1

Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Image: Wes Hicks

Yes, the entire Appalachian Trail is extremely long. Actually, it is over 2,190 miles long. But, the Shenandoah National Park, 75 miles from Washington, D.C., has over 500 miles of hiking trails, including more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail ; You can tackle a small section in a day’s hike.

The park is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors in Virginia and it consists of 200,000 acres of protected land that are home to animals like deer and songbirds.

2

Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Image: Scott Longerbeam

More than 260 miles of maintained trails lead visitors through peaceful old-growth forests, river valleys, and subalpine meadows on the Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.

The park is home to one of the most iconic mountains in the world: Mount Rainier rises 14,410 feet above sea level straight into the clouds. Check out the Burroughs Mountain Trail for stunning views of mountain peaks and the alpine landscape.

3

Rim Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Image: Tim Golder

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is home to the largest collection of odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion, known as hoodoos. Many of them can be viewed from the 5.5-mile Rim Trail .

The park also offers hikes for all levels, including backcountry options for those looking for a little added adventure and guided Full Moon Hikes for night-owl explorers.

4

Upper Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Image: Jamie Hagan

A park filled with hiking trails for all experience levels, Zion National Park, Utah's first national park , is famous for its massive cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs, and freestanding arches.

Hikers should attempt to visit at sunrise and sunset to enjoy the breathtaking views of sunlight splashing off the cliffs and into the rivers below. And if it is an approachable trail they’re looking for, the Upper Emerald Pools Trail is an easy hike leading to sparkling waterfalls.

5

Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana

Image: Aaron Clinard

Over 700 miles of hiking trails, including more than a dozen options around the Many Glacier area , like the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail , can be found at the Glacier National Park.

Lucky visitors can spot some of the park's varied wildlife, including 71 species of mammals, from the tiny pygmy shrew to one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the country.

6

Charlies Bunion Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Image: Leslie Cross

The Great Smoky Mountains are world-renowned for its animal and plant life diversity, as well as for its miles of official and backcountry trails with views of waterfalls and old-growth forests.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spreads across two states and offers plenty of activities for hikers. For a particularly breathtaking vista, hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular outcropping along the Appalachian Trail.

7

Billy Goat Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland

Image: Eduardo Gutierrez

Considered a moderate-difficulty trail, Maryland's Billy Goat Trail has three sections totaling eight miles, though portions are strenuous and challenging . Outdoor enthusiasts can experience the raging Potomac River and the rocky crags of Great Falls. The hike is very popular, so early hours are advisable to beat the crowds.

8

Chautauqua Trail, Chautauqua Park, Colorado

Image: Leslie Cross

An old park, Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, has been around since 1898. The 80-acre park has miles of hiking, much of which are uphill . But there are less strenuous hikes, too, like the Chautauqua Trail, which offers views of the Flatiron mountains and Boulder.

9

Canyon to Rim Loop, Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Image: Alex Diaz

Hikers of every level can find an appropriate trail at Smith Rock State Park, in Oregon. These vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer beautiful views of the Central Oregon landscape**.**

The park offers hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and visitors may spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otters, and beavers throughout the day.

10

Petroglyph Wall Trail, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada

Image: Kristin Melville

As visitors to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can testify, not all short-distance hikes are the same. Many are labeled difficult, and it can take four to five hours to complete a five-mile hike.

Along the different routes, desert wildlife can be spotted, including lizards, toads, and hawks. One of the park's most beginner-friendly hikes is the 0.2-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail , where centuries-old rock art can be appreciated.

1

Music

Image: Jamakassi

Back in the day, the gift of music used to mean something. It was a connection between the person who made the gift and the one who received it . It was a beautiful object, to be played on a music player and stored at home. Nowadays, music is something much more abstract that is streamed from online services and is not given as a gift of discovery anymore.

2

Movies

Image: Delaney Van

Movies have experienced a fate similar to the one suffered by music. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the rest, movies are available to watch online, and no one owns a VHS, DVD, or Blu-Ray player anymore . It used to be a fun thing to give as a gift. "You are going to love this movie". Not anymore. Nowadays, we just recommend things from HBO or Disney to each other.

3

Preserves

Image: Rob Wicks

Since the dawn of time, preparing a meal with care and dedication for somebody else has always been a way to show affection. Until not so long ago, gifting preserves used to be a common practice and a way to express love from a distance . Nowadays, if you want strawberry jam, you can just go to the store.

4

Knitted clothes

Image: Liana S

The many hours invested in knitting a clothing item are an integral part of the gift that the person who created it is giving . The warm embrace of a knitted sweater, scarf, socks, or any other item created similarly cannot be replaced by store-bought clothes.

5

Fresh flowers

Image: Annie Spratt

Giving someone a fresh bouquet, especially harvested from one’s own garden, used to be a thing in the past, at least for people who had gardens. It was meant as a kind gesture that said "I thought about you when I picked these flowers" and embellished the home of the one who received it.

6

Homemade cooking

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

A delicious homemade pie or a nice dessert used to be a common thing for house guests to bring to their hosts. While it still happens from time to time, it used to be much more common. These days, the usual drill involves stopping by the deli to get a packaged item, at best.

7

House plants

Image: Lasma Balode

Plants can really upgrade a room, and people used to know this, at least to a larger extent than today. Bringing a small house plant to a new home is a great gift , and it used to be a much more common practice than it is these days.

8

Framed artwork

Image: Jonny Caspari

Paintings have the reputation of being expensive things. And in some cases, they are. But beautiful artwork by unknown artists can be found for low and reasonable prices everywhere . People used to know this and bought paintings to decorate their walls and, taking into consideration the personal taste of the receiver, to give as gifts.

9

Maps

Image: Hutomo Abrianto

In the age of smartphones, paper maps have become somewhat irrelevant and cumbersome. But they make for beautiful objects and can be framed into beautiful works of art . Gifting maps depicting places that are relevant to the gift receiver is a habit that should come back.

10

Greeting cards

Image: Annie Spratt

Be it of the Hallmark kind or any other, greeting cards used to be given for many different occasions throughout the year. Since the Internet came around with emails, social media, and WhatsApp messages, these cards have all but faded into oblivion.

Even if you only kept them for a couple of months before throwing them away, it was fun to receive those cards as a reminder of the fact that someone cared about you enough to buy, write, and mail the card.

11

Handwritten postcards

Image: Ireland Rogers

Somewhat similar to greeting cards but not quite the same are postcards. These lovely reminders of a friend or a relative’s trip brought the comfort of knowing that whoever wrote the postcard was thinking about you .

Again, the internet has rendered postcards obsolete, but that does not mean that, even to this day, receiving one would be a very nice gesture.

12

Framed pictures

Image: Natalia Rüdisüli

Giving someone a framed picture of a significant moment can be a great gift, and it used to be much more common. Just like in the case of the framed artwork, it is important to understand the personal taste of the person who is receiving this gift . But if this is understood and taken into account, there is no reason why this shouldn’t come back as a great gift idea.

1

Extra cheese

Image: Ivan Torres

Let's start with a wild card: extra cheese pizza. It's no surprise it's one of the most popular choices, with its unbeatable trio of classic ingredients: dough, a lot of mozzarella cheese, and a simple tomato sauce. And who doesn't like cheese?

However, its simplicity doesn't make it any less delicious; it can be one of the best pizzas you'll ever taste! And if you want to try something new, some suggest swapping mozzarella for provolone.

2

Pepperoni

Image: Alan Hardman

A total winner of all rankings, pepperoni pizza is undoubtedly one of Americans' favorites. And that's no surprise at all. The combination of delicious melted cheese with a tasty tomato sauce and spicy, smoky pepperoni slices makes it an irresistible variety for most palates. Is it your favorite, too?

3

Sausage

Image: Nadya Spetnitskaya

Thanks to pizza's unlimited variety of toppings, you don't have to pick between protein and carbohydrates; you can enjoy both!

Sausage pizza is now a staple on the menus of many restaurants and pizza chains. And it's no wonder, given that it's one of the most popular choices among Americans. Traditionally, pizza-makers opt for Italian sausage, but you can always choose your favorite type!

4

Mushrooms

Image: Lavi Perchik

Along with pepperoni, sausage, and extra cheese, mushrooms are also one of the most popular pizza toppings in America.

Because of their versatility, mushrooms are a great choice to complement any pizza, whether it's a vegetarian or a meat pizza. In addition, they are a recommended topping for their flavor, nutritional value, and low-calorie content.

5

Green Peppers

Image: engin akyurt

Green peppers also make the top 5. If sausage isn't your choice or you follow a vegetarian diet, green pepper pizza is likely one of your favorites.

The crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor of green peppers make a fantastic team with pizza crust and tomato sauce, making it one of the most popular.

6

Onions

Image: Adonyi Gábor

There is an alternative that's a must-have on any menu: onion pizza. Although it may not have as many staunch and expressive fans as other varieties, onion pizza is actually one of the most requested options across the country.

Onion, like tomato and cheese, is a widely used ingredient in Italian cuisine, making it a classic that's also included in other varieties and sauces.

7

Black olives

Image: Carissa Gan

Black olives have earned a spot in this ranking, as it is a very appreciated option for those who demand a briny touch on their pizza.

Some people hate them, others love them, but if you've never tried black olives on your pizza, we recommend giving it a shot. Many people have tried them and come back for more!

8

Fresh garlic

Image: Sébastien Marchand

Hand in hand with onion, garlic is a must when it comes to giving a punch of flavor to food. And pizza is no exception. In fact, fresh garlic pizza is also one of the most widely eaten pizzas in America.

While it may not have as large a fan base as other toppings, those who choose garlic as their favorite are incredibly loyal! This variety offers an exquisite combination: Often paired with mozzarella cheese and olive oil, garlic gives a unique touch.

9

Margherita

Image: Aldward Castillo

If we talk about perfect combinations, we can't leave out the legendary Margherita, a fabulous Italian pizza. Created in the 19th century in Naples, Italy, this pizza was invented especially for the Queen Margherita of Savoy, with flavors that represent the Italian flag: the green of the basil, the red of the tomato, and the white of the mozzarella cheese. Irresistible!

10

BBQ Chicken

Image: serjan midili

Chain restaurants and pizzerias wouldn't be the same without the delicious BBQ chicken pizza, a blend of flavor, heartiness, and creativity.

If the more traditional varieties have bored you, this is the perfect option for you. With a combination of sweet and smoky, this variety is undoubtedly a top choice for those who appreciate audacious tastes.