I've been to all 50 states. Here are 8 of the best natural wonders I've seen.

I love the mountains and the sea, but something about the vastness of the desert — foreign and inhospitable — is truly otherworldly.

The Great Basin Desert stretches across Utah, Idaho, California, Wyoming, Oregon, and about 95% of Nevada, including Reno and Las Vegas. While there, I felt like I'd landed on the moon in the best way.

I once spent an unforgettable autumn morning watching the sunrise while floating above the desert in the annual Great Reno Balloon Race, in awe of the foothills of Sierra Nevada cast in pastel hues below.

It has long been a dream of mine to see the northern lights, and I've traveled far and wide in that pursuit, stopping at Iceland, Sweden, and Finnish Lapland.

But it wasn't until this year that I finally witnessed the starry spectacle in Fairbanks from the comfort of my igloo at Borealis Basecamp.

The northern lights were just as magical as I'd always imagined, and I learned I didn't need to board an international flight to witness them in all their glory.

I remember the very first time I saw the Tetons as a child on a cross-country road trip with my family. I was simply blown away by the beauty of the range, which seemed to embody the wild possibilities of the American West.

Since then, I've hiked, fly-fished, and ridden horses across Grand Teton National Park.

Of the many peaks, valleys, and rivers to explore, my favorite activity remains kayaking on Jenny Lake, which was formed by glaciers over 12,000 years ago.

New England's nautical charms are best captured on a visit to Mount Desert Island, the largest island off the coast of Maine.

It's home to Acadia National Park — nicknamed the "Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast — and its spectacular hiking, rugged shores, and rocky beaches make the island an idyllic summer getaway.

I spent time in Maine on a sailing Outward Bound as a teen and still return every year, eternally convinced that time spent on Mount Desert Island is the way life should be.

The most magnificent sunrise I've ever seen was off the southern coast of the island of Lānaʻi, where the rock formation Puʻu Pehe rises 80 feet above the waters between Mānele Bay and Hulopoʻe Bay.

I embarked on a pre-dawn hike up to the lookout from Four Seasons Lānaʻi, traversing the cliff's edge past Hulopoʻe Beach, and was rewarded with one of the most memorable views I'd seen in my life.

There's no better spot to appreciate the old-growth forests and lush landscape of northern California than Redwoods National Park.

I first visited as a middle schooler, and when I returned in my 20s, I was shocked anew at their height — they can be about 300 feet tall. I'd grown taller, and yet they remained gigantic.

There's nothing more humbling than walking among giants that have existed on this planet for over 1,000 years.

Though only about an hour south of Miami, the Florida Keys feel like they exist in an entirely different universe.

During my last visit, I was blown away by the archipelago's serene, laid-back beauty, with its magnificent turquoise waters and pink sunsets.

The islands are remnants of ancient sand bars and coral reefs, and they're just as colorful and vibrant underwater. Be sure to snorkel at the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary if you visit.

Last but certainly not least, the Grand Canyon is imperative for all nature lovers to visit.

There's a reason that the Grand Canyon is so famous as a US natural landmark: It's breathtaking in scale and the vivid colors of the rocks reflect the weathering of millions of years of erosion.

As a child, I took refuge in the shaded caves during family hikes and I plan to return to camp along the North Rim. I simply can't wait to go back, and if you've yet to visit, the time to go is now.