Asheville, N.C.
"GMA" viewer Alan Ostmann of Candler, N.C., nominated Asheville, a small
city tucked in the Appalachian Mountains rich with art, architecture
and outstanding scenery.
"I live just outside of Asheville, N.C., [bordering] the Pisgah National
Forest in possibly the oldest mountains on the planet," Ostmann wrote
in his submission. "Four miles from my home is the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The forest and parkway allow some of the most spectacular views I have
seen anywhere in the world. I hike and bike the area daily and am always
amazed at the beauty nature can reveal to us."
Aspen is an authentic mountain town best known for its world-class
skiing in winter months and as an outdoor playground for mountain
biking, rafting, fly fishing, rock climbing, hiking and more in warmer
months.
Tessa Lemke of Carbondale, Colo., submitted a photo of the magnificent
Pyramid Peak, part of the summits of the Maroon Bells, a short drive
from Aspen, which gave us our inspiration.
"Every drive into Aspen has this beautiful view -- ever changing from
red rock to snow-covered," she wrote. "To me it doesn't look real ...
like something from 'The Lord of the Rings.' Breathtaking!!"
Cape Cod has long been a favorite summer vacation destination made
popular by the Kennedy clan and others. The 400-square-mile peninsula is
filled with beaches and caters to tourists, but the cape's natural
beauty is what compelled Gary Accabo of New Haven, Conn., to nominate
the area.
"I have visited Provincetown, Cape Cod every summer since 1977. Race
Point is the most gorgeous part of the National Sea Shore. To be there
in the evening to experience a sunset is one of the most breathtaking
visions to witness. Its beauty is forever etched in my mind," Accabo
wrote.
Dramatic sunsets, miles and miles of seashore and sugar-white sand all
make Destin, Fla., the "Most Beautiful Place in America" for "GMA"
viewer Terri Rose of Niceville, Fla. When Rose submitted her
description of the seaside town, nestled in Florida's northern
panhandle, we knew we had to find that spot.
The stunning view of the Grand Teton mountain range has kept viewer
Dolly Albers of Peoria, Ill., coming again and again to this spectacular
spot.
"Just sit ... and look out at those mountains anytime of the day or
night. No place in America is more beautiful," Albers wrote. "[We] went
there for our 25th [wedding] anniversary, again for our 40th, and last
year for our 55th! We're been there in the winter to ski, spring to see
the wild flowers, summer to hike and raft, fall to see the color
changes. I close my eyes and see that view -- what more could you want?"
Lanikai Beach is a strip of paradise hidden on the island of Oahu.
"How could this not be the most beautiful place in America?" wrote Lisa
Basham of Kailua, Hawaii. "Bright, white, soft sand and clear, blue,
warm water. This is the perfect beach to have a romantic picnic or get
married. You can also have a great time with friends snorkeling,
stand-up paddle boarding, or kayaking out to the beach on the Mokulua
Islands."
Viewer Lisa Gecelosky of Bernville, Pa., told us about Newport's wharfs,
historic mansions, and famed Cliff Walk along the eastern shore, which
caught our eye and landed this destination a spot on our list. The New
England coastal town boasts spectacular scenery and a vibrant downtown
area that makes it a perennial tourist favorite.
Outside San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore is a don't-miss
destination. The park protects over 71,000 acres of wildlife and
coastland, but is also a place to take in the great outdoors with
hiking, camping, horseback riding and more. The view along this famed
peninsula inspired Kathleen Rockwell of Oviedo, Fla., to send "GMA" this
photo.
"I found the most [beautiful] place in America so far to be in
California. I visited there in January this year with my husband ... We
drove over there to the top of the mountain and got out and walked
around. The view looking at the Pacific Ocean from there was
breathtaking -- you felt like you were in heaven," she wrote. "It was
the most beautiful site I have ever seen that it made me cry ...
seriously."
Sedona's natural beauty takes your breath away. The Red Rocks inspire
such awe that we had to name it one of our Most Beautiful Places in
America.
"The Red Rock Country in and around Sedona, Ariz., is one of the most
beautiful and peaceful places I have ever visited in the U.S.," Robert
Fruggiero wrote to "GMA." "This picture was taken from up on Bell Rock …
during a yearlong cross-country RV trip."
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, tucked in the northwest corner
of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is one of the nation's best-kept secrets.
That's why "GMA" viewer Jim Madole of Grand Rapids, Mich., nominated
the spot.
"It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night
or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic
mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all," he wrote in
his submission. "Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the
perfection of Mother Nature."