Illinois

Garden of the Gods, Herod, IL

Sure, it may not be as famous or well visited as it's Colorado cousin, but the Garden of the God's, situated in the rolling and forested hills if southern Illinois, is well worth a visit. It will certainly break any stereotypes you may have of Illinois. The dramatic hoodoos are a result of erosions breaking away at sandstone created when the area used to be covered by a shallow sea. Unlike most of Illinois, this region near the Ohio River was not glaciated during the Illinoian glaciation, leaving this southeastern corner of the state starkly constrasted against the flat, agricultural land to the noth.

USDA: Shawnee National Forest: Garden of the Gods

Vrsic Pass

Vrsic Pass, Slovenia

At just over a mile above sea level (5,285 ft/1,611 m), Versic Pass sits high in Slovenia's Julian Alps. Connecting the Upper Carniola and Trenta Valleys, the Ruska Cesta (Russian Road) which crossed the pass was originally built for military purposes in the early 19th century, following an older trading route.