The closest beach to downtown Charleston in South Carolina, Folly Beach is the sugar-sand getaway of choice for anglers, nature lovers, kayakers, boaters, surfers, wildlife-spotters, and sun-worshippers. Located on Folly Island, there’s also an adjacent beach town of the same name, which supplements the area’s natural adventures with local shops, eclectic restaurants, and cute cafés.
A nature-filled respite just a mile from Uptown Charlotte lies the quiet Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Designed and cared for by a married couple with a passion for ornithology, Elizabeth and Edwin O. Clarkson transformed their home and backyard into a lush and always-verdant bird sanctuary.
Three fun attractions are part of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls: The Odditorium, which displays quirky exhibits; the Ripley’s Moving Theater motion simulator ride; and Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks. It’s a fun-filled attraction to visit before or after you’ve seen the amazing falls, and is a popular place with both kids and adults.
Reopened in 2019 after roughly a decade of renovations, the National Children’s Museum is a must-visit destination for families. The 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter) space is focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and includes an array of interactive, hands-on exhibitions.
Location. Location. Location. These small, lesser-known beaches are steps from the entrance to the Cabo San Lucas Marina, and offer an escape from the area’s more popular tourist spots, such as Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach nearby. By some accounts, Playa Empacadora and the adjacent Playa Coral Negro officially comprise the Cannery Beaches, but other beaches are sometimes included in the group.
Located in Atlanta’s historic West End, the Wren’s Nest was the Victorian home of Joel Chandler Harris, known for hisUncle Remus books featuring Brer Rabbit. The oldest house museum in Atlanta, the museum holds a treasure trove of African-American history and folklore, and provides insight into Harris and his contemporaries.
Don't miss the chance to wander the quirky LED-lit hall of mirrors at Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze in Myrtle Beach for a few minutes of baffling fun. This kid-friendly labyrinth is located right on Ocean Boulevard, steps from the boardwalk, making it a great detour for an entertaining adventure.
For visitors looking beyond the historical attractions of downtown Philadelphia, the hip and vibrant Manayunk neighborhood is a must-visit. Situated along the Schuylkill River and the historic Manayunk Canal, this formerly industrial area is now a trendy destination packed with waterfront bars, cafés, and art galleries among the rowhouses and Victorian homes.
Take a safari, stop by the bird show, feed giraffes, and watch out for lions, before boarding a pirate ship at the Bioparque Estrella, one of Mexico’s largest theme parks and wildlife experiences. This day-trip destination in the State of Mexico also offers adventure in the form of pedal boats, swinging bridges, and mini ziplines.
La Ventanilla—a popular ecotourism destination on the Oaxacan coast—incorporates a small coastal village, undeveloped beaches, and the Tonameca River lagoon, all scenically sandwiched between the Pacific and the Sierra Madre mountains. Visitors to La Ventanilla can explore mangroves with a guide, ride horseback, and visit crocodile farms on the Costa Chica.
Though not exactly a beach by any stretch of the imagination, Tingley Beach does offer a natural getaway amidst the hustle and bustle of Albuquerque. Adjacent to the Rio Grande Bosque, there’s plenty to enjoy here: five ponds for fishing, paths for running and walking, a model boat pond, and wildlife watching.
Get a taste of the San Diego beer scene at Karl Strauss Brewing Company. The longest operating brewery in town, it’s often credited with helping to kick off the city’s craft beer movement.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens started as the private art collection of Ninah Cummer, a local patroness of the arts. After her death, her collection of American paintings was willed to the city of Jacksonville for the cultural benefit of its people. Today, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is located on the Cummer’s former riverside property.
The Erie Zoo, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is a welcoming attraction devoted to wildlife and conservation that’s grown to house over 400 animals. When you’re not listening to lion roars or spotting snakes slithering, you’ll notice a comparable diversity of flora throughout the site’s botanical gardens.
First time rock climbers who want to experience the thrill of climbing without heading to the mountains should head to Escalade Clip 'n Climb Laval. Enjoy this reinvented climbing experience that has walls designed for climbers of all skill levels, automatic belay devices, and convenient, wait-free climbing.
This specialist aviation museum founded by collector Kermit Weeks currently showcases about 25 vintage and rare aircraft in a 17,000-square-foot seasonal hangar. Originally opened in 1995, the larger main museum is closed as part of a long-term renovation.
Coconut Island, also known as Moku o Loe, is a small private island in Oahu’s Kāneʻohe Bay. Home to the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), the island serves as a world-renowned marine research facility and is generally closed to the public. The scenic location was also the setting for the opening credits of Gilligan's Island .
Located inside Xcaret Park’s historic-style Hacienda Henequenera, the Museum of Mexican Folk Art showcases handmade works that highlight the country’s diverse regional traditions. You’ll see ceramics, textiles, wood carvings, and everyday objects that tell the story of Mexico’s artistry and cultural identity. The museum is a calm and immersive stop within the park for visitors who want to slow down and explore the craftsmanship behind the nation’s most popular folk art forms.
Whether you’re a Peanuts fan or just want to see original comic-strip artwork by the famous cartoonist, the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa features exhibits starring Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and all their friends. The museums is also home to a theater where you can watch—what else—Peanuts.
A leading medical research facility in La Jolla, California, the Salk Institute might be known as much for its unique architecture as for its scientific breakthroughs. Named for Dr. Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine, this collection of buildings was designed to have a monumental feel and was inspired by monasteries. Made primarily of concrete, teak, and marble, the campus features a powerful symmetrical layout.
For a coastal escape head to Jenner in northern California. Roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers southwest of Sonoma County, this tiny seaside town is situated along the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Russian River. It boasts uncrowded beaches and miles of trails in a serene setting. If you are looking to sit back, unplug, and recharge then Jenner is the place for you.
Overlooking the Hudson River in Beacon, New York, Mount Gulian Historic Estate once served as the Revolutionary War headquarters of General Friedrich von Steuben. It was also home to generations of the Verplanck family, who built the house in the 1730s; the original house burned down in 1931 and was reconstructed in 1975.
You’d be forgiven if you saw a photo of Grand Targhee Ski Resort—“the Ghee”—and thought you were looking at the Alps. Set in Wyoming’s jagged Teton Range, this is one of the most beloved ski resorts in the U.S. And, of course, where there’s a world-class ski resort, there are world-class views, restaurants, bars, spas, and hiking and biking trails, too.
At Hanakapi’ai Falls, a cascade plunges 300 feet (91.5 meters) down a sheer cliff into a swimmable pool surrounded by unspoiled flora and fauna. It’s an ideal spot for a break or a dip along the challenging Kalalau Trail—or a scenic destination in its own right, offering a shorter segment of the much longer full trail on Kauai’s north shore.
Lively dance performances, roaming street vendors, and proximity to some of the city’s top attractions—such as salsa clubs, an 18th-century cathedral, and an imposing fortress—characterize the pedestrianized Veracruz Zócalo. Use the zócalo as a jumping-off point for further exploration of the city or relax in the café-filled arcades which line the square.
Once known as the Florida Beer Company, Carib Brewery USA is a brewery and taproom in Cape Canaveral. The brewery produces 28 different styles of beer and cider, some of which have won awards. The brewery offers guided tours while the 321 Lime House taproom is always abuzz with food trucks, special events, live entertainment, games, and themed nights.
The Gone with the Wind Museum in Marietta, Georgia, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the epic novel-turned-movie. Though small, the museum’s rare signature items and memorabilia celebrate the iconic tale and 1939 film. A top piece is the Bengaline silk honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh, who portrayed Scarlett O’Hara in the film.
With its white shingle siding and a broad front porch straight out of the American South, Waioli Mission House marks the point where the story of mainland missionaries and Kauai intertwine. Built in 1836 by a Kentucky reverend for the area’s first missionaries, the carefully preserved house-turned-museum offers visitors a time-capsule glimpse into 19th-century island life—when Western influences reshaped traditions and daily life on Kauai’s North Shore.
The Rochester house where noted suffragette Susan B. Anthony spent the last 40 years of her life, and where she was arrested in 1872 for voting, is both a national landmark and museum. The well-preserved home and site houses exhibits and artifacts related to her life and work and offers informative tours and interpretive programs.
Located in the heart of the city’s east end, Toronto's Little India is a small business district best known for its array of South Asian restaurants. Also known as the Grand India Bazaar, the area constitutes North America’s largest South Asian market and hosts the annual Festival of South Asia, one of Toronto’s most popular street fairs.
