The Grand Canyon is the largest known rift in the world. The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge that were made by the Colorado River in north Arizona, USA. It is because of heavy mineral deposits that one can see the canyon as bright red, brown and orange in color.

This canyon is a part of the large Grand Canyon national park designated by Theodore Roosevelt. The park is almost 277 miles long and 4 to 18 miles wide. The canyons are the main point of attraction in the nation park.

The president of The United States, Theodore Roosevelt, used to quite often come to the national park for enjoyment and hunting. Statistics show that the canyons were made by the Colorado River some six million years ago and have the deepest depth, of over a mile. It is said that the river started cutting layers of rocks from the west initially and gradually moved to the east. The place was inhabited by the Native Americans who lived within the caves. The site during this time was a holy place for the pilgrims and the first person to explore this part of the world was a European guy who arrived from Spain to this site in 1540. During the year 1869, Major John Wesley Powell made the first recorded journey to this place.

Some of the best adventures that a tourist can indulge into are Colorado River rafting, helicopter tours and other guided tours via land. One can stay in the best Grand Canyon hotels and lodges to make the journey memorable.

Large beautiful view of the Grand Canyon, USA

Grand Canyon, Arizona. The canyon, created by the Colorado River over 6 million years, is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 24 kilometers), and attains a depth of more than a mile (1.6 km). Arizona, USA.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Claret Cup Cactus, Grand Canyon National-Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon is known for its overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape.

Claret Cup Cactus, Grand Canyon National-Park, Arizona

Light at late afternoon in Grand Canyon -Arizona

With its droves of tourists, it also made Forbes Traveler’s list of over-hyped beaches. Upwards of 4.5 million sunbathers try to relax on its sands each year.

The beach that made Waikiki the state’s visitor Mecca always draws a crowd—millions of visitors each year, actually

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Hanauma bay, Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

The museum is also home to encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique weapons and armor from around the world. Four and a half million visitors came to peruse some of the world’s greatest art collections, from American and European to Egyptian and the newly refurbished Greek and Roman Galleries.

Metropolitan Museum in New York City, USA

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art

Inside Metropolitan Museum, New York

Metropolitan Museum, New York

Metropolitan Museum, New York

Metropolitan Museum, New York

River-focused recreation is what draws nearly five million tourists to this Appalachian-ridge park on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Delaware River

Crater Lake, Sussex County, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. A pristine mountaintop lake of uncertain origin. Some claim it formed from a meteor strike in 1853; others claim that it's nothing more than a glacial lake—one of several in the area, including Sunfish Pond.

The River Walk proclaims itself the “Number One entertainment destination in Texas,” with 5.1 million visitors a year.

san antonio river walk

San antonio river walk light

San antonio river walk at Chrismax

San antonio river walk at night

Like its rival Disney, Universal houses what ERA’s Christian Aaen calls a “destination complex” in Orlando, where two theme parks, Universal Studios Orlando and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, vie for 6.2 million thrill-seeking tourists.

Thirty miles southeast of Las Vegas lies the U.S.’s largest man-made lake and reservoir, a recreational mecca for boaters, swimmers, fishermen and naturalists attracts 7.6 million.Lake Mead flooded a large area of desert, covering many canyons, several small villages and relics of ancient settlements.

When you’re right in the middle of the lake, you look around to see multi-colored rock formations and their water reflections on what looks like melted glass.

At sunset, the colors turn metallic grays, blues and yellows, they are awe-inspiring. You enter into a meditative state and feel as close to nature as you can be.

Spectacular multi-colored rock formations dominate Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s desert landscape. Hidden within these multi-colored rocks lies the story of over two billion years of geologic time; nearly half of the Earth’s 4.5 billion-year history.
Why does the place look like that?

The spectacular rock geological formations took some work to build.

According to the US Geological Survey, “the forces that have shaped this region include collisions between continents, extension that stretched and fractured the Earth’s crust, volcanic eruptions, inundation by tropical seas, growth and decline of great deserts and lakes, and finally, sculpting of the land by water and wind.”

The colors of the Southwest desert can be seen in its mountains and reflected on the lake.

Lake Mead is the result of damming (as in Hoover Dam) the Colorado River water flow. It is currently the largest reservoir of the Colorado River.

The lake is surrounded by majestic multi colored cliffs that form channels and coves, giving you tons of spots to explore and fall in love with.

Where’s Lake Mead?

The area is located about 30 miles Southwest of Las Vegas, NV.

Lake Mead Weather and Water Temperature

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s peak season is June, July and August, when the temperatures reach up to 108 degrees. You’d think people would stay in their AC homes during those months, but that’s exactly when they like to come to the lake.

The water warms up to 85 degrees, making water sports completely fun and inviting. Water temperatures (insert link here) at other times range from 45 to 85 degrees.

When you’re getting sprayed by warm water while jet skiing or kayaking, the water feels like a caress on your skin. It’s absolutely delicious.

Lake Mead Recreation

A popular activity is houseboating, where you either rent a houseboat and drift down the lake or bring your own houseboat.

Jet skiing (wave running) is another popular thing to do, especially during the hot months, when you welcome the water spraying your hot body.

People bring or rent boats of all sizes and all speeds. You can see people cruising tanning, or people driving their boats like bats out of hell. Speaking of bats, you’ll see them flying here, more so in the evening, when they come out to feed on whatever mosquitoes or dragon flies they can find.

One of the most fun activities at the lake is to paddle a canoe or a kayak. The waters are smooth, no worries about tipping over, so both beginner and advanced kayakers can have a blast. You are surrounded by spectacular views that you can take in at the slow speed of a kayak. You are closest to the water and yet not in the water.

Whatever water sport you enjoy, you’re bound to find it here at Lake Mead.

You can combine your water activities with some desert hiking. The most popular months to explore the mountains are the cooler months of October through March, but you can hike year round if you so chose.

In addition to spectacular sights of rocks and cliffs, you may see a bighorn sheep or two. Plus their ewes.

Bighorn sheep are excellent climbers, they gracefully jump from cliff to cliff, landing on narrow ledges with amazing balance.

Sometimes you can spot bighorn seep or ewes while on the lake, when the animals descend to the water’s edge to drink. Just share the space with them, let them drink in peace, after all, it’s their space.

Boulder City

The gateway to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area is Boulder City, NV. Boulder City is the only city in Nevada where gambling is not permitted, so if you’re planning to combine a little gambling with your nature trip, keep this in mind.

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and entertainment.Enticing over 31 million visitors,about 80 percent of the city’s total (39.2 million) visitors, a year with its million-gigawatt smile and globetrotting attractions, Las Vegas Strip is more than glitz and gambling.

Overhead the strip, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas strip at night, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Las Vegas Strip in Nevada

Times Square, the most bustling square of New York, is known for its many Broadway theatres, cinemas and super signs.Times Square has all sorts of fun, exciting and informative tours to explore other parts of the city. You can Choose from walking, bike, bus, food, limo, TV, landmark, ethnic or water tours.

Times Square Alliance estimates an average of more than 2,000 pedestrians traversing a block of 7th Avenue during a 15-minute weekday period.