There are many reasons to seek out and visit beautiful places. Maybe you are looking for inspiration or inner peace. Maybe you are an avid social media personality looking to enhance your brand with travel photos. Maybe you are looking for significant experiences to share with loved ones. As long as you are respectful of the places and their people, there is no bad reason to seek out beautiful places to explore. If you aren’t sure where to start your excursions, here are some of the most beautiful places in the world you must add to your bucket list.
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
If you’re thinking about cruises in 2022, consider an Inside Passage cruise. This allows you to travel by boat or kayak to Glacier Bay National Park. The trip gives you an opportunity to see wildlife such as mountain goats and bears on the shore, as well as marine animals such as sea lions and orcas. You may also get to witness the birth of an iceberg breaking off the Margerie Glacier.
Mount Fuji, Japan
Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan and one of the most photogenic because of its symmetrical appearance and nearly perpetual cover of snow. Though an active volcano, Mount Fuji has not erupted since the early 1700s. While some people climb Mount Fuji, others prefer to admire it from a distance. In either case, you should try to schedule your visit for spring so that you can also experience the wonder of Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Black Hills and Badlands, South Dakota
Many people don’t fully realize how beautiful this unassuming Midwestern state can be until they come for a visit and see it for themselves. Western South Dakota features the Black Hills and the Badlands, two completely different but equally gorgeous landforms. Covered in evergreen forests, the Black Hills are most famous as the home of Mount Rushmore, which is well worth a visit but shouldn’t be the only stop on your trip. Other attractions include an expansive state park, caves, canyons, nature areas, and a steam engine that takes paying passengers through some of the most pristine green countryside you will ever see.
The Badlands featured prominently in the movie “Nomadland,” winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2021. The name comes from the Lakota language indicating how harsh and arid the region is. It is an otherworldly landscape of stone pinnacles and buttes that have been sharply eroded over millennia to reveal different-colored striations.
Banff National Park, Canada
Banff National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains near the southwestern border of the province of Alberta. You’ll find some of the bluest water you’ve ever seen in its glacial lakes that reflect the surrounding mountains. There are plenty of accommodations to suit the preferences of all visitors, ranging from the cozy to the luxurious. Therefore, don’t cheat yourself out of a trip to Banff National Park because you don’t feel that you are particularly “outdoorsy.”
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is an ancient terraced city located 8,000 feet above sea level. Not only does it offer sweeping views of the surrounding mountains but the remaining architecture is remarkable. There is a good reason why Machu Picchu is the most famous spot in Peru and designated a World Heritage site.
Venice, Italy
Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world because a good portion of it is underwater. Venice often has canals in place of streets and boats in place of cars. However, it is not only this curiosity that makes the city unique. Venice was also a medieval center of art, architecture, literature, and other scholarly pursuits. Just strolling along the arched bridges and sidewalks can be a wildly romantic experience. However, if you want to have an authentic gondola ride, that is an option as well.
It is worthwhile to seek out and visit some of the most beautiful places in the world. However, remember that you don’t necessarily have to travel far to find beauty. It is present in every place if you try to look for it.
