Most Picturesque Places in the US

The United States is one of the world’s largest countries on the planet, covering 3.8 million square miles, equal in size to Canada, with only Russia bigger at 6.6 million square miles. It’s filled with beautiful places, making it very difficult to narrow down the most picturesque, but if you’d like to experience some of the country’s most dazzling beauty, these 6 spots are hard to beat.

California’s Big Sur Coast

The Big Sur Coast is one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the world. Take a drive down legendary Highway 1 and you’ll have the Santa Lucia Mountains on one side, and postcard-perfect beaches on the other, one at Pfeiffer State Park even has purple sand due to the manganese in the cliffs behind it. America’s own “Riviera”, it’s captured the hearts of countless artists, writers, and poets with its fantasy-like beauty.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Located on the northern Oregon Coast, Cannon Beach is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and rugged in the world. Surrounded by lush forest while roaring waves crash against towering sea stacks and other rock formations, it’s so spectacular you might want to buy one of the Portland houses for sale so that you can visit more often as it’s just an 80-minute drive away. One of the best views of Cannon Beach can be enjoyed along the trails that wind through the old-growth rainforest and in the grassy meadows at Ecola Park, where elk can often be spotted in the meadow nearby.

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park offers breathtaking scenery that can be viewed by hiking the miles and miles of trails that wind through everything from wildflower-filled meadows and aspen groves to subalpine forest and even alpine tundra. It’s home to rivers and meandering streams, waterfalls and lots of wildlife. One of the best ways to see its highlights without hitting the trail is by driving Trail Ridge Road, one of the most scenic in the country. Sometimes referred to as the “highway to the sky,” the 48-mile paved road showcases the entire sweep of the Rockies in every direction. At its peak, it snakes through the tundra at nearly 12,200 feet in elevation. Watch for bighorn sheep, elk, and moose that can often be seen right from your vehicle.

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah

Straddling the border of Arizona and Utah, Monument Valley is one of the most photographed places in the American West. Its jaw-dropping landscape has been featured in many films like “How the West Was Won” and “Forrest Gump.” The landscape is filled with jagged rock formations, towering buttes, and sand dunes.

Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana 

A view that’s guaranteed to take your breath away, before you even get to the historic Greek Revival manor, you’ll be greeted by a long stretch of 300-year-old oak trees, with their haunting stillness forming a shady tunnel. The trees frame the magnificent home with its beautiful porches and opulent decor.

Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park is home to some of the most rugged wilderness in the Lower 48 and it’s less crowded than popular parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. Take a drive along Going to the Sun Road, a 50-mile roadway bisecting the park east and west that crosses the continental divide, and you’ll get a sweeping panoramic vista of brilliant blue glacial lakes, cedar forest, dramatic rocky peaks, and alpine tundra. Watch for wildlife like bighorn sheep and mountain goats that like to lounge in the sun right alongside the road.

Let me know of other scenic spots that you’ve enjoyed in the US!