1) Glacier National Park, Montana - My family and I took a 10 day trip there this past summer. My mom used to drive out there in her VW van during her free summers, and it has always been her dream to take us to see it. Needless to say, it was the trip of a lifetime. I have never been surrounded by such awe-inspiring beauty (besides on my wedding day :P). I know God is proud of all of his creation, but he must be particularly proud of this place. I think everyone who lives in the US (and has the means to do so) should take a trip here before they kick the bucket. The above photo is one that I took during our trip, and below is a link to some more. Fair warning though, if you click on it, the next thing you do might be to book plane tickets to Montana...Is this real life???
2) Muir Woods/Redwood Forest, California - My dad took me here on a father/son trip when I was in the 9th grade. The one word I can think of that accurately describes the ambience here is "magical." The ginormous trees make you feel like an ant. The beautifully green creeping ferns, the moss-covered stones and tree stumps, and the fact that some of the trees are over a thousand years old, is enough to drop even the most rigid of jaws. When standing underneath the massive Redwoods, I felt like was in a scene from some fantastical movie. I am so grateful to my parents for taking me here, and I am grateful to my Maker for creating such beauty. Again, you simply MUST see this place.
3) Upper Albert Lake, Etna, California - I had a chance to visit this lake several times when I worked out at the JH Ranch. It is probably the most peaceful place I have ever been. This is the third, and highest lake on a trail that takes you up 3,000 ft. of elevation in only a few miles. Upper Albert is situated at the top of one of the highest peaks in the area, so the view from the surrounding ridges is breathtaking. Also, this lake, as well as Lower Albert Lake are one of only a few remaining places in the world where you can catch a golden trout! During the summer, both lakes have a huge population of these crazy looking orange salamanders. The water in the lakes is some of the coldest, AND the most clear that I have ever witnessed. If my wife and I could build a cabin on the side of the lake and spend the rest of our lives here I would be all for it...
4) Point Reyes Lighthouse, California - Looks fake doesn't it? That's what I thought, even when I was standing right there on the staircase going down to the lighthouse. I had a chance to visit here along with my dad when we took our father/son trip to the California coast. This lighthouse has an amazing history, and is considered one of the windiest and foggiest places on the US Pacific coast. Luckily the weather was crystal clear and a balmy 55 degrees when we visited! The view from the lighthouse offers an incredible view of the vast, blue-grey Pacific Ocean, and the view from the top of the stair case is of the breathtaking California coastline. Just thinking about it again makes me smile...
5) Pucón, Chile - I was able to travel here with several of my friends during the two weeks of travel time we were allotted after our 3 month foreign study term in Chile. It is about a 9 hour bus ride from the capital city of Santiago (we rode all night, and "slept" on the bus). It is considered by many to be the outdoor capital of South America. It offers a little bit of everything: hiking (we hiked to the top of the Villarica Volcano in the above picture), kayaking, windsurfing, white-water rafting, word-class salmon fishing, and amazing wildlife. One of my favorite places we hiked to was a series of waterfalls and lagoons called "Los Ojos del Caburgua." If you ever get the chance to go to Chile, this city should be on your list of places to visit.
6) Atacama Desert, Chile - I was able to spend a week here as part of my aforementioned 3 month foreign study term in Chile. It offers a different kind of beauty than the previous five places on my list, but it is spectacular nonetheless. It is the driest desert on planet Earth and it is estimated that some areas of this 50,000+ square mile desert have never received even a drop of precipitation (how scientists can tell that I have no idea). The area offers a multitude of attractions (check 'em out) and actually is home to one of the few truly wild populations of pink flamingoes on Earth!
7) Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park, Colorado - My family took a 2 week vacation here when I was about 10 years old. We did it all. We hiked, fly-fished, did some white-water rafting on one of the gnarliest rivers in the US (The Poudre), and then juxtaposed that with a manly wildflower hunt. I will never forget some of the views on the hiking trails there, and I will never forget the fun we had. I definitely hope to have the chance to go back some day...
8) Bariloche, Argentina - Yet another destination I was able to enjoy as a result of my foreign study trip to Chile. This town is breathtaking from the moment you arrive. It is situated on the edge of the beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi, and like Pucon, offers a variety of outdoor experiences. It also, somewhat shockingly, is known for it's many famous dance clubs, my favorite of which was Club Cerebro. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend two days in Bariloche, but the impression this beautiful city left on me will last a lifetime...
9) Antigua, Guatemala - I was able to visit this town during one of several mission trips I took to Guatemala. The thing that makes this town so aesthetically amazing is the historic colonial Spanish architecture against a backdrop of three stunning volcanoes. While we were here, we were able to bargain in the town market, and we got to tour the ruins of one of the oldest monasteries in Latin America (Santo Domingo).
10) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee - My family took a vacation here when I was very young, but I still remember taking my first train ride through this magnificent scenery. We did some hiking, and a bit of camping, and I think this trip (along with several my family took to Mt. Cheaha, AL) was one of the first that shaped my current love for the outdoors and nature!
2) Muir Woods/Redwood Forest, California - My dad took me here on a father/son trip when I was in the 9th grade. The one word I can think of that accurately describes the ambience here is "magical." The ginormous trees make you feel like an ant. The beautifully green creeping ferns, the moss-covered stones and tree stumps, and the fact that some of the trees are over a thousand years old, is enough to drop even the most rigid of jaws. When standing underneath the massive Redwoods, I felt like was in a scene from some fantastical movie. I am so grateful to my parents for taking me here, and I am grateful to my Maker for creating such beauty. Again, you simply MUST see this place. 
3) Upper Albert Lake, Etna, California - I had a chance to visit this lake several times when I worked out at the JH Ranch. It is probably the most peaceful place I have ever been. This is the third, and highest lake on a trail that takes you up 3,000 ft. of elevation in only a few miles. Upper Albert is situated at the top of one of the highest peaks in the area, so the view from the surrounding ridges is breathtaking. Also, this lake, as well as Lower Albert Lake are one of only a few remaining places in the world where you can catch a golden trout! During the summer, both lakes have a huge population of these crazy looking orange salamanders. The water in the lakes is some of the coldest, AND the most clear that I have ever witnessed. If my wife and I could build a cabin on the side of the lake and spend the rest of our lives here I would be all for it...
4) Point Reyes Lighthouse, California - Looks fake doesn't it? That's what I thought, even when I was standing right there on the staircase going down to the lighthouse. I had a chance to visit here along with my dad when we took our father/son trip to the California coast. This lighthouse has an amazing history, and is considered one of the windiest and foggiest places on the US Pacific coast. Luckily the weather was crystal clear and a balmy 55 degrees when we visited! The view from the lighthouse offers an incredible view of the vast, blue-grey Pacific Ocean, and the view from the top of the stair case is of the breathtaking California coastline. Just thinking about it again makes me smile...
5) Pucón, Chile - I was able to travel here with several of my friends during the two weeks of travel time we were allotted after our 3 month foreign study term in Chile. It is about a 9 hour bus ride from the capital city of Santiago (we rode all night, and "slept" on the bus). It is considered by many to be the outdoor capital of South America. It offers a little bit of everything: hiking (we hiked to the top of the Villarica Volcano in the above picture), kayaking, windsurfing, white-water rafting, word-class salmon fishing, and amazing wildlife. One of my favorite places we hiked to was a series of waterfalls and lagoons called "Los Ojos del Caburgua." If you ever get the chance to go to Chile, this city should be on your list of places to visit. 
6) Atacama Desert, Chile - I was able to spend a week here as part of my aforementioned 3 month foreign study term in Chile. It offers a different kind of beauty than the previous five places on my list, but it is spectacular nonetheless. It is the driest desert on planet Earth and it is estimated that some areas of this 50,000+ square mile desert have never received even a drop of precipitation (how scientists can tell that I have no idea). The area offers a multitude of attractions (check 'em out) and actually is home to one of the few truly wild populations of pink flamingoes on Earth!
7) Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park, Colorado - My family took a 2 week vacation here when I was about 10 years old. We did it all. We hiked, fly-fished, did some white-water rafting on one of the gnarliest rivers in the US (The Poudre), and then juxtaposed that with a manly wildflower hunt. I will never forget some of the views on the hiking trails there, and I will never forget the fun we had. I definitely hope to have the chance to go back some day...
8) Bariloche, Argentina - Yet another destination I was able to enjoy as a result of my foreign study trip to Chile. This town is breathtaking from the moment you arrive. It is situated on the edge of the beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi, and like Pucon, offers a variety of outdoor experiences. It also, somewhat shockingly, is known for it's many famous dance clubs, my favorite of which was Club Cerebro. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend two days in Bariloche, but the impression this beautiful city left on me will last a lifetime...
9) Antigua, Guatemala - I was able to visit this town during one of several mission trips I took to Guatemala. The thing that makes this town so aesthetically amazing is the historic colonial Spanish architecture against a backdrop of three stunning volcanoes. While we were here, we were able to bargain in the town market, and we got to tour the ruins of one of the oldest monasteries in Latin America (Santo Domingo). 
10) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee - My family took a vacation here when I was very young, but I still remember taking my first train ride through this magnificent scenery. We did some hiking, and a bit of camping, and I think this trip (along with several my family took to Mt. Cheaha, AL) was one of the first that shaped my current love for the outdoors and nature!
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