Na Pali Coast Green Cliffs Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Paddle-in paradise

Whether witnessed from the air or the sea, this Hawaii state park is a spectacular sight to behold—and a coveted one at that. To access this land of spiny cliffs and slender valleys on the island of Kauai, you'll need advance reservations to hike in. Otherwise you'll have to see it either from high above like this, or from the water by sailing or paddling in. The park's name, Nā Pali Coast, refers to the ridges' abrupt, 4,000-foot rise from the beach: Nā pali translates from Hawaiian to mean 'high cliffs.'