I was crisscrossing the country in 2004, and I often flew from St. Petersburg to San Francisco. The drudgery of making a 5:45 AM flight was soon erased by the sight of the sunrise washing the landscape with brightness and color. On a clear day, from five miles high, America appeared as "the beautiful" place described in its unofficial anthem. See what I saw in these photos, and the next time you can, look out the window and experience it for yourself.