Arches National Park

Traveling to Arches National Park is like visiting another planet, one with thousands of natural sandstone arches, red rocks and landforms in incredible formations, and light that appears to change at any moment. The way the shadows play across the arches makes the park particularly appealing to photographers, who are drawn to capturing its enchanting vistas, especially at dawn and dusk. But Arches National Park is more than just a photographer's dream.

The park, located 5 miles northwest of Moab, Utah, has 26 miles of scenic road and hikes for all levels of fitness. Hikers can choose from a variety of trails, ranging from short 20-minute walks to Balanced Rock and the Double Arch to longer and more difficult treks through the Fiery Furnace and up to Delicate Arch. When you need to return to Earth, simply look up: the Colorado Plateau has some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States, allowing for spectacular views of the Milky Way.