The Outer Banks are a long chain of narrow barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina, separated from the mainland by broad sounds and connected by bridges and ferries. Communities including Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Hatteras, and Ocracoke each have distinct settings and local traditions. The landscape is shaped by ocean waves, shifting sand, wind, and storms, creating wide beaches, dunes, marshes, maritime forests, and tidal inlets.

Alton is a small town in central New Hampshire, located at the southern end of Lake Winnipesaukee. Its landscape includes forested hills, wetlands, streams, and shoreline communities surrounding Alton Bay and the lake’s numerous islands. The town center lies inland from the main lakefront, while Alton Bay forms a historic summer community and transportation point. Mount Major rises nearby, providing a prominent backdrop and a popular hiking destination.

Mount Rainier National Park is centered on Mount Rainier, a massive glaciated volcano rising above the forests and valleys of Washington’s Cascade Range. The mountain dominates the surrounding landscape, with glaciers, snowfields, alpine meadows, old-growth forests, rivers, and waterfalls extending across the park. Its varied elevations create distinct environments, from dense lowland forest to open subalpine terrain and rugged alpine slopes.

Picturesque Cape May holds the distinction of being the oldest seashore resort in the United States and one of the most unique. Stretching 20 miles out to sea, this oasis of ambiance is a refuge from the hectic 20th century American lifestyle. It is a place to relax, to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean, the city's charming Mall, and most of all, to view the largest collection of authentic Victorian structures in the nation.

Alabama surprises many first-time visitors with its rich cultural depth and variety of landscapes. From the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores to the Appalachian foothills in the north, the state offers a wide range of experiences. Music runs deep in Alabama’s veins. Muscle Shoals, a small town along the Tennessee River, is legendary among musicians. Its Fame Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio hosted Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.