Planning a trip to North America? You’re in for something special. This continent isn’t just big—it’s packed with places that’ll blow your mind. As a travel blogger, I’ve visited all corners of North America and I’m excited to share my favorite spots with you.
Think about watching the northern lights dance across the sky, road-tripping through the Rockies, or vibing out to jazz in New Orleans. Whether it’s hidden beaches, crazy landscapes, or cities that never slow down, North America’s got your next adventure written all over it.
This guide cuts to the good stuff—the beautiful views and spots you’ll never forget. Let’s find your next favorite place.
The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in North America
Eager to explore the most picturesque locations in North America? As highlighted above, there’s something for everyone in this vast continent. Continue reading to uncover the magnificent landscapes of North America.
Are you in search of scenic urban and cultural attractions? Or perhaps you’re seeking a tranquil retreat in nature? Whatever your plans, North America has something to offer. Here are the top spots in North America you should be aware of:
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone still tops my list for a reason – it’s basically nature’s own personal fireworks show, and in 2025 they’re making it easier to experience. Entry passes run $35 for vehicles (valid 7 days) or $70 for an annual park pass, which honestly pays for itself if you’re staying more than two days. I’ve been back three times and I’m still finding new geothermal features to obsess over.
Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes, but here’s what most tourists miss – the real magic happens at Grand Prismatic Spring early morning when the steam creates this incredible rainbow effect. The parking lots fill up fast during peak season (June-August), so I always arrive before 8am to beat the crowds. Lamar Valley remains the best wildlife watching spot – I saw a grizzly teaching her cubs to fish there last summer, and it was way better than anything on National Geographic.
The park’s fully accessible by mid-May through October, though some higher elevation roads close early for snow. Stay at least three days to see the major areas without rushing. The new electric shuttle services in popular areas actually make getting around pretty stress-free now.
2. Banff National Park, Alberta
Canada’s doing something right with Banff – they’re offering free admission from June 20 to September 2, 2025, which is honestly incredible timing for summer visitors. Lake Louise still takes my breath away every single time, especially when you paddle out onto that impossibly turquoise water with Victoria Glacier reflecting back at you. The water’s freezing year-round, but the views are worth the shock.
I always recommend driving the Icefields Parkway – it’s hands down the most scenic road in North America. Every single pullout has Instagram-worthy shots, but Peyto Lake from the viewpoint literally looks like someone Photoshopped the color saturation. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are perfect after a day of hiking, and the mountain views while soaking are unreal.
Here’s what I’ve learned from multiple visits – book accommodations well ahead, especially for summer. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is pricey but worth it for the lake views. For hiking, the Plain of Six Glaciers trail is moderate difficulty but rewards you with glacier views and a historic tea house. Calgary Airport is about 90 minutes away, and the drive through the mountains is part of the experience.
3. Niagara Falls, Ontario/New York
Niagara Falls is touristy as hell, but it’s touristy for good reason – nothing prepares you for the sheer power of 750,000 gallons crashing down every second. For 2025, Maid of the Mist starts May 1st at $30.25 for adults, and Niagara City Cruises on the Canadian side offers similar experiences with their Voyage to the Falls tours.
I’ve done both boat tours multiple times, and honestly the Canadian side gives better overall views of the Horseshoe Falls. Journey Behind the Falls lets you literally walk behind the cascade – you’ll get absolutely soaked even with the provided ponchos, but feeling that thunderous vibration through the rock is unforgettable. The evening Falls Fireworks Cruises during summer are actually pretty spectacular if you don’t mind the crowds.
Skip the overpriced tourist traps on Clifton Hill and focus on the natural wonder itself. The Niagara Glen hiking trails offer a completely different perspective of the gorge that most visitors never see. Pro tip – the falls are beautifully illuminated every night, and winter visits offer dramatic ice formations with way fewer people.
- Read next: 10 Hotels with The Best Views of Niagara Falls
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4. Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon humbles everyone, and I mean everyone. That first glimpse from Mather Point at the South Rim literally stops conversations mid-sentence. The scale messes with your brain – it’s 277 miles long and over a mile deep, revealing two billion years of Earth’s history in those colorful rock layers.
Most people just peer over the rim and leave, but hiking below changes everything. The Bright Angel Trail has water stations and shade, making it doable for average fitness levels. I always tell people to hike down for an hour, then turn around – you’ll get incredible views without overcommitting. The South Kaibab Trail has better photography opportunities but no water, so bring plenty.
Sunrise at Hopi Point beats sunset crowds, and the light show is incredible. For something truly life-changing, book a Colorado River rafting trip – seeing the canyon from the bottom up gives you perspective no rim view can match. The nearby Desert View Watchtower offers 360-degree views that extend into four states on clear days. Entry is $30 per vehicle for seven days.
5. Tulum, Mexico
Tulum perfectly balances ancient history with Caribbean paradise, which is exactly what your burned-out friends need to see on social media. The Mayan ruins perched on limestone cliffs above turquoise water create the most photogenic archaeological site in Mexico. I’ve visited dozens of ruins, but none match Tulum’s dramatic oceanside setting.
The main Tulum Beach stretches for miles with powder-soft sand, but here’s the local secret – Playa Paraíso just south has fewer crowds and the same stunning water. Gran Cenote offers the best swimming in crystal-clear freshwater caves. The stalactites and underwater caverns create an almost otherworldly snorkeling experience that’s perfect for cooling off after beach days.
Tulum Pueblo (town) is where locals actually live and eat – the street food is incredible and costs a fraction of beachfront restaurant prices. I always stay in town and bike to the beaches and ruins. Coba ruins are 45 minutes inland and let you climb an actual pyramid, which you can’t do at most other sites anymore. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere nearby offers boat tours through pristine mangroves where you’ll see more wildlife than tourists.
- Read next: If You Haven’t Been to These 12 Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Spots, You’re Missing Out
- You may also like: Breathtaking Places to Visit in Tulum
6. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia gives you dramatic coastline without the California crowds or prices. Cadillac Mountain offers the first sunrise in the US for half the year, and trust me, watching first light hit the Atlantic while surrounded by fall foliage is worth the early wake-up call. The 27-mile Park Loop Road connects all the highlights and makes for perfect road-tripping.
Thunder Hole lives up to its name when waves crash just right – the booming sound echoes off the granite cliffs. But my favorite spot is the Beehive Trail – it’s basically rock climbing with iron rungs embedded in exposed cliffs. Not for anyone afraid of heights, but the views over Sand Beach and the ocean are incredible.
The historic carriage roads offer 45 miles of car-free cycling through forests that explode with color each October. Bar Harbor makes a perfect base with excellent lobster rolls and walkable downtown vibes. The Wild Gardens of Acadia showcases native plants you’ll see on trails. Park entry is $30 per vehicle for seven days, and the shoulder seasons (May and September) offer better weather with fewer crowds.
- Read next: 15 Bucket List-Worthy Places in Maine
7. Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Haida Gwaii is Canada’s best-kept secret – a mystical archipelago that feels like the edge of the world. Getting there requires either a ferry from Prince Rupert or a flight, but the isolation is exactly what makes it special. SGang Gwaay features centuries-old totem poles that’ll give you chills – these massive cedar monuments have withstood Pacific storms for hundreds of years.
I’ve never felt more disconnected from digital stress than while exploring these remote beaches. North Beach stretches for kilometers with often not another soul in sight. Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve offers incredible kayaking alongside curious sea otters and orcas. The ancient forest trails feel like walking through fantasy movie sets, with moss-draped trees and mist that creates ethereal morning light.
Haida culture is deeply woven into every experience here – from guided tours sharing traditional stories to art galleries featuring contemporary indigenous work. The Queen Charlotte townsite has excellent local restaurants serving fresh seafood. This is adventure travel for people who want authentic cultural immersion, not polished resort experiences. Best visited May through September when weather cooperates and wildlife viewing peaks.
8. Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah
Monument Valley delivers that iconic American West you’ve been dreaming about since childhood. Those massive sandstone buttes rising from red earth create landscapes so perfect they’ve starred in countless movies. The 17-mile Valley Drive showcases formations with names like “The Mittens” and “Elephant Butte” – each more photogenic than the last.
Here’s what I learned from multiple visits – book a Navajo-guided backcountry tour instead of just driving the main loop. Local guides reveal hidden arches and ancient rock art while sharing stories passed through generations. John Ford’s Point offers that quintessential western panorama where every photo looks like a movie poster.
The light here borders on magical – dawn transforms the valley from deep purple to brilliant crimson in minutes. I’ve watched this show dozens of times and it never gets old. The View Hotel offers balcony rooms where you literally wake up to Monument Valley sunrise. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) provide perfect temperatures and smaller crowds. This sacred Navajo landscape offers exactly what busy professionals crave – perspective-shifting emptiness under massive skies.
9. Quebec City, Quebec
Quebec City delivers European charm without the transatlantic flight hassle, and honestly the food scene rivals anything in France. Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) with its cobblestone streets and 400-year-old stone buildings feels like stepping into a living history book. The Château Frontenac dominates the skyline like a fairytale castle, and the views from the Dufferin Terrace over the St. Lawrence River are incredible.
Petit Champlain district down by the water buzzes with boutiques and cafés serving proper café au lait and maple everything. I could spend hours wandering these narrow streets, especially in winter when snow and twinkling lights create pure magic. The city walls offer great walking paths with harbor views most tourists miss.
Winter Carnival in February transforms the city into a winter wonderland with ice sculptures and outdoor parties that’ll make you forget about the cold. The Plains of Abraham provide green space and battlefield history right in the city center. Île d’Orléans just outside the city offers farm-to-table restaurants and vineyard tours. The Montmorency Falls (higher than Niagara!) are 15 minutes away and spectacular in winter when they freeze into massive ice walls.
- Read next: 13 Instagram-Worthy Airbnbs in Québec For All Travel Styles
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10. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Antelope Canyon might be the most Instagrammed slot canyon on Earth, but the hype is totally justified. Those twisted sandstone walls in vibrant oranges and purples look photoshopped even to your naked eye. You’ll need Navajo guides for both Upper Antelope (easier access, famous light beams) and Lower Antelope (more adventurous with ladders, fewer crowds).
The light beam photos you see everywhere happen between 11am-1pm from March through October, but honestly the canyon is stunning any time of day. I’ve photographed here multiple times and still get goosebumps when those first sunbeams break through the narrow opening above. The guides know exactly where to stand for the best shots and share cultural insights about this sacred landscape.
Horseshoe Bend is just 10 minutes away and offers that epic Colorado River overlook that’ll dominate your social feeds. The short hike to the viewpoint is easy, but the cliff edge is no joke – stay back from the rim. Page, Arizona makes a good base with decent restaurants and hotels. Book canyon tours well in advance, especially for summer light beam times. The entire area feels like stress-melting therapy for anyone trapped in office fluorescent lighting.
11. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver nails the urban-wilderness combo better than any city I’ve visited. Stanley Park offers 1,000 acres of forest right downtown – cycling the seawall with mountain and ocean views beats any urban park experience. Grouse Mountain provides hiking in summer and skiing in winter, all visible from downtown office buildings.
The Granville Island Public Market showcases the city’s incredible food scene – fresh seafood, local produce, and artisanal everything. I could spend entire afternoons here sampling and people-watching. Gastown charms with its steam clock and cobblestone streets, while Chinatown offers some of the best dim sum outside of Asia.
Lynn Canyon and Capilano Suspension Bridge provide forest hiking just minutes from downtown. The North Shore Mountains offer world-class hiking, and I’ve never seen city views quite like those from Quarry Rock in Deep Cove. English Bay beach provides sunset views year-round. The SeaBus to North Vancouver offers cheap harbor cruising with incredible city skylines. This city perfectly suits active professionals who refuse to choose between urban culture and outdoor adventure.
12. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans delivers sensory overload in the best possible way – and I mean that as someone who’s traveled extensively. The French Quarter seduces with ornate iron balconies and colorful Creole cottages, but skip touristy Bourbon Street for Frenchmen Street where world-class jazz spills from doorways every night.
Commander’s Palace serves legendary turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé that justify the splurge, while Cochon offers modern Cajun that’ll ruin you for chain restaurants forever. I always do the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 tour to see elaborate above-ground tombs and learn why they bury people this way. The Garden District mansion tours via streetcar showcase antebellum architecture under massive oak trees.
Jazz Fest (April-May) and Mardi Gras (February-March) are incredible but crowded and expensive. I prefer visiting in fall when weather’s perfect and locals reclaim their city. Magazine Street offers six miles of local shopping and restaurants without tourist markup. Café du Monde beignets at 2am after a night of music is basically a religious experience. This city offers exactly what stressed professionals need – unapologetic celebration of life’s pleasures with a soundtrack that heals your soul.
