Walker Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Lake Elsinore
Attractive canyon that’s absolutely covered with California poppies in the spring
La Brea Tar Pits
Location: California, Los Angeles
Famous ice age fossil site with ongoing excavations and a museum
⊗ Seven Teacups ♦
Location: California, Easter Sierras
Super fun Class C technical canyon with numerous jumps and slides
Zzyzx ♦
Location: California, South Central Desert, Northeast of Los Angeles
Abandoned buildings and infrastructure of a 1940’s era Health Resort on the edge of the Mojave Desert
Calico Ghost Town
Location: California, South Central Desert, Northeast of Los Angeles
Commercialized ghost town with some authentic buildings that’s a fun tourist stop between LA and Vegas
Salton City
Location: California, South Central Desert, Southeast of Los Angeles
Failed resort community that currently houses a fraction of the intended population; fascinating as a sort of modern day ghost town
Tahquitz Canyon
Location: California, South Central Desert, East of Los Angeles
Quick hike through a canyon previously inhabited by the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians to a nice (largely seasonal) waterfall
Indio
Location: California, South Central Desert, East of Los Angeles
Winter escape famous with polo fields, canyons, spring wildflowers, and the Coachella Valley
Santa Cruz Island
Location: California, Channel Islands, Channel Islands National Park
Remote off-shore island with miles of hiking trails, nice snorkeling options, and kayaking to great sea caves
Wrigley Botanical Garden
Location: California, Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island
Memorial and botanical garden with native plants and nice views
Santa Catalina Diving
Location: California, Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island
Great California diving with kelp beds and numerous wrecks
Avalon
Location: California, Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island
Resort community originally developed in the early 1900’s and retaining much of its historic charm
Trans-Catalina Trail
Location: California, Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island
Rugged trail traversing Catalina via a multi-day backpacking trip with beautiful coastal views
Mission San Antonia de Padua
Location: California, East of Big Sur
Mission founded in 1771 with a mission church, garden, museum, and extant ruins of equipment intended to support a community around the mission which never materialized
Wagon Caves
Location: California, East of Big Sur
Rarely visited lovely area in the Los Padres National Forest with cool rock formations and climbing options
⊗ Cougar Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Nice desert canyon with lots of rappels, some of which are very pretty, and flowing water in the spring
Villager Peak
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Hike to the summit of a peak offering sweeping views of the surrounding desert and nice wildflowers in the spring
Borrego Palm Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Popular hike along a watercourse to a palm grove; also features great wildflowers and a nice waterfall in the spring
Hellhole Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Hike over open desert and up a canyon along a watercourse to a hidden waterfall; features nice wildflowers in the spring
Lower Coyote Canyon
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Nice off-road drive providing access to some more remote areas of the park with nice hiking options and spring wildflowers
Galleta Meadows Sculptures
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Excellent art installation sprinkled around the Anza Borrego area, featuring large steel welded sculptures
Culp Valley
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Nice bouldering area right off the main road into Borrego Springs
Dog Sledding ♦
Location: Finland, Lapland
Cruise through beautiful frozen landscapes with your adorable team of sled dogs who are super stoked to pull you (or to pull anything, to be honest)
Reindeer Sleigh Ride
Location: Finland, Lapland
Riding in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer through a winter wonderland. Yep, it’s a real thing.
Snowmobiling
Location: Finland, Lapland
You can cover a lot of winter wonderland on a snowmobile; particularly good for hunting Northern Lights
Nordic Skiing ♦
Location: Finland, Lapland
Cruise through beautiful frozen scenery like the locals do and escape from other tourists on back country trails
Kakslauttenen
Location: Finland, Lapland
Remote resort set in a winter wonderland with picturesque igloos; particularly popular around the holidays because you can visit Santa’s Home
Horseback Riding in Finland
Location: Finland, Lapland
Ride adorable Finnish horse through the snow
Reynisfjara
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Black beach with an amazing geometric basalt cliff and an imposing pair of off shore islands with sheer cliffs
Sólheimasandur Plane Crash
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Wreckage of a US Navy plane that crashed here in 1973
Seljavallalaug
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Outdoor pool originally constructed in 1923 filled with geothermally heated water
Mossy Lava Rocks
Location: Iceland, Southern, east of Thórsmörk
Fields of lava rocks overtaken by moss creating a delightful, green, fuzzy, mounded carpet
Skógafoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Heavily visited large and impressive waterfall with easy access
Kvernufoss ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Beautiful unmarked and less-visited waterfall – you can even walk behind it for bonus photo opportunities!
Fjaðrárgljúfur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Stunning sheer-walled non-technical canyon lined with moss and clear water, perfect for hiking up-canyon in the watercourse
Gljúfrabúi
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Less visited waterfall tucked away in the back of a short, narrow canyon
Seljalandsfoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, south of Thórsmörk
Heavily trafficked tall waterfall that you can walk behind; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Hjálparfoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Popular double waterfall with very easy access
Thórsmörk
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice nature reserve composed of a valley and mountain range set amidst glaciers and volcanoes
Háifoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
One of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, it’s less visited due to the need for a 4 wheel drive to navigate the access road. Has a bonus waterfall right next to it!
Dyrhólaey
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Peninsula with a large natural arch, historic lighthouse, and beautiful coastal views
Stöng
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Excavated remains of a 12th century longhouse
Gjáin ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Delightful hidden valley with nice rock formations and waterfalls
Black Sand Diamond Beach ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Pristine black sand beach littered with ice chunks, creating a stunning and unusual visual effect
Vatnajökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Nice glacier offering hiking and ice climbing options
Jökulsárlón ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Iconic Iceland location: beautiful glacial lagoon dotted with an ever-changing array of icebergs breaking off from nearby glaciers
Fimmvörðuháls ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Fantastic hike through stunning glacier and volcanic sculpted hills and mountains
Stakkholtsgjá ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice non-technical canyon that gets an intrepid top pick rating because of the great side canyon leading to an impressive hidden waterfall in a sculpted, high-walled chamber
Grænavatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Lake formed by a volcanic crater with remarkable blue-green water
Thingvellir
Location: Iceland, Southwest Iceland, Golden Circle
Interesting National Park with a storied history and set between tectonic plates creating a picturesque landscape above ground and the famous Silfra Fissure, which can be explored via either snorkeling or diving
Glymur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Northern Capital Region
Beautiful hike to an impressively tall waterfall tucked in an imposing sheer-walled canyon
Reykjavík
Location: Iceland, Southwest
Capital city with nice historic streets, a photogenic church, and various shops and restaurants
Eldhestar
Location: Iceland, Southwest, near Hveragerdi
Horseback riding on adorable Icelandic horses through beautiful scenery
Gunnuhver
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large boiling mud pool that expanded violently in 2008 claiming many of the viewing platforms and walkways
Krýsuvíkurberg
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Impressive vertical sea cliffs that are home to thousands of birds (including puffins) in the summer
Seltun
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Geothermal area with a boardwalk for viewing various mud pots and fumaroles
Geysir
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Home of the largely inactive geyser “Geysir” and the highly predictable and very active geyser “Strokkur”
Kleifarvatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large lake with lava rock formations and shallow caves along its edge
Gullfoss
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Large multi-tiered thundering waterfall
Lóndrangar
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Large lava pinnacles at the edge of dramatic basalt cliffs; you can find puffins here during the warmer months
Landbrotalaug
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Unmarked hot spring off a random dirt road through a lava field
Búðir
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Site of a nice hotel and a photogenic church
Hellnar
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Ancient fishing village on a rugged coastline with a notable cave and nice church
Kirkjufell
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Dramatic peak near a set of beautiful waterfalls; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Stykkishólmur
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Picturesque fishing and trading post originally established in 1550 CE
Barnafoss
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Series of rapids through a narrow-walled canyon with a natural bridge
Hraunfossar ♦
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Lovely and unique set of waterfalls that appear to be magically pouring from the hillside
Stefánshellir ♦
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Unmarked non-technical lava tube cave with multiple entrances and side passages including a great ice chamber
Surtshellir
Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Unmarked lava tube cave which was once home to a band of outlaws
Víðgelmir
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Iceland’s largest cave; the front portion has been converted for easy viewing and access by tour groups, but you can reserve an extended tour to the wild portions of the cave
Húsafell Geothermal Pools
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Great collection of geothermal swimming pools
Looking Glass Rock
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Pisgah National Forest
Nice beginner climbing spot with a few harder climbs
Slickrock Falls Trail
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Pisgah National Forest
Trail to the south face of Looking Glass Rock that passes its namesake waterfall at the start of the trail
Hooker Falls
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Wide waterfall in a peaceful setting; easy access via a short trail that can be extended to view Triple Falls
Triple Falls
Location: North Carolina, Brevard Area, Dupont State Forest
Lovely three-tiered waterfall in scenic woodlands; a short detour on the brief hike provides a view of Hooker Falls
Biltmore
Location: North Carolina, Asheville
Late 19th century country estate of the Vanderbilts, offering various options to tour the house and grounds, all of which are very nice
Blue Ridge Parkway
Location: North Carolina, Asheville
Extremely scenic highway linking Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains; renowned for its fall colors
Judaculla Rock
Location: North Carolina, Tuckasegee
Large soapstone boulder covered in mysterious petroglyphs that pre-date the Cherokee
Cedar Cliff Lake
Location: North Carolina, Tuckasegee
Very pretty lake that’s great for canoeing or kayaking as well as fishing and swimming.
Dry Falls
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Popular waterfall that you can walk behind; easy access and great colors in the fall
Bridal Veil Falls
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Previously a waterfall you could drive behind, you can no longer do this, but the access remains absurdly easy
Glen Falls ♦
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
Three for one! Relatively short and easy hike to three waterfalls, with nice scenery along the way
Whitewater Falls
Location: North Carolina, Highlands area
The highest waterfall east of the Rockies, it’s so large you can only see the upper half from this location, but at 411 feet, it’s still very impressive.
Ringling Museum
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
The state art museum of Florida, the Ringing contains a museum of art, a circus museum, the estate home of John and Mable Ringling, and nice gardens
Chihuly Collection
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, St. Petersburg
Permanent display of artist Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass work; studio next door provides glass blowing demos
TreeUmph! Adventure Course
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Bradenton
Excellent adventure course with numerous zip lines, swing ropes, and other obstacles
Sarasota Honey Company
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
Benefit the community and the environment while playing with bees and enjoying bee/honey related products
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
Lovely botanical garden including a great collection of exotic epiphytes (orchids, bromeliads, etc)
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Location: Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota
Public outreach arm of a not-for-profit marine research organization
Hemingway Home
Location: Florida, Key West
The home of Ernest Hemingway and his family for ten years, and home to a large population of adorable six-toed cats descended from Hemingway’s favorite cat
Shipwreck Treasures Museum
Location: Florida, Key West
Museum highlighting the wreck salvage business that flourished in the 1800’s due to the large number of shipwrecks occurring in the area
Key West Kayaking
Location: Florida, Key West
Paddle through mazes of mangroves and across calm bays to see the “back country” of Key West
Key West Snorkeling
Location: Florida, Key West
Snorkel the shallow reefs and warm water to view loads of reef fish and lobsters
Fort Jefferson ♦
Location: Florida, Key West area, Dry Tortugas National Park
Awesome historic island fort (complete with a large moat!) turned prison which held the Lincoln assassination conspirators
Fremont Petroglyphs
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Excellent set of petroglyphs with very easy access and viewing
⊗ Pandora’s Box ♦
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
All day technical adventure through an extremely narrow canyon with challenging rappels
Cassidy Arch Hike
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Nice hike with expansive views to a huge natural arch that you can walk across
Hickman Bridge
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Short hike to an impressive natural bridge that you can walk under
⊗ Cassidy Arch Canyon ♦
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Relatively short approach to a rapid-fire series of beautiful rappels and canyon features, including the stunning initial free-hanging rappel from under the famous Cassidy Arch
Sunset Point
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Viewpoint with great views of Bryce’s multi-colored hoodoos, including “Thor’s Hammer”