It’s fun to read about interesting places in America and discover that you’ve been to — or at least within close proximity of — many of them. That’s what happened recently when I came across an article titled “40 fascinating places you won’t believe are in the United States.” 

Of the 40 listed, we’ve been within striking distance of nearly half and plan to visit another one in September. Here are six amazing places to visit in the U.S. that we’ve been to, in order of their listing in the article:

1. White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park in New Mexico is truly a unique place in the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. The bulk of the Chihuahuan Desert is in Mexico, but it also expands into New Mexico and Texas. 

The park’s gleaming white sand, made up of gypsum particles, is an anomaly against the tan desert landscape and so stark that it’s even visible from space. Situated in the Tularosa Basin, the region is a collection area for rain and snow runoff, gathering minerals from the nearby mountains. 

We had fun visiting the park and sledding down its dunes. It’s definitely worth exploring if you get a chance.

2. Leavenworth, Washington

Every summer, we go on tour with two WWII bomber planes as volunteers for the Commemorative Air Force. In 2025, one of our tour stops was Wenatchee, Washington, only about 30 minutes away from Leavenworth.

One evening after a day on the airport ramp, our crew set out on a nearly 50-minute drive to the small Bavarian town (population approximately 2,500) nestled against the Cascade Mountains. As we entered, we felt like we had left the United States and gone to a German village. Dutch cottages and multistoried buildings with painted woodwork lined the streets.

We ducked into Gustav’s and dined on German sausages, sauerkraut, and potato pancakes, grateful we had made the trek.

3. Crater Lake

At first glance on a map of Oregon, you might not notice anything unusual. But when you zoom in on the southern part of the state, a large round lake comes into view, standing out against the other lakes of varying shapes and sizes. That’s because Crater Lake is a caldera.

Situated at between 6,000 and 7,000 feet of elevation in the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake features the bluest water we’ve ever laid eyes on. The location is a little difficult to get to and requires navigating around mountains, but it’s worth the drive to see this pristine, tranquil wonder. We visited in June and still saw remnants of snow on the ground.

4. Great Sand Dunes National Park

We certainly weren’t expecting to find sand dunes as we traveled across Southern Colorado, but we did. Similar to the situation at White Sands National Park, the mountains surrounding Duncan, Colorado, shed their snow as the weather warms, depositing sediment and pebbles in the valley. Over time, this accumulation led to the tallest sand dunes in North America.  

Great Sand Dunes National Park preserves these marvels for visitors to observe, experience, and enjoy. Although we didn’t sled down these, we saw others do that. Instead, we climbed a dune, perched on a flat surface partway up, and caught our breath while watching fellow guests frolic in the natural beauty.

5. Badlands National Park

South Dakota’s Badlands National Park presents some of the most distinct terrain we’ve ever seen. Jagged sandstone and limestone formations rise from the ground near Rapid City and stretch across 244,000 acres, creating a panorama of amazement. Named for their difficulty to cross, these oddities allure more than 1 million visitors each year.

We had the privilege of camping near the outskirts of the park and driving through it for a better view — of both the rock formations and wildlife. If you’re ever in the area, we highly recommend a visit to this park. 

6. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

While touring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 2021, we spent a week along Lake Superior, which extends into Ontario, Canada. Wanting to see more of what the lake had to offer, we rented a pontoon boat and set out on a chilly morning for a thrilling ride. 

The unique coastline of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore captured our attention with its water- and mineral-stained sandstone cliffs, attractive waterfalls, and stunning arches. We watched a group of kayakers row under an arch, docked on a beach to grill lunch, and basked in the beauty all around us, grateful that we got to experience it together. 

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