In honor of Earth Day, this post features 10 awesome photos from different places on Earth. These are some of my favorite landscape photos, and I believe these are all photos I have not posted before on the blog. As always, the years listed in each description reflect when the photo was taken. Without further introduction, here goes:
(1) Yosemite National Park (California, 2006). Since it is still National Park Week, I’m leading off with one of the most iconic views of Yosemite Valley. Yosemite was the second national park created in the US and is possibly the most beautiful.
(2) Gulfoss (Iceland, 2016). Iceland has many amazing waterfalls, but this one is massive. The rainbow over the falls makes this one of my favorite photos from a county that has no shortage of awesome landscapes.
(3) Near Queenstown (South Island, New Zealand, 2004). I’ve never been anywhere as overwhelmingly scenic as the South Island of New Zealand! This photo was taken on a daytrip to see Lord of the Rings film locations, and I often watch the LOTR movies just to enjoy the scenery.
(4) Uluru (Australia, 2004). This massive rock in the middle of the Australian Outback reflects some amazing colors at sunrise. The photo doesn’t do it justice, nor does it convey the heat of the temperatures during summer in the Outback!
(5) Scotland (2004). I don’t recall the specific location, but I always thought this photo captured the essence of the gorgeous Scottish landscape with the bright green grass and craggy hilltops. I don’t envy the winter weather, but can easily understand why the Queen likes to spend summers in Scotland!
(6) Western Canada (2005). The name of this location also escapes me (this is what happens when you travel with a tour group rather than planning the trip yourself), but it is one of many incredible views in the picturesque Canadian Rockies!
Did I mention its National Park Week??? Since I’ve been to more National Parks than other countries, here are a few more highlights of awesome landscapes right here in the USA:
(7) Arches National Park (Utah, 2014). There are so many amazing landscapes in this park that it’s hard to pick one. However, any view featured in the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is hard to leave off a list.
(8) Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park (Washington, 2017). Shifting gears to a rain forest that seems oddly placed in the Pacific Northwest, the winding trail through this part of Olympic National Park had an ethereal quality, possibly like something from another movie. Avatar, maybe?
(9) Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah, 2014). For the number of incredible national parks in close proximity, nothing tops Utah. Bryce Canyon is a truly unique and awesome landscape, and it is photogenic from virtually every point.
(10) Glacier National Park (Montana, 2008). This is an iconic spot in Glacier, as the mountain in the background is famously featured at the beginning of all Paramount movies. It was a little obscured by clouds on the day we visited, but the overall landscape is still gorgeous.
Bonus: This cute photo was taken in my front yard in Monticello, Kentucky. It just goes to show you don’t always have travel far from home for an interesting landscape!
