Where is it ?

brooks, what time of year are you traveling? That will influence our recommendations! Also, do you like to hike? Do you prefer to boondock or to stay in a campground?

If your in the western US I'd say, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon coast for sure, and Western Washington. Now when I make to all those other states, I'll let you know where there at. I spent 50 years of my life in Texas, and it's a beautiful state too.

OK, this subject has me on a "roll". I love caves, but if you're looking for beautiful places, they are really all around you, in your own back yard. Several years ago I realized that people travel from all over the world to visit the State Parks and various attractions just in Indiana. So, I started looking at "Indiana" through different eyes. And for the next several years, we focused on camping just inside Indiana. What we discovered truly was breath taking. Of course, as stated above, time of day, weather, and your own state of mind at the moment, all factor into your own perception of what is "beautiful". So with that in mind, here's some photos, (all Indiana) from our past that left truly lasting impressions on us. Most of these, you had to be "in the moment", and the "moment" was just right!













Sometimes, you REALLY do have to open your eyes and see the beauty that is "literally" in your own back yard. Yes, these are photos from my own yard. Beauty is all around, you just have to look for it!



















This is a photo I took on my way into work one day! There again, it was "in the moment"... heavy fog, sheep were out, very surreal quiet morning.



I think what I'm attempting to say is, if you just look through new eyes at the spot where you currently live, and think of the location in terms of a visitor to your location, what would they see? I promise you, they will see things you've never seen before, until you look closer!

Busskipper I know what you mean. I remember one morning about 25 years ago....I had pulled off in a wide spot on some road in Montana it was dark and late at night. I woke up and went outside with a cup of coffee and will never forget as I sat there looking around at the snow on top of the mountains with a red sky just above them you could hear some birds and see a pretty river flowing along the bottom of the mountains . I can't even remember where in Montana it was but always thought that was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.....I've thought about that warm, sunny morning many times.

Busskipper wrote:

rexlion wrote:
...

Oh how true - weather and time of year - ...

The thousands upon thousands of caves through the United Stated have no dependency upon weather, the temperature never changes either! They are all fantastic, and always the same, any time of year! :B

rexlion wrote:
The physical beauty of a place is part of the equation. But (for me at least) the weather at the time of visit, the sounds, and the smells all play strong roles in my appreciation of a location. I recall visiting the Porcupine Mountains SP (MI) west unit and walking along the riverbank on a sunny 70 degree day. Smelling the trees and plants, hearing the water splashing along and the birds in the trees, and seeing the water tumbling over sculpted ledges and cascading over falls and kids playing at water's edge all produced a sensory delight that stays with me to this day.

Oh how true - weather and time of year - to see Spring and the Blossoms - to see Fall and the Color - Summer will warm the Rockies to the Perfect temperature to Hike into the Alpine Fields of Flowers in July and August - but the Winter will coat all those beautiful Rocks in a White jacket that you will never get out of your minds eye. While any visit is time sensitive, all My Time in the Rockies has yielded unbelievable Rewards. (add to that I can share it with the 4 Granddaughters - Win WIn)

No Wrong Answers to this Question - even if you never leave home.

JMHO,

The physical beauty of a place is part of the equation. But (for me at least) the weather at the time of visit, the sounds, and the smells all play strong roles in my appreciation of a location. I recall visiting the Porcupine Mountains SP (MI) west unit and walking along the riverbank on a sunny 70 degree day. Smelling the trees and plants, hearing the water splashing along and the birds in the trees, and seeing the water tumbling over sculpted ledges and cascading over falls and kids playing at water's edge all produced a sensory delight that stays with me to this day.

Yes, being with family is beautiful, sitting around the table at thanksgiving is beautiful , watching my son hit his first home run in Little league was beautiful but I'm looking for a different kind of beautiful. There has to be one place in America that everyone should see. I have a little while before I take off so I'll keep searching before I point the F350 in that direction. Thanks for all the suggestions!!

Best place of all for me is with my DW. But if you want a geographic location, my pick would be Crater Lake, OR. Runner up in my book was a spectacular star-studded night in Arco, ID. I never saw so many stars in my entire life........

Crowe wrote:
Wherever you are with your loved ones. I guess I don't understand the obsession with superlatives: "best" "most" "perfect", etc. I can't decide for you what's the "best", etc. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I guess they want to know the most bestis, more better and the gooder places. I learned more people than you can count