Sure, it’s great to ooh and aah at the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, be overwhelmed by the blistered desert floor and extinct volcanic craters in Death Valley, and hear the thunderous roar of Niagara Falls. But Mother Nature also has created countless other treasures throughout the country that while less well-known are no less magnificent and wondrous in their ways. No doubt some of these natural hidden gems are located within an easy automobile drive from where you live. A bit of research can reveal often-overlooked places that offer a variety of environments to meet any preference. Coastal Louisiana, for example, is the setting for tours of brooding swamps where alligators like to hang out and fishing for fresh- and saltwater prey off piers, from the shore, in inland bodies of water and at sea. Its location along a major migration route also provides a treasure-trove of opportunities for …