New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in West Virginia has captured the attention of travelers with its rugged landscape and storied past. Established as a national park in 2020, this area was long known for its coal mining heritage and railroad history. Today, visitors can explore remnants of old mining towns and take in views from historic train trestles, all while experiencing some of the most dramatic river and canyon scenery in the eastern United States.
The Great Wall of China stretches across mountains, deserts, and grasslands, forming one of the most striking man-made landmarks in the world. Rather than a single continuous wall, it is a network of sections built with stone, brick, and packed earth, each shaped by the landscape it crosses. In areas near Beijing, such as Mutianyu, the wall winds along forested ridges, offering sweeping views that change with the seasons.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve spans six distinct sites across south Louisiana, linking wetlands, battlefields, cultural centers, and historic neighborhoods into one broad interpretation of the lower Mississippi River Delta. Its landscape ranges from the swamps and marshes of Barataria Preserve to the urban setting of the French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans.
Shenandoah National Park follows the crest and eastern slopes of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, protecting a long, narrow landscape of forests, ridges, streams, and mountain valleys. The park stretches along Skyline Drive, a scenic road that provides access to numerous overlooks and trailheads. Elevations vary considerably across the park, creating changes in vegetation and climate over relatively short distances.
Salem is a thriving community located on Interstate 93 only 32 miles north of Boston just over the New Hampshire - Massachusetts border. It is home to major industrial firms, tax free retail outlets, recreational resources and 26,000 residents.
Nestled between Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park, Moab is the perfect entryway to some of Utah’s most iconic scenery. Dotted with gorgeous sandstone formations, mesas, and buttes, Moab epitomizes the rugged beauty of the American Southwest.
Situated near the Colorado River, Moab provides direct access to dozens of nature trails and parks where you can hike, bike, raft, or camp to experience immense canyons and awe-inspiring desert landscapes. Nearby dinosaur trails give you a glimpse of dinosaur fossils and preserved tracks dating back to the Mesozoic Era.
When you’re done exploring national parks, take a breather in downtown Moab to browse local art galleries, check out the Moab Museum, or sample from local restaurants and breweries.
Other Popular Destinations in Utah
Zion National Park
Zion National Park, located in southwestern Utah, is known for its massive sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and unique desert ecosystems. Established in 1919, it was Utah’s first national park and continues to attract visitors with its dramatic elevation shifts and striking rock formations. The park’s most iconic feature, Zion Canyon, stretches for 15 miles and reaches depths of up to 2,640 feet, carved over time by the Virgin River.
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon, tucked into the high plateaus of southern Utah, offers one of the most unusual landscapes in the American Southwest. It’s not actually a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. What makes Bryce unique is its dense collection of hoodoos which are tall, thin spires of rock formed over millions of years by frost-wedging and erosion.