Details: Death Valley National Park

The basics: Death Valley, a sunken portion of the Earth's crust, looks — and sometimes feels — otherworldly. There is a vast ancient crater, 700-foot-high sand dunes, and a dry lake bed known as the Racetrack, where rocks mysteriously slide through the sand, leaving long trails. The is a land of extremes: It is the lowest, hottest and driest location in North America, and the largest national park outside of Alaska.

Visitors: 1.15 million people visited the park in 2015.

Square miles: 5,270.

Established: 1994.

More information: nps.gov/deva; 1-760-786-3200.