Showcasing the most inspiring, enjoyable and beautiful places to visit in the United States, this picture-packed book – a great gift for all the adventurers in your life – will have you yearning to explore this epic country.
Before you start packing, read on in this inspirational guide to uncover our pick of the best places to visit in the United States.
List Of 10 Most Beautiful Places in America
Any way you look at it—from the crater of a giant canyon, staring at the foot of a cloud-shrouded skyscraper, across a Great Lakes, or peeping through the forests of a forested island—it’s fair to say That’s half of what the United States does nothing, as revealed in The Rough Guide to the 10 Most Beautiful Places in America.
1. Adirondacks, New York State
This vast northern area between Albany and the Canadian border covers an area larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, meaning that when it comes to grandeur, few beats the awe-inspiring Adirondacks.
For reference, it has 46 peaks over 4000 feet. Visit in summer to view the purple-green mountains stretching into the distance as a series of tree-covered levels.
Come autumn, you’ll be rewarded with a shimmering show of red-and-gold. Once the preserve of fur trappers, loggers, and Manhattan millionaires, its rugged wilderness is now known as a top destination for climbers, skiers, and hikers.
2. Maine
Maine lives up to its “the way life should be” motto, not least for travelers who like to hang out in their own time, in their own place. The forests, lakes and seaside settlements here invite leisurely exploration, especially if you are a foodie.
You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to stopping at Lobster Shakes. Local brewery tours are fun and fulfilling, as well as culinary tours of the area.
What’s more, although it’s as big as the other five New England states, Maine barely has Rhode Island’s year-round population, which means it’s the perfect place to hang out and take in the peaceful, picturesque surroundings.
3. Manhattan, New York City
If you think of New York, it’s likely that the staggering skyline of Manhattan comes to mind. Chances are, too, you’ll want to see it from atop the 102-story Empire State Building (try to time your visit to get to the top at sunset, and book an express entrance ticket to beat those queues).
Central Park is another Manhattan icon, and boy is it an experience, with many criss-crossing paths to walk or explore by bike or electric scooter, and plenty of cool places to sip cocktails at sunset.
Culture vultures will not want to miss out on visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since you could easily spend weeks wandering the Met, it’s worth buying a skip-the-line ticket in advance. Oh, and while you want to see all of these iconic landmarks, remember that New York has its share of off-the-tourist-trail attractions, too.
4. Chicago
Most visitors to Chicago are usually immediately stopped in their tracks by its skyline. From Mies van der Rohe’s creations for the Illinois Institute of Technology, to the 110-story Willis Tower, it presents a masterclass in modern architecture (a great way to appreciate it is by taking an architecture-oriented river cruise).
While also known for the spectacular Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago, the city is perhaps best-loved for its live music scene – the backroom jazz and blues club atmosphere until the early hours and bustling out over top tunes Think.
Exploring the city doesn’t even have to break the bank – there are so many fun things to do in Chicago for free.
5. Indiana Dunes National Park
Covering more than 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes National Park rewards visitors with a remarkable array of landscapes.
Along with the eponymous ancient dunes, here you’ll find wetlands, prairies, pine forests, and rivers—meaning the park offers particularly rich habitat for birdlife, with more than 50 miles for wildlife-watchers and hikers alike. There are more trails.
Highlights include Mount Baldy Beach, its sprawling 126-foot-high sand dune, the portage lakefront and riverwalk (best in spring for migratory birds), and the Great Marsh behind Dunbar Beach.
6. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
If you’re looking for spectacular get-away-from-it-all coastal scenery, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan has it by the bucket.
Spanning 42 miles of Lake Superior, it serves a jaw-dropping blend of multi-coloured cliffs, undulating dunes and secluded sandy beaches, all arguably best seen from a boat.
Take a trip from the little village of Grand Marais to Munising, watching out for the massive Log Slide dune and the Miners Castle geological formation along the awe-inspiring way. This is also a top destination for hikers, with trails running from Hwy-58 to the shoreline.
7. Black Hills, South Dakota
South Dakota’s Black Hills – where the Midwest meets the West – rise from a sea of plains, which stretches for a hundred miles between the Belle Fourche River to the north and Cheyenne to the south.
For generations of the Sioux, their value was – and remains – immeasurable. They represent a spiritual stronghold, a place where warriors went to talk with Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit). To most visitors today, the Black Hills means prairie dogs and bison.
They mean enjoying epic outdoor adventures, including visiting Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, exploring the enchanting caves of Wind Cave National Park, and hiking the historic Flume Trail.
8. Lincoln, Nebraska State Capitol
Located fifty miles southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Lincoln may be small, but it’s big on cultural dynamism, world-class culinary experiences, and architectural charm, courtesy of its 400-foot Art Deco tower. Leaning to the sky like a sleek Byzantine skyscraper, this “tower of the plains” is covered with a golden dome.
Everything inside is equally impressive, with a soaring cathedral-like vestibule and rotunda, and a monolithic chamber with a magnificent gold stenciled ceiling. Take the elevator to the fourteenth-floor observation deck to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city (and beyond).
9. Oklahoma
Nestled between Texas and Kansas, Oklahoma was put on the global map by Rodgers and Hammerstein in their first musical. The state was one of the hardest hits from the Depression of the 1930s, as explored in John Steinbeck’s novel (and John Ford’s film), The Grapes of Wrath, and the songs of local boy Woody Guthrie.
Expect to see ranchers mingling more West than in the Midwest — Stetson, and Native Americans mingling with oilseeds — today visitors head to Americana-adorned Route 66, artsy Tulsa, the rejuvenated capital Oklahoma City, and Native American history.
The state is home to 39 sovereign Native American tribes, and “Oklahoma” is the Choctaw word for “Red Man.”
10. Florida Keys
Love beaches, books and bird watching? How about sailing, snorkelling, hiking and diving (best enjoyed on an eco-adventure tour)? Then Florida Keys might be made just for you. Reasons for free spirits and bibliophiles in particular to visit Key West will be no less.
Located at the southernmost tip of the archipelago, and once a rag-roaring buccaneers town, it is closer to Cuba than mainland Florida, and feels a million miles from the rest of the United States.
The island’s boisterous history and unique “Floribian” vibe attract all types of visitors – from water kids and 24-hour partygoers to nature-lovers. Key West is also home to a host of Hemingway hangouts, including his former home (now a museum), and Sloppy Joe’s. Downing zesty daiquiris abound here at Papa Hemingway’s former favorite bar.
FAQs About Most Beautiful Places in America
What state has the most natural beauty?
California. California has almost every kind of natural beauty. The state boasts beaches in the south along its coast, deserts as you move inland, wine country, mountains, and national parks. California’s most beautiful place to see is the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur.
What is the number 1 most beautiful place in the world?
According to the study, the most beautiful place in the world is Peyto Lake in Canada. This natural wonder is known for its neon blue water surrounded by dazzling mountains.
Where is the most perfect place to live?
U.S. News & World Report releases a list of the best places to live in America every year. Its 2019 ranking for the best places to live looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration. The best place to live in America is Austin, Texas, followed by Denver, Colorado.
What’s the ugliest state?
Nevada. Nevada is considered to be one of the ugliest states in the U.S. because of its unforgiving desert landscape and test sites for military nuclear testing. Despite this, Nevada is also home to Red Rock Canyon, Lake Tahoe, and the swirling rock formations of Valley of Fire State Park.
What is the most boring state in America?
Idaho. Idaho takes the number one spot for the most boring state in the country. Idaho has a population of 1.78 million people over 83,569 square miles of land, resulting in a population density of about 21.6 persons per square mile, the seventh-lowest in the country.
