40 of the Most Colorful Places to Visit in the United States

The Grand Prismatic is one of the most popular features in Yellowstone National Park. It's not just the rainbow hues (which are caused by heat-loving bacteria) that stand out, but also its incredible size (it's deeper than a 10-story building and longer than a football field!).

The beads, the ribbons, the costumes—everything is colorful in the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The colors for the holiday, first chosen back in the late 1800s, have special meanings: purple is for justice, green is for faith, and gold is for power.

In 2015, artist Eduardo Kobra was hired by Minnesota's Hennepin Theatre Trust to honor music icon—and Minnesota native—Bob Dylan. Standing five stories tall, the mural took Kobra and a team of five painters 12 hours of work every day for two weeks to complete it.

Beach bums will get a real kick out of the painted lifeguard stands in South Beach. Each is carefully crafted with its own theme, all perfect for your Insta-worthy vacation pictures. Also in the area is Ocean Drive, a nightlife hotspot filled with brightly colored lights and buildings.

This spectacular sight is known as the Green Sand Beach. The color is created by a mineral found in Big Island lava called olivine, which developed after a cinder cone erupted 50,000 years ago.

Speaking of Hawaii, it's known as the rainbow capital of the world for a reason. The air in this state is exceptionally clean and free of pollution, leading to more rainbows. What a dream!

If you're lucky enough to fly over the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the aerial view of the salt ponds are unreal. Depending on different factors—including salinity levels, microorganisms, and forested paths—each pond can take on just about any color.

Santa Fe's Meow Wolf is an interactive exhibit that's unlike any other. While walking through the different rooms, you'll be taken through secret passageways and into other dimensions, like this awesome neon forest.

Especially during sunset, the Grand Canyon looks like it's straight out of a painting. The rocks are illuminated in hues of purples and oranges, creating a scene fit for one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The colors of this gorgeous beach village are often reflected in the calm waters nearby, creating an image that can only be described as dreamlike.

Stop to smell the tulips during this unforgettable festival. Over 40 acres of flowers line this Oregon farm each spring, attracting travelers from all around.

In 2018, street artists let their imagination run wild in Manhattan's Financial District. The result? A colorful collection of murals that glow under the city lights.

Nothing can prepare you for this amazing sight in person. Massachusetts is home to a group of bogs that grow and harvest bright red cranberries each year, and most offer tours to visitors.

A castle on the sea—could it get more romantic than that? Take a stroll around the outer wall of the former Fort Jefferson Military Fortress, located at the Dry Tortugas National Park, for both a fascinating history lesson and a scenic view.

The foliage in Colorado each fall is as good as gold. Aspen trees turn yellow and are on full display throughout the state. If you want the best view, be sure to check out Kebler Pass in Gunnison, which has the largest aspen grove in North America.

This blue glacial ice cave looks like it could be a set from Frozen. The magical hue is created from both the ice density and transmission of blue wavelengths.

This desert getaway's slogan is "Get Some Color." Everything from the bold exterior to the pool area is rainbow perfection, which is why it's a major hotspot for influencers come summertime.

"The Subway" is a pretty difficult hiking spot in Zion National Park that requires plenty of rappelling, swimming, and climbing. But if you can make it to end of what's called the Left Fork of North Creek, you'll be treated to this absolutely stunning aqua pool.