Do you have a travel bucket list? Does it include places like Ireland, an African Safari and a Mediterranean cruise? No doubt that those international destinations are spectacular, but there are plenty of wonderful bucket list destinations right here in America. (Don’t forget to see part 1.)
5. Hike to Havasu Falls on the Floor of the Grand Canyon
The sight from the rim of the Grand Canyon is spectacular, and something everyone should see. But for an even more spectacular experience, make your way down to the canyon floor to view Havasu Falls. Its cascading, blue-green waterfall is a mesmerizing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can get there by trudging a 10-mile hiking trail, riding horseback, or swoop down in a helicopter. Once at the bottom, visit Supai village and don’t miss three other waterfalls, all located within a mile.
4. Drive California State Route 1
California State Route 1 winds along ocean cliffs and offers you some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. You can drive this beautiful, 655-mile road from Northern California all the way to the Los Angeles area with jaw-dropping views along the route. But some of the best are found between Big Sur and Carmel.
3. The Avenue of Giants
The redwoods in Northern California are the largest trees in the world and you can stand in their shadow along The Avenue of Giants. Located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, the 32-mile-long drive offers many scenic stops and attractions along the way, including three trees you can drive right through.
2. Swim with Sharks in Shark Reef Las Vegas
There are so many things you can do in Las Vegas: gambling, shows and nightlife are just some of the things Las Vegas is famous for. Other things are best left in Vegas. While you’re there, don’t miss the Las Vegas Strip by Night helicopter flight. But if you are a certified Scuba Diver, you can have a particularly special adventure. The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay offers a chance to dive with a greater concentration of sharks than you will find anywhere in the wild. There are about 30 sharks in the Aquarium and you can visit them up close and personal.
1. Fly down the Big Island zip line
Some people go to Hawaii and spend all their time on the beach. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want a true, bucket-list experience, take a zip line tour. The zip lines over Umauma Falls north of Hilo offers nine incredible zip lines, adding up to two miles of thrills. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of waterfalls, rain forests and the Pacific. It’s one of the best in terms of speed, duration and scenery. Its half-mile line is the longest on the island, and there’s also a quarter-mile, dual zip line so you can scream together with a friend.
Want more destinations? Don’t miss Part One of this series.