Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is an arched dam in the Colorado River’s Black Canyon. Constructed from concrete during the Great Depression in the 1930s, the dam is considered an engineering marvel, though many lives were lost during its construction. The builders had to overcome many challenges to make the dam possible. The dam was built to control water flow to prevent floods, and also to generate hydroelectric power. The dam is also known as Boulder Dam, but was originally named for President Herbert Hoover, who was president during the early construction of the dam.

Visitors to the Hoover Dam are often amazed at its size and power. Tours are available for the power plant and also to go into the dam.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, (New York and Ontario)

Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls along the border between the United States and Canada, in New York and Ontario. Formed from the melting of glaciers after the last ice age, Niagara Falls consists of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. On the Canadian side of the border is Horseshoe Falls, while American and Bridal Veil Falls are on the American side of the boundary.

Visitors can view the waterfalls at the observation stations, or take a boat tour on the Maid of the Mist, or take a tour behind the falls.

In addition to the waterfalls, there are many other entertaining attractions, like the boardwalk, White Water Walk, and Niagara Skywheel. The nearby Marineland Theme Park offers close encounters with marine life, like whales and dolphins.

Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon is a system of canyons in northern Mexico, which were formed from several rivers that eventually all flow into the Rio Fuerte. The six canyons in Copper Canyon, when combined, are larger than the Grand Canyon. The Copper Canyon was named for the coppery colored rock from which the canyons are carved.

Aside from the canyons, there are hot springs and a wide variety of wildflowers which decorate the Copper Canyon at times. Hiking, biking, and driving are popular ways to get around Copper Canyon to experience all it has to offer. In addition, the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifica (ChePe for short) is a popular way to view the canyon, as it runs alongside Canyon Urique offering great views along the way.

Visitors to Copper Canyon may also be able to see some people of the Raramuri (or Tarahumara) tribe of native Americans, who are famous for their incredible endurance when running.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

One of the world’s natural wonders, the Grand Canyon is one of the most studied geologic landscapes, displaying layers of history from the past 12,000 years. The Grand Canyon is a mile-deep gorge, carved out by the Colorado River over about two billion years.

Visitors to the Grand Canyon hike around and down into the canyon, and stand in awe of its massiveness. The most adventurous and fit hikers can make their way to the bottom of the canyon and stay overnight in Phantom Ranch, before making the return hike the following day. Another way to reach the bottom and to stay in Phantom Ranch is to book the overnight mule ride. Helicopter rides are another fun way to see the Grand Canyon.

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks are home to the tallest trees in the world, the coast redwood. The Redwood National and State Parks include parks operated by both the National Park Service and the California State Park Service. There are a total for four parks included in the group: Redwood National Park, and the state parks Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods.

The state parks were established in the 1920s after years of logging in the old growth forests devastated the landscape and led to a movement to save the remaining forests. When Redwood National Park was established in 1968, almost 90 percent of the forests had already been destroyed.

In addition to the massive redwoods, the park offers oak trees, rivers, prairies and 37 miles of coastline.

Katmai National Park

Katmai National Park

Katmai was first established as a National Monument in 1918, to protect the area surrounding Novarupta volcano, which formed the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes with its pyroclastic flow after the 1912 eruption. The National Monument was later expanded to cover over 4 million acres, becoming Katmai National Park in 1980. Katmai National Park was named for Mount Katmai, a stratovolcano located within the park.

Known for its volcanoes, brown bears, salmon, rivers, and rugged coastline, Katmai is a vacation destination for outdoor activities and adventures such as camping, hiking, backpacking, skiing, fishing, and kayaking. There are about fifteen active volcanoes in the park, notably Mount Martin, Mount Mageik, Trident, Novarupta, and Mount Katmai, which are situated within the preserve. Fourpeaked Volcano became active in 2006 after 10,000 years of lying dormant, demonstrating that there may be more active volcanoes that are yet unknown.

Also located in the park are archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric traditions. A glacier formed inside Mount Katmai, and a lake formed in the caldera. Coastal areas of the park, including Hallo Bay, Kukak Bay, and Chiniak, are popular for their clams and other food sources.

Brooks Camp is the developed area of the park, which offers bear viewing platforms for visitors to check out the nearly 100 annual brown bears that catch salmon in the river.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, which receives nearly 3 million annual visitors, consists of a variety of landscapes, including mountains, ancient forests, rainforests, the coast and tide pools. First established as Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909, the park was re-designated with National Park status on June 29, 1938.

Olympic National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, and was named an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976. About 95% of the park is designated Olympic Wilderness.

Some of the mountains in Olympic National Park are topped with ancient glaciers, including the 5 kilometer long Hoh Glacier. Along the western edge of the park are the temperate rainforests, one of the wettest areas in the country.

 Popular activities for visitors to Olympic National Park include hiking, backpacking, and fishing.