You don’t have to go too far to see some truly incredible sights.
When you’ve lived in the same place your entire life, everything can start to feel a bit samey and uninteresting. The town where I grew up is known for exactly nothing, and had equally as much to do. But it pays to remember that if you want to see some cool stuff, you don’t need to leave the country entirely. The United States is personally host to two of the seven wonders of the world (or at least it is on a few lists). Depending on where you live, you could see some truly incredible sights with just a quick drive or a short flight.
Grand Canyon
I visited the Grand Canyon when I was 13. The flight was terrible, they lost our luggage, and we didn’t get to our hotel until the dead of night. To say my family was in a bad mood would be an understatement, but the moment we saw the sun rise over that incredible vista, all of our worries vanished for a few glorious minutes. Whether you venture through the canyon itself or merely hang out on the rim, I guarantee it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
Niagra Falls
I was always confused growing up whether Niagra Falls was in New York or Canada. Turns out it’s both. Niagra Falls actually refers to both the waterfall and the city it’s located in, which is right on the border to Canada. It’s a fantastic natural wonder, and you can get a close look on the Maid of the Mist river boat (which you might remember from the movie Bruce Almighty).
Mount Rushmore
When you look at Rushmore in a picture, you think “oh, that’s neat, but I don’t see what the big deal is.” It’s not until you see it in person that you realize how truly massive it is, and the fact that it was designed by a single dude and finished by his son makes the monument both a beautiful homage to our greatest presidents and a stunning feat of human engineering.
Central Park
My parents are both from New York, so in my younger years, we’d frequently visit the city that never sleeps. One of the highlights of those visits were trips to Central Park, which in addition to being a wellspring of nature in the middle of a city, plays regular host to all sorts of gatherings and activities. Apple TV recently got an animated series all about Central Park, which will definitely give you an urge to visit.
Zion National Park
If you want natural beauty, but are looking for a little more greenery than the Grand Canyon, try Zion in Utah. Zion is home to some incredible valleys that look like something out of a Disney movie, and you can walk, hike, and boat through almost all of them.
