Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon runs about 14 miles long and more than 3,600 feet deep, its walls striped red, rust, and green, with lookouts along Waimea Canyon Drive (Go Hawaii). Notice how the colors change as clouds move over. Bring home the palette: rust, moss, and sky blue. See Bring home a color.
Kualoa, Oahu
Kualoa is a 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch, with steep cliffs and open valleys you may recognize from Jurassic Park, explored on guided tours by ATV, on horseback, and more (Go Hawaii). Notice the scale: the cliffs make people look tiny. Bring home a reminder that some of the best views are on working land, cared for by the people who live there.
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
West of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has a 13-mile one-way scenic drive past red sandstone and Joshua trees. Vehicles need a timed-entry reservation through Recreation.gov (Bureau of Land Management). Notice how much life fits in a dry place. Bring home a short desert walk as a model for any trip: one place, one trail. See A weekend with room in it.
The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, California
Every spring, more than 50 acres of giant ranunculus bloom in stripes above the Pacific. The season usually opens in early March and runs about two months (The Flower Fields). Notice how color reads differently in a row than in a single bloom. Bring home the idea of planting in blocks of one color, even in a single pot.
Aspen country, western Colorado
A grove of quaking aspen can be one living thing. The most famous, Pando in Utah, is about 47,000 trunks sharing a single root system across roughly 106 acres (National Geographic). Notice the sound: aspen leaves flutter in the faintest breeze. Bring home the idea that what looks like many separate things can be connected underground, which is true of more than trees.
Find your own postcard places
- A canyon or overlook: the National Park Service finder and your state parks.
- A garden in bloom: the Public Garden Finder.
- A working landscape: farms, ranches, and orchards that welcome visitors. See Try before you move.
- Close to home: A familiar place, seen differently.
Why it works
Awe doesn’t require a famous view, but big places make it easy to find. In a UCSF study, older adults who looked for awe on short weekly walks reported growing daily compassion and gratitude, and their photos showed them focusing more on their surroundings and smiling more broadly (UCSF).
Go somewhere that makes you feel small, in a good way. Bring one thing home.
I hope this finds you well,
Scott