Most beautiful country you have been to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You clearly haven't traveled enough. The beauty out west is hardly unique.

Seriously, inlaugjed out loud!!!

How is the Grand Canyon not unique? Where are the other grand canyons with rock layers like that? I must be missing something, even as a geologist. I think there might be one on Mars, but I haven't been there.

Same can be said for the Lava Tubes, Midwestern caves, and Crater Lake and so many other places. .... not unique? More like you're an uneducated untraveled idiot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You clearly haven't traveled enough. The beauty out west is hardly unique.

NP, here. Have you been out west? Just in California, you can be a day’s car ride from spectacular 14,000 foot peaks in the Sierra Nevada, deserts of Death Valley and Joshua Tree, redwood and sequoia forests, some of the most stunning coastlines in the world from Big Sur to the coastline north of San Francisco…and more. This is just California. Throw in Utah, Colorado, Montana, PNW, and Arizona, and I would say the western U.S. is pretty special. I appreciate all the places I’ve seen abroad, but the western U.S. will always rank as one of my favorite places to visit.

Yes, I lived out west for several years in my 20s and have been to over half the places you listed. I've also been to a dozen countries in Europe, much of Asia, and the South Pacific. The U.S. West is great. There are also lots of countries around the world with spots at least as beautiful. Why is that so hard to understand/accept?

It's the amount of diversity that we have that us unique. Yes, other places are pretty but they are one horse wonders - we've got everything. If you don't think so, just leave. We do have too many a$$holes who don't appreciate our country; I'd be happy if they just left

[Anonymous]

USA
Switzerland

[Anonymous]

I would say that the three most beautiful spots I've visited, in no particular order, are

Diving in the Great Barrier Reef
Lake Louise
Ljubljana

I have never visited a Greek Island, but they also look very beautiful.

I have seen a lot of beautiful parts of the US, but these places edge them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first time I went to Lucerne in the 90s I thought I was in Disneyland. So pristine, especially the lake.

Yes, it is so pretty. I love all of Switzerland and norther Italy, which hasnt been mentioned. Still, the US has just as beautiful places (Bear lake in CO is similar), plus many many more and so much variety.

[Anonymous]

I agree that USA is almost half a continent, of course we have variety that not many other countries can beat (maybe Russia - due to size). But for the ease of travel, North Cascades do not compare to hiking in Dolomites (italian alps) and having a hot meal with a drink while your kids frolic on a playground and meeting baby goats. https://www.ranuihof.com/en/val-di-funes/malgageisler/

[Anonymous]

Rocky Mountains so Canada and US

Jordan - Petra and Wadi Rum areas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first time I went to Lucerne in the 90s I thought I was in Disneyland. So pristine, especially the lake.

Yes, it is so pretty. I love all of Switzerland and norther Italy, which hasnt been mentioned. Still, the US has just as beautiful places (Bear lake in CO is similar), plus many many more and so much variety.

For me, Bear Lake, and Lake Tahoe where I used to go to a lot, aren't as nice as the lakes around Lucerne. But, that may be my bias because I'm not a fan of the desert/rocky mountain look. I prefer lush green topography. YMMV. Plus, Lucerne is a big town, yet their lake is still so nice (it was in the 90s not sure about now). the towns for the most part around Lake Tahoe are small, except for the southern part where there are too many casinos. I had a place in a small town in north Lake Tahoe. Same for Bear Lake.

I think the thing about Lucerne is that for a big town, the lake was just so nice. Can't find that here. We pollute our water too much.

And agree about the lake region in northern Italy. I've been there, too, and yea, their lakes are beautiful, though it's not as green, I think the quaint towns surrounding it just adds to the beauty. The Lake Tahoe towns are not pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree- I prefer traveling abroad just to get out of here for the culture, food etc but I do think the US has incredible diversity.

Some favorites

Pacific Northwest
Moab Utah
Telluride and Crested Butte Colorado
NYC
Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard
Big Sur, Carmel
Montana
the South, gorgeous trees and bayous

I prefer traveling abroad and would vote for it for beauty because I am not a fan of driving really long distances and staying at crappy hotels to commune with our most beautiful locations.

Yes objectively the US probably should win. But unless you have a camper van and don’t mind traveling that way these are all separate trips with LONG drives or else flights in between and many spots are both pricy and not great in terms on lodging options when you are there (as in the national parks out west). In Europe the beauty is much closer by plus nice lodging is more available.

I'm typing this from my home in the Cascade foothills around 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. It's incredibly beautiful here, but I agree that you shouldn't come here, because it sounds like what you want is not to experience nature or "commune" with it, as you put it, but just to look at a conveniently placed view of nature while you dine or go to the spa. Your approach to nature is more as a commodity to be consumed, and those types are mostly unprepared and have no business in the wilderness. We don't need more hikers to go missing and require air lifting, or die from harassing our mountain goats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You clearly haven't traveled enough. The beauty out west is hardly unique.

NP, here. Have you been out west? Just in California, you can be a day’s car ride from spectacular 14,000 foot peaks in the Sierra Nevada, deserts of Death Valley and Joshua Tree, redwood and sequoia forests, some of the most stunning coastlines in the world from Big Sur to the coastline north of San Francisco…and more. This is just California. Throw in Utah, Colorado, Montana, PNW, and Arizona, and I would say the western U.S. is pretty special. I appreciate all the places I’ve seen abroad, but the western U.S. will always rank as one of my favorite places to visit.

Yes, I lived out west for several years in my 20s and have been to over half the places you listed. I've also been to a dozen countries in Europe, much of Asia, and the South Pacific. The U.S. West is great. There are also lots of countries around the world with spots at least as beautiful. Why is that so hard to understand/accept?

It's the amount of diversity that we have that us unique. Yes, other places are pretty but they are one horse wonders - we've got everything. If you don't think so, just leave. We do have too many a$$holes who don't appreciate our country; I'd be happy if they just left

You haven't been paying attention. Plenty of other countries have diversity too. Someone on the last page just described Colombia, which has certain features not even the United States (with all its wonderful diversity) possesses. It's quite possible to appreciate/love both what's here and abroad. You're the one who's narrow-minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You clearly haven't traveled enough. The beauty out west is hardly unique.

Seriously, inlaugjed out loud!!!

How is the Grand Canyon not unique? Where are the other grand canyons with rock layers like that? I must be missing something, even as a geologist. I think there might be one on Mars, but I haven't been there.

Same can be said for the Lava Tubes, Midwestern caves, and Crater Lake and so many other places. .... not unique? More like you're an uneducated untraveled idiot

Copper Canyon in Mexico.
Vale do Pati in Brazil
Mt. Roraima in Venezuela and Brazil if rock layers are your thing.

Trump School of Rocks?

[Anonymous]

Japan

[Anonymous]

Amari Coast of Italy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amari Coast of Italy

Amalfi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am well travelled and have been to a lot of beautiful countries but secret... there are plenty of stunning locations throughout the US.

There are parts of UT that are so cool, stunning OR and N CA coast. Sedona of course (off season if possible). Santa Fe and Taos are the best kept secret. I'm not into Maine but it is beautiful and so is Vermont. Jackson and Boise are amazing. There are a few amazing places even down in TX - small towns like Marfa are so interesting. CO as a state offers so many points of beauty to explore.

There's just no listing the most beautiful places in the world because there are truly so many - there is no most beautiful for me. Just memorable in one way or another, often based on who I'm with and the conditions like weather, crowds, season, etc.

Tahiti is beautiful. Mongolia is unbelievable. Parts of S. France and of course the Greek islands like Milos and Ischia/Positano/S. Italy will take your breath away.

Your question is like asking who the most beautiful actress or actor is of all time. There's never just one. I'm sure all of us have been to places that were crazy beautiful - so instead of focusing on beauty just go to a place you've wanted to go that isn't ugly!!!!

I think the better traveled you are the more you realize how lucky we have it (based on only natural beauty) here in the U.S. and how fortunate our ancestors were to preserve so much. Our national parks are not only incredibly beautiful but the most accessible and well done in the world. Accomplishing this now under current conditions would be impossible.

I couldn't agree more!!! We need to recognize this so we don't lose it. I get so annoyed that everyone here is a "grass is greener" type person that never explores their own country. I lived abroad many years and have traveled extensively. We have something really amazing here that is worth protecting. It's also worth encouraging others to see it - I mean really see it...

What we set up with our National Parks and BLM land was so forward thinking. If only we can get on board with climate change initiatives so it doesn't all burn down in forest fires, melt off with global warming, or disappear with rising tides and floods.

I’m the PP you quoted and I’m right there with you.

Sad to see so many people equate finding America the most beautiful country in the world with being maga or a yokel. It tells me they glamorize abroad and look down their noses at all the places accessible to those in “flyover country”.