Top 10 Prettiest Towns in United States

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Do you live in one of the America’s prettiest cities? It’s impossible to say what’s “best” for everyone, of course. But where’s the fun in not trying? Here, below is our list of top 10 prettiest towns in United States. These beautiful towns are not only thriving economically, they’ve also got all you could want in a place to raise a family: plenty of green space, good schools, and a strong sense of community.

10. Edgartown, Massachusetts

Edgartown is a town located on Martha’s Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the county seat of Dukes County. Widely known as an exclusive enclave for the affluent and famous, the island is at its most charming in Edgartown, the largest and most expensive community on the Vineyard. Meticulously maintained Victorian sea captains’ houses and a beguiling collection of shops and galleries sit near the harbor. “Stroll about its manicured streets with some home-made ice cream from Mad Martha’s (a local institution since 1971) and you’ve got the makings of a perfect day,” says Arabella Bowen, executive editorial director at Fodor’s.

9. Key West, Florida

Closer to Cuba than it is to the mainland United States, Key West exudes a laid-back and casual vibe that is different than almost any other town in the country. It’s a place that marches to its own (usually steel) drummer. Take the kids dolphin-spotting, charter a boat to snag a marlin, or just relax on the beach beside crystal blue waters. And getting there is half the fun: the 127-mile Overseas Highway is the only road in or out to the mainland, and there’s no road in the country like it. If that’s not enough, Key West is also home to the only National Park that is accessible only by boat, Dry Tortugas National Park, where the snorkeling, diving, or just exploring are unparalleled.

8. Longview, Washington

Not even the port industry that clusters around the Lewis and Clark bridge can block the scenery of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most charming towns. “It is one of the only, if not the only planned community in the west at the time,” says Foster Church of “Discovering Main Street: Travel Adventures in Small Towns of the Northwest. “It was planned by a wealthy lumber magnate who decided to build two lumber mills in this location because it was close to the Columbia River.” He needed 14,000 workers to help run his two mills, so in 1921, he built a city that could house up to 50,000 people. Today, the town retains its old town lumber mill feel, and is home to the well-planned but serene beauty of Lake Sacajawea Park, which Foster says is “one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever seen.”

7. Athens, Georgia

A university town that enjoyed a small measure of renown in the ‘80s and ‘90s, thanks to a fertile music scene which gave birth to the B-52s and R.E.M., among others. Athens is earning a more recent reputation as a post-industrial success story. Old factories have been rehabilitated and now house galleries and boutiques, but though the manufacturing may have left, the town still holds onto its identity with pride. “It has kept ruthless development at a minimum,” says Jason Cochran, editor-in-chief of Frommer’s.com. “You can still find avenues of those stately old Georgia mansions that the best towns retain. So you’ve got this vibrant blend of slouching red-brick warehouses and bold Greek Revival mansions.”

6. Tarrytown, New York

Tarrytown’s rich history, including being a throughway on the Underground Railroad, name-dropped by Washington Irving in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and, later, one of the preferred Upstate getaways for New York’s rich and powerful, is visible wherever you go in this Hudson River-side town. Lyndhurst, the widely-regarded robber baron Jay Gould’s castle-like mansion in town, is toured by throngs of visitors every year. The town has played host to recreational and cultural options aplenty, including the famous (and former, running from 1971 to 2006) Tarrytown Film Festival, which was more of a film salon hosted by noted ‘70s and ‘80s film critic, Judith Crist.

5. Fort Benton, Montana

Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established in 1846, a full generation before the U.S. Civil War, Fort Benton is one of the oldest settlements in the American West. Founded as a fur-trading post in 1847, the town flourished well into the 1860s, when the Gold Rush cash was flowing back eastward. The railroad would eventually put the brakes on the town’s growth, however, but not before Fort Benton earned a reputation as the sort of place where disagreements were regularly settled with sidearms. “Jesse James and all the other characters used to have shoot-outs on these streets and you can relive it all on Main Street today,” says Andrew Evans, National Geographic Traveler’s Digital Nomad.

4. Breckenridge, Colorado

In a state known for its charming alpine ski towns, Breckenridge stands out both for its stunning vistas, charming streets, family-friendly vibe and – most importantly, for many visitors – unsurpassed proximity to a wide variety of world-class ski options. With giant peaks, more than 150 trails, North America’s highest chairlift, and a wide variety of options for everyone from the shakiest of beginners to the most jaded back-country daredevils, Breck really does have something for everyone. Though the town really comes to life from November through early April, there’s still a lot to do during the warmer months, from hiking to fishing to mountain biking.

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

With its charming, quaint old buildings in the centre of town, its dramatic mountain backdrop and the only ski resort in Tennessee, Gatlinburg has become a popular tourist destination for regional fun-seekers. Located on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg benefits from its location as a tourist draw and reinforces it with attractions such as an aerial tramway, an aquarium, white-water rafting, hiking, and even a haunted house. But let’s not kid ourselves: as pretty and irresistible the town is, the real draw in this part of Tennessee is the nature. “The wildflowers around Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are absolutely spectacular in the spring as they burst with wild-flowers at their peak,” says Zain Habboo, National Geographic’s director of travel.

2. Camden, Maine

Camden is a famous summer colony in the Mid-Coast region of Maine. Similar to Bar Harbor, Nantucket and North Haven, Camden is well known for its summer community of wealthy Northeasterners, mostly from Boston, New York and Philadelphia. “It’s like a movie set. In fact, it has often been a movie set.” Camden retains a certain salty grit and allows more of its working-class roots to show — though, like many New England seaside villages, the residents are more likely to be affluent these days. “Where the mountains meet the sea,” boasts the town, and indeed one of the best ways to see Camden is from a perch high above the harbor on nearby Mt. Battie. The white sailboats pepper the water in Penobscot Bay, and the waterside seafood beckons. Visit during September’s peak leaf season for an autumnal fireworks display of reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.

1. Newport, Rhode Island

Known for being the city of some of the “Summer White Houses”. Like a town stuck in time but with the occasional hole in the space-time continuum to allow for modern touches, Newport, with its stunning harbor and bevy of old homes, is the quintessential New England town. Newport’s fame began as a 19th century summertime visitors’ magnet of a town, and it still reliably draws in clusters of visitors, both for the daytime shopping, eating, and sightseeing options. At night, one of the town’s many music festivals or varied collection of bars draws in local students and stalwart party goers for good times that can run late and loud. But the town itself is chief among American small towns in the category of most well-preserved colonial homes and Gilded-Age mansions – a testimony to its tony residential reputation, and to its history as the summer destination of choice from 1953 until around 1963. It is also the location of an important collection of naval training centres.

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10 Record Setting Attractions in the United States

America is simply large, it blessed with an abundance of natural attractions. At 3.8 million sq. miles, it’s the home to spectacular deserts, mountain ranges, ancient forests, volcanic features, waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, caves, and swamps. However that reality doesn’t diminish the awesomeness of those places. But what are the most beautiful of all these natural attractions? Here, we’ve compiled a top 10 list (according to CNN) of nature’s record setting attractions in U.S., decide the most beautiful amongst these.

10. Missouri River – Longest river in the U.S.

At more than 2,341 miles, Missouri River is the longest river in North America, beginning in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, winding generally south and east before joining the mighty Mississippi River (about 2,300 miles) near St. Louis, Missouri. After combined with the great Mississippi River, it forms the world’s fourth longest river system.

9. Hells Canyon – Deepest canyon in North America

The Grand Canyon in Arizona may be immense, boasting nearly 277 river miles in length, but for sheer depth, Hells Canyon in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho wins hands-down. The deepest canyon in North America, at its deepest, it plunges 8,043 feet from the tip of He Devil Peak to the Snake River, which flows more than 1.6 km below the canyon’s west rim on the Oregon side and 2,300 m below the peaks of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains range to the east.

8. Northwest Angle – Northernmost point in the continental U.S.

The Northwest Angle Inlet in Minnesota, near the Ontario border, is a part of northern Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. Known simply as ‘Angle Township’, by locals, and at 49.22 north latitude, it is the northernmost point in the contiguous United States (the only place in the United States outside Alaska).

7. Yuma, Arizona – The sunniest place in the world

Yuma, Arizona, is noted for its weather “extremes”. According to the National Climatic Data Center, It is the driest, sunniest city and the least humid place in the United States. It also holds the Guinness World Record for sunniest city on Earth. The city has the lowest frequency of rain and snow, and has the most number of days, 175, per year. It experiences an average of 4015 hours of sunshine per year, and 11.0 hours of sunshine per day.

6. Rainbow Bridge – Tallest natural bridge in the U.S.

The amazing natural structure at Rainbow Bridge National Monument in southern Utah is often described as the world’s highest natural bridge. The bridge is estimated to be more than 200 million years old. It is 290 feet tall, at the top it is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide. Rainbow Bridge was known for centuries by the Native Americans who have long held the bridge sacred.

5. Mount McKinley – Highest mountain in North America

Mount McKinley is the highest mountain peak in North America, with 20,237 feet above sea level. The Mount Mckinley is considered the largest of any mountain situated entirely above sea level, with some 18,000 feet base to peak rise. Located in the interior of US state of Alaska, McKinley is the third most prominent peak after Mount Everest and Aconcagua. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.

4. Mauna Kea – World’s tallest mountain

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. About one million years old, Mauna Kea is the highest point in the U.S. state of Hawaii, standing 13,803 ft above sea level. However, much of Mauna Kea is below sea level, when measured from the ocean floor, its height is 33,100 ft, more than twice Mount Everest.

3. Death Valley – Lowest and hottest spot in the U.S.

Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it is the lowest (282 feet below sea level) and driest area in North America. Death Valley is currently the hottest place in the world. with a scorching record high of 134° F (57°C) on July 10, 1913. Death Valley may sound like a depressing destination to visit, but it boasts some of the most adaptable plant and animal life on the planet.

2. General Sherman – Largest living tree in the world

The second on record setting attractions in U.S. is ‘General Sherman’, world’s largest living tree. The General Sherman is not only the largest giant sequoia, but it is also the world’s biggest living tree. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on earth. The tree was named after American Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman, is located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California.

1. Crater Lake – The Deepest lake in the U.S.

Deepest lake in the U.S. The Crater Lake is one of the record setting attractions. Located in south-central Oregon, in the western United States, Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The dazzling body of water is nearly 2,148-feet (655 m) deep. The lake formed by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama more than 7,700 years ago. The Lake is also known for the “Old Man of the Lake”, a full-sized tree which is now a stump that has been bobbing vertically in the lake for over a century.

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Top 10 Wonders of the Ancient World

Here at the wonderslist, we love wonders, as much as, that we have produced several lists so far. We are now presenting our next ten wonders of the ancient world list. It is fortunate that the world is so full of wonderful things that we can keep you infotained with lists of this nature. If you wish to read the others, they are here:
Top 10 Wonders of The World
Top 10 Natural Wonders of the World
10 Engineering Wonders of The Modern World
Top 10 Wonders of United Kingdom
10 Awe-Inspiring Wonders of America
10 Fascinating Wonders of Australia

Top 10 Wonders of the Ancient World

10. Ajanta Caves, India

About 100km northeast from the city of Aurangabad, India’s Ajanta Caves are considered the pinnacle of Indian rock-cut architecture. The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE. During the 5th and 6th centuries A.D., many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. British historian William Dalrymple named the Ajanta Caves “one of the great wonders of the ancient world”. See also; 10 Asian Caves Defining Human History and Development.

9. Newgrange, Ireland

Newgrange’s massive, rounded dome rises from the emerald plains of Ireland’s County Meath like a grass-topped UFO. Constructed during the Neolithic period around 3,200BCE, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids.

This ancient site consists of a large circular mound with a stone passageway and interior chambers. The mound has a retaining wall at the front and is ringed by engraved kerbstones. The site is storied in Irish folklore, there is no agreement about what the site was used for. It has been speculated that it had religious significance – it is aligned with the rising sun and its light floods the chamber on the winter solstice. It is considered one of the most important megalithic structures in Europe.

8. Derinkuyu, Turkey

The Derinkuyu is an ancient multi-level underground city in the Derinkuyu district in Nevşehir Province, Turkey. Extending to a depth of approximately 60 m (200 feet), it is large enough to have sheltered approximately 20,000 people together with their livestock and food stores. It is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey and is one of several underground complexes found across Cappadocia.

Built between the 7th and 8th Century BCE, the underground complex was built to defend against attacks from marauding armies. Though it was intended as a temporary shelter, its amenities were impressive: some 600 above-ground doors from which someone can enter the underground city from, 15,000 ventilation ducts to provide fresh air, as well as multiple wineries, cellars and a complex network of passages, tunnels, and corridors. (Source; BBC)

7. Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt

The world’s first lighthouse used mirrors to reflect sunlight for miles out to sea. It was built in third century BCE and stood 440 feet (134 metres) high. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was the tallest man-made structure after the pyramids of Giza and its light could be seen 35 miles out to sea. It was badly damaged by three earthquakes between AD 956 and 1323, it then became an abandoned ruin and, by AD 1480 after further damage by earthquakes, it was gone.

6. Colossus of Rhodes, Rhodes

A 110 feet tall statue honored the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BCE. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus. Before its destruction in the earthquake, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 110 feet (33 metres) high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. According to the historian Strabo, it remained a popular tourist attraction even in ruin.

5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a tomb built in Fourth century BCE for the King Mausolus, and his sister-wife Artemisia II of Caria.

The Mausoleum was approximately 135 feet (41 metres) tall, and the four sides were adorned with sculptural reliefs. Mauslos and his wife chose Halicarnassus as their capital and devoted themselves to making it the most beautiful and impressive city in the world. In 353 BCE, Mausolus died, leaving Artemisia to rule alone. As a tribute to him, she decided to build him a tomb so famous that Mausolus’s name is now the eponym for all stately tombs, in the word mausoleum. The construction was also so beautiful and unique it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. She died two years after him and her ashes were entombed with him in the building. It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes, from the 12th to the 15th century, and lay in ruin until it was completely dismantled by the Knights of St. John of Malta in 1494 CE.

4. Statue of Zeus, Greece

This 40 feet (12-meter) statue made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BCE, depicted the king of the Greek gods.

A sculpture of ivory plates and gold panels over a wooden framework, it represented the god Zeus seated on a throne with skin of ivory and robes of hammered gold. It’s also one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was lost and destroyed destroyed at some point in an earthquake in the 5th or 6th centuries CE. with no copy ever being found, and details of its form are known only from ancient Greek descriptions and representations on coins.

3. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey

Also known as the Temple of Diana, this towering temple was built in 550 BCE to honor Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt.
The temple is described by every ancient with awe and reverence for its beauty. It was 425 feet high, 225 feet wide, and supported by 127 60 foot columns. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction in 356 BC by a man named Herostratus who set fire to the temple in order that his name be remembered.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

The Hanging Gardens were a distinctive feature of ancient Babylon. If they existed as described, were built by Nebuchadnezzar II about 600 BCE as a gift to his Median wife, Queen Amytis. The gardens are believed to have been a remarkable feat of engineering – an ascending series of tiered gardens containing all manner of trees, shrubs, and vines. They were destroyed by an earthquake sometime after the 1st century CE.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one of the wonders that may have been purely legendary. Legend has it that these gardens were said to have looked like a large green mountain constructed of mud bricks, but many experts say it never really existed.

1. Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramid at Giza was constructed about 2,600 BCE for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one still standing today. It was the structure itself with its perfect symmetry and imposing height which impressed ancient visitors. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost 4,000 years.

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Top 10 Awe-Inspiring Wonders of America

The Most Awe-Inspiring Wonders of America. Below is the list of top 10 wonders of America, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls and the Carlsbad Caverns. These are some best Tourist Attractions in U.S.A.  Have a look.

10. Times Square at Night

Although Times Square in New York City is ordinary by day, it turns into a dazzling universe of flashing neon and huge billboards at night. Yes, Times Square is glitzy, not esthetic, but it’s a unique spectacular sight that everyone should experience at least once.

9. Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World or simply Disney World, is an entertainment complex that opened October 1, 1971, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Over 52.5 million annual visitors make Walt Disney World the most popular entertainment destination on earth. It covers 25,000 acres (10,117 ha; 39 sq mi), in which it houses 24 themed resorts, four theme parks, two water parks, and several additional recreational and entertainment venues. Its energy and fun spirit appeal to kids of all ages, from 3 to 99.

8. Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. is the largest and one of the finest museum complexes in the world. It has 19 major museums, a national zoo, and a number of research centers. It was established in 1846 “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Institution’s thirty million annual visitors are admitted without charge; funding comes from the Institution’s own endowment, private and corporate contributions, membership dues, government support, and retail, concession and licensing revenues.

7. Yosemite National Park

One of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. Established on October 1, 1890, Yosemite National Park covers an area of 761,268 acres (3,080.74 km2). Over 3.7 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend their time in the seven square miles (18 km2) of Yosemite Valley. The valley is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. The Yosemite Valley has been inhabited for nearly 3000 years. The Paiute and Sierra Miwok people lived in the area long before the first explorations by American settlers into the region. A band of Paiute called the Ahwahneechee were living in the Yosemite Valley when the first known group of European Americans entered it.

6. Niagara Falls

It is one of the mightiest falls on earth. Although Niagara Falls is smaller and less breathtaking than Iguazu Falls in South America and Victoria Falls in Africa, it is awe-inspiring in its own right. Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. With the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. >> Top 10 Natural Wonders of the World.

New York City has the world’s most recognized skyline. Its buildings soar upward, as if sprouting. This occurs in two Manhattan clusters, midtown and downtown, with a “valley” of low buildings in between. Midtown Manhattan, the largest central business district in the world, is home to such notable buildings as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Citigroup Center and Rockefeller Center. Lower Manhattan comprises the third largest central business district in the United States. Lower Manhattan was characterized by the omnipresence of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center from its completion in 1973 until its destruction in the September 11 attacks, 2001.

4. Yellowstone National Park

It is the first officially designated national park on our planet. Yellowstone, widely known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. Located primarily in the state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. It was established in 1872.

Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km2), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world’s geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism. Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years. The region was bypassed during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 19th century.

3. Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in New York City, is the largest art museum in the United States, and one of the ten largest in the world, with the most significant art collections. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided among seventeen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan’s Museum Mile, is by area one of the world’s largest art galleries.The Met’s Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens.

2. Carlsbad Caverns

At the Chihuahuan desert’s northern reaches, underneath the Guadalupe Mountains, lies one of the deepest, largest, and most ornate caverns ever found. The Carlsbad Cavern, named Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. It includes a large cave chamber, the Big Room, a natural limestone chamber which is almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at the highest point. It is the third largest chamber in North America and the seventh largest in the world.

Water molded this underworld four to six million years ago. Some 250 million years ago, the region lay underneath the inland arm of an ancient sea. Near the shore grew a limestone reef. By the time the sea withdrew, the reef stood hundreds of feet high, later to be buried under thousands of feet of soil. Some 15 to 20 million years ago, the ground uplifted. Naturally occurring sulfuric acid seeped into cracks in the limestone, gradually enlarging them to form a honeycomb of chambers. Millions of years passed before the cave decoration began. Then, drop by drop, limestone-laden moisture built an extraordinary variety of glistening formations—some six stories tall; others tiny and delicate. (travel.nationalgeographic.com).

1. Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona. It is among the earth’s greatest on-going geological spectacles and the most spectacular gorge in the world. At its extremes, the Grand Canyon is 446 kilometers (277 miles) long, up to 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide from rim to rim, and over 1600 meters (a mile) deep. Its horizontal strata retrace the geological history of the past 2 billion years. There are also prehistoric traces of human adaptation to a particularly harsh environment. For thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a holy site and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540. >> 10 Best Hiking Trails Around The World.

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