California’s Yosemite National Park is known internationally for its amazing geology, ecology, and scenery. Since 1890, it has been a destination for rock climbing, hiking, skiing, biking, rafting, and just about any outdoor activity imaginable. This scene features just as few of the countless natural sights in the park, including the calm Tenaya Lake and the Tuolumne Meadows, where wide expanses of grasses and trees are complemented by boulders and the winding Tuolumne River. The clean water through this river is ultimately used as drinking water by San Francisco, where it requires only minimal treatment. Chris Botti is a contemporary jazz trumpeter who has become one of the top-selling instrumental artists of the 21st century. His

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

The most accessible mountain area in Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge offers spectacular views of the park and numerous hiking opportunities. Miles of forested land, rugged mountains, wildlife, and wildflower meadows greet park visitors year-round. Named “Hurricane Ridge” for its frequent strong wind gusts (over 75 miles an hour), this location receives up to 35 feet of snow each year. The weight of this snow discourages tree growth along much of the ridge, creating open meadows and bare slopes like those seen in this sample video. During the winter, the road to Hurricane Ridge mostly remains open, though often threatened by the risk of avalanches. Ski and snowshoe rental is offered at the ridge’s visitor center.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Established as the first National Lakeshore in 1966, the beautiful Lake Superior coast at Pictured Rocks was adopted by the National Park System as an answer to increased private ownership of the Great Lakes coastlines. Though the Lakeshore is home to sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and sandy beaches, it is best known for its steep sandstone cliffs and unique rock formations. The harsh wind, rain, and freeze/thaw cycles on Lake Superior are responsible for forming these dramatic landscapes are still at work: parts of some of the Lakeshore’s most iconic landforms have lost pieces in recent years. This eScapes video features Miner’s Castle, a major landmark at Pictured rocks. These seaside formations can be seen from

Brandywine Falls

Even though Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio has no shortage of natural beauty, it’s no wonder why Brandywine Falls remains one of its most popular sights. This 60-foot waterfall is not only beautiful, but educational for budding geologists who take the time to look at the thin layers of rock that create the falls’ “bridal veil” cascade. Located on the eastern edge of the national park, Brandywine Falls is surrounded by evergreens, maple trees, and hemlocks. Visitors to the park can look at the falls from various angles with the help of walkways and a pedestrian boardwalk. Jim Brickman is a songwriter and solo pianist. One of the most commercially successful adult contemporary artists, Brickman

Zion National Park

Zion National Park, the largest of Utah’s five national parks, was once largely covered with a shallow sea. Sediments from this sea cemented into limestone, mudstones, and sandstones that can now be seen everywhere in what is now a desert environment. Millions of years of uplifting have raised huge blocks of land far above sea level, resulting in the stunning cliffs that have become a signature of the park. The scenic landscape is also home to other unique landforms such as natural freestanding arches. In some spots, opaque rivers full of sediment cut through the rock, providing stunning venues for wading along the park’s many hiking paths. Tim Bowman is a jazz guitarist who pulls from

Crater Lake National Park

Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park is spectacular in every sense. The deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake’s grandeur is enhanced by steep cliffs, hundreds of feet high, surrounding it on all sides. The still, blue water of the lake, painted with reflections, makes this spot one of the most tranquil destinations in the world. However, this peaceful setting was formed by a violent explosion. About 7,700 years ago, the volcanic eruptions of Mount Mazama laid waste to much of the surrounding wilderness and put ash in the air for more than a thousand miles. The loss of material from inside the mountain made it unable to support its own weight, and it collapsed into

Blue Hen Falls

The Cuyahoga River Valley has long been a destination for outdoor recreation and the appreciation of nature. Threatened by urban sprawl, the area became a national recreation area, and later Cuyahoga Valley National Park, to ensure its protection as wilderness. Blue Hen Falls is not the most dramatic waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. That honor belongs to the 60-foot Brandywine Falls, one of the park’s most visited attractions. However, the quiet Blue Hen Falls is a perfect out-of-the-way location for relaxation and meditation. Jim Brickman is a songwriter and solo pianist. One of the most commercially successful adult contemporary artists, Brickman has six Gold or Platinum albums and multiple prestigious awards and nominations. His romantic

Bryce Canyon National Park

The western part of the United States is filled with many fascinating landscapes, but Bryce Canyon National Park is particularly unique. Carved by rain and frost wedging in the limestone of Utah’s Claron Formation, this stunning landscape is known for its hoodoos– weathered rock spires– and its bizarre terrain that includes numerous amphitheaters and maze-like valleys. Covering 56 square miles, Bryce Canyon is one of the smaller national parks, but it spans more than 2,000 feet of altitude. This means several distinct climate zones can be found within the park, each with its own plant and animal life. The varied landscape is perfect for hiking or biking, or for relaxation and meditation when the sun is

Trunk Bay, St. John

The United States Virgin Islands are a popular travel destination and well-known for their beauty. On Saint John, this beauty is protected; about 60% of the island is a U.S. National Park. One of the standout locations on Saint John is the Trunk Bay beach, widely recognized as one of the best beaches in the world. With perfect white sand and aqua blue water, it’s hard not to see why. Relax to the rolling ocean surf featured in this video and imagine yourself lying on the warm sand. Paul Brown is a smooth jazz producer and musician known for his driving R&B guitar rhythms. He has produced some of smooth jazz’s biggest acts, including Boney James,

Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite National Park needs no introduction to naturalists and anyone who appreciates breathtaking scenery. Established as a national park in 1890, Yosemite Valley is a spectacular showcase of geology and ecology. The unique terrain of Yosemite National Park is the result of millions of years of uplifting granite combined with the immense stress of massive glaciers, which carved the rock into the sheer cliffs that are the Yosemite signature. Waterfalls are common and the park’s biodiversity is challenged by few places in North America. A destination for rock climbing, hiking, skiing, biking, rafting, and just about any outdoor activity imaginable, Yosemite National Park is as perfect for those seeking excitement as those seeking relaxation. Ronny Jordan

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Yosemite National Park (Lake & Meadow)