Pueblo Grande Museum, an archaeological park on the ruins of a 1,500-year-old Native American village in the heart of Phoenix, reveals the story of the Hohokam people. The adobe city and its intricate irrigation system was mysteriously abandoned, leaving only hints about the life and culture of this early community.
While most of early America’s wartime sites are in the east, the 18th-century Colonial Michilimackinac in Michigan is the exception. Some 240 years ago, this lakeside spot was an 18th-century fort and fur trading village embroiled in war. Largely restored to its original blueprint, Colonial Michilimackinac is now an open-air museum, where you’ll learn how the American Revolution affected the western US.
While visiting Death Valley National Park, many travelers make the drive (or hike) down Twenty Mule Team Canyon. This short 1-way road runs a little over 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) through eroded badland hills. Because of its narrowness, rough terrain, and tight turns, it can be a challenging route even when driving, but the sights are a great payoff.
The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is home to the famous Spruce Goose—a flying boat designed for World War II—plus aircraft from World War II, the Vietnam War-era, and beyond. Visit the Smithsonian-affiliate museum, set in Oregon’s picturesque Willamette Valley, to see more than 150 air and space crafts in three buildings.
Monument Cove is part of Acadia National Park's stunning coastline and can be accessed by hikers along the 2.2-mile (3.5-kilometer) Ocean Path. At sunrise, visitors snap photos as the rocky shore is slowly blanketed in golden light. The granite monolith that anchors this area of Mount Desert Island is the main draw, as are the nearby tidepools.
Providence’s "Little Italy," Federal Hill is a vibrant neighborhood renowned for its cultural heritage—and could easily be called one of the top Italian-American neighborhoods in the US. Explore iconic Atwells Avenue through the north end of the neighborhood, and you’ll find specialty shops, bakeries, and restaurants—and the enduring influence of Italian immigrants that has lasted for more than a century.
The Fort Myers River District is the historic downtown area of Fort Myers. Once the site of a military fort in the 1800s, this small cattle town blossomed into a bustling city, thanks in part to famous folks like Thomas Edison calling Fort Myers his winter home. Today, the Fort Myers River District is a shopping, dining, and entertainment hub.
Located in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, Tahoe National Forest encompasses more than 800,000 acres (324,000 hectares) of dense forest, rivers, snowcapped mountains, canyons, and lakes, providing you ample opportunity for outdoor recreation in Northern California.
On the northern end of the Charity Hospital Cemetery, in an area where many of New Orleans' famous cemeteries are located, this memorial honors the lives of those lost during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While many people who died during the hurricane were buried elsewhere, the memorial houses the remains of people whose bodies were unidentified or unclaimed.
Located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum is one of the best places in town for kids to play, explore, and get creative. Featuring a wide range of interactive play areas and immersive environments located across three floors, the family-oriented museum also offers a range of entertaining programming.
Located inside Fresno’s Roeding Park, the Chaffee Zoo is home to more than 200 species of animals, with popular areas such as Sea Lion Cove, African Adventure, and Roo Walkabout. Offering behind-the-scenes tours, a daily bird show, and interactive experiences, it’s an inviting place for visitors of all ages.
Congo Square might look like a typical plaza, but this corner of Louis Armstrong Park holds a significant role in Louisiana Black culture and music history. For much of the 19th century, this site was the only open space in New Orleans where Black people were allowed to play drums—which helped preserve African rhythms and laid the foundation for modern jazz.
There’s nothing stuffy about this “museum,” the creation of a local artist and circus founder who turned an unassuming home in one of San Francisco’s most desirable neighborhoods into an immersive “fairy-grove” experience. Book one of eight themed tours, head inside, and explore “portals” filled with purposefully weird art along with your live performer/fairy guide.
Also known as Halona Beach Cove, this Oahu locale has a cinematic allure—it’s where the movie From Here to Eternity filmed its famous kissing-in-the-surf scene. The scenic cove carved by ocean waves is a favorite spot for beachgoers to spend the day relaxing, snorkeling, and enjoying the ocean views.
Located in downtown Calgary in front of The Bow building, the Wonderland Sculpture is a 39-foot (12-meter) tall sculpture in the shape of a young girl’s head. Created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa out of painted stainless steel, the striking statue is meant to represent the hopes and dreams of the youth of the province.
In downtown Las Vegas, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino is one of the oldest and the longest continuously running casinos in Sin City. In operation since 1941, the El Cortez is the only existing casino on the National Register of Historic Places, and offers slots, table games, sportsbook, and high-limits action.
More than 12 miles (20 kilometers) of trails wind along the Deschutes River in Bend, passing some of the most scenic riverside areas of the Pacific Northwest. Popular with hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers, the trail meanders through the heart of Bend, while other unconnected parts weave into ponderosa pine forests and—unexpectedly—lava zones.
A Manhattan staple since 1927, St James Theatre is one of Broadway’s most iconic performance venues. Known for both for its sumptuous Beaux-Arts decor and its box office-breaking history, the theater plays host to classic productions and contemporary Broadway hits.
Nestled in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains is the Chimney Tops Trail—a hiking trail many visitors like to take on for its panoramic views of the Chimney Tops and Mt. Le Conte. Not suited for beginners, this strenuous trek is well worth the effort it takes to get to the top. You’ll follow uphill stretches, stone steps, and bridges to arrive at a viewing area you won’t soon forget.
One of Oregon’s best-known museums, the Columbia River Maritime Museum celebrates the region’s nautical history, from the earliest days of Native American boat-building up to today. Right on the Columbia River, and housed in a modern, wave-inspired building, it’s home to a large collection of vessels and other artifacts.
A National Historic Landmark, the Maryland State House is an Annapolis gem—and a popular attraction for anyone interested in political history on a state or national level. The building is open to the public and guided tours let you learn about the legislative process and how the state house has featured prominently in the history of the United States.
Part of the American Civil War Museum, the White House of the Confederacy was the executive mansion and residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family from 1861 to 1865. Today, it is a listed National Historic Landmark and museum that offers guided tours, interactive exhibits, and educational programs that lend insight into the people who lived and worked there.
On a small bay 10 minutes from “downtown” Todos Santos, this heavenly beach is where local fishermen (who keep a yellow chapel on the sand) launch their panga boats—and where hikers take on the Old Port of Todos Santos trail, a roughly 4-mile (6.5-kilometer) out-and-back coastal stunner. Though the beach is serene, the waters can be rough for swimming.
Descending 670 feet (204 meters) into Bryce Canyon, the Peekaboo Loop is an excellent hike for travelers looking for a challenging but rewarding way to experience Bryce Canyon National Park. It offers beautiful views of the park’s numerous hoodoos from different perspectives and gets fewer hikers than the more popular Rim Trail.
Downtown Chicago has many architectural highlights, but few quite rival the Merchandise Mart (The Mart). Nearly a century old, the building was the world’s largest at the time of its construction; it spans some 4 million square feet (372,000 square meters). Today, the art deco landmark is an important design center, and stands proud along the Chicago River.
Standing 22 stories high near Vancouver’s Financial District, the Marine Building is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the world—it was once also the tallest building in the British Empire. Now mostly offices, both the exterior and the interior are worth a look, and the grand lobby delights with marble, mosaics, stained glass, and more.
Known to the Tlingit people as Kootznoowoo, meaning Fortress of the Bear, Alaska’s Admiralty Island is home to the largest concentration of brown bears in North America. Wildlife enthusiasts flock to the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area during the summer months to see brown bears feast on the abundant salmon found here.
For a dose of good, old-fashioned fun, there are few better places to go than Funland, a family-owned amusement park right on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. A beloved beachside landmark since 1962, the park has a delightfully vintage feel, from its retro rides to its arcade games (with throwback prices, too).
Located in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (formerly known as the Bakkt Theater) is one of the top concert venues in the city. The 7,000-seat theater has showcased a huge number of world-famous entertainers and hosted residencies by Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and the Backstreet Boys. A 100,000-plus-watt sound system and 2,200 feet of high-definition LED walls augment the concert experience.
You might forget that you’re in bustling uptown New Orleans as you stroll past stalking jaguars and swinging spider monkeys at the Audubon Zoo. The massive facility is home to more than 2,000 animals from around the world, including Asian elephants, rare leucistic white alligators, and chattering sea lions. A top destination for families, the zoo also hosts special after-hours events just for adults.
