This legendary market in Tijuana’s upscale Zona Rio neighborhood is about as authentic as Mexican markets come, with a cornucopia of produce, sweets, cheeses, and street food that can make a trip across the US-Mexico border worthwhile. Visit at the beginning of your trip for a taste of local color, or at the end of your visit to stock up on souvenirs.
Few museums anywhere have such unconventional collections: Tijuana-themed ephemera, postcards, old telephones, superhero toys and memorabilia, and an entire floor dedicated to Lucha Libre, Mexico’s unique wrestling style. Situated in the heart of Tijuana in a renovated restaurant, MUCOTI (Museo del Coleccionista de Tijuana) isn’t the trendiest museum in the city, but it’s the most unexpected and nostalgic.
Hermann-Grima Historic House is a 19th-century home-turned-museum built in the federal architecture style. Inside, you'll find a courtyard, intact horse stables, and the quarters of enslaved people who worked in the home prior to Emancipation. There's also an open-hearth kitchen where you can watch seasonal cooking demonstrations that showcase dishes that were eaten in the city in the 1830s.
The jungle-clad Sierra Madre mountains stretch along Mexico’s western coast from Santa Cruz to Arizona. In this wilderness escape you can trek through the forest, discover off-the-beaten-path villages, and experience outdoor adventures such as ziplining and rappelling.
Founded in the mid-19th century, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continually operating public art museum in the United States. It boasts close to 50,000 artworks spanning a whopping 5,000 years of history. See Greek and Roman antiquities, colonial American furniture, contemporary installations, and paintings from the likes of Caravaggio, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró.
The Days of '76 Museum displays a collection of pioneer memorabilia that commemorates the first settlers of the Dakota Territory. Deadwood’s annual Days of ’76 celebration began in 1920 as a way to honor the region’s 1876 gold rush and pioneers; the museum preserves and displays the festival’s memorabilia all year round.
For a bird's-eye view of downtown Skagway, the historic harbor, and the surrounding snow-capped peaks, take the scenic drive along the road to Dyea and stop off at the Skagway Overlook to admire the views. From the viewing platform, you can capture panoramic shots of this historic Gold Rush–era town and the narrow Taiya Inlet, which connects Skagway to the rest of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Orange County’s largest museum, the Bowers Museum brings a diverse range of cultures to Southern California. Its collection of 91,000 works of art represent peoples from around the globe and is particularly strong in the areas of Asian, Pacific, Native American, and pre-Columbian art, as well as Orange County history.
Tucked in the hinterlands of Colorado Springs, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is an adventure park and cave system inside the Rocky Mountains. Learn about Colorado’s ancient geology while exploring lamp-lit caverns and narrow passageways. Above ground, aerial thrill rides offer an action-packed way to explore Williams Canyon.
Duluth’s Canal Park is a lively waterfront destination blending natural beauty with history and urban charm. Right on the shores of Lake Superior, it offers views of the city’s most famous attraction—the Aerial Lift Bridge—and the scenic lakewalk. Visitors can check out local shops, dine at lakeside restaurants, and enjoy the outdoors, making it a favorite spot for relaxation and recreation.
Vue Orleans Observation Deck offers some of the best views in the Big Easy from its indoor and outdoor observation decks on the 33rd and 34th floors of the Four Seasons Hotel. While the 360-degree vistas overlooking the Mississippi River are the main draw, there’s also a café and plenty of interactive exhibits with audio-visual elements.
One of the most popular historic attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Ghost Town gives you a taste of what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains more than a century ago. See how the area transformed from a logging camp to a resort town for Knoxville’s elite, plus visit the fully restored clubhouse and eclectic 20th-century cabins that are still standing today.
The Detroit Opera House (renamed from the Michigan Opera Theatre in 2022) is a historic venue showcasing productions ranging from classics such as La Traviata to new works such as The Central Park Five. The opera and dance seasons each offer a range of performances for the avid theatergoer and casual fan alike.
Named for the now empty Hayden Flour Mill at the northern end of the strip, Mill Avenue is a magnet for bar-hoppers and night owls. Its position near Arizona State University in downtown Tempe ensures a constant stream of lively fun-seekers and a somewhat bohemian atmosphere, complete with shops, restaurants, bars, and festivals.
LA traffic feels a world away at the Hollywood Reservoir, an artificial lake with an easy walking trail and a unique view of the Hollywood Sign across the water. When you’ve seen your fill of celebrity mansions, movie studios, and stars on the Walk of Fame, head to this lesser-known park for a peaceful walk, run, or bike ride in the Hollywood Hills.
A 4-star hotel dripping with old-time charm, Hotel Monteleone is a luxury lodging that first opened to New Orleans visitors in 1886. The hotel is best known for the Carousel Bar, a rotating cocktail bar featuring live entertainment five nights a week, and for its beautiful Beaux-Arts style exterior. It’s also popular among the literary crowd for its ties to renowned Southern writers.
Only in Hawaii would a 60-foot (18-meter) waterfall be a lesser-known attraction. Not far from the famous Rainbow Falls in Wailuku River State Park, Pe’epe’e Falls forms the backdrop to the Boiling Pots Area, a thundering section of the powerful Wailuku River. While not easily accessible for most visitors, it's another of Hawaii’s magnificent views.
An artistic neighborhood with Mexican roots, Barrio Logan in San Diego is home to former warehouses that have now been turned into galleries, taco shops, and craft breweries. Its centerpiece, Chicano Park, boasts nearly 100 murals depicting the community’s activism efforts, alongside images of notable figures like Frida Kahlo. The area is known for its culinary arts as well—specifically homestyle Mexican food.
Located along the waterfront in downtown Norfolk, Nauticus is a maritime discovery center offering hands-on experiences. Through a museum with interactive exhibits, the Battleship Wisconsin, a sailing center, and the Schooner Virginia (a reproduction of a century-old vessel), visitors can learn all about sailing and the environment, technology, the military, and other subjects.
Birmingham Zoo’s 122 acres (49 hectares) is home to around 700 animals representing 230 species from around the world, including lions, rhinos, and jaguars, as well as birds, including flamingos and roadrunners. While getting up close with beasts big and small, you can also learn about how the zoo takes care of them and how it supports the conservation of endangered species.
Curving through the western flanks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks (and Sequoia National Forest), Generals Highway is among California's most dazzling mountain drives. Countless overlooks, the Giant Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and other groves of staggering beauty lie along the highway, making it the ideal starting point for road trips through the twin parks.
Cameron Park is one of the largest urban parks in Texas and one of the most popular outdoor spaces in Waco. The park was dedicated to its donor and benefactor, William Cameron, in 1910 and grew to its current size not long before its centennial. Today, it hosts a variety of community events throughout the year.
The Sand Flats Recreation Area is a swathe of protected public land in the middle of the Colorado Plateau in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. The recreation era is home to no-frills camping sites, hiking trails, and daredevil mountain bike and 4-wheel-drive trails. While the protected area is easily accessible from Moab, it feels miles away from civilization.
Tucked among the high-rises of Fifth Avenue, this historic church looks like it was plucked from an English town. Constructed in a Gothic Revival style in 1914, with stained-glass windows and vaulted stone, Saint Thomas remains a distinctive (though often overlooked) Midtown landmark. It is home to the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, an acclaimed US choral group.
One of Chattanooga’s most striking landmarks, the Walnut Street Bridge stretches across the Tennessee River. Easily accessible by foot, this pedestrian bridge connects downtown Chattanooga with the North Shore. Offering sweeping views of the riverfront, Walnut Street Bridge is a favorite city destination for locals and visitors looking for a place to go jogging, ride a bike, or take photographs.
The James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 is one of the Port of San Francisco's many properties, and this modern station is a welcoming portal to the city with numerous activities nearby. Walk to Fisherman's Wharf for coffee and shopping, catch a baseball game at Oracle Park, or hike to Coit Tower for great views.
Home to the Anaheim Ducks—a National Hockey League team—the Honda Center is best known for its sporting events, although the 18,000-seat venue hosts all sorts of festivities, from family shows to concerts, local fairs, and more. Opened in 1993, the Honda Center is the anchor of Anaheim’s brand-new entertainment district.
Clark County Wetlands Park is a sprawling natural oasis on the fringe of the Las Vegas Valley, featuring diverse habitats, walking trails, and educational exhibits. Visitors are drawn to its serene setting along with the chance to observe wildlife, including birds and other native species, for a peaceful escape from Sin City.
Creepy hallways, secret passageways, and rooms brim with frightening lore at Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum—a personal collection of artifacts and oddities gathered by the host of the reality television series Ghost Adventures. Even the 1938 mansion that houses the museum is said to be haunted. On late-night tours of the museum, intrepid travelers use special equipment to search for any sign of paranormal activities.
Officially the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects the Baltimore-Washington metro area with Maryland’s Eastern Shore. With two spans that stretch for 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometers), it’s a large and impressive bridge that can prove daunting for anyone scared of heights; it’s actually been ranked as one of the scariest bridges in the US.
