10 Places You Have to See to Believe
GettyZhangye Danxia Landform: Gansu, China
These striped, technicolor mountains are Mother Nature's answer to Photoshop. Red sandstone and mineral deposits have been building up in China's Danxia Landform Geological Park for more than 20 million years, causing the surreal layered effect.
Gallery StockMendenhall Ice Caves: Juneau, Alaska
The ice caves inside Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier are not easily accessible nor for the faint of heart—those who want to see them in person must first kayak to the glacier and then ice-climb to reach it. But once adventurers stand under the glowing blue ceilings of ice, we’re pretty sure they’ll tell you it’s worth the trek.
AlamySwing at the End of the World: Baños, Ecuador
If you have graduated from your neighborhood playground, try venturing deep into the Ecuadorian wilderness. There you'll find Casa del Arbol (also known as "The Treehouse"), a seismic monitoring station for the active Mt. Tungurahua volcano. The structure's real attraction is the rope swing attached to one of the tree's branches, where people are invited to ride out over the end of the world.
AlamyThe Sea of Stars: Vaadhoo Island, Maldives
The beaches at Vaadhoo Island have received their fair share of Internet swooning, and for good reason. The bioluminescent phytoplankton in the waters emanate a dazzling blue glow, making it look as though the stars have somehow found their way down to earth for the night.
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AlamyHitachi Seaside Park: Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan
Hitachi Seaside Park is a stretch of flora-packed hills in Japan, and it could easily pass for a whimsical Dr. Seuss landscape. The park is filled with kochia plants that turn bright red during autumn.
AlamyMarble Caves at General Carrera Lake: Chile
Caves don't always have to be dark and dingy. Case in point: The Marble Caves off of the Patagonian Andes. The swirling marble walls, formed by 6,000 years of crashing waves eroding the stone, are as vibrant and lovely as the surrounding azure water.
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AlamySalar de Uyuni: Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, and it is beautifully surreal no matter the time of year. When dry, the flat is a perfectly horizontal sheet of hexagonal salt tiles. And during the wet season, the shallow lake perfectly mirrors the sky, creating a dreamy illusion of infinity.
Gallery StockCenotes — Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Mexico's many beaches are undeniably wonderful, but a more unique (and less sun-intensive) experience is waiting for you underground. The Yucatán Peninsula hides many cenotes, natural swimming holes caused by collapsed limestone. The cool water is clear enough to see fish below your feet, and the hanging vines and rocky walls make you feel at one with nature.
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AlamyTrolltunga: Hordaland, Norway
Trolltunga, which aptly translates to "Troll's Tongue," is one of many examples of Norway's bizarrely beautiful landscape. The protruding rock sits about 2,300 feet above Lake Ringedalsvatnet, daring travelers to sit on the edge and pose for what is sure to be a profile picture a lifetime.
Photo by Martin RietzeGlowworm Caves: Waitomo, New Zealand
Leave it to New Zealand to make even worms look beautiful. The Waitomo Caves hold thousands of bioluminescent larvae that leave long strings of mucus (sounds gross, looks dazzling) and glow like a subterranean Milky Way.