Betzy Fun

Also known as Hawksbill Crag, Whitaker Point offers utterly breathtaking views of the surrounding Ozarks at an elevation of 400 feet. Hike three miles there and back on a trail that's not too difficult to trek, and you'll be surrounded by beauty, with wildflowers in the spring and gorgeous foliage in the fall.

The Wave is a sight you have to see to believe, and only 20 people are allowed to visit it every day. To be included among the 20, visitors need a permit, which can be acquired either by applying for one in advance via lottery or obtaining a walk-in permit the day before. Located in northern Arizona's Coyote Buttes, a section of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs, the Wave is made up of Navajo sandstone dating back to the Jurassic age. The 190 million-year-old sand dunes calcified into vertical and horizontal layers of rock after centuries of runoff and wind wore them down, resulting in a mesmerizing landscape of reds, yellows, browns, oranges and purples.

It may seem like a cliché but Alaska really is the perfect place to witness the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Head to Fairbanks, where the phenomenon can occasionally be witnessed between August 21 and April 21 because of the city's location under the "auroral oval" and its consistently clear skies. Bright green, teal and white lights swirl around the sky, sometimes with a purple or magenta edge, taking on different shapes and lighting up the night.

One of the most-photographed caves in the country, Stephens Gap has a 143-foot pit, the bottom of which can only be reached with proper equipment for vertical caving (and a whole lot of skill). But don't worry, even without the right equipment and skills, you can still visit and hike to the short walk-in passage, although caution should still be taken on the steep trail.

Nature continues to surprise and inspire people in many ways. Some of the most visually magnificent spots are quite strange, and it's even stranger to think that humans had no role in their creation whatsoever. Fortunately, you don't have to go far to discover some of earth's marvels. Breathtaking settings and awe-inspiring formations are all around you, and each one of the 50 states is home to a natural site that will stop you dead in your tracks.

More than just a quirky college town, Athens punches way above its weight when it comes to history, culture, and food. The Historic Athens Welcome Center is the perfect place to start, offering all manner of tours to discover this unique city. Through the Welcome Center, you can check out downtown and the University of Georgia's gorgeous campus on an hour-and-a-half walking tour ($15 per person), and there's also a two-hour shuttle tour that takes you through the Classic City to see pre-Civil War homes, Athens' historic neighborhoods, and the Double-Barrelled Cannon landmark. Music buffs will also love the music history tour ($25 per person), which takes you through famous Athens spots in a city that has birthed legendary acts such as R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic, and more.

Austin and Dallas may suck all the tourist oxygen out of Texas, but not for long. Houston, America's most diverse city and one of the best U.S. cities for theater, has a ton to offer. Since it's Space City, you should definitely check out Space Center Houston and take a VIP tour. Both morning (Mission Control) and afternoon (Astronaut Training) tours are offered, so be sure to pick the right tour for you. Both tours get you inside access to NASA's facilities. While unlikely, these facilities may close to the public at a moment's notice, as NASA has, like, important work to do.

The small town of Ellijay, Georgia, sitting just west of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests and an hour-and-a-half drive north from Atlanta, is a prime apple-picking and fall foliage locale — but there is plenty to do year-round in Ellijay. Hike at nearby Tallulah Gorge State Park to gawk at the 1,000-foot-deep gorge and waterfall, and see the towers used by Karl Wallenda to tight-rope across the gorge in 1970. Exceptional mountain biking can also be had at Amicalola Falls State Park, known as "The Mountain Bike Capital of Georgia."