Death Valley National Park, CA

Stretching across 5,000 square miles, Death Valley National Park is the second-largest national park outside of Alaska and is arguably one of the most dramatic - complete with plunging sand dunes, water-sculpted canyons, volcanic craters, and mountains rising from the sand to towering 11,000 feet. It also houses the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, where temperatures can reach a blistering 137 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Visit this land of extremes and experience the varied landscapes that evoke so much interest and wonder.