10 great places to leap into the weirdly wonderful

— -- This being Leap Day, take a leap of imagination and picture yourself amid the landscape of some otherworldly natural wonder. Leslie Weeden, travel director of Outside, shares her list of favorite out-of-the-ordinary getaways with Kathy Baruffi for USA TODAY.

The Blue Lagoon Grindavik, Iceland

The Blue Lagoon, about 20 minutes from Reykjavik, is 53,820 square feet of mineral-rich geothermal seawater. "This is a surreal spa experience, bathing in the milky, steamy turquoise waters, surrounded by hills of black lava. The lagoon's white silica mud is reputed to be healthy and revitalizing for the skin," Weeden says. Stay at the renovated, art-deco Hotel Borg in Reykjavik and visit the Blue Lagoon for a natural high: a steam bath in a lava cave or a waterfall massage. bluelagoon.com

Boiling Lake and the Valley of DesolationDominica, West Indies

Take a stroll through Dominica's primeval landscape. "Boiling Lake is a three-hour hike into the island's mountainous interior," Weeden says. "The lake, which bubbles at 190 degrees, is surrounded by misty cliffs. You walk through dense rain forest and the Valley of Desolation, a stark place where sulfurous gas pours from vents along the way." The secluded Papillote Wilderness Retreat offers adventure packages. 866-522-4057; dominica.dm

Cappadocia RegionTurkey

Three-million-year-old volcanic eruptions have created a bizarre and beautiful landscape in Central Turkey: the Cappadocia region, with its narrow sandstone spires called fairy chimneys, and other unusual rock formations. "Aside from the gorgeous spires and chimneys and sandstone valleys, what's really amazing about this place is its underground cities, cave hotels and rock-hewn dwellings," Weeden says. "It would not seem out of place to find the sand people from Star Wars in this landscape." 877-367-8875; tourismturkey.org

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & PreserveAlaska

Climbers are starting to explore the "moulins" or pits, up to 300 feet deep, in the glaciated areas of the Wrangell-St. Elias in southeast Alaska. The sport is called "moulineering" and involves ice axes and crampons. "Go with St. Elias Alpine Guides to rappel down into one of these frozen pits that lead to surreal ice passages and caves. Waterfalls crash down some of them, forming icy pools at the bottom," Weeden says. 907-822-5234; nps.gov/wrst

White Sands National MonumentNew Mexico

"This unusual landscape in southern New Mexico is 275 square miles of glimmering white sand dunes," Weeden says. "It is different from Great Sand Dunes National Park farther north, because the sand here is stark white. For maximum otherworldly effect, backpackers can camp out in the park during a full moon." 505-679-2599; nps.gov/whsa

Jellyfish Lake Palau Islands, South Pacific

The diversity of coral is the main attraction here, but it takes a leap of faith to enter Jellyfish Lake. "It's a landlocked saltwater lake in the middle of one of Palau's Rock Islands. If you've ever been mesmerized by diaphanous jellyfish in a tank at an aquarium, you can imagine what it's like to swim in a lake full of them. These are caramel-colored, softball-sized, and harmless Mastigias jellyfish," Weeden says. "Go snorkeling there with the Oceanic Society." visit-palau.com

River cavesBelize

You can float on an inner tube for 7 miles along underground rivers in the jungle of Belize. "In the beam of your headlamp, you'll see stalagmites and stalactites and underground waterfalls as you float past," Weeden says. A favorite outfitter is Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure Co. and Jungle Lodge. 800-624-0686; travelbelize.org

Atacama Desert Chile

Running for about 600 miles between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is the driest patch on the planet, with a sculptural and surreal landscape. "The Atacama is a series of salt flats with no vegetation. Then there's the stark, moon-like Valle de la Luna and the highest geyser field in the world," Weeden says. She recommends a stay at the Explora Atacama Lodge in San Pedro de Atacama. www.sernatur.cl

El Rosario Monarch Butterfly SanctuaryAngangueo, Mexico

Every November, some 250 million monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the northeastern USA to the volcanic highlands of central Mexico. "You hike in forests of oyamel trees, which are justplastered with the orange-and-black monarchs, and see them fluttering around like millions of falling leaves," Weeden says. "El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is close to the town of Angangueo in Michoacan. Natural Habitat Adventures runs trips from January through March." 800-446-3942; www.visitmexico.com

Gobi DesertMongolia

Go camel-trekking, hike to petroglyphs, and visit with nomadic families passing through the desert. Make the Three Camel Lodge, an eco-outpost in the Gobi's Gurvansaikhan National Park your base camp. It has 30 gers, or traditional felt tents, with wood stoves and solar-powered electricity. "Talk about Big Sky country. This relatively luxurious camp is in one of the most remote spots on earth, which makes it particularly great for stargazing," Weeden says. www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn