Sedona, Arizona
DANITA DELIMONT/GETTY IMAGES
Watching the sunset can be a near-spiritual experience amid the raw beauty of Sedona, where the desert meets the mountains. Sedona is known for its famous red rock buttes, and the sun’s setting rays make the vibrant colors of the landscape glow against the deepening blue of the desert sky. To maximize the experience, spend the day hiking up to Red Rock Crossing near the Crescent Moon Ranch and stick around for sunset along the creek. For an easier adventure, drive to Airport Mesa to watch the sun disappear behind Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Courthouse Butte.
Advertisement
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
FREDER/GETTY IMAGES
If you’ve always dreamed of photographing the unmistakable silhouette of a giraffe illuminated by the sun, head to Tanzania. This African nation has worked to protect its wildlife populations and is now home to rhinos, cheetahs, lions, elephants, zebras, and those photogenic giraffes that roam the Serengeti Plain. Take a safari at sunset to watch as waves of heat and the slow descent of the sun turn the landscape gold. If you’re lucky, a giraffe will pause by a baobab tree at just the right moment.