From Arizona to Alaska: The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bucket List Landmarks Edition

AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.

We love our travel nurses and know you work and play hard. One of the benefits of being a traveler is that you can pick the part of the country where you’d like to work. When you’re not working, you can explore. Our travelers love telling their recruiters about where they explore and their favorite places to visit. In our article Bucket List Assignments, we covered favorites. We’ve switched it up this time and added landmarks to this ultimate travel nurse bucket list.

The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bucket List Landmarks Edition

Let’s start with the Southwest Bucket List Landmarks.

AB Staffing is based in Gilbert, Arizona, the fifth largest city in Arizona, boasting a population of just over 250,000 as of July 2020. Gilbert is known as a safe place to raise a family. It’s a relatively young city with a median age of 33.9. It is within driving distance of Phoenix for theatre, sports, or a night on the town. Gilbert also has a vibrant restaurant scene downtown and nearby shopping areas.

Of course, you can drive to the Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona or stop in Williams, Arizona, and take the Grand Canyon Railway to see the sites along the way. If you love trains, head to Cottonwood and catch the Verde Canyon Railway, wine tasting at local wineries, or hiking. Arizona has a lot to offer, along with other Southwest states.

• Havasupai Falls—Located in northern Arizona on the Supai Reservation, Havasupai Falls is worth the 10-mile hike into the campsite to see its hidden beauty. Make a reservation and check the weather before heading there for your next adventure.
• Chelsea, Oklahoma – Visit Totem Pole Park, a Route 66 classic. In 1999, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• San Antonio, Texas – Besides the San Antonio River Walk, The Alamo offers visitors a chance to walk through history.

We’re sure you will find more Southwest travel nurse bucket list landmarks to share with us!

Let’s discover West Coast Landmarks.

When we think of California, we often think about beaches, surfing, and tacos, which are all great, but there is more to the West Coast than that!

• San Francisco, California – Visit the bucket list landmark Golden Gate Bridge, which connects San Francisco to Marin County. Check out the Visiting the Bridge for more information.
• Seattle, Washington – Our article Getting to Know Seattle highlights fun and food places to eat. What we failed to mention is the Space Needle! Marketed as an Elevated Experience (I love the play on words!), the Needle’s The Loupe is the world’s first and only revolving glass floor where you can see the city from a new perspective.
• Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Wyoming is not only one of the highest-paid states for travel nursing, but it is also home to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. The unique thermal features of the geyser established the area as the world’s first national park in 1872. The park hosts more than 500 geysers, wildlife, and spectacular views.
• Denali National Park, Alaska – Travel Nurse Jessica told us about her experience as a traveler in Sitka, Alaska. We wonder if she has made her way to Denali National Park. This park is six million acres of wild land, low-elevation taiga forest, high alpine tundra, and snowy mountains, including Denali, America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet.

Moving to Midwest Landmarks

When you think of the Midwest, you might think there are few landmarks, but we’re here to tell you there is beauty and history for those willing to venture there.

• Keystone, SD – What is this town known for? It started as a logging town and was revived in 1924 when the carving of Mount Rushmore began, continuing until 1941. Known as the Home of the Carvers, Keystone is a starting point for visitors.
• Badlands, North Dakota – Part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, The Painted Canyon, is visible from the park’s southern edge. Check out the Visitors Center for information on hiking trails, where you can get a different perspective of the canyon.
• Chicago, IL – If you’re from the Northeast, you may be pro-New York-style pizza, but you won’t find it much in Chicago! Known for its hearty deep-dish pizza, Chicago is also home to the landmark Bean. Located in Millennium Park, The Bean is a visitor favorite.
• St. Louis, Missouri – Just as The Bean is a Chicago landmark, The Gateway Arch is a site to see in St. Louis. Take a tram ride to the top, visit the museum, and get your picture taken in front of this iconic landmark.

Let’s talk about the East Coast Travel Nurse Bucket List.

Now that you’ve gotten deep-dish pizza out of the way, let’s discuss New York-style pizza and a few landmarks in the area.

• New York City, New York—Home to many sights and the best pizza on the planet, New York City is also where you can visit the Statue of Liberty. A gift from France in 1886, this historic national monument is worth the ferry ride. You can also see Ellis Island, where thousands of immigrants have entered the country.
• Niagara Falls, New York – While you’re in New York, head upstate to the US/Canada border to see Niagara Falls, a force of nature and beauty.
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Grab a Philly Cheesesteak and head to the historic Liberty Bell, where you can take a self-guided tour.
• Cape Elizabeth, Maine—This seaside park is the perfect spot for a walk in the summer. Check out the Portland Head Light and quaint downtown. Maine is a destination vacation spot for those who live farther south in New England and elsewhere, but it tends to be quite cold in the winter.

Head to the Southeast for the final landmarks.

We’re almost done with our tour, but we couldn’t forget the beauty and history of the Southeast.

• New Orleans, Louisiana—Visit the historic French Quarter to experience the city. Schedule a walking tour to learn more about French and Spanish history. If you love parties, Mardi Gras parades are a fun way to experience local culture.
• Gatlinburg, Tennessee – Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers spectacular views, car touring options (be sure to get a parking pass if you plan to park for more than 15 minutes), underground railroad history, camping, and maybe even a black bear sighting. 
• Washington, DC – Visit the National Mall, where you can see the US Capitol building, Lincoln Memorial, and more of America’s history. Central to the must-see venues like the Smithsonian Museums, National Gallery of Art, and Holocaust Memorial Museum, we encourage you to plan your trip in advance.
• Merritt Island, Florida—If you’re heading to Florida to see Mickey Mouse, you need to take a side trip to the Kennedy Space Center. Filled with the history of the space program, including actual spacecraft, this is a must-see for anyone who loves to dream about space.

What a tour we’ve taken to see landmarks on the travel nurse bucket list! If you’re looking for an adventure, and we’d love to hear from you and help you find your next contract!

We hope you enjoyed this landmark travel nurse bucket list. Did any of the locations make it to your travel nurse bucket list? What other locations are on your travel nurse bucket list? Comment them below.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel healthcare gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities. We have opportunities for all travel healthcare professionals.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel healthcare assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.