One of the oldest national parks in the United States, Mt. Rainier National Park was established in 1899 to preserve the wilderness surrounding Mt. Rainier. Encompassing 369 square miles (956 square kilometers) of old-growth forests, wildflower meadows, glacial scenery, and wildlife, it’s a must-visit for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The Fountains of Bellagio in front of the Bellagio Las Vegas are like many Sin City attractions: an over-the-top spectacle, but in a good way. The waterworks synchronize with music and are illuminated for extra effect. The water, which spouts from a manmade lake inspired by Lake Como in Italy, can shoot as high as 460 feet (140 meters) into the air.
The oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is one of Savannah’s top historical, architectural, and religious attractions. Its towering twin spires and gorgeous French Gothic–style architecture set it apart against the Savannah skyline. Up close, visitors can admire intricate details dating back to 1900.
Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) charms visitors with its picturesque squares, grand architecture, and winding cobblestone streets. Whether you’re exploring the Old Port, walking down the main street of Rue Saint-Paul, or people-watching from a cozy café, it’s easy to feel transported back in time—and across continents—here. The historic quarter dates back to New France, and remains among the best-preserved Old Towns in North America.
Located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku in the Hawaiian language) is the most accessible lava tube on the Big Island. Discovered in 1913, this 500-year-old tube was created by subterranean magma that once flowed through this section of ground. Today, the tube is illuminated to create an eerie glow for visitors.
Performers from Ella Fitzgerald to Sammy Davis Jr. have graced the neoclassical stage of this Harlem landmark—and its sometimes raucous, weekly Amateur Night has been running for nearly a century. During the rest of the week, the venue draws crowds for music, theater, film, and other performances. And on guided tours of the venue, travelers get the chance to peek backstage.
Chapultepec Park, named for the Aztec word chapoltepec (at the grasshopper’s hill), is one of the world's largest city parks. The green space spans 1,695 acres (686 hectares) and is dissected by walking paths connecting quiet ponds, monumental buildings, and museums, including the Museum of Anthropology and the Rufino Tamayo Museum.
Protecting cliffs, canyons, bridges, and domes (like the US Capitol, its namesake—get it?), Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park offers a deep dive into outdoor adventure, geology, human history, and more. Beyond those rock formations, you’ll find Indigenous petroglyphs, Mormon orchards, and plenty of fabulous scenery. Moreover, you’ll also find a fraction of the crowds compared to nearby Arches or Zion.
Kauai’s impressive Waimea Canyon—at 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) long, 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide, and 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) deep—is Hawaii’s version of the Grand Canyon. Stop along the scenic drive on its winding rim road for panoramic views of a far-below river, awe-inspiring drop-offs, and waterfall-lined crevasses, all a short distance from the Garden Isle’s legendary Na Pali Coast.
Established in the 1890s by migrant workers, this Vancouver neighborhood is now among the biggest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America. It’s packed with Asian grocers, Chinese herbalists, dim sum restaurants, trinket stores, and meat shops filled with tempting displays of hanging char siu and roast ducks.
A popular spot with Toronto’s foodies, the long-running St. Lawrence Market occupies the historic South Market House building, which previously served as Toronto’s city hall and jail. Since 1803, residents and visitors have come here to meet, eat, and shop for food items ranging from Prince Edward Island oysters to peameal bacon to Montreal-style bagels. There’s also a weekly farmers market and antique fair held in the North Market.
The second-largest manmade reservoir in the United States, Lake Powell is situated in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the border of Arizona and Utah. Known for its sandy beaches and red-rock landscapes, this vacation spot features the Glen Canyon Dam (in Arizona) and Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world’s longest natural bridges (in Utah).
The unofficial slogan of Yoho National Park, “rock walls and waterfalls,” describes the stunning mountain scenery here. Visitors seeking a quieter side of the Canadian Rockies are often drawn to Yoho, which aside from natural beauty is also a destination for outdoor adventure, from hiking to white-water rafting. Those considering a visit should be aware that much of the park is back country, accessible only via winding mountain roads or on foot.
At 48 square blocks, Little Italy San Diego is one of the largest Little Italy districts in the United States. Once home to Italian fishing families, it’s now a lively and walkable neighborhood that’s filled with restaurants, cafés, wine bars, and craft brewpubs. This trendy district also has upscale boutiques, art galleries, boutique hotels, and live music venues, so there’s far more to experience than just its delicious food and drink.
Known for its galleries, restaurants, and curio shops, Royal Street in New Orleans is just a block away from the bar-fueled bustle and grit of Bourbon Street. But while it's less well-known, it still oozes historic French Quarter character. The iron-lace balconies of French and Spanish colonial buildings overlook upscale stores and courtyard cafés along this charming street, which was made for wandering.
The small, uninhabited Marietas Islands (Islas Marietas) are located in the Bay of Banderas off Mexico's Pacific coast. Classified as a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve, the islands are famous for their abundance of flora and fauna, and the dramatic beauty of Hidden Beach. It's a great place to visit if you want to trade the crowds of the beach resort scene for some natural delights.
Stretching from Key Largo all the way to Key West and the Dry Tortugas National Park, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary spans the entire coastline of the Florida Keys. Ranking as the third-largest barrier reef in the world—and the only one in the United States—the vast protected waters harbor more than 6,000 marine life species and more than 1,000 shipwrecks.
The star attraction of Cozumel Reefs National Park (Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel), Palancar Reef is a rich underwater landscape ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Aquatic species thrive amidst these colorful corals, including sea turtles, rays, nurse sharks, barracudas, moray eels, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish.
Smack in the middle of historic Charleston, the Charleston City Market is a must-see landmark for Holy City visitors. In addition to being one of the most popular historic attractions in town, the City Market—which opened in the 1790s—is also one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States. Today, shoppers can browse stands featuring the work of local chefs, artists, and craftspeople, including handmade sweetgrass baskets, a unique Gullah handicraft.
Situated just a few hours southeast of the Mexican capital, San Pedro Cholula is one of the two municipalities of Cholula proper and a popular day trip from Mexico City. Explore the Great Pyramid of Cholula—the largest in the world—sample traditional Pueblan cuisine, and shop for local handicrafts at the marketplaces before visiting Cholula’s many ornate churches.
It takes some travelers to Alaska several days to check bears, bald eagles, and wood bison off their wildlife-viewing list—but you can see all three in just one visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Not far from Anchorage, this 200-acre (81-hectare) animal sanctuary cares for more than a dozen different species, from moose to lynx, and educates visitors about its conservation projects.
Lined with tumbling waterfalls and crisscrossed by hiking trails, the Columbia River Gorge stretches out for 80 miles (128 kilometers) of lush temperate rainforest and arid grasslands, the rapid transition meaning you can see multiple biomes in the same day. Along with the draw of the dramatic landscape, the Columbia River Gorge area is dotted with small towns full of craft breweries, farm markets, and community museums.
Named after one of Washington DC’s most iconic landmarks, Capitol Hill is both the heart of the American government and a vibrant neighborhood favored by politicos and tourists alike. From literary highlights such as the Library of Congress and Folger Shakespeare Library to the Supreme Court Building and the United States Botanic Garden, there is much to see and do on the Hill beyond the US Capitol itself.
The 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometer) Freedom Trail winds through downtown Boston, from southerly Boston Common, the nation's oldest public park, to the Bunker Hill Monument on the north side of the Charles River. The red-brick path and its designated stops, including colonial-era churches, museums, and meeting houses, make for an excellent introduction to Boston and its role in the American Revolution and United States history.
The 8.5 million acres (3.4 hectares) of land that are protected by Gates of the Arctic National Park lie north of the Arctic Circle. This massive, mountainous swath of land is larger than the entirety of Belgium, yet scarcely more than 10,000 people visit this remote park each year. Caribou, grizzly bear, and moose roam free across hundreds of miles.
Situated on the edge of the French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park honors its namesake, one of New Orleans’ most famous jazz musicians. With sculptures of the city’s music legends as well as fountains, trees, and duck ponds, the green space offers a peaceful escape from the nearby bustle of Bourbon Street. It also holds festivals, concerts, and cultural events throughout the year.
A trim wedge of water rimmed with top landmarks, Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the city’s bustling port. Whether you’re hopping a whale-watching cruise or enjoying a sea breeze, the Inner Harbour is an essential stop when exploring Victoria. Among its highlights are the elegant Fairmont Empress hotel and the narrow streets beyond.
Closely associated with LGBTQ culture, San Francisco’s vibrant, brash Castro district is a lively neighborhood of shops, bars, rainbow flags, and hilly streets lined with impressively restored Victorian homes. Harvey Milk—California’s first openly gay elected official—was a famous Castro resident, honored here with Harvey Milk Plaza.
The Philadelphia Art Museum is one of the largest public art museums in the United States. Housed in an iconic, Greco-Roman-style building that overlooks the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the museum’s collection includes roughly 240,000 objects spanning multiple cultures and thousands of years of art history. Outside, this cultural treasure is nearly as famous for its “Rocky Steps,” immortalized in the hit 1976 film, and the adjacent Rocky statue.
In the depths of the Chiapas jungle, the Misol-Ha Waterfall tumbles 115 feet (35 meters) into a turquoise pool below and provides refreshing respite from the hot and humid surroundings. Take a dip in the cool pool and swim beneath the falls or venture behind them on foot to explore a hidden cave complex.
