20 of the Most Beautiful Places in America

When I tell people that I travel the world for a living, the question I’m most frequently asked is: What’s your favorite country? Everyone expects me to say something exotic like the Cook Islands but my answer is always the United States of America. It’s the country I’m proud to call home. And you really don’t have to travel all that far to enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. It’s right here in our own backyard in the United States. And if you’re looking for inspiration to get you out to see this spectacular country, then take a look at these 20 amazing shots from Instagram!

20 of the most beautiful places in America

View this post on Instagram

Horseshoe Bend is an amazing sight and it is only a few miles from the equally stunning Antelope Canyon. We have a winner in this week's contest with the theme: Curves. My friend @shannonrtw picked a great shot from @onegirlimages of a moving carnival ride. Next week's contest will be announced tomorrow.

A post shared by Gary Arndt (@everythingeverywhere) on Feb 15, 2015 at 7:56am PST

View this post on Instagram

A beautiful day in southern, #Connecticut!

A post shared by Johnny Jet | Los Angeles (@johnnyjet) on May 25, 2015 at 12:25pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Let the weekend begin!

A post shared by Natalie DiScala, Toronto ✈️ LA (@nataliediscala) on Jun 19, 2015 at 6:16pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

BEAN ME UP

A post shared by Carl Wilson / San Francisco (@sbdunkscarl) on Jun 7, 2015 at 8:25pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

We won't have this view, but we will be able to test out some amazing cameras at the Instameet this Saturday – May 30th 10-1pm at the Leica Store in Los Angeles??? @leicastorela . If you can make it send my friend Phil (@superphilnomenal) an email info@leicastorela.com so we know how many people to prepare all the fun stuff for. More details later this week. #?? shot on #leicaS #mediumformat

A post shared by Pete Halvorsen (@petehalvorsen) on May 26, 2015 at 9:46pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Monument Valley, The Colorado Plateau. Where #gadv traveller @mog_nj spent a night under the stars. #regram

A post shared by G Adventures (@gadventures) on Jun 30, 2015 at 3:50am PDT

https://instagram.com/p/4BIt6okh9k/?taken-by=leeabbamonte

View this post on Instagram

You're irreplaceable. #NYC Tag someone you love ?

A post shared by ✨ misshattan (@misshattan) on Apr 29, 2015 at 2:14pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Peeps, today I'm giving a webinar on life as a travel photographer. If you want to join it's taking place at 10am PST. The link to registration is available on my Facebook page: Fb.com/thettavelwriter I hope you can join!!

A post shared by Brendan van Son (@brendanvanson) on Jun 24, 2015 at 6:24am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Looking out over Spearfish Canyon from this hidden gem called Community Cave. ?Who would you share your hidden gem with?? ————————————————- On our last day in @southdakota we took a short but steep hike up to Community Cave. This is one of those hidden gems that are all around South Dakota and let me tell you it was worth the effort. The views combined with the small waterfall made it one of my favourite places that we visited. #thegreat8 ————————————————- ? No hassle linen Shirt by @travelsmith_outfitters

A post shared by Dave & Deb?ThePlanetD (@theplanetd) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:07am PDT

View this post on Instagram

@travelswithtracy found paradise in the Willamette Valley. #TLPicks #instago

A post shared by Travel + Leisure (@travelandleisure) on Jun 23, 2015 at 6:27pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Photo by @tylermetcalfe // Hikers balance along an exposed section of the via ferrata in Telluride, Colorado. #telluride

A post shared by National Geographic Travel (@natgeotravel) on Jun 24, 2015 at 3:32pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

@julieholderphotography's favorite little road in the Catskills gives a hard case of #WanderLust. #TheCatskills #Upstate #OnTheRoad

A post shared by Condé Nast Traveler (@cntraveler) on Jun 1, 2015 at 8:40am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Last year I spent some time doing tours for @walksofnewyork whenever I wasn't out of the country traveling. So when they asked today if I wanted to join some of the other current and former guides on the newest tour they're developing, I thought it would be fun! It was a hell of a cold day to be anywhere but home, yet the tour of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was actually very interesting. I learned some new things. For instance, I already knew that the statue was built out of copper, and once looked like our pennies. It took almost 30 years to patina and turn into the blue green color we see today, which is a result of a chemical process that happens to all copper exposed to the elements for long enough. But I didn't know that it was originally built three times in three different sizes, and it's the largest size that we see today, while the smallest size is the one you can see in Paris, by the River Seine. Also, I knew that Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, is the one who designed the interior structural part of the statue but I didn't know that they also considered a plan which would have just filled it in with sand. And did you know that the statue was a joint effort between France and America? Designed by Frenchman Auguste Bartholdi and paid for by French citizens, Americans paid for the support pedestal and building that she stands on. Also, the full name of the monument is actually "Liberty Enlightening the World," but "she" is now more popularly known as Lady Liberty or The Statue of Liberty. Only 300 people a day are allowed up into the torch, which is the highest level, via very narrow stairs, and some day I think I want to go back and do that now. What a view that would be!

A post shared by Kirsten Alana (@kirstenalana) on Feb 20, 2015 at 1:28pm PST

View this post on Instagram

"Living two months in the woods changes you. Returning to civilization, you miss the smell of dew in the morning and the crunch of pines under each step. There's a certain inner-tranquility you can only find the wilderness — removed from the material and clutter — that calls you back." -@alexstrohl Tye Haus, Skykomish, Washington, USA #passionpassport

A post shared by Passion Passport (@passionpassport) on Jun 17, 2015 at 6:59am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Throwing it back to this time a year ago when I was road tripping around my new favorite corner of America, @glaciernps. This from the reflection in the window at Many Glacier Lodge.

A post shared by Spencer Spellman (@spencerspellman) on Jun 25, 2015 at 4:18pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Sunset picnic by the rock. The best times.

A post shared by Tina Albrecht (@bittadesign) on Jun 7, 2015 at 9:19am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Good news, people! Your entries in my Carry-On Essentials #GIVEAWAY so impressed me last week, that I'd like to give away ANOTHER prize–this time to TWO lucky winners! I got a huge kick out of reading your Carry-On stories detailing troubles in transit, documenting everything from smelly fellow passengers, to lost luggage, to sleep deprivation on long-haul flights. I also loved your suggestions for Carry-On Must Haves, including backup battery packs for cell phones and e-readers, wet wipes for freshening up on the go, snacks to avoid getting "hangry" on long trips, eye masks, headphones, scarves that double as pillows, and extra underwear for those instances where luggage doesn't make it to the destination with you. As a thank you for the fun and creative entries, I'd like to give away TWO waterproof @CatalystCase_ iPhone cases!! These puppies rule when it comes to light-weight protection in rainy weather, and they offer an awesome layer of security if you're snapping photos along the water on your vacation. So…. drumroll please…. our Catalyst Case winners are @jludancer and @traveltype! I loved the Carry-On Essentials you shared in the comments section of my giveaway, and have added "spare underwear" and "peanut-butter-filled pretzels" to my own list of Carry-On Must Haves. ;) Thanks again to all of you for sharing in the adventure with me, and stay tuned for more opportunities to get engaged in the world of travel!

A post shared by ＲＡＣＨＥＬ ＲＵＤＷＡＬＬ (@rachelroams) on Apr 15, 2015 at 12:12pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

New York City: a city reawakened and in full bloom, a sea of bodies descending on Central Park to soak up those springtime vibes.

A post shared by Zach Houghton (@zachspassport) on May 17, 2015 at 7:42pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

sit back, relax, and enjoy the show ?✌?️

A post shared by tiffany nguyen (@tiffpenguin) on Jun 10, 2015 at 1:18pm PDT

After traveling the world and the U.S. I’ve realized that perhaps one of the main reasons so many Americans don’t have a passport is because when it comes to natural beauty, America has everything any traveler could possibly ever want. They don’t call it America the Beautiful for no reason! Please share your favorite place or Instagram handle in the comments section!

P.S. Don’t forget to follow me (@JohnnyJet)  and my beautiful wife (@NatalieDiScala) on Instagram!