4Mesa Verde National Park
This park in Colorado’s Montezuma County is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient, historical ancient cliff dwellings. A number of these precariously perched dwellings are reported to be more than 700 years old and were literally carved right out of the canyon wall.
If you hike the popular Step House trail you can see one of the well-known cliff-dwelling archaeological sites free of charge. You’ll need to sign up for a guided tour to see the others. In fact, there are a number of other hiking trails suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The altitude and climate here make this place great for star gazing as well. If interested, camp there in the fall or spring and avoid the summer crowds.