Natural wonder to see before you die

[Bebbo]

What natural wonder(s) would you like to see before you die?

I saw a TV programme recently about the northern lights which has prompted me to investigate the possibility of a trip to see those sometime.

[SunDummy]

Caribou migration in the arctic- 100,000 caribou all marching across the tundra.

Great Barrier Reef

I'd also love to spend a year in Patagonia; I've always been fascinated by it's rugged beauty.

And yes, Bebbo, you MUST see the northern lights - simply amazing. 

[Bebbo]

Caribou migration in the arctic- 100,000 caribou all marching across the tundra.

Great Barrier Reef

I'd also love to spend a year in Patagonia; I've always been fascinated by it's rugged beauty.

And yes, Bebbo, you MUST see the northern lights - simply amazing. 

I'm thinking of going on a Norwegian cruise to view the northern lights sometime, but not sure if I can persuade the missus to go on a trip to such cold climes - although she didn't rule it out of hand when I mentioned it!

[Bill Binkelman]

The Inside Passage on one of those unglamorous very small freighter-like cruise ships, like this one:


Carlsbad Caverns
Monument Valley
The Olympic Rainforest
The Blue Ridge Mountains

plus lots more...you'd think I haven't traveled much but I have, at least more than some folks I know...but I still need to see a lot more...

If I won the lottery (hahahaha) I'd buy a really nice highway cruising car and then drive the entire length of "old" Route 66, taking all the time I needed to visit the ghost towns, small cafes, etc. Part of this is inspired by my love of the show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on Food TV. I would KILL to have Guy's (the host) job!

[Wayne Higgins]

I want to see Mt. Everest.  Not climb it, just look at it.

[Brian Bieniowski]

I know it sounds weird, but I'm dying to dive the wreck of the USS Monitor, but it's hardly a natural wonder.  Failing that, I'll gladly take trips to Truk Lagoon and the Great Barrier Reef!

[Joe R]

The Smoky Mountains. We've been lucky enough to camp in the Smoky Mountains twice. Everything about it is breathtaking- the horizon, the mountains, the rivers, the rhododendron forests, the wildlife... awesome.

A word of advice: stay AWAY from Gatlinburg. Once you get trapped in the traffic going through this "historic" (as it's advertised) town, you're stuck for a long time. I didn't find anything "historic" there either, and nothing scenic, unless you like watching overweight tourists standing on sidewalks eating chili-dogs. Just a series of wretched little tourist shops and sleazy hot dog stands and overpriced restaurants. Horrible, horrible... 

[Wayne Higgins]

Staw away from Cherokee, NC as well.  There are alot of small towns to have a nice weekend getaway there.  Gatlinburg and Cherokee are not on the list.

Favorites I have seen
Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, NM.  My personal favorite place (which happens to be close by) is Wakulla Springs, FL.  Small, but wonderful.  "The Creature From the Black Lagoon" was filmed there.

[judd stephens]

Strike Pigeon Forge from your list while your in lovely Tennesee- one of the tackiest places in the universe.  I had the bad fortune to be stuck in traffic there on my way to the northern Smokies-will be detouring next time.  Imagine a Las Vegas for the family, miles and miles of cheesy attractions like fake dinosaur parks, Elvis museums, bullrides, Cracker-barrelish restaurants, Dolly Parton's children carnivals (whatever)... bottom line it's a paradise, if you're white trash.  Anyone who has been there knows the horrors of which I write. 

[drkappa]

What natural wonder(s) would you like to see before you die?

I saw a TV programme recently about the northern lights which has prompted me to investigate the possibility of a trip to see those sometime.

On daytime TV in about August one presenter said he had last month gone within
the Arctic Circle in Norway and hoped to see the Northern lights but was disappointed.
Hint, don't go when it's 24-hour daylight.   Also wait until about solar maximum.
The Sun is showing little actiivity at present.   Sometimes displays come a long way
south, and I've seen a couple of incredible displays from the south of England.  The
frequency is about once every 10-20 years, so you might try the Canadian Prairies
as the magnetic pole lies in northern Canada.

To answer the question:

I still haven't seen a total solar eclipse.

An Earth-like planet around another star and the Earth from orbit.

[uhurit]

For those into mystical stuff  with a tinge of Oriental spirituality, I highly recommend to check out New Vrindaban hare krishna movement commune/ monastery near Moundsville, WV. Fascinating and other-worldly! Especially, during one of their festivals when a few hundred if not thousands of pilgrims from all over descend upon it

[Undershadow]

Brian Eno saying "I had an idea, but, on closer analysis, it was worthless"

[uhurit]

Brian Eno saying "I had an idea, but, on closer analysis, it was worthless"

Caucasian people donning indian garbs and bouncing around chanting Hare Krishna. Reminds me of George Harrison and happy hippy days. Counter-culturalism. Escapism. Ambient isolationism. Fuck-it-all-ism. Right up my ambient drone alley.