With the busy travel season upon us, people comb through travel websites and brochures looking to find their ideal vacation destination. Some search for stunning examples of wilderness found only in America; others seek a cultural experience, a chance to taste new foods, visit historic sights and see a different side of life. For those seeking to make their vacation fun as well as educational and enriching, there are a host of photography workshops throughout the country that not only offer a chance to see amazing places, but instruction on memorializing their experiences through digital imaging and photography.
Through Canon Live Learning Destination Workshops, amateur and professional photographers can travel to destinations around the country and learn from master photographers at the pinnacle of their craft. Participants choose from a number of destinations where they can experiment with different Canon cameras and lenses, get expert feedback on their images and go home with prints that showcase their experience and new photography skills.
To help inspire your next vacation, one that can be relaxing, fun, educational and give you an eye-opening perspective on the world, here are some of the best places to discover, or rediscover, in America.
The best place to experience the mountains: The Rocky Mountains in Aspen, Colorado. Few things are as dramatic as the mountains, and few mountains are as iconic as the Colorado Rockies. In the heart of these mountains is the famous ski-town of Aspen, which has become a vibrant community filled with world-class dining and shopping. Just outside this small but cosmopolitan town are cowboys and cowgirls, rock climbers and other devotees of the rugged life who have made their home in one of the most stunning and unforgettable landscapes of North America.
The best place to view waterfalls: The Great Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Visitors who wake early to see the sun cut through the mist gathered in the valleys know why these are called “smoky” mountains. Known for its environmental diversity, the Great Smoky Mountains have an abundant amount of wildflowers, vistas, animals and historic settlements. Tucked away in these mountains are some of the most scenic waterfalls in the country. While not as famous as Niagara or Yosemite Falls, these wonders remain one of the best kept secrets in the United States.
The best place for stargazing: Moab, Utah. People are often amazed by how bright the stars appear outside of the city. But to really get the full effect of the stars, you have to go far away from any human settlement, such as the desert of Utah. Here, the Milky Way and its thick star clusters fire across the sky in a way that has to be seen to be believed. It’s a sight everyone needs to see once in their lives.
The best place to be charmed: Tie between the New England Seaside and Savannah, Georgia. There’s no better way to take in a sense of America’s past than by visiting one of these ocean-side destinations. Savanah’s cobble-stone streets, city squares and numerous Revolutionary and Civil War era sites create a vibrant picture of the Old South. Far to the north, the fishing villages of Massachusetts, with the lighthouses, ships and of course, chowder and clam bakes, offer a glimpse into a way of life that was once common throughout America.
The inevitable downside of any great vacation is that it always seems too short. With the right camera skills, you can take amazing pictures that are good enough to print, share with others or hang on your wall. These physical prints are not only memories. As works of art you created, they are a truly meaningful way to preserve your experience.
