There’s a surge in interest in one-of-a-kind travel experiences. Data reveals that Google searches for ‘natural phenomena’ have increased by 600%, while search trends for‘rare sky phenomenon’have increased by 133% in the past year alone.
I’m ever more conscious of the need to travel with awareness to save our planet. But you don’t need to travel outside of the U.S. to discover world-class natural wonders and one-of-a kind experiences. From dazzling Northern Lights to desert landscapes, to erupting volcanoes, they await, close by.
With this in mind, travel experts at SIXT have compiled the top +20 unique natural phenomena to witness in the U.S., ranking each phenomenon based on rarity, affordability, Instagrammability, and popularity to determine which phenomena are the most worth visiting.
Whether you’re looking to witness bioluminescence, a rare natural phenomenon of glowing blue waters, or an alpenglow, one of nature's most beautiful visible light effects, the following include the top natural phenomena experiences to add to your travel bucket list.
#1) The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a rare natural canyon erosion formation with thousands of bands of red rock. Nearly 300 miles long, this “mountain lying down” averages 10 miles across and a mile deep. Expect humbling views, stunning panoramas, and gorgeous desert landscapes.
#2) Volcanoes are vents where lava, tephra, and steam erupt onto the Earth's surface. Over 160 active and potentially active volcanoes are in the U.S., most of which are in Alaska, where eruptions occur yearly. The rest can be found throughout the American West and in Hawaii. Kīlauea, in Hawaii, is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and is seen by millions of tourists each year.
If you plan on visiting, check the underground cavernous lava tubes and caverns and explore the old, dried-up lava flows and lava lakes that emit a reddish-orange glow at night.
#3) Geysers are hot springs under so much pressure that they erupt, sending water and steam into the air. Geysers are super rare — less than one thousand exist worldwide. Surprisingly, about half of the planet’s geysers are in Yellowstone National Park.
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Here is the complete Sixt list of the Top +20 Natural Wonders in the U.S., noted by: Rank/Natural Phenomena/Top US Destination/Best time to visit in the US/Index Score (out of 100)
1 Grand Canyon; Fredonia, Arizona; All year round; 85 — 2 Volcanoes; Kilauea, Hawaii; November - March; 62 — 3 Geysers; Old Faithful, Yellowstone Park, Wyoming; All year round; 52 — 4 Aurora Borealis; Fairbanks, Alaska; From August 21 to April 21; 50
5 Meteor shower; Cherry Springs State Park, Coudersport, Pennsylvania; Fall or winter; 50 — 6 Bioluminescence; Mission Bay & Torrey Pines Beach,
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