Callings opinions - The most beautiful places of the USA and Canada

[wadle5]

Bryce, Canyonlands, and Arches while all amazing and near Moab. The most amazing place where pictures dont do justice would be the Teton mountains just outside of Yellowstone. If you haven't been there just google images of Tetons. For me I took this and a few more with my phone, and it truly doesn't justify it in person.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

No way to pick five.

In almost seventy five years I've been in all fifty states and half of the Canadian provinces. Every one has something spectacular......

 

[Martinjmpr]

The National Parks are a good start. Here are my 5 picks:

I'd put Crater Lake up near the top of the list but keep in mind it's only completely open a couple months out of the year. We went there and the rim road was closed, there were piles of snow 10' high. This was in June!

Dante's View in Death Valley is spectacular, a one-of-a-kind experience.

Grand Canyon - try the North Rim instead of the more popular South Rim. Where the South Rim is more desert-like the North Rim, 1000' higher, is heavily forested and gorgeous.

Glacier/Waterton Lakes NPs (US and Canada respectively) are incredibly beautiful and shouldn't be missed.

Rocky Mountain National Park, up Fall River road and then over the pass to the West side (where you're likely to see moose -we've seen them every time we go there) and then back over Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in North America (about 12,200') for unbelievable scenery and wildlife.

There are others I'd recommend - In Utah alone there's White Rim Road in Canyonlands, Valley of the Gods, Capitol Reef (going there in a couple of days!), Zion and Bryce Canyon.

BTW The best time to see Bryce in the late spring when there's still snow on the ground - the contrast between the snow and the red pinnacles is stunning, especially at sunrise.

 

[GSPRunner]

I second the Grand Tetons.

 

[jdtaylor42]

Man so hard to limit to just five but here they are for me:

1) Redwoods National and State Parks, CA
2) Crater Lake, OR
3) Zion National Park, UT (specifically the Narrows and second Angels Landing)
4) Carlsbad Caverns, NM
5) Hwy-550 north through western Colorado (Ouray) and then hit up Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Both my wife and I thought this was much more impressive and beautiful than the Grand Canyon and not too many consider it or visit this area

There are some amazing places out east as well such as Mammoth Caves, Shenandoah National Park, and the Great Smokey Mountains but for bang for your buck I would stay out west. So many beautiful spots that are closer together so you can see more in a shorter amount of time

 

[IdRatherBe]

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] That is very gracious of you. The white water thought is a good one. That is one outdoor activity we have not done together and we really should. A long vacation makes it ideal. Kayaking the Outer Banks is another on the to-do. [MENTION=92682]JayceeP[/MENTION] brought up Gross Morne National Park and that is very enticing. It just might be worth the drive and ferry. Plenty to think about out east. [MENTION=129748]jdtaylor42[/MENTION] is dead on about density out west, though. Tough Choices. depending on whether we do 2 or 3 weeks we just might make a huge circle if it can make any sense.
[MENTION=105875]96r50[/MENTION] Crypte Lake Trail is now on my list of must dos at some point in my life. This trip or not. That is right up our alley. Thanks for the mention.
[MENTION=45517]Martinjmpr[/MENTION] Amen to that. We were lucky enough to hit it just right on our last trip.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Nothing to see here in CA... :tape:

 

[jicko]

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

[jblinga]

Lake Powell is pretty awesome. If you live in the area and have never been I highly recommend it

 

[4RunnAway]

my plan.....

is for me to bring mary jane and some beers, a few buddies and have a road trip! stop along the way to bbq and chill a bit. sounds like a plan =):hat: