🔥 Death Valley National Park: Earth’s Extreme Playground

#landmarks Welcome to the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America — and one of the most surprisingly stunning landscapes you’ll ever see. It’s like visiting another planet… only with more salt. Here are the top landmarks you have to see 👇 🏜️ Badwater Basin The lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level — a surreal salt flat that looks like a cracked white ocean. 📸 Go early or late in the day for dramatic shadows and cooler temps. 👟 Pro tip: Walk a bit away from the parking lot to find pristine salt polygons. 🌈 Artist’s Palette A technicolor hillside with shades of pink, green, purple, and gold — all caused by oxidized minerals. 🎨 The drive through Artist’s Drive Scenic Loop is short and jaw-dropping. 💡 Best viewed near sunset when the colors really pop. ⛰️ Dante’s View An unreal panoramic viewpoint perched over Badwater Basin. You’ll feel like you’re floating above the valley. 🌀 On clear days, you can see both the lowest and highest points in the lower 48 (Badwater + Mt. Whitney). 🌄 Perfect spot for sunrise if you’re an early riser. 🌊 Devils Golf Course Spiky, jagged salt formations that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. ⚠️ Not for walking — the terrain is sharp and brutal. But so cool to see up close! 🎧 Bonus: In the heat, you can sometimes hear the salt crystals popping. 🏞️ Zabriskie Point Iconic viewpoint of golden badlands — a must-see for sunrise. 📸 Think wavy ridgelines in gold, pink, and bronze tones. 🎬 Featured in movies and music videos — it’s that photogenic. 🧭 Travel Tips ✅ Summer is brutal — temps can hit 120°F+ 😰 Go in winter or early spring for safer, more comfortable exploring ✅ Bring way more water than you think (at least 1 gallon per person/day) ✅ Fuel up — gas stations are few and $$$ ✅ Cell service is spotty — offline maps are essential ✅ No shade, no joke — sun protection is key: hat, sunglasses, SPF!