Zion National Park

You don't have to leave the United States to go somewhere beautiful.
Zion National Park, located in Utah, is one of the most stunning places I've ever seen. Walking through the canyon and huge rock towers made me feel about an inch tall. The are vibrant and contrast beautifully against the bright blue sky.
The park is historically rich as well. There is evidence of activity as long as 12,000 years ago. Later the Ansazi inhabited Zion, taking advantage of its geology to grow crops. Several hundred years later, they moved southeast probably because of overuse of the land. In the 1860s Mormon settlers arrived and also struggled to survive. Life in Zion is not easy due to flash floods and extreme temperatures.
While out west I visited the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park and many other places, but I have to say, Zion National Park was my favorite. It seemed so surreal. The rock towers are enormous but it had such a peaceful feeling as well. Definitely add Zion to your list of places to explore!