From towering peaks to city skylines and rural panoramas, the US has plenty of eye-candy on offer, but there’s more to the country than its iconic scenes – no matter what the postcards may imply.
Featuring knockouts both natural and human-made, here are six of the most underrated vantage points in America.
Shoshone Falls – Idaho
Situated in Twin Falls, Idaho, and stretching 900ft wide and 212ft high, Shoshone Falls is taller than its Atlantic Coast counterpart.
Say hello to the Niagara of the West.
However the Snake River sends over much less water here – at most, around 20,000 cubic feet of water per second – than the Niagara does in high season.
Still, it’s an impressive sight that’s been a Gem State attraction since the mid-19th century, when it offered weary travelers respite from the Oregon Trail.
Today the falls are as popular as ever, ensconced in a city park and open to the public for a mere fiver per car.
Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is the crown jewel of Colorado’s public lands, and it pulls focus accordingly for visitors and locals alike.
But the southwest is just as deserving of attention, and Mesa Verde, a national park devoted to the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloan people, is an eye-catching alternative.
The park comprises thousands of archeological sites, including hundreds of cliff dwellings that provide a jaw-dropping look at local life circa 600 to 1300 CE.