1

Havasu Falls, Arizona

Image: Yacov B

Yes, technically, people know about Havasu Falls, but getting there requires permits, careful planning, and a ten-mile hike into the Grand Canyon that'll have your knees filing for divorce. The turquoise water looks Photoshopped, but it isn't—it's caused by calcium carbonate and magnesium that create that otherworldly blue-green glow. Most tourists snap their Grand Canyon photos from the rim and call it a day, completely unaware that this paradise exists below.

2

Linville Falls, North Carolina

Image: Jeff Miller

Tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this waterfall drops in multiple tiers through Linville Gorge , nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the East." The upper falls plunge 12 feet, followed by the lower section, which drops another 90 feet into the gorge below.

Multiple trail options mean you can customize your effort level, from an easy quarter-mile stroll to more challenging overlooks. The best view? Probably Chimney View, which gives you the full dramatic drop and a sweeping view of the gorge beyond.

3

Potato River Falls, Wisconsin

Image: Paul Pastourmatzis

Potato River Falls sits near the Michigan border in the Northwoods, where many visitors are too distracted by fishing and Friday fish fries to notice the waterfall itself. The falls drop about 90 feet in cascading sections, with observation platforms that make viewing easy —no mountain-goat skills required. The surrounding forest feels wonderfully remote, even though you're only a short walk from the parking area.

4

Natural Falls, Oklahoma

Image: Tien Vu Ngoc

Yes, Oklahoma has waterfalls, and Natural Falls State Park proves it, dropping 77 feet into a surprisingly lush canyon . The trail to the viewing platform takes about ten minutes, making this possibly one of the best effort-to-reward ratios on this list.

The falls flow year-round thanks to a spring-fed creek, though spring brings the most dramatic water volume. A large amphitheater-like alcove behind the falls provided the backdrop for parts of the 1974 movie Where the Red Fern Grows , if you're into vintage cinema trivia. Visit early in the morning to have the place to yourself and contemplate the geographical surprises America still holds.

5

Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee

Image: Joshua Woods

At 256 feet, Fall Creek Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi , yet somehow remains less famous than Graceland. Located in a state park of the same name, it's the crown jewel among several waterfalls in the area, meaning you can actually hit multiple cascades in one day if you're feeling ambitious. The main overlook requires minimal effort, but trails wind down to the base if you want the full experience and don't mind plenty of stairs.

6

Alamere Falls, California

Image: Matt Bennett

California has no shortage of waterfalls, but Alamere Falls does something truly special: it drops directly onto the beach . This rare "tidefall" spills over cliffs at Point Reyes National Seashore, creating a scene that looks like a screensaver come to life. Getting there requires an 8-mile round-trip hike that's moderately strenuous but manageable for anyone in reasonable shape. The trail winds through coastal forest before emerging onto wind-swept beaches.

The falls flow strongest in winter and spring when California actually gets rain, becoming a mere trickle by late summer. Time your visit right, and you can stand on the beach while 40-foot waterfalls crash onto sand beside tide pools and sea stacks.

7

Kaaterskill Falls, New York

Image: Joshua Earle

The Catskill Mountains hide New York's tallest waterfall, a two-tiered, 260-foot cascade that inspired Hudson River School painters back when America was young, and landscape painting was the closest thing to Instagram. Kaaterskill Falls sits just off Route 23A, and the short trail to the base viewpoint feels properly wild. Adventurous types sometimes scramble between the tiers, though this requires caution and a complete disregard for your mother's warnings about safety.

Winter transforms the falls into a frozen sculpture, attracting ice climbers who've made interesting life choices. The surrounding forest looks like something from a fairy tale, all moss and ferns and filtered light.

8

Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado

Image: Chad Madden

Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride claims the title of the state's tallest free-falling waterfall at 365 feet . The waterfall cascades like a lace curtain—hence the name—from a hanging valley, and at the top sits a power plant that's somehow still photogenic. The hike up is steep and challenging, gaining about 1,800 feet over roughly two miles, which sounds reasonable until you remember you're doing this at high altitude.

9

Cloudland Canyon Falls, Georgia

Image: Alla Kemelmakher

Georgia surprises people with its waterfalls, and Cloudland Canyon State Park delivers two beauties: Cherokee Falls and Hemlock Falls , accessible via a moderately strenuous trail system. The park sits on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, where the canyon cuts deep into the plateau. Cherokee Falls drops about 60 feet, while Hemlock Falls offers a 95-foot cascade. Both require descending (and later climbing back up) hundreds of stairs, so consider this your ultimate leg-day workout.

10

Fairy Falls, Wyoming

Image: Veenvorm

Yellowstone gets all the geothermal glory, but Fairy Falls offers a quieter experience just a few miles from the madness of Old Faithful. At 200 feet, this ribbon of water drops from the Madison Plateau into a peaceful forest clearing . The trail is about five miles round-trip along old fire roads, flat and easy enough for most fitness levels.

Most Yellowstone visitors stick to the main loop, which means Fairy Falls sees only a fraction of the park's three million annual tourists. The falls flow strongest during spring snowmelt, becoming more modest by late summer.

1

Abigail Adams

Image: Christian Schussele, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Women in the 1770s were not supposed to be concerned about politics. But Abigail Adams, wife of the second president of the United States, talked and wrote about politics with extraordinary insight. She was one of the earliest supporters of independence, and her ideas influenced the Founding Fathers.

Often ill as a child, Abigail educated herself in her father’s library. Her studies prepared her for a life of public service in which she fought for freedom from England and women’s rights, and stood firmly against slavery. She even wrote the famous "Remember the ladies" letter 150 years before women were allowed to vote. Abigail’s influence over John Adams was so great that some rival politicians nicknamed her "Mrs. President."

2

Mary Katherine Goddard

Image: Thomas Jefferson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mary Katherine Goddard was the director of the Baltimore Post Office and one of the world's first female publishers. Her greatest contribution to the Revolution, however, was the printing of the first copy of the Declaration of Independence that included the names of all signatories.

During the war, she ran the Providence Gazette and Maryland Journal , two newspapers that actively supported the American patriots' efforts. Despite the challenges she faced as a woman trying to make her way in a male-dominated society, Mary Katherine Goddard left an invaluable legacy as a pioneering woman in journalism and federal government work.

3

​​Martha Washington

Image: Billy Hathorn, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

During her lifetime, she was known as Lady Washington, but Martha Dandridge Custis Washington will always be remembered as the first in a long line of first ladies of the United States. Martha married George Washington in 1759 and would be by his side in private and public life, even joining him on the battlefield.

While Washington was in office, Martha was in charge of the Presidential galas held to entertain members of the administration and foreign dignitaries. Although at that time she had no official duties or title, her warm temperament and classy poise laid the foundations for a key role that continues to this day.

4

Esther de Berdt Reed

Image: National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Even though Esther was born and raised in England, she sided with her husband, an aide to General Washington, in the American fight for independence. Five years into the war, Esther felt it was time for women to support the Continental troops in a more active way.

Esther's group, the Philadelphia Association, went door to door to ask for contributions. They ended up raising a large sum of money, which they used to supply soldiers in desperate need of provisions. Eventually, they stitched over 2,000 shirts by hand. Esther's vision and the group's dedicated efforts helped remind the men fighting the American Revolutionary War how much they were appreciated.

5

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton

Image: Ralph Earl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Hamilton, sometimes called "Eliza" or "Betsey," was the daughter of one of New York State's wealthiest and most politically influential families. In 1780, Eliza married Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. During their more than 20 years of marriage, she helped Hamilton write his letters and newspaper contributions and accompanied him on numerous historic events.

Strong-willed but caring, Eliza would devote her long widowhood to charity, helping to found New York's first private orphanage. In addition, she worked tirelessly to spread her husband's legacy and ensure that Hamilton had the place he deserved in American history.

6

Patience Lovell Wright

Image: William Faden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that during the American Revolutionary War, the Patriots had an American spy in the heart of King George's court? More interestingly, it was a woman! Famous for molding incredible wax sculptures, Patience Lovell Wright had to move to England after her New York studio caught fire.

Her friend, Benjamin Franklin, introduced her to London society. Soon enough, word of her talent reached King George III, who invited her to Buckingham Palace. But she remained loyal to her "dear America," as she called it, and when trouble started back home, Patience decided she could help America's fight for independence by providing decisive information her prominent clients revealed while posing for her.

7

Mercy Otis Warren

Image: John Singleton Copley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

At a time when women were expected not to air their views on political issues, Mercy Otis Warren was a poet, playwright, and activist.

During the American Revolution, Warren not only maintained a close relationship with leading political figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, but she also became a historian and outspoken commentator, as well as the leading female intellectual of the early republic.

8

Penelope Barker

Image: Attributed to Philip Dawe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the 18th century, women had no public outlet to express their convictions or to take a stand. Rebellion was considered men's business. Yet, the courageous Penelope Barker proved to everyone that women could contribute a great deal to the efforts for independence.

In 1774, in Edenton, North Carolina, a group of fifty-one women signed a declaration by Penelope, stating they would not drink tea or wear clothes made in England. The British press called it the "Edenton Tea Party" and ridiculed them. But soon enough, women all over the colonies were boycotting British products. Thanks to Penelope Barker's declaration, every woman in America discovered a smart and original way to rebel against the colonists.

9

Mary Norris Dickinson

Image: Prateek Katyal

The daughter of wealthy Pennsylvania Quakers, Mary Norris Dickinson was well-educated and owned one of the largest libraries in the colonies. She believed in a life without violence and in equal rights for men and women, ideas that she did not shy away from voicing in public to the dismay of some more conservative individuals.

For her fundamental role in political thought, influence on other women, and involvement in events related to the Constitutional Convention, the wife of Founding Father John Dickinson definitely deserves her place in history.

10

Phillis Wheatley

Image: Phillis Wheatley, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brought to America as a slave, Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American author. Her poems celebrated learning and virtue and described a yearning for freedom. She also wrote a number of patriotic verses on subjects like the peace treaty of 1783 that ended the American Revolutionary War.

Her most famous piece was a poem to George Washington, in which she refers to him as "first in peace." The poem was published several times during the war to promote the Patriot cause, and Washington liked it so much that he asked to meet her. A true patriot and later a symbol for the abolition of slavery, Phillis Wheatley will always be known as a key contributor to freedom.

1

The Government impersonator

Image: Harold Mendoza

One of the most common scams targeting senior citizens involves fraudsters posing as a member of a government agency such as the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare. The basic pitch is similar to many others: the caller claims that if the target does not pay a fee or provide personal information, they will face serious consequences.

Government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to request money or personal information . Only scammers engage in such tactics.

2

Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery

Image: dylan nolte

Another common scam involves a call, email, or letter informing the recipient that they have won a sweepstakes, lottery, prize, or even a new car. The next part of their message is the key to uncovering the racket: the scammer will request money or personal account information to "claim" the prize . No serious company will ask for such things by telephone or email to award a prize.

3

Tech Support

Image: Simon Abrams

Technology can be intimidating to anyone who is not familiar with it, and tech support scammers know this. These individuals will attempt to convince their targets that their computer or phone has a serious issue, such as a virus.

Scammers often pressure victims into paying for unnecessary services that are not really needed or offer to do the repairs remotely if the recipient grants them access. They may use pop-up error messages, phone calls, or text messages to carry out their scheme. To protect yourself, always keep your antivirus software up to date.

4

'Grandparent' Scams

Image: Nikoline Arns

Exploiting emotional connections is a basic on any scammer’s manual and grandparents are frequent targets. Fraudsters may call and impersonate a grandchild or another close relative in distress , urgently requesting financial assistance .

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and contact the family member directly to verify their well-being before taking any action.

5

Robocalls

Image: Jenna Anderson

Robocalls use automated phone technology to dial large numbers of households. One common scam is the "Can you hear me?" call. When the recipient responds "yes," the scammer records their voice and quickly hangs up. This recorded response can then be used as a voice signature to authorize fraudulent charges on stolen credit cards or other accounts.

6

Romance Scams

Image: Mayur Gala

Online dating and loneliness may seem like a natural match, but scammers have long exploited this opportunity. Romance scammers create elaborate fake profiles, often on social media, to take advantage of senior adults' loneliness and manipulate them for money.

They may request money for visas, medical emergencies, or travel expenses to visit the US. Since they tend to last for a long time, these types of scams can rob an older person of substantial amounts of money before realizing they’ve been deceived.

7

Business Imposter

Image: Constantin Wenning

This type of scam can take a serious financial toll on senior adults. This type of ruse involves the illegal or alleged sale of financial instruments promising low risk and guaranteed returns. The use of cryptocurrency is common in these scams, as it can be difficult to trace.

8

Pigeon Drop

Image: Alexander Mils

A pigeon drop scam occurs when a scammer offers the victim a large sum of money in exchange for a smaller upfront payment . While this should immediately raise suspicion, many people still fall for it. These scams are often carried out in person at tourist spots but can also happen frequently over the phone .

A classic example is an email claiming that the sender has inherited money from a distant relative but needs a small payment from you to transfer the funds.

9

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks

Image: Gadini

Cashier’s checks have been around for a long time and have been the subject of counterfeiters ever since. While forgeries can be highly convincing, a common red flag is being asked to deposit a check under suspicious circumstances and then return a portion of the funds to a stranger —chances are, it is a scam.

10

Travel Packages

Image: Marten Bjork

A tourist hoping for a dream vacation instead found cramped rooms and terrible accommodations that fell far short of expectations —this is not a new story.

To avoid such disappointments, travelers should always request information directly from the hotel in question and confirm which features are included in their selected package. Additionally, they should never provide credit card information unless they initiate the call or email.

11

Home Repair

Image: Jimmy Nilsson Masth

Another common scam involves criminals who appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services they never provide . These scammers often pose as employees of utility companies.

If someone receives an unexpected visit like this, they should always call the company to verify the person's identity before allowing them inside.

12

Caregivers

Image: Ani Kolleshi

This one strikes particularly hard since caregivers are supposed to help people when they are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, sometimes, unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of the senior adults they are supposed to care for and steal their money .

Always make sure to screen anybody who will be in charge of, or around, a senior adult that requires assistance.