Located in Branson, the King’s Castle Theatre is named after owner and theater producer David King. Formerly the Bobby Vinton Theatre and the Branson Variety Theatre, the venue has hosted some of the biggest and most popular acts to appear in Branson. It’s well-known for the high quality and production of its shows.
Zoom Flume Water Park is the ultimate destination for a busy day in the summer sun. Shoot down a winding waterslide, take a dip in the wave pool, and float down the 600-foot (182-meter) Wild River. Then, refuel with a riverside picnic before doing it all again.
The Egg appears to float above downtown Albany’s Empire State Plaza. A unique egg-like concrete bowl that sits beside a reflecting pool, it’s one of the city’s premier performing arts venues, comprising of two theaters. Here, you can see a variety of performances, including concerts, dance, film, musical theater, and more.
The oldest store in the Yukon Territory, the Matthew Watson General Store is packed with historic goods, so you can feel as if you have stepped back into the early 1900s. Browse old-school confectionery items in barrels and glass jars, pick up First Nation handicrafts, and top off your shopping stop with a gourmet ice cream cone.
Surrounded by jagged mountains and waterfalls, Stanley Glacier is a top hiking destination in Kootenay National Park. The strenuous hiking trail takes you from a regrowth pine forest known for its abundant wildflowers to rocky scrambles and rugged glacier views. The hike also traverses Burgess Shale, where hikers can discover ancient fossils.
The Atlantic Ocean has played a major role in Cape Cod’s history since 1639, and that history is on full display here at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, which explores the peninsula’s unique maritime heritage. Rotating exhibits cover topics ranging from archival histories of Cape Cod’s whaling and fishing industries, lighthouse and boat design, nautical art, and even a scrimshaw collection.
A vestige of the Gilded Age, the Phelps Mansion Museum—former home of a wealthy Binghamton resident—is a testament to another era. Filled with art and preserved with original detailing such as marble floors and period furnishings, the stately mansion offers history buffs and design enthusiasts a trip back in time.
Part park, part museum complex, Pemberton Place is home to three distinct Atlanta attractions: the Georgia Aquarium, with resident whales, sharks, and dolphins; the World of Coca-Cola, which traces the history of the fizzy drink; and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which showcases civil rights movements worldwide.
Showcasing the Seattle Art Museum’s collection of art from across Asia, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is housed in a 1930s Art Deco landmark building in Volunteer Park. Historic and modern works ranging from Korean wedding robes to modernist sculpture highlight the breadth and depth of the museum’s offerings. The surrounding 48-acre (19.5-hectare) park has places to play, picnic, and walk.
Located in North Carolina’s High Country, Foggy Mountain Gem Mine gets kids and adults alike hunting for treasure. Just like the miners of yore, visitors sift through rocks and dirt using water flumes to discover rough gems, like amethysts, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and more. Each bucket comes guaranteed with goodies—you just have to keep an eye out.
Set on the shores of the Minas Basin, this scenic winery is the perfect stop as you explore Nova Scotia’s coasts. The estate only produces wines from Nova Scotian grapes, so you can discover the true taste of this Maritime province. Sip a wine flight as you relax on a patio overlooking the vineyards.
One of the Riviera Maya’s premier scuba diving sites, Tormentos Reef is located off the coast of Cozumel and houses a rich variety of marine life. Here you can find purple and orange coral structures upward of 30 feet (9 meters) in height, tunnels hiding nurse sharks and sea turtles, and huge manta rays nestled in the sand.
The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse rises out of Chesapeake Bay, where it’s been an active navigational beacon since 1875. A National Historic Landmark, it’s the last screw-pile lighthouse that remains in its original position within the bay.
The second-oldest craft brewery in Virginia—and still independently owned and operated today—Starr Hill Brewery has been a leading beer pioneer since its founding in 1999. From its current headquarters near the Blue Ridge Mountains, it produces an eclectic range of award-winning ales and lagers, and its taproom is a destination for local and visiting beer lovers.
With more than five floors of themed galleries including games, multimedia displays, and interactive exhibitions, Brooklyn’s Jewish Children’s Museum is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the United States. Here, children can learn about biblical stories, discover Jewish traditions and customs, and explore Jewish history through interactive exhibitions. Children of all faiths are welcome to learn, play, and take part in special activities like cooking classes at this hands-on museum.
The Oaklands Mansion is a plantation home and museum in Murfreesboro, outside of Nashville. Learn about the Maney family, who lived here before and during the Civil War; see the rooms, decorated as they would have been over a century ago; and enjoy the arboretum, lush trails, and heritage gardens.
Cameron Park Zoo is a 52-acre (21-hectare) site along the Brazos River that features more than 1,700 animals representing 300 species. The layout is divided into four sections: the African Savanna, Asian Forest, The Meadows, and Brazos River Country, each with different animals, attractions, and amenities. Animal presentations, themed events, and special programs fill the zoo’s year-long calendar.
From zebras to giraffes, birds and monkeys, Pai Pai Ecotourism Park not only lets you view an array of animals but you can interact with many creatures, too. In addition to promoting the welfare and protection of wildlife, the park offers a range of adventure activities including bungee jumping, climbing walls, and ziplines over animal habitats.
The Butterfly Rainforest is a special exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Located on the University of Florida’s campus in Gainesville, Florida, the Butterfly Rainforest lets you walk a path through tropical and subtropical trees as hundreds of butterflies flutter around you. Interpretive guides are available to answer questions and discuss which butterflies are native or exotic.
A small but perfectly formed and magically secluded beach, Refuge Cove forms part of Wilsons Promontory National Park, an area of wilderness that includes South Point, mainland Australia’s southernmost point. It's a lovely spot to break a hike or camp for the night with golden sands, stripy rocks, shady gum trees, and gin-clear waters.
Hailed as the crescendo of Luis Barragán’s career, Casa Gilardi showcases the skill of one of Mexico’s most acclaimed architects. In typical Barragán style, the modernist property celebrates light, color, and clean lines; its design reflects its urban location and the taste of the advertising executive that commissioned Barragán to create his final project.
The Capital-Saratoga region is home to New York’s capital, Albany, though it’s the town of Saratoga Springs—home to the Saratoga Race Course and naturally carbonated mineral springs—that is perhaps a bigger draw. It’s also an ideal jumping-off point for the Adirondacks further north and the Hudson Valley to the south.
One of the United State’s oldest ski areas, the Alta Ski Area was founded in 1939. Located east of Salt Lake City, the area was originally a silver mining center, then a ghost town before it became revitalized as a skiing hub. Today, Alta is known for its steep slopes and deep powder snow—the yearly average for snowfall is 551 inches (1,400 cm).
Formerly home to seven generations of New York’s influential Livingston family, the Clermont State Historic Site is one of the grandest historic estates along the Hudson River. A National Historic Landmark since 1973, the manor dates back to the 1730s, and its exhibitions tell the stories of the enslaved and Indigenous people, and tenant farmers, who also lived and worked here.
A serene haven for displaced or mistreated animals, the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center is home to wildlife from across the globe, ranging from Floridian bears and reptiles to monkeys and Bengal tigers. A morning or afternoon at the center is a fun and illuminating experience for visitors of all ages.
Thriving for more than 70 years in Fresno, this art museum houses a variety of modern and contemporary pieces, and honors the diverse cultures that have shaped the San Joaquin Valley. Alongside the permanent collection of over 3,600 works, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, and films.
With one of the largest annual snowfalls in Utah, Brighton Resort is a favorite with skiers and snowboarders who appreciate the affordability, high-quality snow, and unflashy atmosphere. Located in Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the resort offers free skiing for children under 10, making it particularly popular with families.
The Erie Maritime Museum charts Lake Erie’s seafaring past, mainly focusing on its history from the War of 1812 onward. Civilian and military history is documented through exhibits, including the US Brig Niagara, a War of 1812 ship that scuttled (deliberately sunk) in 1813 and raised in 1913. The museum is in the old Pennsylvania Electric Company building.
Sugar Sand Park is a public park complex in Boca Raton, operated by the City of Boca Raton. This 132-acre (53-hectare) park offers public activities and events, and rental options for private indoor and outdoor events. It includes The Field House, Willow Theatre, the Children’s Science Explorium, a nature trail, a carousel, and sports fields.
The Yucatan’s Balankanche Caves (Grutas de Balancanché), not far from Chichen Itza, are some of the most famous Maya cave sites in Mexico. This vast underground network of grottoes was originally used as a water source by the Maya, who believed it to be the gateway to the underworld and a sacred place to worship the god of rain, Chaac.
