We love sunsets, and when we can wake up early enough, sunrises! There’s something magical about how the fading (or growing) light shifts the world around you introducing new colors, patterns, and details. Enjoy 15 of our favorite sunrise and sunset photos from our adventures around the U.S. and Canada.
Cannon Beach, OR
Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Cannon Beach is one of our favorite destinations. This sunset picture is from a spot just down the coast from the famous Haystack Rock.
Cannon Beach, OR
Cape Breton Island, NS
Known for the world famous Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island is a coastal treasure. On the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near Dingwall, NS, this sunset burned over the Cape Breton Highlands.
Cape Breton Island, NS
Clearwater Beach, FL
Across the Courtney Campbell and Clearwater Memorial Causways from Tampa, Clearwater Beach is a beautiful barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. On the beach outside of the Hilton Clearwater Beach resort, this warm winter sunset glistened on the calm cool water.
Clearwater Beach, FL
Door County, WI
On a thin peninsula at the top of Lake Michigan, Wisconsin’s summer wonderland is Door County. These boats enjoyed a sunset sail before fireworks would later explode the sky for the 4th of July.
Door County, WI
Fall River, MA
Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA is the world’s largest collection of preserved U.S. Navy ships. This prismatic sunset over the Taunton River was captured from the deck of the Battleship U.S.S. Massachusetts as we waited for the 4th of July fireworks to begin.
Fall River, MA
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
The Grand Canyon is one of the earth’s natural wonders and one most surreal areas we’ve ever explored. The closing clouds of an oncoming storm and the canyon rim squeeze the light out of this sunset.
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Islamorada, FL
Halfway between Miami and Key West, Islamorada is one of our favorite Florida Keys. This perfect tropical sunrise over the aqua waters of the Caribbean was captured at the tip of Islamorada.
Islamorada, FL
L’Anse-Saint-Jean, QC
L’Anse-Saint-Jean is a small village surrounded by Saguenay Fjord National Park in northern Quebec. While some sunsets are spectacular, others are subtle, capturing the memory of a moment. In this case, we were sitting outside of the Cafe du Quai; finishing the last of our slightly sweet ethereal crepes; watching boats bob in the water while the sun sank in the sky; and enjoying the bright laughter and conversations all around us.
L’Anse-Saint-Jean, QC
La Jolla, CA
Just north of La Jolla, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a wonderland of ocean, chaparral, cliffs, beaches, and the rare Torrey pine. We shared this sunset over the cerulean Pacific with a shadowy shorebird.
La Jolla, CA
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, OR
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is a network of marble caves located in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon. We captured this sunset nestled inside the historic Oregon Caves Chateau.
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, OR
Petoskey, MI
Petoskey is a charming town on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. The calm waters of Little Traverse Bay provided a dramatic contrast to the spectrum of this sunset.
Petoskey, MI
Quincy, IL
Quincy, IL is a quintessential picturesque Mississippi River town. The fading light and flooded river perfectly captured the reflection of the Bayview Bridge.
Quincy, IL
Saguaro National Park, AZ
Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, AZ is home to the giant saguaro, a symbol of the West and the largest cacti in the U.S. With the glow of the setting sun and saguaro silhouettes, it is easy to see why Arizona sunsets are some of our favorites.
Saguaro National Park, AZ
Willowsford, VA
While we’ve been all over the U.S. and Canada, sometimes the best sunsets can be right in your own backyard. This dramatic sunset was during an outdoor community movie at our neighborhood pool.
Willowsford, VA
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Yellowstone National Park is the most amazing natural environment we have ever experienced. Thus it is not surprising that it also has some of the best sunsets that we’ve ever seen.
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Sunrise, Sunset
Finally, no article about sunrises and sunsets would be complete without including the song that kept going through our heads the entire time we were putting together this story!
We hope you enjoyed our sunrise and sunset photo story and look for even more in the future! Full Van Fun is all about families, parents and children together sharing farm to family food, epic travel, great music, and more. Whether it is stories about incredible destinations like Flaming Gorge, interviews with family friendly musicians like Mista Cookie Jar, authors like Daniel Pinkwater, or learning more about the #FarmtoFamilyFoodChain with chefs like Fabio Viviani and Justin Warner, sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss any of them! Follow Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for even more!
Photo credits: Full Van Fun
Fantastic. Love your sunrise and sunsets photos. The pool movie setup is excellent.