NewYorkRoark Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 It seems most individuals who post on this forum find more beauty in man-made wonders, but I was wondering what specific natural wonders are really worth seeing? I hold a geology degree, so I have an affinity towards the American Southwest (This website is awesome). My top 10 (that I've been to): 1. Zion National Park (UT) 2. Alps 3. The Great Plains (I think they're awesome, I'm sure I'd get sick of them if I lived there) 4. Algodones Dunes (CA) 5. Arches (UT) 6. Niagra Falls 7. Snow Canyon State Park (UT) (Lava Caves, 4000+ Year Old Cinder Cone) 8. Canyonlands (UT) 9. Blanes, Spain 10. Sonoran Desert (AZ) Places I'd like to see (In no particular order): 1. Lava Beds National Monument (CA) 2. Galapagos Islands 3. Grand Tetons 4. Yellowstone 5. Sahara Desert 6. Himilayas 7. Amazon 8. Mt. St. Helens 9. Alaska 10. Yosemite 11. Sequoia National Park / Kings Canyon 12. Caribbean 13. Greenland/Iceland 14. ... In 3 months I'm going on a 12 day trip from Denver to San Francisco and stopping at: 1. Rockies 2. Colorado National Monument 3. Arches 4. Dead Horse Point S. P. 5. Canyonlands 6. Hite, UT 7. Capitol Reef 8. Grand Staircase Escalante 9. Bryce 10. Zion 11. Pink Sands 12. Snow Canyon 13. Las Vegas 14. Death Valley 15. Sequoia / King's Canyon 16. Yosemite 17. San Francisco 18. Muir Woods What other places would anyone recommend? Anything particular (like a great slot canyon in Hite)? Thanks, Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAmMetaphysical Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 Man-made wonders are so much better, because they did not HAVE TO BE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewYorkRoark Posted March 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 Man-made wonders are so much better, because they did not HAVE TO BE. I didn't ask why you think man-made wonders are better, I asked which natural wonders you thought were worth seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justkariann Posted March 17, 2006 Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 It seems most individuals who post on this forum find more beauty in man-made wonders, but I was wondering what specific natural wonders are really worth seeing? I, myself, love natural wonders too....I visited Glacier National Park and Banff briefly, and found those parks a little more interesting and peaceful than Yellowstone...I do highly recommend those areas as well! As far as the Southwest goes, your trip sounds exciting...you appear to be packing in a lot of places in a short amount of time, but sounds fun! You might want to consider stopping in Northern New Mexico if you get a chance. It's so under-rated, and you might find it interesting as a geology major. The Sangre De Cristo mountains (the southern-most tip of the Rockies) are beautiful, and the Rio Grande Gorge is amazing. I was surprised the website that you linked to didn't feature that area. You could also take a white-water rafting ride if you're up for adventure. There are many natural hot-springs if you want to relax too. (And the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are on the way...) Maybe I am a little partial because I lived in Taos for two years and was able to get intimate with the amazing landscape, but I learned a ton of stuff about the land and geology while I lived there, and found it delightful. And for those that prefer the man-made wonders, there are some pretty amazing houses out there to! Check out this site for some pictures, but it doesn't do justice.... http://www.sangres.com/statenm/index.htm --Kari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewYorkRoark Posted March 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 I, myself, love natural wonders too....I visited Glacier National Park and Banff briefly, and found those parks a little more interesting and peaceful than Yellowstone...I do highly recommend those areas as well! As far as the Southwest goes, your trip sounds exciting...you appear to be packing in a lot of places in a short amount of time, but sounds fun! You might want to consider stopping in Northern New Mexico if you get a chance. It's so under-rated, and you might find it interesting as a geology major. The Sangre De Cristo mountains (the southern-most tip of the Rockies) are beautiful, and the Rio Grande Gorge is amazing. I was surprised the website that you linked to didn't feature that area. You could also take a white-water rafting ride if you're up for adventure. There are many natural hot-springs if you want to relax too. (And the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are on the way...) Maybe I am a little partial because I lived in Taos for two years and was able to get intimate with the amazing landscape, but I learned a ton of stuff about the land and geology while I lived there, and found it delightful. And for those that prefer the man-made wonders, there are some pretty amazing houses out there to! Check out this site for some pictures, but it doesn't do justice.... http://www.sangres.com/statenm/index.htm --Kari Those pictures are awesome. I'd love to visit during my trip but I'm pretty restricted with time. What is Banff like? I wish I could make enough money to take a year off and travel the West (which I think is much more interesting (on a variety of levels) than the landscape of the East). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godless Capitalist Posted March 17, 2006 Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 Banff is awesome (also Jasper and the area bewteen them) others: Hawaii, New Zealand, Grand Canyon, Nahanni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew J Posted March 17, 2006 Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 I've been to Zion and Arches. Utah really has some very beautiful country. Unfortunately, I live 500 miles northward in the desert of southern Idaho. Still some beautiful land in the valley, but not quite the same. Hope your trip goes well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 If you get the chance I'd definitely recommend going to Hawaii to see Hale'ma'uma'u and the rest of the volcanoes there, not to mention the sandy beaches and reefs et al. I went not too long ago and it was spectacular. I personally often find man-made wonders to be sort of dull. Why? Because they're frequently ugly, full of crowds, and badly in need of having gum scraped off them. Not to mention that they are often just like something you can see elsewhere. I enjoy natural wonders because of their quiet, solitude, and the feeling they engender of a vast world open to possibilities, a feeling often not obtainable in a close city with grimy streets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wrath Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 The summer after my senior year in high school, I went to Costa Rica. Truly a beautiful place. My fondest memory: Sitting on a stool at one of those bars that's out in the middle of the water. The water was geothermally heated and came up to around my belly-button when seated. I was enjoying a strawberry margarita (since the legal drinking age down there is 18). Bob Marley was playing on the radio, and there was a smoking volcano in the background. I think that was the most relaxed I have felt in my entire life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidOdden Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 While not on the Denver to SF route, Geiranger fjord looks nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wrath Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 If you're up for a hike, I say try climbing Long's Peak, the tallest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. On a clear day, you can see 7 states from the top. But if you're gonna do it, you need to get going by 3 AM, so you can avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liriodendron Tulipifera Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) While not on the Denver to SF route, Geiranger fjord looks nice. Amen, brother! Who else likes fiords? Check out this picture of Milford Sound in South Island, NZ. The bloodsucking blackflies are pretty brutal, though. They must have been photoshopped out of that picture! NewYork, as a geologist, New Zealand should be on your list! Volcanoes, mountains, etc. Check out my gallery of NZ pictures. http://monicabeth.squarespace.com/display/...galleryId=14118 I also rate Zion NP as one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Getting to go there regularly would actually make living in Utah worthwhile. Looks like you're taking the southwest route to San Fran. On another trip, check out Craters of the Moon National Monument(?) in Idaho: http://monicabeth.squarespace.com/display/...galleryId=14119 Relatively close by, the descent from Yellowstone and into eastern Wyoming is really, really beautiful, too, with its red soil: http://monicabeth.squarespace.com/display/...ictureId=162767 Yellowstone was a little crowded for my liking, and not that spectacular. The Grand Tetons are nice, though. If you are still in NY state, I'm sure you're already aware that there are cool things nearby. Although not as spectacular, they're still cool. For instance, Chimney Bluffs near Sodus Bay. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/images/chimney.jpg And Tinker's Falls near Tully, NY: http://harperkay.homestead.com/files/Tinker_falls_2.jpg Edited March 19, 2006 by Liriodendron Tulipifera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shading Inc. Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Man-made wonders are so much better, because they did not HAVE TO BE. Natural wonders don't have to be either. Someone might have decided to cover them with man-made wonders you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrocktor Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I have always liked Jupiter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Soul Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 It seems most individuals who post on this forum find more beauty in man-made wonders, but I was wondering what specific natural wonders are really worth seeing? Surf breaks. Natural wonders which men can shape, add to, dominate -- that is beautiful. Big wave surfing is unbelievable. Imagine not just standing at the ocean and realizing it can be dominated, but then actually watching men and women control these wonders with skill, passion, and courage and a genius piece of highly technical equipment, a surfboard. Mavericks, a huge break close by at Half Moon Bay, is hosting their huge big wave contest sometime between now and March. If you can't up and ship out there within 24 hours notice (all surfers are called when it's going off hard and they must show up), go to Mavericks Surf and you can watch it live for free. It's so sick, I think you'll all enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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