One of the reasons I love the United States is the chance to experience nature on a truly massive scale. I have always preferred the mountains and the outdoors to the ocean, so visiting national parks is a great joy for me; I hope to visit every single one of them someday. There are currently 63 national parks in the U.S., though I have only visited nine so far.
When you include national monuments, national preserves, and other protected areas, the total number of protected natural sites exceeds 400—a scale that never fails to amaze me. No matter which park I visit, the scenery is breathtaking—truly living up to the American reputation for grandeur—and I find something new to be moved by every time I go.

One place that has left a particularly strong impression on me is Monument Valley, a sacred site of the Navajo Nation that straddles the Utah-Arizona border. Standing there, you naturally feel just how small you are and sense the immense span of Earth's history, stretching back hundreds of millions of years. I have visited twice now, and both the majestic summer vistas and the quiet, snow-covered landscapes held their own unique charms; both were truly beautiful.