Mono Lake – scenery straight from a science fiction movie
At the beginning, we will visit sun-drenched California, and more specifically – its north-eastern part. Mono Lake is a place that will delight every fantasy fan. From a distance you will see the tufa towers, which resemble a dark castle from the pages of a novel or a film frame. Lake Mono is 760,000 years old and covers over 180 km2. It is a salt lake (the water has almost 3 times more salt than the ocean) and is home to many migratory birds, alkaline flies and brine shrimp.
There are two islands in the lake area that can be reached by canoe. The aforementioned tufas make the landscape complete. These rock formations are visible both above the water surface and along the lake’s shoreline. Mono Lake is a place that is worth seeing primarily at sunrise or sunset. There is a tourist center nearby, and good access to the lake causes that this place is visited not only by photography enthusiasts. It is also worth mentioning as a curiosity that the photo of Mono Lake decorates the cover of the cult album “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. The lake level dropped significantly as a result of Los Angeles’ use of the Mono Lake rivers, so the area is now under protection.
Thor’s Well at Perpetua Cape, Oregon
Time for Oregon and one of the most interesting natural attractions at Cape Perpetua, namely Thor’s Well. It is named after a mythical god for a reason. Thor’s Well is a large hole just off the shore of the Pacific – extremely dangerous, so it should be admired from an appropriate distance. The hole has a diameter of approx. 5 m and a depth of 6 m, so it easily draws everything in its vicinity. The Thor’s well is called by the locals the “gate to the underworld”, as it turns out, it is the entrance to the underwater cave. This place is worth visiting an hour before or an hour after high tide. A high stream of water flows out of the hole, creating an excellent spectacle for the observers.
Zion Canyon – one of the most beautiful trails in the USA
Tourists visiting the US are usually divided up between those who prefer to spend time in iconic cities and those who head for national parks. One of the things to do in nature is Zion National Park in Utah. It is a place full of cliffs, hidden waterfalls, beautiful canyons and it is also home to many species of animals and plants. Over 35 tourist trails and a number of attractions, such as horse riding, await tourists. Undoubtedly, one of the most popular attractions of the park is Zion Canyon, formed by the Virgin River.
The red sandstone rocks guarantee an unforgettable experience that cannot be captured by any photography. The canyon is over 25 km long, and its depth is over 600 m in some places! If you want to discover the beauty of Zion Canyon, you should take with yourself good-quality shoes (a walk in the water awaits us) and poles. The bus will take us to the Temple of Sinawava stop, from where we will take the Riverside Walk route, which turns into The Zion Narrows. A permit is needed to complete the entire route. Fortunately, tourists can use easier, widely-accessible sections of the trail.
The Wynwood Walls in Miami – a mecca for street art lovers
Miami is not exclusively about sandy beaches drenched with warm ocean water, but it is also a place where street art reigns at every turn. One of the city’s biggest attractions is the colorful murals, the Wynwood Walls in the artistic district of Wynwood. Not so long ago, this place was packed with old warehouses. In 2009, Tony Goldman had the idea to treat the walls of buildings as a canvas for artists. Colorful graffiti has become the hallmark of a district that has gained a new life. The Wynwood Walls is worth visiting on the second Saturday of the month, when the monthly Wynwood Art Walk festival takes place there. Colorful murals are a great background for photos and a great opportunity to get to know the works of artists from around the world. Moreover, graffiti changes regularly! You can also admire unique sculptures and tourists can also find shops with antiques, souvenirs, numerous restaurants and boutiques. After intense sightseeing, it’s time to relax on the beach – sunny weather in Florida is a guarantee of a nice holiday!
Six Flags New Orleans – an abandoned amusement park in New Orleans
The next place on the map of the USA will be of particular interest to adrenaline junkies. We are talking about Six Flags News Orleans, an abandoned amusement park. The facility was opened in 2000 under the name Jazzland, over time it was taken over by Six Flags, which developed it with, among others, DC Comics-themed attractions. Unfortunately, the park was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The administration of the building did not decide to rebuild it, which made the place deserted. Some of the rails have been moved to other amusement parks, and the park site together with the parking area are often used as part of movie scenery (for example in the movie Jurassic World). The abandoned amusement park has also become a place of visits for thrill-seeking tourists who shoot dark films for social media. In November 2021, the authorities of New Orleans pitched the idea to transform the former park into a new water and entertainment facility, with a hotel for tourists and a STEM center.
Reach for the stars at Cherry Springs State Park
Cherry Springs is a state park in Pennsylvania and one of those places where we won’t experience artificial light. Such conditions are a great opportunity to admire the starry sky, which is eagerly used by both amateurs and astronomy experts. Cherry Springs is a vast area surrounded by Susquehannock Woods. This is an ideal place for those who love silence, romantic evenings and sky observation. You can also book accommodation, take part in photo workshops or decide to observe the stars under the supervision of a guide. If we’re lucky and the weather is fine, up to 30,000 stars will show up in the sky at night!
These are just some of the interesting, but less popular, places in the USA. One thing is certain – a trip to North America is a guarantee of an unforgettable experience, no matter which state you decide to visit.