By

Arnold Bennett
Maltese Cross Cabin

Where a president found his purpose. This simple log home sheltered young Roosevelt as he healed, reflected, and forged the grit that would define his legacy. Stand in the space that helped shape a conservation icon.

Skyline Vista

The badlands stretch forever from this sweeping overlook. Look out over jagged buttes and winding rivers where bison roam and eagles soar. At golden hour, it’s pure magic. North Dakota at its boldest and most beautiful.

Wind Canyon Trail

Short trail, big drama. Wind Canyon’s sculpted walls twist and ripple like frozen waves, shaped by centuries of gales. It’s a quick walk into another world, where silence speaks louder than words.

Lions Gate Bridge

A gateway with a view. This iconic suspension bridge connects downtown Vancouver to the mountains, offering sweeping scenes of city, sea, and sky as you glide across.

Shannon Falls

Crashing down 335 meters, Shannon Falls is pure Pacific Northwest drama. A quick boardwalk walk brings you face-to-face with one of BC’s tallest and most photogenic waterfalls.

Squamish

Where mountain spirit meets coastal chill. Squamish is a hub for climbers, bikers, and beer lovers, framed by epic scenery and full of small-town charm with a wild side.

Stawamus Chief

It rises like a granite wave above Squamish. The Chief is a sacred rock, a climber’s dream, and a challenge for hikers. Even from below, its sheer face is unforgettable.

Tantalus Range

Snowy spires and icy peaks fill the horizon. The Tantalus Range is a postcard come to life, seen best from roadside lookouts or the gondola- wild, untouched, and dramatic.

Whistler & Blackcomb

Twin titans of mountain adventure. From world-class skiing to alpine hikes, Whistler and Blackcomb are the heart of this highland playground. Year-round thrills, unforgettable views.

President Calvin Coolidge Homestead

No pomp, just president. Step into 1920s Vermont and walk the same ground where Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office. It’s history with a front porch and a general store.

Smugglers Notch

Twists, turns, and towering cliffs. This narrow mountain pass is part rollercoaster, part postcard. Once a smuggler’s secret, now a showstopper drive with jaw-dropping stops along the way.

Stowe

The Vermont postcard you’ve been dreaming of. Charming village, epic mountain, four-season adventure. Grab a maple latte and go hiking, biking, skiing or just vibe on Main Street.

Vermont Country Store

Old-school cool. This general store is a delightful throwback packed with retro treats, gadgets, and Vermont-y finds. It’s like rummaging through Grandma’s attic, if Grandma stocked maple fudge.

Von Trapp Family Lodge

A little bit of Austria in the Green Mountains. The hills are alive with views, schnitzel, and the legacy of the real Von Trapp family. Part alpine escape, part musical history, all charm.

Fraser Valley

Green fields, grazing cows, and mountain views, it’s BC’s breadbasket in full bloom. The Fraser Valley rolls out pastoral vibes, roadside produce stands, and farm-to-fork freshness.

Harrison Hot Springs

Mineral-rich and mellow. Soak your cares away in Harrison’s hot springs, then wander the lakeside promenade or browse the local shops. Wellness, with a view.

MOA - Museum of Anthropology at UBC

Towering totem poles, ancient artifacts, and stories that span continents. The MOA isn’t just a museum, it’s a deep dive into Indigenous art, history, and the meaning behind it all, set in a stunning seaside setting.

Robson Street

Window shop or drop serious cash- Robson’s where fashion meets flavor. From global brands to ramen joints, this downtown strip is always buzzing.

Yaletown

Old warehouses, new energy. Yaletown’s got patios, dog parks, design shops, and nightspots- all with a sleek, urban edge. Perfect for a stylish wander.

Cowboy Trail

Ride through rolling foothills, grazing pastures, and big-sky views. The Cowboy Trail is Alberta’s wild west highway- full of ranches, diners, and old-timey charm. Yeehaw!

Crowsnest Pass

Windswept and full of tales. This dramatic pass blends mining history, mountain grit, and ghost-town vibes. Every twist in the road feels like it holds a secret.

Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Cliff meets culture at this incredible Indigenous site. Learn how the Blackfoot used the land to hunt bison with strategy and spirit. A powerful look into thousands of years of ingenuity.

Abyss Pool

Don’t look too long, you might fall in. Abyss Pool is one of Yellowstone’s deepest, a sapphire sinkhole with a haunting beauty. Still on the surface, but beneath? It hides serious power. Once, it even erupted 100 feet high. Quiet now, but always watching.

Alkali Flat Trail

Feel like you’re walking on the moon, if the moon had shimmering white dunes and no trail signs. This 5-mile loop winds through the most untouched corners of White Sands. No shade, no water, just silence, surreal beauty, and a serious workout. Stick to the trail markers unless you want a very scenic game of “Where am I?”

Artists Paintpots

Immerse yourself in the vibrant, bubbling world of the Artists Paintpots. This dynamic hydrothermal area features a captivating collection of colorful hot springs, steaming fumaroles, and lively mudpots that gurgle and “paint” the surrounding earth with shades of grey, pink, and brown. A scenic boardwalk trail winds through this fascinating landscape, offering close-up views and the distinct earthy aroma of sulfur. It’s a wonderful spot to witness the artistic power of nature at work, constantly reshaping the earth’s surface with its geothermal energy.

Fountain Paint Pot

One stop, four types of geothermal action. Geysers. Hot springs. Mudpots. Fumaroles. It’s like Yellowstone showing off and it’s absolutely worth the hype.

Norris Geyser Basin

Welcome to the wildest part of Yellowstone. It’s hot, unpredictable, and always changing. You might even catch Steamboat Geyser in action, if you’re really, really lucky.

Roaring Mountain

This mountain hisses at you. Its steam vents roar loud enough to hear from the car. Spooky? Yes. Awesome? Also yes.

West Thumb Geyser Basin of Lake Yellowstone

Thermal features in the lake? Yep. This spot has boiling pools with a view of Yellowstone Lake and the mountains beyond. It’s like the park showing off… again.

Half & Sentinel Dome

Half Dome’s the rockstar. Sentinel Dome’s the underrated genius. One’s iconic, the other’s got 360° views with half the effort. Together? A masterclass in granite swagger.

Olmsted Point

Think of it as Yosemite’s secret angle. Gaze at Half Dome’s lesser-seen side, scattered glacial boulders, and high-country drama, without a single crowd in sight.

Tuolumne Grove

Hike downhill into a hush of giants. These ancient sequoias aren’t here to show off, they’re just timeless, enormous, and humbling. Don’t miss the tree you can walk through. Yes, really.

Checkerboard Mesa

Nature got creative here. This sandstone mesa looks like a giant grid, thanks to wind, water, and ancient sand dunes. It’s geology with a flair for patterns.

Emerald Pools

From trickling waterfalls to lush hanging gardens, these layered pools are Zion’s hidden oases. Trails range from breezy to bold, with photo ops at every turn.

Fairyland Point

Bryce’s whimsical side kicks off here. Fewer crowds, bigger views, and a sea of storybook hoodoos. Start the Fairyland Loop or just soak in the surreal scenery.

Grafton Ghost Town

This isn’t your typical ghost story. Walk among preserved cabins and a frontier church, real relics from Utah’s pioneer days. It’s quiet, eerie, and incredibly photogenic.

Great Arch Zion Overlook

You can’t walk under this one, but the scale still stuns. High up on the cliffs, the Great Arch looks like a window into the canyon’s powerful past.

Sunrise & Sunset Points

Light hits different here. Catch hoodoos glowing gold at Sunrise Point or watch the shadows stretch at Sunset. Either way, Bryce’s magic is on full display.

Temple of Sinawava

The canyon narrows, the walls rise, and suddenly you’re in Zion’s cathedral. This natural amphitheater is the gateway to The Narrows and a moment of awe.

Zion Human History Museum

Want to go deeper? This museum connects the dots between geology, native heritage, and park history. Don’t miss the intro film, it sets the stage for your whole visit.

Rainbow & Yovimpa Points

End your Bryce adventure at its highest elevations. Rainbow Point looks north over a forest of hoodoos, while Yovimpa gazes south for miles across layered plateaus.

La Verkin Overlook

Away from the crowds, this peaceful viewpoint gives you a wide-angle view of Zion’s layered cliffs and winding canyons. Perfect for a quiet moment and a big-picture photo.

Yosemite Valley

This is it. The Yosemite you’ve seen in every postcard and wallpaper. Waterfalls roar. Granite walls soar. Meadows glow. Whether you’re hiking or just gazing, this valley steals the show, every time.

Wawona Covered Bridge

Old-school charm alert. This 1874 wooden bridge is pure Yosemite nostalgia. One of the last of its kind in California, it’s a perfect photo op and a great place to pretend you’re in a pioneer movie.

Tioga Pass

This isn’t just a road, it’s a rollercoaster through the sky. Climb to California’s highest driveable pass, where lakes shimmer, granite glows, and the Sierra goes full majestic.

Bridalveil Falls

Cue the mist and rainbows. This 620-foot beauty tumbles with grace and a whole lot of spray. It’s the perfect welcome mat to Yosemite Valley, especially in spring when the water’s showing off.

Tower Fall

Straight out of a fantasy novel. Water plunges 132 feet past spiky volcanic rock that looks like, well, towers. It’s dramatic, thunderous, and totally photogenic.

Soak in Boiling River

Where hot spring meets cold river. Yellowstone’s legendary natural hot tub. Once a favorite soaking spot, the Boiling River blended wild heat and chill currents in the best way. It’s often closed now due to safety and erosion, so check ahead. Still, the story of this steamy junction lives on.

Mud Volcano

It’s stinky. It’s steamy. And it sounds like a dragon snoring. With names like Dragon’s Mouth and bubbling pits of goo, this spot feels more Middle-earth than mid-America.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

No, not that Grand Canyon but this one’s pretty epic too. Gaze down at the rainbow-streaked cliffs and thunderous waterfalls that make you feel like a tiny dot in a giant masterpiece.