First-person accounts and gorgeous landscape photos paired with practical information and tips to help travelers make the most of their journeys through 39 special hidden gems found across the country.Discover the most beautiful places in America that you might never have heard of before. Hidden Gems features: engaging first-hand travel accounts; helpful advice about must-see spots, rest stops, and other ways to get the most out of your trip; and stunning images taken by many of America’s best scenic photographers. Some spots offer activities for the more adventurous, such as rafting or mountain biking; others include suggestions for the more leisurely traveler who wants to stop and take in the views by the roadside. The small towns and people you encounter along the way will certainly be memorable. This book will help you set the agenda for your next getaway. So, get ready to jump in the car or RV and share these experiences with the ones you love! From the Organ Pipe Cactus in Arizona and Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan to Gullah Geechee in South Carolina and Litchfield Hills in Connecticut, these lesser-known scenic spots are definitely worth exploring! List of locations: WEST -Chugach National Forest, Alaska -Channel Islands National Park, California -Devils Postpile National Monument, California -Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California -Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, Idaho -Lost River Range and Lemhi Mountain Range, Idaho -Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho -Valley of the Fire State Park, Nevada -Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon -Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah -Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington -Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming   SOUTHWEST -Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona -Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona -Verde Valley, Arizona -Northern Rio Grande, New Mexico -Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas   MIDWEST -Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Iowa -Flint Hills (Flint Hills Scenic Byway), Kansas -Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan -Arrowhead Region, Minnesota -Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota -Door County, Wisconsin -Iron and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin   SOUTHEAST -Alabama's Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, Alabama -Newton County, Arkansas -Wakulla Springs, Florida -Red River Gorge Geological Area, Kentucky -Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana -Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina -Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina -Gullah Geechee, South Carolina -Burke's Garden, Virginia -Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, West Virginia and Maryland   NORTHEAST -Litchfield Hills, Connecticut -Birch Hill State Wildlife Area, Massachusetts -Tully Lake Recreation Area, Massachusetts -The Great Swamp, New York -Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania