time for hikes? Drive the iconic Avenue of the Giants, a stunning 32-mile, two-lane road parallel to Hwy 101.

Despite its secret moniker, Kauapea Beach is one of Kauaʻis most renowned and stunning shorelines. Lacking signage, access requires a steep 10-minute hike down from the cliffs. Below, powdery golden sands extend over a mile toward Kilauea Point, curving around two rock reefs. Powerful shore breaks and strong currents make swimming hazardous except on the calmest summer days.The beachs allure lies in its dramatic beauty: a sandy ocean floor, crystal-clear waters, and unforgettable sunsets. Once a

Just 30 km from Puerto Peñasco, discover the surreal lunar landscapes of El Pinacate, one of Earths driest regions. This remote 7,145 sq km UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve features ancient eroded volcanoes, massive craters, petrified lava flows, over 400 ash cones, and the Americas largest active sand dunes. Wildlife thrives here, including pronghorn antelope (North Americas fastest land mammal), bighorn sheep, pumas, reptiles, and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a state-of-the-art solar-powered

Gain access to historic buildings and museums with a park pass, available at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center north of town off Hwy 340. Parking is extremely limited in Harpers Ferry, so park at the visitor center and take the frequent, scenic shuttle—a quick and enjoyable ride into town.

Discover Grand Canyons remote, wild, and lesser-known North Rim, far less developed and visited than the South Rim. At 8,000 feet elevation, heavy winter snows close it from October 15 to May 15. The Jacob Lake road stays open longer—usually until late November—for day use and car camping.

Stretching 30 km east from St. Martins, the Fundy Trail Parkway delivers breathtaking ocean vistas and access to an extensive network of coastal trails along the Bay of Fundy. This scenic drive features numerous viewpoints, picnic spots, and beach accesses, with paths leading to waterfalls, suspension bridges, and pristine sandy shores. The parkway now connects to Fundy National Park, fulfilling long-awaited expansion plans.At Big Salmon River, visit the interpretive center showcasing the areas

Olmsted Point, situated midway between the May Lake turnoff and Tenaya Lake along Highway 120, delivers a dramatic, must-stop viewpoint amid a stark, glaciated granite landscape. Gaze down Tenaya Canyon to the backside of iconic Half Dome. Towering over the canyons eastern rim is the 9,926-foot Clouds Rest, Yosemites largest exposed granite formation—its summit often shrouded in clouds, as the name suggests.Elevated 4,500 feet above Tenaya Creek, Clouds Rest offers a strenuous yet rewarding day

Among Kauaʻi’s natural wonders, Waimea Canyon State Park reigns supreme for sheer grandeur. Dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” this vast chasm of ancient lava rock stretches 10 miles long and plunges over 3,500 feet deep. The Waimea River carves through it, fed by tributaries carrying reddish-brown waters from the elevated Alakaʻi Swamp plateau.

A must-visit for Newfoundland travelers, Gros Morne National Park covers 1,805 square kilometers of stunning coastline and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features dramatic mountains, fjords, beaches, bogs, and barren cliffs—remnants of a 1.2-billion-year-old mountain chain. This rare geological showcase of continental drift exposes deep ocean crust and mantle. Popular pursuits include hiking, sea kayaking, and sightseeing cruises.

Monticello stands as an architectural masterpiece meticulously designed and inhabited by Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father and the third U.S. President. Over 40 years, he crafted this dream home, completing it in 1809. As the only private residence in America designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it anchors what was once a 5,000-acre plantation. Visitors can tour the ground floor with expert guides, while themed and self-guided walks explore the expansive grounds and outbuildings.The 45-min

Immerse yourself in a captivating array of audio, video, and photographic exhibits that vividly recount the history of racial segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, spotlighting key events in and around Birmingham. Discover the poignant exhibit on the 16th Street Baptist Church—right across the street—bombed in 1963, marking the start of the citys Civil Rights Memorial Trail.

Countless Kauaʻi locals regard Lumahaʻi Beach as their top pick among the islands many stunning shores. Its cinematic appeal features thick loamy sand framed by lush mountains and lava rock outcrops at both ends. This is the iconic spot from the 1958 film South Pacific where Mitzi Gaynor sang about washing that man right out of her hair.Stretching over a mile between lava-rock tablelands, Lumahaʻi is visually mesmerizing yet infamous as one of Kauaʻis most hazardous beaches. Without barrier reef

Amid the vast Chihuahuan Desert, the 843-sq-km Cuatrociénegas Flora and Fauna Protection Area dazzles with hundreds of shimmering turquoise pozas (pools) and streams. Fed by over 500 underground springs, this reserve boasts extraordinary biodiversity comparable to the Galápagos Islands. It shelters more than 70 endemic species, including three turtle varieties, 11 fish species, and ancient stromatolites—microbial structures pivotal to Earths oxygen-rich atmosphere.Select pools and the nearby riv

The Grand Staircase—a series of step-like uplifted rock layers extending north from the Grand Canyon—reaches its stunning climax in the Pink Cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park. These formations originated as sediments in a vast prehistoric lake 50 to 60 million years ago, gradually uplifted above sea level, and masterfully eroded into breathtaking pinnacles, spires, steeples, cliffs, crevices, and the parks signature hoodoos.