14 Places You Won’t Believe Are in The USA
14 Places You Won’t Believe Are in The USA
There are many incredible places to visit in the USA, that’s a no-brainer. Anywhere from the Florida Keys to Stowe Vermont or even the small town of Bonners Ferry where I got to live for a bit, are worth visiting at least once in your life.
But some other places are just built differently. The USA host a few places that will make you feel like you’ve just reached another planet! Why try to fly to the moon when you can achieve the same result on earth and without even leaving your own country? Check them out here.
1. Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point offers a surreal landscape that seems more Martian than Earthly. Situated in Death Valley, it’s a place where the ground twists into wild, alien shapes, painted with hues that change from dawn to dusk. Standing here, surrounded by this otherworldly terrain, you can’t help but feel you’ve stepped onto a different planet entirely.
Read More: How To Make The Most Of One Day In Death Valley National Park
2. Mono Lake, California
Mono Lake stands as one of North America’s ancient natural wonders, with its existence tracing back about 1 million years. This saline lake, nestled in California, is famous for its peculiar tufa towers. These limestone formations, emerging from the water like silent sentinels of the past, create a landscape that feels more like a fantasy movie set than a real place in the USA.
3. Volcanoes National Park, Big Island
We absolutely love visiting this national park. We got to drive on roads made of lava and even see the fumes coming out of the volcano! Volcanoes National Park is a testament to Earth’s fiery power.
Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, it’s a place where you can witness the raw beauty of volcanic activity. Walking through this park, with its lava fields and active craters, offers an experience so intense and unique, it’s easy to forget you’re still in the United States.
4. Pella, Iowa
Pella, Iowa, is a slice of the Netherlands in the heart of America. With its tallest working grain windmill in the country and a canal system that echoes Amsterdam’s, Pella celebrates its Dutch heritage with such authenticity that you might just feel you’ve crossed the Atlantic.
5. Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon isn’t just a canyon but a natural amphitheater of whimsical rock formations known as hoodoos. We tried really hard to take good photos but unfortunately not even professional photos can do Bryce Canyon justice. Their vibrant colors and peculiar shapes create a visual feast that’s unlike anywhere else. Hiking through Bryce Canyon, you’re transported to a fairy-tale world, making it hard to believe you’re still in the USA.
6. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon, with its wave-like structures and light beams pouring through narrow openings, is a masterpiece of natural architecture. Located in Arizona, this slot canyon’s smooth, flowing lines and dramatic lighting feel more like an art gallery curated by nature itself.
Read More: Upper Vs Lower Antelope Canyon
7. Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington, transforms the American landscape into a Bavarian village, complete with festivals that celebrate German culture. Walking through Leavenworth, with its Alpine architecture and lively Oktoberfest, you’re momentarily transported to Germany, no passport required.
8. The Wave, Arizona
The Wave, located in Arizona, is a geological wonder that defies typical desert landscapes. Its undulating, colorful sandstone formations seem to belong to a distant alien world, offering a hiking experience that’s both surreal and captivating.
9. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska
The Mendenhall Ice Caves, within a glacier just outside Juneau, Alaska, transport visitors to an ethereal world of blue ice. The caves’ otherworldly glow and serene beauty offer a stark contrast to the rugged Alaskan wilderness surrounding them, making it a must-see for adventurers and dreamers alike.
10. Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is a natural wonder that dazzles with its vibrant colors. The largest hot spring in the USA, its rainbow hues, created by microbial mats, turn the area into a vivid canvas of natural artistry, reminding us of nature’s ability to paint masterpieces.
Read More: 10 Most Deadly National Parks In The USA
11. The Met Cloisters, New York
The Met Cloisters in New York City is a portal to medieval Europe. Constructed from elements of French cloisters, it stands as a testament to the beauty and tranquility of European monastic life, nestled in the heart of the bustling city. It’s a place where history feels alive, and the modern world fades away.
Read More: 14 Secrets About New York City You Probably Didn’t Know
12. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah offer a landscape so vast and flat, you can see the curvature of the Earth. This natural wonder, with its endless white salt crust, feels more like a distant icy planet than a place within the USA.
Read More: 7 Day Arizona To Utah Road Trip
13. Hoh Rain Forest, Washington
The Hoh Rain Forest, located in Washington’s Olympic National Park, is a lush, green world where everything is draped in moss. This temperate rainforest, with its towering trees and vibrant ecosystem, feels like a scene straight out of a fantasy novel, offering a tranquil escape from the outside world.
14. Castello Di Amorosa, Napa Valley
Castello Di Amorosa in Napa Valley takes you to 13th-century Tuscany without leaving California. This winery, inspired by medieval Italian architecture, complete with a castle, transports visitors to another time and place, blending the art of winemaking with historical grandeur.
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We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.
With 70,000 monthly readers and 16,000 followers on social media, Be Right Back is your go-to resource for romantic trip ideas and couple activities at home and abroad.