1

Denali

Image: Barth Bailey

We’ll start with what many believe to be Alaska’s crown jewel. Formerly known as Mount McKinley, Denali is the highest peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. Its height is matched only by its magnificence—a snow-covered wonder adorning the Alaskan skyline.

The name "Denali" comes from the Koyukon Athabaskans, who are native to the region. They referred to the mountain as Dinale or Denali, which is believed to be a Koyukon word meaning "high" or "tall." Over the years, many mountaineers have attempted to reach the peak, with the first successful ascent dating back to 1913.

2

Chugach State Park

Image: Paxson Woelber

East of the city of Anchorage lies Chugach State Park , a 495,204-acre state park that houses the stunning Chugach Mountains. However, this park is more than just a scenic landscape; it plays a crucial role in ensuring that the residents of Anchorage have access to safe drinking water.

Chugach State Park is also home to Eklutna Lake, which offers numerous recreational opportunities, including fishing, camping, and hiking. The park supports a diverse array of wildlife, including moose and bears.

3

Kayak Island

Image: Ty Fiero

In 1826, Lt. Sarychev of the Russian Navy noticed the peculiar shape of a certain island located in the Gulf of Alaska. Because it resembled a specific type of boat, Sarychev named the island Kayak Island , unaware that he was christening one of Alaska’s most stunning destinations.

Kayak Island is considered historically significant since it was the first place where a non-native set foot in Alaska. Notably, the island was visited by the famed explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. During this visit, Captain Cook left an empty bottle at the base of a prominent tree. Inside the bottle was a message and two pieces of silver gifted to him by the English crown.

4

Kodiak Island

Image: Brent Jones

Next, we have Kodiak Island , the second-largest island in the United States. Over two-thirds of the island is occupied by the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which protects a diverse range of wildlife, including the Kodiak bear, Roosevelt elk, and Sitka black-tailed deer.

While no entry is allowed to the refuge, the island still has plenty to offer visitors. For example, you can experience the island’s beauty at the Buskin River State Recreation Site, which features camping, fishing, and scenic beaches.

5

Kenai Fjords National Park

Image: Kedar Gadge

Fjords are a truly unique natural wonder that can only be found in a few places in the world, and Alaska is home to one of the most beautiful of its kind. Located on the Kenai Peninsula, west of the town of Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park is a breathtaking expanse of glaciers, islands, and wildlife.

With a total area of 669,984 acres, Kenai Fjords is relatively small—approximately 90% the size of Yosemite. Regardless, of what this park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in accessibility, diversity, and, above all, natural beauty. It is home to the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States, as well as an impressive variety of wildlife, including black bears, sea otters, and killer whales.

6

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Image: Grace Simoneau

As the largest American state by landmass, it seems only fitting that Alaska is home to the largest national park in the United States. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve encompasses the Wrangell Mountains and a significant portion of the Saint Elias Mountains, including Mount Saint Elias, the second-highest peak in both the United States and Canada.

Besides many species of animals like the grizzly bear and the timber wolf, this park is home to Mount Wrangell and Mount Churchill—two of the largest volcanoes in the region. Not only that, the abandoned buildings of a former copper mining operation within the park have been designated a National Historic Landmark district.

7

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Image: Joseph Corl

Don’t be surprised by the number of stunning glaciers that made it onto this list—after all, these natural wonders are Alaska’s pride and joy. With that in mind, here’s the first entry in our selection of beautiful glaciers you should definitely visit: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

The park houses 7 glaciers in the park, out of which the Margerie Glacier is probably the most famous. This iconic glacier attracts thousands of tourists each year, with nearly 80% arriving via cruise ships. Not only that, the park also offers several other outdoor activities like kayaking, camping, fishing, and bird-watching.

8

Hubbard Glacier

Image: Mick Kirchman

Located within the previously mentioned Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier undoubtedly deserves its own spotlight. This stunning glacier can be found right on the border between Alaska and Canada, with part of it extending into Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon.

Hubbard Glacier is primarily visited by tour and cruise ships since it can’t be reached by land. Regardless, experiencing the beauty of this natural wonder requires nothing more than gazing upon its majestic presence.

9

Worthington Glacier

Image: Grace Simoneau

Worthington Glacier holds the distinction of being one of the few US glaciers that can be easily accessed via a paved highway. Located approximately 30 miles east of the city of Valdez, this glacier is truly a sight to behold.

Covering 5,774 acres, this breathtaking glacier was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. If you’re planning a visit, consider stopping at the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site, a comfortable state roadside park that offers a stunning view of the glacier.

1

Monopoly

Did you know that Monopoly played a key role in the European theater of World War II? Originally conceived in 1903 by Elizabeth Magie Phillips as The Landlord's Game to highlight the inequities of capitalism, the board game was later rebranded by Parker Brothers in 1934.

When thousands of Allied soldiers, including Americans, were captured by German forces during WWII, the British Secret Service began manufacturing specialized editions to be smuggled into prisoner camps inside Red Cross packages. The German guards welcomed the games as harmless ways for prisoners to pass the time. Little did they know, these boxes contained customized silk maps, real local currency, and precise escape routes hidden within the board and game pieces. Intelligence experts estimate that up to 10,000 Allied soldiers successfully escaped enemy capture because of these rigged board games.

2

Silly String

In the early 1970s, inventors Leonard A. Fish and Robert P. Cox were working on an aerosol spray-on cast for broken limbs. Although they failed spectacularly, they patented the sticky mess as "foamable resinous composition." Eventually, American toy company Wham-O picked it up and re-labeled it as Silly String.

Decades later, this joke device went to war. In 2006, while stationed in Iraq, Specialist Todd Shriver and his unit found themselves lacking official gear to safely detect the invisible tripwires used to detonate explosives. Because the spray of Silly String could shoot more than 10 feet away and was very light, it became an unlikely but useful tactical tool.

3

Slinky

In 1943, naval engineer Richard James was attempting to design a spring system for naval battleships. When he accidentally knocked one of his prototypes off a shelf, he watched in fascination as it walked down a stack of books, onto his desk, and onto the floor. The Navy never bought his invention, but the world got the Slinky, selling over 100 million units in its first two years alone.

Years later, the toy’s military purpose came into fruition during the Vietnam War. U.S. communications troops operating in dense jungles frequently struggled with terrible radio reception. They quickly discovered that a standard steel Slinky could be stretched out and tossed over high tree branches to serve as an effective improvised antenna.

4

View-master

When the View-Master made its grand debut at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, it was marketed as an alternative to scenic postcards. Co-inventors Wilhelm Gruber and Harold Graves paired standard stereoscopes with circular cardboard reels containing seven 3D color film images, which allowed people to marvel at the Grand Canyon from the comfort of their homes.

By 1942, the United States military realized that this photographic novelty could become a useful tool. In the midst of WWII, the U.S. Armed Forces purchased more than 100,000 View-Master viewers and commissioned thousands of custom-made reels. Instead of tourist images, these reels featured detailed, three-dimensional models of enemy aircraft, naval vessels, and artillery. It allowed troops to practice identification, making it a critical asset for gunners and pilots.

5

Silly Putty

Silly Putty is another marvel of accidental wartime engineering. During WWII, the United States faced shortages of natural rubber due to several blockades. In an attempt to create a cheaper alternative, General Electric engineer James Wright mixed silicone oil with boric acid. The result didn’t work for tires, but it became a hit when packaged inside plastic eggs.

Eventually, this gooey and bouncy material caught the attention of NASA. In 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 packed Silly Putty into their spacecraft. In the zero-gravity environment, the astronauts used the sticky compound to secure their gear to the walls to prevent it from floating away around the cabin.

6

Buzz Lightyear

While Buzz Lightyear began his life as a fictional space ranger in Pixar’s 1995 hit Toy Story, the physical action figure manufactured by Thinkway Toys achieved a few real-world milestones that would make Andy proud.

In 2008, NASA launched an authentic Buzz Lightyear action figure into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Buzz spent a staggering 15 months living aboard the International Space Station. There, he worked alongside astronauts to film educational videos designed to teach school children across America about weightlessness, orbital mechanics, and microgravity physics.

7

LEGO

The famous toy company was founded by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1949. While LEGO first reached the US in the early 1960s, the plastic interlocking bricks didn’t become massively popular until the 1970s. Once American children adopted the new toy, it completely reshaped modern STEM education.

Although schools had experimented with bricks for decades, LEGO allowed teachers to develop structured curricula designed to teach kindergarteners fine motor skills and spatial mathematics. By the time those students reached high school, LEGO’s advanced kits were serving as the backbone for introductory robotics, engineering, and programming courses nationwide.

8

Mr. Potato Head

Created by American inventor George Lerner in 1951 and distributed by Hasbro, the original Mr. Potato Head didn’t include a plastic body, just sharp metal pins attached to plastic facial features. Despite the risk of children stabbing themselves, the toy made history as the very first toy ever advertised on television.

From there, Mr. Potato Head had a surprising career as a public servant. In 1985, he received four legitimate votes during the mayoral election in Boise, Idaho. In 1987, he officially dropped his plastic pipe to become the face of the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout" anti-smoking campaign. He later joined forces with the League of Women Voters to boost voter turnout and today acts as an official travel ambassador for the state of Rhode Island.

9

Cabbage Patch Kids

When American businessman Xavier Roberts first created his "Little People" in 1978, nobody could have predicted that they would spark Black Friday riots by 1983. But beyond the hysteria, Cabbage Patch Kids went on to become national ambassadors.

In 1992 and 1996, the United States Olympic Committee selected the dolls as the first-ever official mascot of the US Olympic Team, traveling with the athletes to Barcelona and Atlanta. In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service immortalized them on a stamp celebrating the icons of 1980s American culture. Over the years, the franchise has collaborated with NASA on science education and raised thousands of dollars for disaster relief efforts.

10

Teddy Bear

Did you know Teddy Bears were born in the United States? In 1902, a Russian-born businessman and inventor named Morris Michtom was inspired by a cartoon published in The Washington Post to create what would become the most beloved toy in America. The cartoon depicted President Theodore Roosevelt showing compassion for a bear on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

Morris Michtom made a small plush bear cub, sent it to Roosevelt, and asked for permission to use his nickname, Teddy. After the president’s blessing, Mitchom placed the doll in the window of his Brooklyn store with the caption "Teddy’s bear." The success was so great that he began mass- producing them, and within a few years, he founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, which would become the largest doll-making firm in the United States.

1

"Louisiana Rain" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Image: Liv Bruce

Iconic musician Tom Petty included this bittersweet track in his third album with the Heartbreakers, titled "Damn the Torpedoes". This 1979 track tells the story of a heartbroken narrator walking down the streets of an undisclosed Louisiana city.

Petty’s slightly scruffy voice goes perfectly with the song’s melancholic and slow tempo. The song’s sliding guitars and harmonica solos provide an amazing background for the song’s thoughtful lyrics, where Petty sings "may never be the same" when he reaches Baton Rouge.

2

"Montana Song" by Hank Williams Jr

Image: Michael Bourgault

While he was born in Louisiana, musician and songwriter Hank Williams Jr. seems to have a place in his heart for the unparalleled beauty of "the Treasure State" . After all, the lyrics to his 1975 track "Montana Song" speak about a lonesome man "going to Montana to rest my soul".

While Williams’ song definitively centers on the heartbreak the narrator feels after losing "that special someone", it is nearly impossible not to picture Montana’s snowy peaks and cold beauty when listening to this song.

3

"Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits

Image: Manisha Raghunath

We have included a fair share of songs about failing relationships in this article, so why don’t we provide some balance with this song about two lovers separated by the Hudson River? When Tom Waits wrote this song for his 1980s album "Heartattack and Vine", he was thinking of his future wife Kathleen Brennan, who, at the time, was living in New Jersey.

While the song is definitively slow-paced and melancholic, it is refreshing to hear Tom Waits’ ragged voice play the part of a man in love. In an interview, Waits admitted, "I never thought I would catch myself saying 'sha la la' in a song".

4

"New Hampshire" by Sonic Youth

Image: Suraj Gattani

Perhaps the most experimental song in this list, this 2004 track by rock band Sonic Youth features a myriad of electric guitars intertwined with singer Thurston Moore’s voice. "New Hampshire" goes from distorted rock riffs to more expansive and melodic interludes, all the while guided by a slow-paced beat.

The song’s lyrics describe the adventures of Steve and Joe, "the New Hampshire boys", and how they went "beyond/ Doing it for life". While the true meaning of the lyrics is enigmatic, many believe they refer to musicians Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, who met in New Hampshire and formed the band Aerosmith.

5

"New Mexico" by Johnny Cash

Image: Maddy Baker

If there’s one person in this list that needs no introduction, that’s the "Man in Black" . Johnny Cash’s song about "The Land of Enchantment", aptly named "New Mexico", tells the story of a young man from the town of Griffin traveling to this state for a summer job. Johnny’s characteristic deep voice narrates the prospect of a "pleasant summer out in New Mexico".

However, this is the point at which the narrator stops singing the praises of this state and instead narrates the perils and hardships he experienced in "the God-forsaken country they call New Mexico". Nevertheless, we all know that the parts of this song that describe the beauty of this state are a much more accurate representation of the real New Mexico.

6

"New York, New York" By Frank Sinatra

Image: Florian Wehde

This is perhaps the most famous song in this list. Everyone who has ever stepped into New York City, from the grumpy locals to the tourists dazzled by the lights of Times Square, has hummed this Frank Sinatra song at least once in their lifetime.

While it's true that the legendary Liza Minelli was the first one to perform "New York, New York" (as part of the soundtrack for the 1977 Scorsese film of the same name), Sinatra’s rendition is definitively the quintessential version of this song. His dulcet yet powerful voice perfectly describes the sense of wonder most people feel when they see New York City for the first time.

7

"Oklahoma Morning" by Charley Pride

Image: Raychel Sanner

There’s a lot to be said about this love letter to "The Sooner State", but Charley Pride can definitively say it better when he sings "That Oklahoma mornin' / Puts Oklahoma sunshine in my soul". This country song is truly a beloved homage to Oklahoma and is one of the many reasons why this iconic singer was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

While the music and Pride’s voice are definitively remarkable, perhaps the true beauty of this song can be found in the lyrics: They perfectly describe the yellow sun and placid warmth of an Oklahoma morning before stating, "There ain't nothin' like an Oklahoma mornin'".

8

"Ohio" by The Black Keys

Image: Ben Shbeeb

Both members of the American rock duo The Black Keys were born and raised in Akron, Ohio, so it seems only natural that they felt the need to record their love for this state. Simply titled "Ohio", this song’s lyrics describe the homesickness the narrator feels about finding himself so far away from Ohio while begging for someone to "Get me home/ Before, before I lose my mind".

Singer Dan Auerbach's robust voice manages to turn the name of his home state into a powerful chorus. The guitar riffs seamlessly combine blues and rock chords, resulting in a melancholic but potent track.

9

"Eugene Oregon" by Dolly Parton

Image: everett mcintire

You might think that a Dolly Parton song in this list would probably center on her beloved Tennessee: Certainly, her 1972 track "My Tennessee Mountain Home" could have been a fitting choice. However, we have instead chosen a less-known song that focuses on another location dear to "The Queen of Country".

The very first line that Dolly sings in this song is "Eugene, Oregon, I'll remember you for the rest of my life". This perfectly encapsulates the tone of the lyrics: Parton expresses her gratitude to this city for its kindness whenever she felt homesick of her Tennessee hometown.

10

"Beautiful Texas" by Willie Nelson

Image: Roberta Guillen

We’ll end this list with a Texas institution. We could have easily chosen any of the songs included in the 1968 Willie Nelson album "Texas in My Soul" for this list: After all, the entire record is Nelson’s tribute to his home state, and is composed of standards and traditional songs that sing the praises of "The Lone Star State".

We ultimately chose "Beautiful Texas" because it truly shows the love Nelson has for this state. The entire lyrics describe Texas’ history and gorgeous scenery , from the "white cotton, green pastures, blue rivers" to the vast fields "where the beautiful bluebonnets grow".