The Best Bucket List Adventures In Every State

You can't visit Alabama without going on one of their famous Cave Tours in Cathedral Caverns State Park. The entrance to the Cathedral Caverns is huge – measuring 126 feet wide and 25 feet high, according to alapark.com. Inside the cavern you will see beautiful formations and amazing sites, some of which include "'caveman' perched atop a flowstone wall, a 'frozen' waterfall, a large stalagmite forest and a most improbable stone formation – a stalagmite that is 27 feet tall and 3 inches wide," the website says.

The Grand Canyon is one of the world's natural wonders, a top must-do on many adventurous travelers bucket lists. The park offers a variety of things to do and an abundance of sites to explore. Go rafting, camping, biking, summer and winter hiking and take a guided tour. But make sure that you take a walk on The Grand Canyon Skywalk – a glass walkway that extends over the rim of the Grand Canyon and enables individuals to walk beyond the canyon walls.

Surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area is the protected Golden Gate National Recreation Area, also known as one of the largest urban parks in the world. It gets more than 15 million visitors each year. It is comprised of numerous sites, some of which include Alcatraz, Fort Mason, the Marin Headlands, and the Nike Missile Site. Tourists can also go camping, hiking, and sightseeing.

Nepaug is a very famous location, especially Nepaug State Forest. Nepaug is known for its variety of mountain biking trails. Regardless of your experience level, there is a route for you. More specifically, New Hartford's Nepaug State Forest Trail is a moderately trafficked loop trail that runs for approximately 1.8 miles. Capture views of beautiful scenery and gorgeous wild flowers.

If you're visiting Florida, most likely, Walt Disney World is on the top of your bucket list; it's where the magic happens. There are so many parks to choose from and so many secret spots to explore. Visit Magic Kingdom for awesome rides including Space Mountain. Take a family picture in front of Cinderella's Castle. Book a Character meal and eat lunch with your children's favorite characters. Visit Animal Kingdom and go on the Kilimanjaro Safari, then don't forget to watch the amazing Fantasmic! in Disney Hollywood Studios.

Famous for its stunning landscapes and towering waterfalls, the Road to Hana is one of the most popular things to do when visiting Hawaii. Some of the most popular sites to see on your road trip include Twin Falls, Ho'okipa lookout, Honomanu Bay, and the Garden of Eden Arboretum.

Visit the Skydeck on the 103^rd floor of the Willis Tower for the best view of Chicago's skyline. Walk out on to the ledge and enter into a glass balcony at 1,353 feet off the ground that will allow you to capture views of Navy Pier and Wrigley Field. Also make sure you explore their interactive family-friendly exhibits.

Pikes Peak State Park is a 4.1-mile trail located near McGregor Iowa. Hikers enjoy spectacular scenic views. A review on alltrails.com said: "Such a beautiful park. The overlooks are amazing! At one point you can see where the Wisconsin River empties into the Mississippi River."

The Kentucky Derby is more than just an annual sporting event, where you watch horses race. It is a "celebration of southern culture and a true icon of America," according to kentuckyderby.com. It's the longest running sporting event in the United States, beginning in 1875. The race is known in the U.S. as "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports."

Sugarloaf is the highest peak in Maine. It consists of over 1,200 acres to ski on. Plan your vacation at Sugarloaf as it is the perfect destination for kids or couples that need a getaway. Some of their most popular activities include indoor rock climbing, trampolines, skate park, basketball court, volleyball court, and bowling.

Horseneck Beach State Reservation is spread across approximately 600 acres of barrier beach and salt marsh. The regular camping season is from mid-May through mid-October, according to mass.gov. Take up a new water activity and try wind surfing, or go birdwatching in this premier birding location in New England.

Embark on a short ride or a multi-day trip – Minnesota has plenty of dog-sledding options. Venture through forests, over icy bogs, and across frozen lakes. Some of the best dog-sledding outfitters include White Wilderness, Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge, Positive Energy Outdoors, and Endurance Kennels.  

For people who believe to be advanced hikers, Cathedral Canyon is the hike for them. It's a deep canyon situated in the St. Francois Mountains and, according to localtrekshiking.com, it's also a "seemingly remote part of the Mark Twain National Forest." There are high rock bluffs that tower over a boulder billed stream and, according to visitors, the scenery is magical.

Forget about yoga, golf, or spa days, and experience the life at a real working cattle ranch. Don't just play cowboy for a day or two, be one for a week. You will learn to work cattle, ride, rope, brand, drive the herd, and sort cattle. You'll do all of it mounted on a trained quarter horse that's yours for as long as you stay. One place you can do that is at the 1+1 Ranch in Burwell.

The adventures Morningside Flight Park offers – from hand gliding and paragliding to zip lining and kayaking – will leave you breathless. Few recreational activities can compare to soaring above the stunning Connecticut River Valley, the longest river in New England. Lessons are offered to everyone. Gift Certificates never expire and are fully transferable. Sign up for their outdoor Laser Tag league in the summer.

Long before Breaking Bad there was the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, home to the largest ballooning event on earth. The city is the premiere destination for all things hot air balloon. Visit during the first week of October to see more than 500 elaborately colored balloons take flight during the festival. The show is magnificent to watch from the ground, but it's even better to be part of the sky-bound display.

If you think you are up for a challenge and are fit enough to compete, sign up for the Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville May 26-28. You're going to have to run or bike, rock climb, play dodgeball, disc golf, and more. The free festival showcases the terrain, environment and unique culture of the beautiful city and the surrounding mountains. There is a Frisbee Open, Sand Volleyball Tournament, Dancing Trees SUP Yoga, and TriCross Crossfit Challenge, to name a few.

Hocking Hills will take your breath away. Outdoor enthusiasts go for the trails that take them though forests, caves, and odd rock formations. The especially rugged section marked by cliffs, gorges, caves and waterfalls is a popular recreation area with fewer visitors in the winter. The state park system has over 25 miles of marked trails that are open year-round and a scenery that makes it a rewarding place to hike even in cold weather.

Stargazing and camping at Crater Lake are amazing adventures when undertaken separately. A combination of both in one trip will leave you breathless and full of stories to tell for years to come. What makes this experience unique is the fact that it doesn't happen every night. Check the weather and moon phase for perfect conditions and pick a good spot along the Rim.

Try cliff walking for 3.5 miles along the eastern shore of Newport. This is a very popular public access walk, a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District that combines the natural beauty of the coast with the architectural history of the city's golden age. Wildflowers, birds, and geology will make the trip even more charming.

Have you ever been backcountry camping or spent a whole night under the stars? Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park is the place to be in the summer. Night sky viewing is offered on Friday through Monday nights, according to NPS. After the evening ranger program, you are welcome to stay and continue to enjoy the stars. Telescopes are provided. The entire campground is equipped with 96 level campsites, and each offers striking views. On any given night, you will be stunned by more than 7,500 stars.

This swimming hole near Austin may not look like much from the surface but looks are deceiving. It is actually one of the most dangerous dive sites in the world. There are four different entryways to explore. Narrow spaces can be a huge problem, especially after the third one. The gravel is loose and you can very easily kick it causing visibility problems. Divers can't see, get confused, panic, and breathe too fast using up the oxygen they have in the tank.

Go cross-country skiing on the Catamount Trail. The country's longest ski trail – about 300 miles that run through the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains – is also the most brilliantly conceived, according to National Geographic. End-to-end skiers receive a certificate, a CTA lapel pin, acknowledgment in the CTA Newsletter, and plenty of glory. 

People will normally think of Hawaii or California as a great surfing destination but the Pacific Ocean storms bring thrilling big waves to Washington, too, and more specifically the coastal city of Westport. Put on the neoprene suit – the water gets cold – and try a more adventurous version of the exciting sport. Favorite locations are Westhaven State Park, Half Moon Bay, and Finger Jetties, according to ExperienceWA. Westport's annual Clean Water Classic brings surfers together to help preserve oceans.

Bayfield Peninsula Sea Caves are some of the most jaw-dropping sights you can witness in the country. In the winter, they are morphed into ice caves. The incredible formations and the splendor of the crystal clear ice will astonish you.

The nation's capital is all about patriotism. Visiting for Fourth of July should be on every American's bucket list. But don't just take a walk to see the national monuments, get a unique perspective – away on a boat. The popular Potomac Cruise features highlights such as the Jefferson Memorial, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Washington Monument, Memorial Bridge, and the 14th St. Bridge.