The coronavirus pandemic is still impacting travel, and destinations around the world have different COVID-19 restrictions in place. Always check and adhere to local government policies, and use our content to dream about a future trip.
1.
Badlands National Park — South Dakota
Stevenschremp / Getty Images
The Dakotas often get overlooked as a tourist destination, and that’s exactly why they’re so wonderful. The dramatic rock formations of Badlands National Park might draw you in, but it’s what’s down below that’s truly captivating. The park has one of the world’s richest fossil beds — think ancient horses and rhinos — and is the modern-day home of bison and bighorn sheep. You can get a feel for the park by driving the Badlands Loop Road, before circling back to take on one of the park’s many hikes.
2.
Crestone — Colorado
Campphoto / Getty Images
This high-altitude town sits at 7,923 feet and is home to several world religion centers and spiritual communities — there’s a Hindu temple, a zen center, Christian churches, and several Tibetan centers. People come to undergo a spiritual journey or transformation — or to soak in the nearby Valley View Hot Springs, a clothing-optional nature sanctuary with six natural pools.
This desert town in west Texas may be small — it’s home to around 1,800 people — but its art footprint is mighty. You can walk through giant outdoor art installations at The Chinati Foundation, which is situated in an old army base, or visit the Prada Marfa “store” made famous by Beyoncé.
To (potentially) witness a paranormal phenomenon, head to the viewing platform outside town and watch for the Marfa Lights, mysterious orbs of light that people have reported seeing since the 19th century.
4.
Bonneville Salt Flats — Utah
Daniloforcellini / Getty Images
A visit to Bonneville Salt Flats will trick your mind and spark your imagination. Once an ancient lake bottom, today the area is vast and flat (and salty). Depending on the light and weather, the flats might look like they’re underwater or appear to be a snow-covered lake bed in the middle of the desert. Stay hydrated, or you might imagine you’ve spotted a lush oasis in there too.
The 2020 US election broke records, with an estimated 66.5% of eligible Americans turning out to vote. With political activism and democracy at an all-time high, now is the time to visit ground-zero for all things political: Washington DC. The National Museum of American History named 2020 the “Year of the Woman,” launching several exhibits that remain up through 2021, while part-hotel, part-gallery Hotel Zena houses a mural of Ruth Bader Ginsburg made using 20,000 hand-painted tampons, as a nod to the late supreme court justice’s commitment to gender equality.
If you like beer and bikes, make your way to Asheville, a super-hip Southern mountain town that proudly houses the second highest number of breweries per capita (beat only by Portland, Maine). The city is found off the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic stretch popular with bikers. Do some biking; drink some beers (in that order).
East-coast wine lovers don’t need to travel to Napa when the wine-rich Finger Lakes region is just around a five-hour drive from some major cities like New York, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. One of the 11 Finger Lakes, Keuka Lake, is said to be where winemaking started in the region, and the Keuka Lake Wine Trail shows off that history alongside scenic lake views. When you’ve had enough to drink, drop by the small village of Naples for some unusual wellness experiences — cuddling with cows at Mountain Horse Farm or enjoying some Japanese-style forest bathing at Finger Lakes Forest Immersion.
You’ll find this unique sandstone formation, that looks like a red-rock wave, in Coyote Buttes North within northern Arizona’s Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. It’s the sort of place you have to see at least once in your lifetime, and you’ll need to plan ahead to make it happen — half the daily permits are issued online four months in advance, while the other half are available through an in-person lottery.
Crater Lake, which was formed when a peak collapsed following a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago, is the deepest lake in the US. The enormous body of water remains in a dormant volcano and reaches depths of 1,943 feet. Fed solely by rain and snow, it’s so pristine some scientists have even called it “the cleanest and clearest large body of water in the world.”
Just north of Yosemite National Park is Bridgeport, California, the unassuming home of Travertine Hot Springs. The clothing-optional springs are found at the end of a dirt road and surrounded by mineral-coated red, orange, and green rocks. If you look hard, you can spot the Sierra Nevada in the distance.
11.
Everglades National Park — Florida
Pola Damonte Via Getty Images / Getty Images
Entering the Everglades is like entering another world — a world where bobcats forage in mangroves, endangered leatherback turtles nest on sandy beaches, and manatees and alligators glide through the waters. Animals aside, you can leave your car (and hiking boots) behind for a multi-day canoe or kayak adventure that takes you deep into cypress groves and mangrove forests on an established canoe and kayak trail.
12.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — Minnesota
Georgepeters / Getty Images
Places like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness make you realize just how big the US is — and how much there is to explore. The 1 million-acre wilderness area includes plenty of multi-day canoe routes, as well as tons of terrain not found on the trail map.
13.
Area 51 — Nevada
Mrdoomits / Getty Images
If otherworldly and desolate is your cup of tea, take Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway and get as close as you can to Area 51, a highly classified Air Force facility that was speculated to be a base for top-secret spacecraft activity and government cover ups for many years (the US government finally confirmed its existence in 2013). You won’t be able to actually visit the heavily guarded Area 51, but you can visit the region’s Native American petroglyphs (which some say are ~otherworldly~) and drop by the Alien Research Center for their take on events and a great alien-themed gift shop.
14.
Taos Pueblo — New Mexico
Jacobh / Getty Images
Taos Pueblo may now be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the village is also home to a Native American community that’s inhabited the area for more than 1,000 years. It’s a true glimpse into the merging of traditional with present-day life — homes built using sun-dried mud and a sovereign tribal government. Once you’ve explored the architecture and history, drop by the nearby Tiwa Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery for homestyle Pueblo and New Mexican food cooked in an outdoor adobe oven.
There are a million reasons why New Orleans belongs on your travel list, but rather than heading for Bourbon Street like everyone else, spend some time delving into the city’s fascinating voodoo culture. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum was founded in 1972 and includes talismans, antique voodoo dolls, and the kneeling bench of Maria Laveau, a famed voodoo priest whose tomb you can also visit.
There are only a handful of active volcanoes on mainland US, and one of the most stunning is Mount Rainier. The glaciated 14,410-foot peak is surrounded by thick forests, meadows of wildflowers, and high-alpine lakes — but it’s also expected to erupt. It’s the sort of place you might want to see sooner rather than later.
Any amazing spots we missed? Share your US bucket list destinations in the comments below.
