1

Mojave Desert

Image: Paulius Dragunas

The possibility of being stranded in the desert has always terrified humankind. Can you imagine being completely alone in the harsh and unforgiving heat? Luckily, nowadays it’s extremely difficult to get lost in the Mojave Desert . However, that doesn’t mean visiting this gorgeous landscape isn’t a demanding endeavor.

The Mojave Desert spans four different western states and is crossed by the Colorado and Mojave rivers. One of its most famous locations is the area known as Death Valley , the point of lowest elevation in North America and the hottest place on Earth during the summer.

2

Mount Rainier

Image: Taylor

Also known as Tahoma, Mount Rainier National Park is located approximately 59 miles from Seattle. As you might guess, the main attraction of this park is the titular Mount Rainier, the highest mountain in the state of Washington and a formidable challenge for daring adventurers.

Mount Rainier’s official summit elevation is 14,410 feet, and it is one of the most popular climbing spots in the world. That doesn’t mean it is an easy climb—quite the contrary, in fact. In order to reach the summit, climbers must traverse glaciers similar to those found in southern Alaska. Of the approximately 11,000 climbers who attempt to summit Mount Rainier each year, only about 50% succeed.

3

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Image: Sauvage

The northernmost park in the United States, Gates of the Arctic National Park, is definitely hard to reach. In fact, it is the least visited park in the country due to its remoteness and lack of infrastructure.

In any case, camping and hiking are allowed in the park, though they are not for the faint of heart. The extreme temperatures, with an annual minimum average of −42.6 °F, make it a challenging yet alluring landscape for those seeking adventure.

4

Glacier National Park

Image: Michael Kirsh

While Montana’s Glacier National Park offers recreational opportunities for people of all ages, including kayaking, fly fishing, and hiking, many tourists visit the park seeking a more thrilling experience. They aren’t disappointed, as the park features numerous climbing challenges, including five peaks over 10,000 feet .

However, we recommend visiting during the tourist season. In winter, temperatures can plummet, with a historical low of -38°F. Additionally, the area is prone to sudden temperature changes, which can pose challenges for adventurers.

5

Lake Clark National Park

Image: Clayton Manche

Much like Glacier National Park, Lake Clark is not necessarily a severe environment during the tourist season. It offers a variety of recreational activities, ranging from bird-watching to more thrilling pursuits like kayaking and rafting. However, the extremely low temperatures and intense snowfall make this park much harsher during the winter months.

With a record-low temperature of -18°F, Lake Clark becomes inhospitable during the colder months. Not only that, but the park is not accessible by roads; only air taxis and boats can reach it.

6

Big Bend National Park

Image: Simon Hurry

As with many other parks on this list, we should start with a small disclaimer: Don’t be discouraged from visiting Big Bend National Park . Not that you need our warning—after all, half a million tourists enjoy the park's magnificence every year. However, a point should be made that the harsh desert conditions of Big Bend do provide a challenge that should not be overlooked.

According to Search & Rescue team reports, 1 in 1,000 visitors requires assistance of some kind. Although most of this assistance is not life-threatening (often involving mild dehydration), it highlights the importance of taking necessary precautions when visiting the park.

7

Rocky Mountain National Park

Image: Michael Kirsh

Located in the heart of Colorado , Rocky Mountain National Park offers unmatched views of the stunning Rocky Mountains, as well as numerous alpine lakes and lush forests that completely surround the park. However, there are many hazards you should be aware of if you plan to visit this beautiful location.

Visitors should be cautious of steep cliffs, falling rocks, cold temperatures, and adverse snow conditions. Additionally, the area is infamous for its recurring wildfires, so campers must be careful not to leave anything that might increase the risk of fire.

8

Great Basin National Park

Image: Shawn Powar

The arid beauty of Great Basin National Park is truly second to none. Although it is located in a desert area , the plants and vegetation have majestically adapted to the dry climate. With that in mind, you can also adapt and thoroughly enjoy this park if you keep these safety suggestions in mind.

We’ll mention just some of the safety tips recommended by the National Park Service for visiting Great Basin: For starters, remember that cell phone service is limited, so don’t rely entirely on your phone. Also, be mindful of sun exposure and take precautions to avoid sunburn and dehydration. One last thing: Like all desserts, heat is not the only concern. The park’s temperature drops significantly at night, so try to not be caught in the open when the sun goes down.

9

Voyageurs National Park

Image: Tim Umphreys

Located in northern Minnesota, right on the border with Canada, Voyageurs National Park was named after the French-Canadian fur traders who frequently traveled the area. It is particularly famous for its many lakes , which offer activities like kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.

However, there are a few dangers that boaters should be aware of, such as the many hazardous rocks hidden in the water. Additionally, during the winter season, many visit the park to engage in snowmobiling, which must be practiced carefully to avoid any soft spots.

10

Kobuk Valley National Park

Image: Adrià Masi

Kobuk Valley National Park is as massive as it is undeveloped. Although the park is larger than the state of Delaware, there are no roads leading to it , nor any internal roads or trails within the park. Visitors must arrive by air taxi, weather permitting, and bring all their gear and supplies if they intend to backpack, camp, or boat.

Not only that, the weather conditions in the park can be extreme, even during the summer, and are completely unpredictable. In any case, as with all the other parks in this article, we don’t want to dissuade you from visiting Kobuk Valley if you choose to. We simply want to emphasize the importance of keeping safety a paramount priority during your trip.

1

Grand Prismatic Spring

Image: MikeGoad

The steaming, multicolored circle of the Grand Prismatic Spring is one of the most hypnotic and unique sights in the U.S. Part of Yellowstone National Park, this hot spring is the largest in the country and the third-largest in the world, measuring 370 feet wide and 160 feet deep.

Its vibrant colors, ranging from deep blue in the center to fiery red and orange at its edges, are unlike anything we see in nature every day. Minerals and microbes are responsible for these hues, with water temperature causing the pigments to fluctuate . The spring owes its existence to geothermal activity driven by Yellowstone's underlying magma chamber and is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.

2

Fly Ranch Geyser

Image: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

One of the reasons why Fly Ranch Geyser is unique in the world is that it was formed after a human accident . This technicolor geothermal geyser, located on the Fly Ranch property in the Hualapai Geothermal Flats of Washoe County, Nevada, wasn’t there before 1916.

In 1916, while drilling a well for irrigation in the area, workers struck near-boiling geothermal water, leading to the creation of the first geyser. Decades later, in 1964, a geothermal energy company drilled a second well nearby, which caused the emergence of the Fly Geyser we know today. It has been spouting water into the sky ever since, forming several cone-like vents atop a mound that continues to grow.

3

Devil’s Kettle

Image: chrishawaii

Where does the water from the Brule River go when it falls? For a long time, this was a mystery. Located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais, Minnesota, along the North Shore of Lake Superior, the river is famous for its unusual split: one half flows downstream, while the other plunges into a seemingly bottomless hole .

This waterfall has baffled visitors and scientists for years because objects thrown into the "kettle," such as logs and ping-pong balls, appeared to vanish without resurfacing. This fueled theories of underground rivers or deep caverns beneath the falls. The mystery was solved recently when hydrologists discovered that the water entering the kettle resurfaces downstream . The kettle's strong currents explain why objects thrown in don’t resurface; they are broken apart and held underwater, functioning like a natural washing machine.

4

Mono Lake Tufa Towers

Image: Stephen Leonardi

These unique limestone formations, known as the Mono Lake Tufa Towers, emerge from the salty, alkaline waters of Mono Lake , fed by underwater springs. Located in eastern California, near the Sierra Nevada mountains and about 13 miles east of Yosemite National Park, they are a striking natural wonder.

These tufa towers rise dramatically from the water. How were they formed? Mono Lake has no outlet, so its high alkalinity and salinity caused minerals to accumulate over time. This unique environment supports an ecosystem of brine shrimp, alkali flies, and migratory birds. To give you an idea, the lake’s salinity is more than twice that of the ocean, which means you could float effortlessly in its waters, as many visitors do.

5

Crater of Diamonds

Image: Brett Sayles

If you find a diamond here, you get to keep it—this is the only diamond-bearing site in the world where that's possible. Open to the public for mining , the Crater of Diamonds is a 37.5-acre field located near Murfreesboro, Arkansas. It marks the eroded surface of a volcanic pipe composed of lamproite, a rare volcanic rock.

Visitors sometimes find diamonds of various colors, including white, yellow, and brown, along with other gems like amethyst and garnet. It was here that the "Uncle Sam Diamond" was found, the largest diamond ever dug out in North America, weighing 40.23 carats. Diamonds were first discovered here in 1906 when a local farmer found unusual crystals on his land, which sparked a minor diamond rush.

6

Antelope Canyon

Image: Roberto Lee Cortes

Rocks that look like flowing water: Antelope Canyon is a famous and breathtaking slot canyon in northern Arizona. It consists of two main sections: Upper Antelope Canyon (a.k.a. Tsé bighánílíní, or "the place where water runs through rocks") and Lower Antelope Canyon ( Hazdistazí, or "spiral rock arches").

The canyon was formed over millions of years as flash floods and desert winds eroded the Navajo Sandstone. Even today, seasonal flash flooding continues to shape and carve the canyon’s mesmerizing features. Its surreal, wave-like formations in shades of orange are a favorite subject for photographers and tourists from all over the world.

7

Petrified Forest

Image: Megan Clark

The Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona boasts one of the world's largest and most vibrant concentrations of petrified wood . The park, part of the Painted Desert, is located between the Apache and Navajo Counties.

Most of the wood found there is from ancient conifer trees that date back about 225 million years to the Late Triassic period. These trees were swept into river systems, buried by sediment, and transformed into stone through a process called permineralization . The park also features a wealth of fossilized remains of ancient animals, including early reptiles.

8

Devils Tower

Image: Kyle Petzer

The Devils Tower stands alone, protruding dramatically from the plains. Considered sacred by Native American tribes, it was originally called "bad god’s tower," a name that eventually evolved into its current form. Located in northeastern Wyoming, this igneous rock monolith soars 867 feet above its base.

It was designated the first U.S. National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Geologists agree that Devils Tower was formed through the intrusion of magma into sedimentary rock layers about 50 to 60 million years ago. Today, climbers from around the world are drawn to its sheer walls, though climbing is prohibited in June to honor Native ceremonies.

9

The Wave

Image: Mark Nemenzo

The Wave is a visually stunning sandstone formation located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Known for its hypnotic, swirling bands of red, orange, and yellow, its delicate ridges are so easily damaged that even one misplaced footstep could ruin the beautiful patterns.

Approximately 185 million years ago, this area was a vast desert covered in dunes. Over time, layers of sand were deposited, compacted, and cemented, forming this Navajo sandstone shape. Unfortunately, The Wave is only accessible by a challenging hike that requires a permit, due to the fragility of its ecosystem and high demand from visitors. With less than 5% of applicants obtaining a permit each year, it is one of the most exclusive hiking destinations in the world.

10

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Image: Bruce Warrington

The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located in northern New Mexico, displays a unique landscape of tall, cone-shaped rock formations. These "tent rocks," composed of pumice and tuff, are known as "hoodoos." They are natural formations ranging from a few feet to approximately 90 feet tall.

The name "Kasha-Katuwe" means "white cliffs" in the Keresan language of the Cochiti Pueblo. Hiking trails, such as the Slot Canyon Trail, offer visitors the opportunity to explore the cones up close while walking through dramatic, narrow canyons.

1

July 2nd

Image: Joe deSousa

In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that July 2nd would go down in history. Why? Well, because that's the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. But while the vote happened on the 2nd, the Declaration of Independence wasn't officially signed until the 4th, so that's the date we celebrate!

2

Secret signers

Image: Pierre Bamin

The signing of the Declaration of Independence wasn't as simple as it might seem. In fact, signatures were added over time, from July to August. In addition, the names of the signers were kept secret from the public for six months! Why? Because if the fight for independence had failed, those who signed the document would have been labeled traitors, and under British law, that meant a punishment of death.

3

Washington invites

Image: phil cruz

In the middle of the Revolutionary War, 1778 marked the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington wasn't about to let the anniversary go unnoticed, so he ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to celebrate the holiday. Cheers!

4

Something written on the back

Image: Anne Nygård

There's actually something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. This handwritten note appears upside down at the bottom of the back of the parchment, and it reads: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776." Just like we label the files we save on our computers today, it's believed they added the note to help identify the original document from other copies.

5

We are many more now

Image: Rob Curran

Many courageous people did everything they could to make the Independence dream a reality and help the nation grow. And it did grow! While there's no exact official data from that time, the US Census Bureau estimates that about 2.5 million people lived in America in 1776. By the most recent census in 2020, that number had grown to about 332 million!

6

John Adams' idea

Image: Jingda Chen

It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without the classic barbecues, parades, and -of course- fireworks lighting up the sky. But even though these traditions are now a staple, there was a first time for all of them. It's said that John Adams himself, in that letter to his wife Abigail, suggested using fireworks and illuminations to celebrate this important day.

7

Busy hospitals

Image: camilo jimenez

While fireworks are beautiful and help raise patriotic spirit during Independence Day celebrations, it's also true that they can sometimes be dangerous. In fact, it's been reported that hospitals see more patients than usual on July 4th due to fireworks-related injuries.

8

Thomas Jefferson's laptop

Image: Alicia Razuri

Of course, laptops didn't exist at the time of the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, but that's a fun way to describe the lap desk Thomas Jefferson used to write it. That's right: The father of the Declaration of Independence didn't need a grand marble desk or anything fancy to put his ideas into words.

9

Surprising coincidences

Image: Thomas Park

The 4th of July isn't just the day America officially declared its independence; it also holds some incredible historical coincidences. On Independence Day in 1826, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, exactly 50 years after the birth of the nation they helped create. Five years later, in 1831, James Monroe became the third president to die on the 4th of July.

But it's not all about endings: President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July, 1872, making him the only US president born on Independence Day.

10

Millions of hot dogs

Image: Ball Park Brand

It's clear we Americans love hot dogs, and for good reason! This iconic food is closely tied to one of the most important days in our nation's history. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, that's a real thing), Americans typically eat around 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day alone. 150 million!