So much of travel these days is counting countries and checking places off a list because you feel like it’s what you’re supposed to do. Sometimes, though, the most jaw-dropping landscapes and life changing experiences are sitting quietly in our own backyard. Take a peek and you may surprise yourself – these North American destination dupes deliver the same sense of awe and adventure as the places you see filling your Instagram feed.

From sacred ruins in the Southwest to glacial lakes that rival the Swiss Alps, here are a few places that prove you don’t need to travel far to enjoy a luxe, bucket-list-worthy escape. As a National Park Travel Advisor, I’ve spent my time exploring the most special American and Canadian destinations – places so unique, that it’s been declared to the world that these places are worth protecting.

Skip Petra, Head to Hovenweep, Bears Ears & Mesa Verde (Four Corners)

Petra may steal the international spotlight with its sandstone carvings and mystique, but the Four Corners region of the Southwest holds some of the most moving archaeological sites in North America. Hovenweep National Monument is dotted with 13th-century towers that stand tall along canyon rims. You can walk right up to them – often without another traveler in sight. It’s a National Monument instead of a National Park, which means it flies under the radar for a lot of travelers who rely on surface-level planning. 

Nearby, Bears Ears holds deep cultural resonance for Native tribes and is a place where you can feel the sacred power of the Earth. The monument is named after two tall buttes that you can see from miles away that look like, well, bears ears, but there is much more to see when you get up close. Here, you’ll find thousands of years of human history carved into cliffs, tucked into alcoves, and painted across stone.

Then, there’s Mesa Verde National Park, where ranger-guided tours take you into the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans. You’ll have to be a little on the daring side to climb up into these cliff homes, but the precarious ladders are well worth the impact a visit will have. The largest of these dwellings is aptly named Cliff Palace, and its 150 rooms are incredibly well-preserved.

The whole Four Corners region along the Utah / Colorado / Arizona / New Mexico border is like a portal back in time, where you can explore and marvel at relics of the past, much like when you visit Petra, Jordan. 

Skip Patagonia, Head to the Wind River Range (Wyoming)

Dreaming of Patagonia’s raw peaks and solitude? The Wind River Range in Wyoming offers the same wild, remote beauty with jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and endless alpine views… without the long-haul flight. In many ways, it feels even more untouched. Many consider the Winds the most breathtaking (and underrated) mountain range in the country, and you won’t find crowds or glossy infrastructure here, just pure wilderness.

The Winds are a place for travelers who want to earn their views. Backpacking routes like the Cirque of the Towers or Titcomb Basin take you deep into granite basins surrounded by snow-dusted spires. The hiking is demanding, but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.

And after your backpacking trek or long day hike is complete, head to a lakeside resort where you can sit by the fire outside of your own private cabin and take in the views. You’re just a few hours from Jackson Hole, but in a completely different world.

Even if backpacking and long days on your feet aren’t your cup of tea, there’s a place for you here. The long, dusty dirt road to Green River Lakes shows off an iconic view of Squaretop Mountain. Tens of thousands of acres of open range allows for exciting UTV tours, there are sprawling lakes perfect for boating, paddling, and fishing, and you can even explore old mining ghost towns tucked away in the forests and in the high mountain desert.

Skip New Zealand’s South Island, Head to Olympic National Park (Washington)

New Zealand’s South Island is famous for its mix of alpine terrain, coastal drama, and rainforest hikes. Olympic National Park checks all the same boxes, and you can get there with a direct flight from most major US cities.

Start in the Hoh Rainforest, where gorgeous green moss hangs from towering trees. Drive up to Hurricane Ridge for wide-open mountain views, then end your day on the coastal Ozette Loop watching the sun sink behind the tidepools from the boardwalk trail.

From Port Angeles, you can look out across the Salish Sea to Victoria, British Columbia – or take it a step further and enjoy a ferry ride to visit a few noteworthy Canadian parks, too.

Olympic National Park is one of the few places where you can experience rainforest, glacier, and surf all in a single weekend – without a transpacific flight.

Skip Iceland’s Golden Circle, Head to Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)

Iceland may be trending, but Yellowstone has been delivering geothermal drama for generations. Between the geysers, brighter-than-you-can-believe hot springs, steaming vents, and bubbling mud pots, walking these geyser basin boardwalks shows off a landscape that feels alive beneath your feet.

You can certainly argue that Iceland’s geothermal features are in a class of their own (I mean, actively erupting volcanos are hard to top), but with Yellowstone, you get tons of thermal features, plus it’s the best place for wildlife watching in the continental US. Bison roam across open meadows (and next to visitors’ centers), grizzly bears and black bears hunt in the forests and rivers, wolves are always on the prowl, and the elk put on a show during the fall rut.

Yellowstone is best experienced slowly – with mornings dedicated to wildlife watching, and days dedicated to easy geyser basin walks. The best times to visit for wildlife are outside of peak season, so if you’re up for cooler weather, visit in May for cub season or September for the elk and bison rut.

Oh, and don’t forget the waterfalls and canyons! The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone offers a few waterfall experiences where you can get up close with tremendously powerful cascades – and then you’re sure to find another dozen hidden just off the road as you explore the park.

Skip the Swiss Alps, Head to Banff & Jasper National Parks (Alberta, Canada)

You don’t need to cross the Atlantic to get snowcapped peaks, charming alpine towns, fondue dinners, and glacial lakes so blue they barely look real. Banff and Jasper National Parks are some of the most breathtaking destinations in North America, and they offer a mix of adventure and comfort that rivals anything in Europe.

Banff is polished and bustling, with beautiful hotels, excellent dining, and views at every turn. You can even sleep in a castle when you visit – the Banff Springs Hotel towers over the Bow Valley like a royal residence and proves that luxury National Park trips do exist.

Jasper feels quieter and a bit wilder, perfect if you’re after fewer people and more nature. It’s one of the world’s largest International Dark Sky Parks, and the Jasper Planetarium helps you get a view of the cosmos straight out of a science fiction movie.

The Icefields Parkway connects the two National Parks with one of the most scenic drives in the world. You’ll pass wild river crossings, trails to glacial lakes, and of course, the famous Columbia Icefield.

The Secret To Travel Dupes? Look Closer, And Keep An Open Mind

It’s all too easy to believe that you need to go far to find something extraordinary. But whether it’s cliffside ruins, dramatic mountain ranges, or geothermal marvels, North America is filled with destinations that rival the world’s best, often with fewer crowds and deeper personal meaning.

If you’re craving something epic, luxurious, and a little unexpected, you might not need to leave the country. You just need to know where to look. That’s where we’re here to help – schedule a call with Winkaffe Global Travel to chat about turning your bucket list trip into something truly unforgettable.