50 Travel Destinations Every American Simply Must Visit In Their Lifetime

25. Badlands National Park – South Dakota

The Badlands sounds like a mystical place out of ancient lore. But it’s a real place, and once you see it, you won’t be able to take your eyes away. It’s almost reminiscent of a dripping painting turned upside down, with striations in the rock that displayed the different sediment layers. It’s easy to understand why they were difficult to traverse, too; there aren’t very many easy paths to use, and there are plenty of sheer rock faces that aren’t easy to climb.