Most beautiful country you have been to?

[Anonymous]

Dominica. Parts of Ireland that I'd prefer not to disclose. Sydney would definitely be a favorite city for views and so much more.

[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 not hard to accept that there are lots of places around the world, outside of the United States, that are beautiful. This is a fact. I also think it’s a fact that as Americans, we’re pretty fortunate to have some truly amazing sights of our own. I like going abroad too, but some of my favorite trips have been those to the western United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You’re offended because someone has a different view? You seem a bit uptight and judgy for somebody surrounded by nature. Live and let live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dominica. Parts of Ireland that I'd prefer not to disclose. Sydney would definitely be a favorite city for views and so much more.

THis is so stupid. That country is the size of a postage stamp, it's really not hard to cover it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The towns are not, but the lake itself is hard to beat. Witness the sheer number of Europeans of German, Austrian and Swiss nationality that live there.

--Austrian with house around Tahoe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You’re offended because someone has a different view? You seem a bit uptight and judgy for somebody surrounded by nature. Live and let live.

I thought the insight regarding nature as a commodity was spot on. But...perhaps that comment hit home for you? Try not to take things so personally. Live and let live, as you say.

[Anonymous]

France, Italy, Germany/Switzerland, New Zealand. The majority of the US is a dump (the south and most of central states), however the Northeast, West Coast, Rockies, Alaska and Hawaii are beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:France, Italy, Germany/Switzerland, New Zealand. The majority of the US is a dump (the south and most of central states), however the Northeast, West Coast, Rockies, Alaska and Hawaii are beautiful.

But ALL of Germany and Italy is beautiful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:France, Italy, Germany/Switzerland, New Zealand. The majority of the US is a dump (the south and most of central states), however the Northeast, West Coast, Rockies, Alaska and Hawaii are beautiful.

But ALL of Germany and Italy is beautiful?

People go to Venice and Oktoberfest in Munich, and think that’s how it is in the entire country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Zealand is insane. One of the few places I'd head back to a heartbeat.

Loving people saying Switzerland, because I'm going there in a few weeks, and now I'm even more excited.

don't sleep on the Italian part- there is nothing like sipping a spritz under palm trees and looking at snow covered alps. also montreux- the castle is amazing- like a storybook castle.

[Anonymous]

Honestly California . Lake Tahoe, Big Sur, Yosemite, Redwoods Sierra mountains is jaw dropping. Next up Wyoming, Hawaii and Colorado. Third Bryce, Oregon, Laguna Beach.

Outside the US there are very scenic places. Norway - fjords, Scotland, Swiss Alps, Iceland and Africa are interesting and different. I’ve never been there but there are areas in China that are supposed to be beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Those are different countries idiot!! I said this country has it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Those are different countries idiot!! I said this country has it all.

You might want to reconsider your vitriol.

No where in your post did you say anything about this country. In fact, you said the only other place that it might be imaginable is Mars. Just FYI - Mars is NOT in this country. Your specific statement was "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." Again, in no place did you limit your statement to the United States.

Maybe I overestimated the quality of your education when I mentioned the Trump School of Rocks.

[Anonymous]

Honestly so many parts of Italy are beautiful.

Northern part in the Dolomites is kind of like Swiss Alps but with better food

Central part you have amazing places like rolling hills in Tuscany, beautiful lakes with mountains like Lake Como, fascinating man-made beautiful places like Venice. Rome, Sicily, and more. The food is good everywhere.

[Anonymous]

USA