Where is your favorite park, scenery or landmark?

[Kmvreter]

I'm thinking of planning a driving tour and thought this might be of interest to others.

Looking to compile a thread of must-see places from your first-hand experiences rather than reading up a whole bunch of tourist literature. Just think as if you drove somewhere for the "big" sights but the best stuff was right up the road or around the corner but you missed it because you didn't know about it.

What are your best must-see places you can drive to (on or off road) in North America? I'm not asking you to give up the location of your secret fishing hole (although that would also work) but rather what is that one spectacular national/state/provincial/local park/place you like most and why? Add pics to convince us.

For instance, I've been to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Spectacular places but with scenery like that I can't help thinking there may have been something else off the beaten tourist track worth seeing nearby.

 

[thardy]

In my opinion not many places top Yellowstone. But Moab is at the top of my list of favorite places!

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Every inch . . . er centimeter between Japser, AB and Banff, AB.

All the roads and trails in the area between Silverton, Lake City, Ouray, and Telluride, CO.

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Those are my biggies, with too many more to mention. I've hit all of these many times. Pics in my album.

 

[cbielat]

Breckenridge, CO. I used to live there and miss it every day.

 

[Rlew0083]

Telluride, CO
Jackson, WY
Yellowstone National Park
Madison River Valley in Montana
Moab, UT

 

[iBison]

Hands down Yellowstone is the single coolest place in the 48. If you go take the walk down to the lower falls on the north side. If you want to put it to your feet backpack the Teton crest trail. National geographic rated best trek. Death canyon shelf coolest campsite I have seen.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If you happen to be in Colorado try and see a concert at Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison just outside Denver. I've seen over 50 shows there and it's hard to beat for sound and atmosphere plus we have awesome wheeling near by.

 

[jgue467]

Heaven is

here and everywhere. Love, peace, out. :banana:

 

[hikenbike]

Sedona, AZ is a gorgeous place. Red rock country. Was there years ago and will never forget it. Lake Powell is just as amazing. Rent a houseboat and explore.

 

[BrianSD_42]

For me Sedona, AZ was one of the best road trip places I've ever visited.

Is that in AZ? YES!
[X] trees
[X] water (streams and creeks)

We stayed at a nice B&B then went hiking for the day. I was only there 1.5 days but I plan to go back for at least 3-4.

I'd also really like to do the morning balloon ride but it will require getting up at 5am-ish.

One of the most pleasant surprises was the number of high quality family owned really good restaurants. I'm talking locally sourced vegetables, meats and just great all around eating. Kind of the opposite of the Grand Canyon where the food selection was pretty terrible.

 

[DanSt4R]

Big sur, CA is a must. You can wheel up to the top of the ridge and have a breathtaking view of the pacific.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Big sur, CA is a must. You can wheel up to the top of the ridge and have a breathtaking view of the pacific.

What trail did you wheel?

Maybe I can hit it up next time.

 

[DanSt4R]

What trail did you wheel?

Maybe I can hit it up next time.

Just got back yesterday. I went up Prewitt ridge road. It's a little past naciemento ferguson road. Trail was awesome, it actually had some challenging sections cause of the deep rain ruts that run diagonal up the steep parts. The top is amazing though best views in big sur IMO

 

[02SE]

I glossed right over the North America stipulation earlier. So with that in mind here are a few;
Yellowstone
Yosemite
The Grand Canyon
Bryce and Zion National Parks
Arches National Park
The Bonneville Salt Flats (especially during Speed Week)
Crater lake
The Pacific Coast Highway from border to border.

 

[MStudt]

I'll chime in on the Parks. I've been all over backpacking, and each place I've been is nothing like any other place. Here are some pictures.

Grand Canyon


Eagle Creek Trail- Oregon


Obsidian Trail- Oregon


Never Summer Wilderness- Colorado


Yellowstone


Grand Tetons

 

[wallytoo]

the devil's punchbowl in the siskiyou NF
glacier
the badlands of SD
mt washington
cadillac mountain to see the earliest sunrise in the US
gettysburg

do not bother visiting mount rushmore - what a letdown

 

[Kmvreter]

Thanks for all the info so far. I'm liking them, especially the more specific directions.
Keep them coming.

 

[THatfield]

White Mountain National Forest/Kancamagus Highway in NH is my absolute favorite place. So beautiful summer or winter. Plenty to do, plenty of good eats in the area and the scenery is amazing, especially in the notch and towards Mt. Washington. I can't recommend this area enough!

Just remember to Brake for Moose! It could save your life! Lol.

My 4Runner looking at Mt. Chocura, near the start of the Kancamagus.

 

[ddnww]

For me Sedona, AZ was one of the best road trip places I've ever visited.

Is that in AZ? YES!
[X] trees
[X] water (streams and creeks)

We stayed at a nice B&B then went hiking for the day. I was only there 1.5 days but I plan to go back for at least 3-4.

I'd also really like to do the morning balloon ride but it will require getting up at 5am-ish.

One of the most pleasant surprises was the number of high quality family owned really good restaurants. I'm talking locally sourced vegetables, meats and just great all around eating. Kind of the opposite of the Grand Canyon where the food selection was pretty terrible.

nice pics.. that last one is slide rock.. so cool.. its like a natural water park with slides.. also sedona is one of the most spiritual places on earth, people come from all over the world to visit it.. On dec 21 2012, it was a frenzy up there.

 

[RandyDaytona]

Anyplace here in Northern MN...