The One Place In The U.S. That Feels Like You’ve Landed On Another Planet
One of the most incredible aspects of living in America is the country’s diversity of landscape. The physical differences between each state is remarkable, yet each region has its own unique beauty. And arriving to an unvisited place in the U.S., you might suspect you’ve landed on an entirely different planet. That seems to be the general consensus for those arriving to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Amidst the Rocky Mountains there appears a vast stretch of sand dunes and you’ll need to see it to believe it actually exists.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Tucked away in southern Colorado at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range awaits a landscape that's nearly too bizarre for words.
In fact, the park contains the tallest sand dunes in North America. It's no wonder why this striking landscape seems like something from a different planet.
The sand dunes were created over tens of thousands of years, as the lakes in the valley receded and exposed sand was blown by strong southwest winds toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Visitors can enjoy a unique activity known as sandboarding, which is similar to sledding. Rather than snow, the soft sands allow you to zip down the dunes at exhilarating speeds.
So whether you’re looking for an exhilarating place to explore or dream of seeing this landscape with your own eyes, a trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park will be one to remember. For additional details and directions to the National Park, click here.
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
