The relatively flat trails, lush countryside, well-kept picnic areas, and crystal-clear waters of the Cascadas El Chiflón (El Chiflón Waterfalls) offer a natural respite from the hustle and bustle of San Cristóbal. Highlights include stepped waterfalls, each more impressive than the last; a zipline; and the opportunity to take a dip in the cool turquoise pools.
Flowing just north of Hilo, Akaka Falls is one of the best-known waterfalls on the Big Island. Surrounded by lush, tropical jungle and plunging into a scenic gorge, the 442-foot-high (135-meter-high) Akaka Falls is easily accessible by a short, paved loop trail within Akaka Falls State Park, making it one of the most popular and scenic attractions on the island.
Within the boundaries of Banff National Park lie some of the world's most spectacular landscapes: think the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the glacier-fed Moraine Lake, and the mirror-like Lake Louise. Aside from its natural wonders, Canada’s oldest national park offers world-class skiing, hiking, and cycling, along with a wealth of outdoor attractions. It's a haven for day-trippers, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike.
Tuolumne Grove is one of three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park, the other two being Merced and Mariposa. It’s home to two dozen towering sequoia trees reachable via a short hike along Old Big Flat Road. The grove is also home to the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree, which has a car-sized tunnel cut through the middle. (Cars, however, can no longer drive through.)
Many a saber-toothed tiger, dire wolf, mammoth, and ground sloth had the misfortune of “discovering” the La Brea Tar Pits some 50,000 years ago. Excavation at the ice-age fossil site began in 1905 and continues to this day, right in the heart of Los Angeles. You can see the tar pits themselves, explore the ever-expanding list of discoveries, and connect with a Los Angeles of the past.
Boston’s most cherished landmark isn’t Bunker Hill or the Tea Party Ships—it’s old Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. A must-see for sports enthusiasts as well as history and architecture buffs, Fenway Park is famous for its uniquely shaped playing field and towering left field wall known as the Green Monster. Watching a game with a hot dog and beer will make you feel like a Bostonian in no time.
The Pacific Coast Highway—also known as the PCH or Highway 1—runs north–south along most of the United States’ West Coast. The incredibly scenic California stretch is known for its rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and numerous beaches, making it one of the nation’s most popular road-trip routes. From San Francisco to San Diego and the many charming stops in between, it’s truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet to take a drive.
Somber and sobering, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is unlike any other museum in Washington DC. The museum’s exhibits take an unflinching look at the Nazi Party’s rise to power in Germany and the subsequent execution of millions of Jews during World War II. Displays use historical objects, photographs, film footage, and survivor testimonials to confront one of the darkest chapters in human history, as well as document courageous rescue efforts.
Once the most expensive residence in California, the stately Greystone Mansion, built in 1928, is now owned by the City of Beverly Hills and operates as a park. The marvelous 55-room home is often closed to visitors, but special events occur about once a month. Even if it’s not open, come to stroll the well-tended grounds and reflection pond, admire the mansion’s elegant exterior, and contemplate all the stories connected with this property— including murder.
Founded in 1681 by an eclectic group of English Congregationalists, Scots Presbyterians, and French Huguenots, the Circular Congregational Church of Charleston is the oldest, continuously-operating house of worship in the United States. The unique meeting hall was designed and built in a circular shape to reflect the spaces’ open and free-flowing exchange of ideas.
Encounter maritime history at the Charlestown Navy Yard, one of the most prolific naval facilities in US history. This Boston yard served ships for more than 175 years, and now hosts the USS Constitution—and its museum—and the USS Cassin Young. Commercial business stopped in 1974; it's now a National Park Service site and free to visit.
Circular stepped pyramids rise from jade-colored foliage at Guachimontones, one of Jalisco's most distinctive archaeological zones. Nestled in the hills above Teuchitlán, the ruins were a ceremonial center of the Teuchitlán culture and are now part of a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site. They’re also a rare window into a civilization that predates both the Aztecs and the Incas—and one most travelers have never heard of.
Originally built as a theatrical venue in 1926, the El Capitan Theatre is one of Los Angeles’ most famous cinematic landmarks. Restored to its original splendor, the stately Hollywood theater now hosts Disney movie screenings and premieres, many of which are accompanied by performances, Q&As, and other special events.
Hip Yaletown is one of Vancouver’s most happening neighborhoods, where former warehouses and other red-brick structures now house lofts, fashionable boutiques, and buzzy eateries favored for their patios. Its setting between downtown Vancouver and False Creek makes it popular with both locals and visitors.
Located on Maine's Schoodic Peninsula and Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park is a New England gem. You'll find diverse areas to explore, from dense woodlands and vast lakes to the tallest mountains on the Northeast coast. There are endless adventures on offer, such as catching the country’s first sight of sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, camping on the remote shores of Duck Harbor, and hearing waves crashing in the park's famed Thunder Hole Inlet.
Picturesque 17th-century tombstones draw visitors to Salem's Old Burying Point, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery, which sits next to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. This is the final resting place of several historical figures, including judges from the Salem Witch Trials and a pilgrim from the Mayflower. The cemetery is a popular stop on historic walking tours by day or spooky ghost tours by night.
Architecture, art, and pre-Hispanic culture combine at the pyramid-shaped Anahuacalli Museum, conceptualized by Mexican artist Diego Rivera and Juan O’Gorman and built from black volcanic rock. Opened in 1964, this singular museum houses Rivera’s collection of about 2,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts, murals, mosaics, and more.
Estimated to be around 2,000 years old, with a 177-foot (54-meter) circumference, the gnarled Tule Tree (Árbol del Tule) is one of the world’s oldest and widest trees. Once thought to be multiple trees merged together, it's actually a single Montezuma cypress specimen. Visitors can admire the natural wonder both up close and from a distance, as well as explore the pretty church courtyard it calls home.
Situated in Vancouver’s forested North Shore, this hatchery was established in 1971 to help boost depleting salmon stocks in the Capilano River. As well as breeding and releasing steelhead, chinook, and coho salmon, the hatchery also serves an educational purpose, chronicling the life cycle of salmon in an on-site interpretive center.
Learn about the annual phenomenon of salmon spawning at Seattle’s Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known locally as the Ballard Locks, where three types of Pacific salmon pass through the fish ladder during the summer months on the way upriver to their spawning grounds.
The Diego Rivera Muralis a spectacular mosaic sculpture on the exterior of Exekatlkalli (La Casa de los Vientos), where the Mexican artist Diego Rivera once lived with his lover Dolores Olmedo. He spent the last years of his life with her here, and in 1956 created this mural featuring Quetzalcoatl, the Mesoamerican mythical serpent.
Home to more than 250 boutiques and a number of dining and entertainment options, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets®—located in Central Valley, New York—is one of the most popular shopping destinations for New York City residents and visitors looking to score major bargains on top designer labels and brand-name clothing. Stores here include Michael Kors, Prada, Burberry, Coach, and beyond.
Situated at the northernmost point of Montreal’s Plateau, Mile End is known for its array of independent shops, cafés, and underground music venues. The vibrant neighborhood, a cultural hub since the 1980s, is teeming with highly-rated restaurants and historical landmarks, from classic bagelries to scenes from the novels of Mordecai Richler.
One of Boston's most popular and family-friendly tourist attractions, the New England Aquarium has spearheaded aquatic conservation efforts for more than 50 years. Today, it is home to thousands of sea creatures of all sizes, shapes, and colors. It boasts a 4-story Giant Ocean Tank, seal and penguin habitats, and a Shark and Ray Touch Tank, as well as cosponsors seasonal whale-watching cruises.
A hub for immigrants since the mid-19th century, the Lower East Side is now one of Manhattan’s trendiest neighborhoods. You’ll find art galleries, mission-driven bookstores, and unique boutiques and restaurants in this district bordered by East Houston, Bowery, and Canal Street. Though new housing developments have replaced many of the area’s historic factories and tenement buildings, the neighborhood’s Jewish, Italian, Chinese, and Latino influences live on.
Often referred to as the “Westminster Abbey of the Pacific,” Kawaiaha’o Church forms part of the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site. Established under Kuhina Nui (Queen-Regent) Kaʻahumanu I in the year 1820, it was uniquely built from about 14,000 slabs of coral rock weighing 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) each, sourced from an offshore reef in southern Oahu.
A sacred site for Canadians—for whom ice hockey is a national obsession—the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto holds a treasure trove of the sport’s artifacts and memorabilia, including the original Stanley Cup. Housed inside a grand 19th-century Bank of Montreal building, the attraction also features a range of interactive games, including a virtual shootout where visitors can test their goalkeeping skills.
Perched high above Los Angeles, the Getty Center pairs world-class art with stunning views of the city and the ocean. Its collection spans from the 1400s to today, with pre-20th-century European paintings, manuscripts, and sculptures, and 19th and 20th-century works by masters such as Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and Cézanne. Outside, the Central Garden features sculptures, cacti, winding paths, and water features.
Opened on June 1, 1996, to mark the bicentennial of the founding of Nashville, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is both a popular recreational area and a scenic tribute to Tennessean history. In the shadows of the Tennessee State Capitol and stretching over 11 acres (4.5 hectares; it’s dotted with monuments, memorials, and open-air exhibits.
Separated by the Ottawa River, Gatineau and Ottawa sit on different sides of the provincial boundary between Quebec and Ontario. Visitors to Canada’s capital often hop across to Gatineau, with the Canadian Museum of History and the 139-square-mile (361-square-kilometer Gatineau Park proving especially popular among tourists.
