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After living in the beautiful south of France for so long, we are huge fans of international travel. But the thing we looked forward to most when moving back to the US was definitely the chance to see our own stunning country.
It’s easy for Americans to overlook just how vast and naturally diverse our country is. Most people probably couldn’t even recount all of the different landscapes we have here; combined with what is undoubtedly the best national parks system in the world, it’s a nature lover’s paradise. And while we may not have centuries-old villages and cities, the charm and unique history of American locales are special.
We wasted no time in seeing America the beautiful. Here are a few of our favorite places so far to put on your list!
Colorado Springs, Colorado
We have been quite pleased with our new home, and it’s just as great of a place to visit! Colorado Springs is literally at the end of the Great Plains and the beginning of the Rocky Mountains, and it’s just an hour south of Denver. That makes it naturally beautiful and an outdoorsman’s paradise.
The big attractions here are Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. Pikes Peak is a “fourteener”, whose peak reaches over 14,000 feet in elevation and is easily accessible via a paved road. The visitor’s center at the top has panoramic views in all directions and special doughnuts! Garden of the Gods is a park practically steps from the downtown area and includes giant red rock formations that look like they came from Utah or Arizona.
We were also fascinated by the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, which are ancient houses carved by Native Americans into the cliffside near the Garden of the Gods. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy is a great indoor activity, and the Old Colorado City neighborhood is the perfect place for dining and shopping.
Best Time to Visit: Summer, and a short shoulder season on either side of it, will avoid the seriously cold temperatures of the rest of the year. However, if you are coming to Colorado during the winter ski season, the Springs are a nice add-on before or after the slopes.
Where to Stay: The most famous and luxurious resort in Colorado Springs has to be The Broadmoor, secluded in a vast spot below Cheyenne Mountain. The Mining Exchange is another iconic high-end option in the downtown area. But there are many budget-friendly chains scattered across all parts of the city.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
We discovered this gem of a national park on a larger trip around New Mexico. While the little town of Alamogordo is a bit remote and a long drive to get to, the results are worth it. We have never seen anything like the bright white sand dunes here.
On the map, White Sands National Park appears quite small. It doesn’t feel that way when you drive your car along the single road into the dunes, though. Just a few minutes after the visitor’s center, you’ll start to notice dunes on either side of the street that almost look like snow that’s been plowed. Just fifteen or twenty minutes later, you are surrounded by snow-white dunes reaching high into the sky that seem to go on forever.
You can hike around the dunes on various, not-very-well-marked trails and find photo spots that will never capture the true feeling of seeing it all in person. We recommend going later in the day or returning for the sunset, which produces amazing colors. The other main activity we did in Alamogordo was the Museum of Space History, which was very cool and also appropriate, as this was the place where much of America’s space-faring accomplishments were made.
Best Time to Visit: Spring or Fall are ideal, even on the ends closer to winter, because this southern desert town gets very hot. Mild temperatures, fewer tourists, and lower prices around town are ideal during those times.
Where to Stay: We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Alamogordo, which is one of many affordable and clean chains in the town. You can find options from most of the major hotel groups, including a Hampton Inn by Hilton and a Holiday Inn Express by IHG. Don’t expect any mega-luxury resorts out here.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming, but you’d never think of it as a city. This little wild west frontier town is quaint and quiet. Just about a 90-minute drive north of Denver, and with its own regional airport, it’s an easy place to get to, and it’s definitely worth it.
Cheyenne is surrounded by the plains and bluffs Wyoming is renowned for. Route 80 turns into its main street, which is lined with all kinds of local shops. One of the big highlights is The Wrangler, where you can buy real western gear – cowboy hats, boots, and more.
One of the top events in Cheyenne is its Frontier Days, which includes a rodeo, and is about as authentic Wyoming as it gets. Just a short drive west of the town is Curt Gowdy State Park, which offers lakes, hiking trails, and campsites. This was one of our favorite parts of visiting Cheyenne, and we highly recommend it if you’re there in the summertime.
Best Time to Visit: Summer is the ideal time to visit Cheyenne, as that’s when Frontier Days and its rodeo are held, and it’s when you can see the stunning natural beauty of Wyoming that surrounds. If you just want to experience the wild west of it all, Cheyenne can be a year-round destination.
Where to Stay: The Historic Plains Hotel will have you right in the center of town and gives easy access to dining and shopping. If you’d rather be a bit further for easy access to the highways, or if you prefer brand names, there’s a Tru by Hilton Cheyenne just a few minutes away.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
We hadn’t heard of this gorgeous national park in West Texas, but it has definitely been one of our favorites. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is just a short drive south of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and the more famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and taking an extra day to visit is very much worth it.
There are not really any roads that pass through this park, as it is just made up of a rugged mountain range. Therefore, if you’re more of a scenic drive kind of visitor, this may not be for you. But if hiking, even on easy and moderate trails, is one of your hobbies, this is paradise.
We did the Smith Spring Trail, which took two or three hours and led to a beautiful natural spring deep in the mountain. Hardcore hikers can conquer Guadalupe Peak, which will take all day but will lead to the highest, most panoramic views in the region. There are many more trails, plus historic cabins, ruins, and even vast salt flats.
Best Time to Visit: We visited Guadalupe Mountains National Park in mid-fall, and it was still quite hot during the day. Summer would be even hotter, so stick to spring, fall, and even winter to avoid that. Bring plenty of water regardless of the temperature, as there will probably be elevation gain!
Where to Stay: There is no local infrastructure around Guadalupe Mountains National Park, so your best bet for a hotel is in nearby Carlsbad, New Mexico – we stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Carlsbad. It was great for free breakfast and easy access to Carlsbad Caverns National Park (which we also highly recommend). Otherwise, you can camp at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Cape May, New Jersey
It’s horrible that New Jersey has a bad reputation (but maybe great for the locals). Sure, the views upon landing at Newark will make you want to run straight back onto the plane. But far too few people realize that just a bit further in almost any direction, it’s easy to see why the Garden State got its name.
One of the top spots in New Jersey is at the southern tip of the state: a little coastal town called Cape May. This historic town is known for its old, grand estate homes and its long, sandy shoreline. Delaware is just across the strait, which frequent ferries traverse.
Cape May is great for a beach day, local history, and viewing wildlife. Top attractions include Washington Street and its local shops, the historic Cape May Lighthouse, and old military ruins from earlier times in New Jersey. Cape May is more of a relaxing place – if you’re looking for nightlife, the more lively town of Wildwood is next up the coast.
Best Time to Visit: You’d ideally want to visit Cape May in the summer, from around Memorial Day to around Labor Day (with some flexibility on either side), for beach weather. But if swimming and suntanning aren’t important to you, then any time of year would be fine.
Where to Stay: Cape May has a number of beautiful, historic hotels, like Congress Hall and the Grand Hotel. There are also smaller beach motels and vacation rentals.
Portland, Maine
Maine’s nickname is Vacationland, and we’ve always found that to be fitting. It’s somewhere we used to visit almost every summer. Besides the hundreds of lakes that dot the forests around Maine, and the big beautiful lake houses you can rent on them, Maine also has some awesome coastline with lovely towns.
One of the largest is Portland, which sits just a bit further north on I-95 after the drive through Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This was always an iconic stop for us as we went further north into the state because Portland is a fantastic place to grab some real Maine lobster. Our favorite spot is Portland Lobster Company, but there are dozens of places to get lobster roll, bisque, thermidor, or whatever other dish you can think of.
Besides having delicious lobster, Portland is another charming, historic place to wander around. You can also take a scenic cruise around Casco Bay to see its iconic lighthouses, Civil War-era forts, and local wildlife.
Best Time to Visit: Great lobster, local charm, and friendly people are in Portland year-round. If you want to experience the more wild attractions of Maine outside the city, summer is your best bet, as it gets very cold here.
Where to Stay: There are a ton of options in Portland, but the best area is the Old Port area to enjoy the waterfront and all its attractions. The Portland Harbor Hotel is an upscale choice in a great location.
New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
We expected to be impressed by America’s newest national park, but we weren’t expecting to like all of West Virginia so much! It was a pleasant surprise to find natural beauty and rural charm in this state, and New River Gorge was incredible.
You’ll have to make a journey to get to New River Gorge National Park, as it’s not near any major city. A car is definitely necessary anyway, as the park is spread out over a vast distance. Sandstone Falls is a great place to start, where visitors can enjoy scenic lookouts, a boardwalk out on the falls, and some lovely hiking trails.
A bit further west is the Grandview area, which sits high above the gorge and offers even more panoramic views. There are also more challenging hikes over here. If you make your way to the little town of Fayetteville, the New River Gorge Bridge that traverses the river is another sight to behold.
Best Time to Visit: We found the late spring to be perfect, with air just cool enough for comfort and plenty of sun. This would also probably be a beautiful place in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Where to Stay: The Fairfield Inn & Suites Lewisburg was perfect for us, at just 30 minutes from Sandstone Falls. There are several other options, and quite a bit of dining, history, and entertainment. Plus, you can take an hour to visit Lost World Caverns right there in town.
Molokai, Hawaii
We doubt you’ll find many other travel sites – especially the big ones – recommending the small, lesser-known Hawaiian Island of Molokai. It’s usually outshined by the tourist mega-centers of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. That leaves Molokai for its locals, and that’s just the way they like it.
That’s not to say they give people problems – in fact, it’s just the opposite, as Molokai is known as The Friendly Isle for its warm local people. As long as you are respectful, you can explore their wild island with no crowds. On the west side, golden-sand beaches are totally empty. On the east and north sides, massive cliffs and lush jungle rise from the deep blue water and conceal centuries of Hawaiian heritage.
The main village, Kaunakakai, sits in the middle and offers just a handful of places to shop and eat. Visitors can also take guided day trips to Kalaupapa, the peninsula on the north side of the island cut off by nearly impassable mountains, which once housed Hawaii’s leper colony. Just a few patients continue to live there to this day.
Best Time to Visit: There is never a bad time to visit Hawaii. We may have gone summer-heavy on a lot of the destinations on this list, but you can expect consistent sunshine and warmth everywhere in the Aloha State.
Where to Stay: There is only one real hotel on Molokai – Hotel Molokai. It’s located just outside of downtown Kaunakakai, and you’ll definitely want to rent a car here. There are a couple of vacation rentals available elsewhere on the island.
