15 Incredible Places in the U.S. You Might Not Have Realized Were UNESCO Sites
There’s nothing better than discovering there’s even more to a place than you thought. Whether you know it or not, these 15 incredible places in the U.S. are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and all worth visiting.
1. Olympic National Park – Washington
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This UNESCO Site in Washington State is known for its diverse ecosystems. It has alpine meadows, glacier-clad peaks, forests, and 11 major rivers.
2. Mammoth Cave National Park – Kentucky
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In Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park has the most significant number of underground passageways and natural caves. Within the caves and the surroundings are a variety of flora, fauna, and several endangered species.
3. Everglades National Park – Florida
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The Everglades have been described as a river of grass that flows from the hinterland to the sea. Situated at the southern tip of Florida, this national park boasts a myriad of reptiles, birds, and threatened species, including the manatee that calls it home.
4. Independence Hall – Pennsylvania
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The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and the Constitution of the United States in 1787 in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. These two documents have set a precedence for democracy and freedom in America and worldwide.
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee and North Carolina
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 100 species of trees. It also has over 500,000 acres of untouched natural beauty and 1,600 flowering plant species. It is no wonder it is a UNESCO Site.
6. San Antonio Missions – Texas
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Five frontier mission complexes stretch along southern Texas’ San Antonia River basin and make up San Antonio Missions. Franciscan missionaries built the complexes in the 18th Century and highlighted how the Spanish Crown tried to evangelize, colonize, and defend New Spain’s northern frontier.
7. Taliesin West – Arizona
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Taliesin West in Scottsdale and eight other Frank Lloyd Wright designs were declared a World Heritage Site in 2019. Wright was born in 1867 and is still known to be one of the greatest 20th-century architects. Taliesin was his winter home in 1937.
8. La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site – Puerto Rico
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This UNESCO Site served as a defensive structure for the European military between the 16th and 20th centuries. They were built in the Caribbean Sea to protect the Bay of San Juan.
9. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – Hawaii
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Papahānaumokuākea is one of the world’s most extensive marine protected areas. It is a cluster of atolls and islands 980 miles from Hawaii’s central archipelago. It has a deep traditional significance for Hawaiian culture and is believed to be where life starts and ends.
10. Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville – Virginia
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American Declaration of Independence author and the USA’s third president, Thomas Jefferson, designed Monticello between 1769 and 1809. It was his plantation home and idealized academical village, which is now at the center of the University of Virginia.
11. Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii
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Kilauea and Mauna Loa are two of the world’s most active volcanoes. Due to the lava flows, their eruptions create a continuously changing landscape and unique geological formations. Visitors can find endemic species and rare birds in this incredible national park.
12. Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
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Ancestral Pueblo Indian structures were built on the Mesa Verda plateau between the 6th and 12th centuries. The sites are exceptionally well-preserved by the high desert elevations. Archaeologists can study and understand the Ancestral Puebloan people through this prehistoric settlement.
13. Carlsbad Caverns National Park – New Mexico
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The Carlsbad Caverns boast over 119 limestone caves and are known for their mode of origin, unique rock formations, and size. One cave, Lechuguilla Cave, acts as an underground laboratory where scientists can observe the biological and geological processes.
14. Waterton Glacier International Peace Park – Northern Rockies Montana
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As the world’s first international peace park, it is only fitting that the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park is a UNESCO Site. In 1932, the U.S. Glacier National Park and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park became one park. It offers incredible scenery of prairies, forests, glacial and alpine features, and rich mammal species and plant life.
15. Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona
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Along the Colorado Plateau’s southern border sits the 229.6 square miles of the Petrified Forest National Park. In 1906 the land was set aside to preserve resources from the Late Triassic era. Colorful, remarkably preserved petrified wood deposits are the most notable in the park.
Source: Reddit
12 Cities People Voted Are the Snobbiest in America, Do You Agree?
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America comprises of small towns, medium-sized cities, and huge metropolitan regions. Some places are known for being warm and welcoming. In contrast, other sites have well-earned reputations for being incredibly “stuck up.” When users from an Americana-themed discussion forum were asked to name the most pretentious areas in the country, they were more than happy to offer their opinions.
12 Cities People Voted Are the Snobbiest in America, Do You Agree?
15 Countries That Serve up the BEST Street Food Experiences
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There’s something about the vibrance of street food, the richness in flavor, and the rawness of surrounding cultural scenes. Not only is street food more affordable for travelers, but it grants a more authentic experience since this is where natives also gather and convene.
With that said, here are 15 countries serving up the best street food experiences, as voted on by an online foodie forum.
15 Countries That Serve up the BEST Street Food Experiences
20 Most Dangerous Countries in the World Tourists Should Avoid in 2023
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Wanderlust may take you all over the world, but some countries are too dangerous to visit, and knowing which are best avoided in 2023 could keep you safe.
Let’s take a closer look at a list of the most dangerous countries in the world based on data from the World Population Review.
20 Most Dangerous Countries in the World Tourists Should Avoid in 2023
12 Countries You Should AVOID as a Solo Woman Traveling According to Travelers
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Traveling the world is one of life’s biggest joys, but for women embarking on solo journeys, trips to new countries can be stressful and sometimes dangerous. Recently, women met in an online discussion to reveal the countries any solo female traveler should avoid due to a higher likelihood of encountering dangerous situations.
12 Countries You Should AVOID as a Solo Woman Traveling According to Travelers
14 Cities in the USA That Are Criminally Underrated According to Americans
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Everyone’s idea of a vacation or road trip is a little different. There are certain cities we gravitate towards more often, like San Francisco, NYC, or L.A. Have you considered exploring a new city that’s underrated and, perhaps, under appreciated? Check out these U.S. cities that a popular travel forum voted as “criminally underrated.”
14 Cities in the USA That Are Criminally Underrated According to Americans
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