Posted in Bucket List
July 24, 2022
Step Into A Storybook When You Visit These 17 Destinations Across The U.S.
When was the last time you let your imagination run wild? It’s probably been too long. Books provide readers with marvelous escapes and encourage curiosity, awe, and wonder. Nature does this, too, of course, and when you combine these two experiences — books *and* nature — you get something wholly, wildly wonderful. Across the country, there are destinations that seem as though they’ve been plucked straight from the pages of a storybook: castles and caverns, enchanted forests and waterfalls, landscapes and accommodations that seem too beautiful, too fantastical, to be real. Luckily for us, they are, and we invite you to step into a storybook with us as we explore some of the most enchanting and wonderful places in the U.S.
Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
You'll feel as though you've been whisked away to the German Alps when you visit Leavenworth, Washington, one of the most picture-perfect storybook towns in the Pacific Northwest. While outdoor options abound in this part of the country, Leavenworth really is a cultural hub for those looking for the perfect apres ski experience, in the most marvelous small-town setting. Here you'll find German specialties, including sausages, schnitzel, sauerkraut, pastries, potato salad, and of course, plenty of beer. During the winter, visitors can enjoy skiing, ice climbing, sleigh rides, and more (the holiday festival is especially enchanting); but don't discount Leavenworth in the warmer months, as the town has access to incredible rafting, river tubing, and hiking.
Multnomah Falls, Oregon 97014, USA
Mighty Multnomah Falls is a heavenly vision, and truly one of the crown jewels of the Pacific Northwest. This 620-foot fall will take your breath away, and leave you in awe at the glory of Mother Nature. Breathtakingly beautiful year-round, there are numerous ways to experience the falls: a variety of hikes, a pedestrian bridge, and while dining in Multnomah Falls Lodge, a place straight from the pages of a fairy tale. Multnomah Falls is one of those places that seems too beautiful to be real, but luckily for us, it's as real as it gets.
General Sherman Tree, California 93262, USA
A grounding and life-affirming place, Sequoia National Park is home to the world's most marvelous giants -- trees that will make you feel, quite literally, like Alice in Wonderland. The highlight of the park is Sequoia National Forest, a 1.1 million-acre forest with 34 distinct groves.
John Muir, who was known as the Father of National Parks, remarked that the sequoia groves are “not like places, they are like haunts.” And indeed, the park is home to the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth, a captivating, incredible monolith known as "General Sherman." This commanding tree is estimated to be about 2,700 years old, and was named after the American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman. General Sherman, and the whole of Sequoia National Park, is a magical natural wonder for any explorer's bucket list.
Cypress Tree Tunnel, Inverness, CA 94937, USA
When it comes to Northern California’s most picturesque destinations, Point Reyes National Seashore is a top contender. Boasting scenery that’s filled with rocky headlands, sandy beaches, open grasslands, and rich hillsides, visiting this destination feels like stepping into the pages of a storybook. There’s a lot to see in this heavenly region of NorCal, but the Cypress Tree Tunnel is hard to beat. As one of the most photographed places in the area, this spot is truly extraordinary in every way. Planted around 1930, the Monterey cypress trees that create this "tunnel" truly live up to the hype.
Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
The entire town of Sausalito unfolds in a cinematic sequence, with colorful cottages, scenic vistas, and iconic landmarks dotting this impossibly charming NorCal town. Upon arrival in Sausalito, the hillside houses, hills, natural beauty, boutique shops, and style will make most anyone smile. The layout and vibe here is one-of-a-kind and memorable.
You'll feel like you've walked on to a movie set when you explore the over 500 houseboats floating on the bay in Sausalito, each with its own unique color and personality. Vivid Mediterranean style and architectural flourishes can be found all over Sausalito; you'll take it all in while strolling along the Bridgeway Promenade, home to some of Sausalito’s best shops and most famous restaurants, all of which offer spectacular views of the beguiling San Francisco Bay.
Bonsai Rock, Carson City, NV 89704, USA
It's hard for anything to top the beauty of Lake Tahoe, but Bonsai Rock just might. The second deepest alpine lake in the U.S., Tahoe was formed approximately two million years ago and is acclaimed for its shockingly clear waters. Halfway between Sand Harbor and Hidden Beach on the east side of the lake is a large boulder with four small trees growing out of a crevice on top. Bonsai Rock is so named because of the small trees' resemblance to iconic Japanese bonsai trees, which are deliberately stunted and neatly pruned. These bonsais, however, have been naturally pruned by the elements; the fact that these diminutive trees have survived given their barren home is nothing short of a miracle. Beloved by photographers, Bonsai Rock is a compelling and charming natural feature that, when combined with its spectacular setting, is absolute perfection.
RiSE Festival, Sloan, NV 89054, USA
Held annually in the Nevada dessert, the Rise Festival is a dreamy lantern festival that's all kinds of magical. This one-of-a-kind experience is as cathartic as it is beautiful and it typically attracts thousands of excited visitors from all over the country. A mass lantern launching that everybody partakes in, festival goers can opt to inscribe their luminaries with a message, prayer, or resolution. Watching these wishes make their way into the dark desert sky, along with thousands of other luminaries, is a wholly enchanting and magical moment that's straight-up fantasy.
There's an iconic scene at the end of "The Wizard of Oz" where the Wizard takes flight in a hot air balloon. These whimsical aircraft are easily the most enchanting way to get around, and you can live our your very own Wizard of Oz fantasy at one annual festival in the desert. Since 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has drawn scores of romantics and dreamers from all over the globe, for what is now recognized as the largest event of its kind in the entire world. Watching these fanciful floats drift across the expansive desert skies is an experience sure to capture your heart and stoke your wanderlust.
Pella, IA 50219, USA
Known for its Dutch culture and postcard-perfect downtown, Pella, Iowa, is one of the most delightful small towns in the country. Located less than an hour from Des Moines, Pella is a small town that feels like entering another time and place -- and country. Founded by immigrants from Holland in 1847, Pella is a place that celebrates its Netherlands culture and heritage. Evidence of this is easy to see in Downtown Pella, which features Dutch-inspired architecture and several iconic windmills, such as the Vermeer Windmill, along with numerous Dutch bakeries and shops. Each spring, this small town comes alive in color, with its annual Tulip Festival attracting visitors from all across the Midwest, who come to experience the simple joy of beautiful blooms and exuberant Dutch culture.
Cumberland Falls, Kentucky 42634, USA
In the middle of the beautiful Bluegrass State, there is a natural phenomenon that's so rare, it's only experienced at a few places in the world. At Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, you'll find the eponymous Cumberland Falls -- Kentucky's "Niagara of the South" -- a majestic 68-foot waterfall on the Cumberland River. And not only is Cumberland Falls an awe-inspiring force; it's also the site of a rare natural phenomenon. Known as a "moonbow," Cumberland Falls is one of the few places on the planet that regularly produces this prismatic phenomenon, created when light is refracted in the waterfall's spraying water droplets. The moonbow lingers above the falls for up to two days as long as the sky is clear, on either end of the full moon. One of the most spectacular and accessible waterfall trails in the country, the Moonbow Trail is a Kentucky bucket list must -- especially at night.
Biltmore, 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, USA
Easily the most famous castle in the country, the Biltmore Estate is a place of pure magic. Built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895, this 178,926-square-foot mansion is located on 8,000 acres of pristine property just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. As the largest privately-owned home in America, this storybook destination a place of stunning scenery, lush gardens, ornate architecture, and historic relevance. While the house itself is a major attraction (the Biltmore draws over a million visitors each year), the massive and meticulously kept gardens on the estate are heavenly and only enhance the home's stunning beauty. The Biltmore is more than just a castle; it's an entire kingdom.
Holland, MI 49423, USA
Mackinac Island gets a lot of press as being the most charming small town in Michigan, but there's another Great Lakes State locale that's storybook perfection, and that's Holland. Best-known for its annual Tulip Festival, Holland is a scenic town in western Michigan that's wonderful to visit all year-round. As you might imagine, the town owes itself to the Dutch settlers who first arrived in the area around 1847. Being well over 150 years old, this small town has a lot of history surrounding it, but its main draw is something that you won't find in the history books: its charm. Holland is impossibly charming; between its delightful downtown, one-of-a-kind attractions, and #PureMichigan splendor, it's one of those places that's sure to capture your heart.
Bow Bridge, New York, NY 10024, USA
Nothing captures the je ne sais quoi of New York City quite like Central Park. A place that's inspired countless artists, directors, poets, and romantics, Central Park is peak NYC beauty; a dreamy oasis with fairy tale bridges, tree tunnels, and horse-drawn carriages -- all in the midst of one of the world's largest cities. And Central Park in the height of fall foliage or spring blooms? Heavenly.
Newport, RI, USA
Blending quintessential oceanic scenery with stately New England allure, Newport, Rhode Island, is as storybook-perfect as it gets. This town on Aquidneck Island and offers beautiful scenic views of Narragansett Bay and the awe-inspiring Atlantic. Scenery aside, Newport is best-known for its historic and stately homes. The Newport Mansions set off Bellevue Avenue are beautiful castles that will make you feel like you've just walked into a scene from a fairy tale. Featuring victorian and chateauesque architecture, you'll be wholly enchanted by these beguiling buildings -- and, of course, everything else this charming town has to offer!
Santarella, 75 Main Rd, Lee, MA 01238, USA
Offering an experience straight from a storybook, the Santarella Estate and Gardens is truly one-of-a-kind. The sprawling property, which features three different structures straight out of Rumpelstiltskin, provides a charming backdrop for getaways and weddings alike. The origins of the home date back to the founding of the town, then called Tyringham. The community was established in 1739, and the colonial home on the property was built shortly afterwards. Over time, residents would alter and add to the magical setting to achieve what we see today: a unique and endlessly enchanting property that offers guests the rare opportunity to live their very own storybook experience.
Maui, Hawaii, USA
While all of the Aloha State is bucket-list worthy, the hidden Bamboo Forest is a place unlike any other on the planet. To access this wonder, you'll head to the island of Maui and venture into the magical Haleakala National Park. Aptly named, the Bamboo Forest offers gorgeous greenery, plenty of bamboo, and just a touch of magic, which you'll discover along the Pipiwai Trail. Along this gorgeous two-mile trek, hikers can expect to encounter scenic cascades, a gorgeous waterfall, and the most unusual attraction of all, a seemingly endless bamboo forest. Quickly after, the landscape gives way to a world of bamboo. Enter the forest and you'll feel as though you've traveled to an entirely new landscape, one that drives home just how big, beautiful, and wondrous this world of ours truly is.
Iolani Palace, 364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Iolani Palace is Hawaii’s official royal residence and a place of majesty and beauty. The extraordinary edifice was built in 1882 in downtown Honolulu by King Kalakaua as a means of strengthening the then-Kingdom of Hawaii’s global clout and prestige. When the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893 by the U.S., Iolani Palace served as the capitol building until it underwent extensive renovation, reopening as a museum in 1978. Taking design inspiration from European palaces, Iolani is said to be the sole example of American Florentine style (a mix of Italian Renaissance and Hawaiian architectural styles) and is the only official royal residence on U.S. soil. It is a beloved cultural center in Hawaii, and you'll definitely want to tour this pristine palace while you're there.
Embrace your wanderlust and seek out an adventure — these storybook places in the U.S. are nothing short of magical.
Address: Maui, Hawaii, USA
Address: Multnomah Falls, Oregon 97014, USA
Address: Pella, IA 50219, USA
Address: Biltmore, 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, USA
Address: Bonsai Rock, Carson City, NV 89704, USA
Address: Bow Bridge, New York, NY 10024, USA
Address: Cumberland Falls, Kentucky 42634, USA
Address: Cypress Tree Tunnel, Inverness, CA 94937, USA
Address: Holland, MI 49423, USA
Address: Iolani Palace, 364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Address: Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
Address: Newport, RI, USA
Address: Santarella, 75 Main Rd, Lee, MA 01238, USA
Address: General Sherman Tree, California 93262, USA
Address: RiSE Festival, Sloan, NV 89054, USA
Address: Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
