Originating within the Chugach Mountain Range, the Matanuska Glacier is a 27-mile-long (43-kilometer-long) river of ice and Alaska's largest roadside glacier. A popular day trip from Anchorage, the glacier draws tourists year-round to gaze at the impressive ice formations and go ice climbing among crevasses and glacial water in brilliant meltwater pools.
Standing sentinel over the city’s downtown since 1968, Calgary Tower features an observation deck with a glass floor and a revolving restaurant 627 feet (191 meters) above ground. Both afford 360-degree views across the city to the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the distance.
Icon Park is an entertainment complex located along Orlando's International Drive (aka I-Drive), known for its theme parks, performance venues, and family-friendly activities. Stretching across 20 acres (8 hectares), Icon Park is home to enough restaurants, shops, and attractions—including an aquarium, Madame Tussauds Orlando, and a 400-foot (122-meter) observation wheel overlooking it all—to keep you occupied for a whole day, if not longer.
Early 20th-century architecture is typically the main draw of LA’s Historic Core, a storied stretch of Downtown Los Angeles centered around Pershing Square. You can visit art deco buildings and admire downtown views with a ride on the historic Angels Flight funicular, whether touring independently or with a guide.
Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store—known as The Landmark—offers a glittering slice of Manhattan glamour. Set on Fifth Avenue and reimagined in 2023, the 10-story building blends luxury shopping with cultural experiences, from rotating exhibits to the elegant Blue Box Café. Open to the public, it’s a chance to browse the brand’s famous jewelry and snap a photo outside the storefront made legendary by Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
A 1,000-year-old eruption sculpted the awe-inspiring landscape of the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, which can be explored via a series of hiking trails that wind straight through the path of the lava—ranging from easy-going strolls to strenuous outings. Groves of pine and aspen trees now grow amid the dark stones, but wide-open views still stretch across hundreds of surrounding summits that form the San Francisco volcanic field.
A testament to the evolving cultural landscape of downtown Los Angeles, Union Station is both transit hub and arts destination, featuring everything from live music to eateries. Despite the updated image, the station still serves travelers first. Find regional trains, bus and car sharing services, and even car rental agencies on site.
Located in Colonial Williamsburg, Bruton Parish Episcopal Church is a National Historic Landmark. Visit to view the well-preserved example of colonial religious architecture and perhaps take in a concert at the active church. First built in 1674, the current structure dates back to 1715.
If Death Valley National Park is known for its environmental extremes, then nowhere epitomizes this better than Badwater Basin. Set in the southern portion of the park, this saltwater drainage basin is the lowest place in North America and all that remains of the ancient Lake Manly. Its natural salt flats lend it an otherworldly, almost lunar appearance.
Not far from the town of Seward, Alaska, dozens of glaciers comprise an icefield spanning more than 300 square miles (780 square kilometers) within Kenai Fjords National Park. The longest of these glaciers, Bear Glacier, sits on the edge of an iceberg-filled lagoon of the same name that draws adventurous campers, advanced kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders (SUPs) from Alaska and beyond.
Reaching almost 10,000 vertiginous feet (3,050 meters) high in the Sierra Nevada, Tioga is not only the highest mountain pass in California—it's the eastern entry point to Yosemite National Park and the apex of one of the most scenic drives in the US. When open, the pass leads past Tioga Peak and Mount Dana to Tuolumne Meadows, three of the most eye-watering places in Yosemite.
Free, outdoors, and centrally located, the International Rose Test Garden is an easy addition to a day of Portland sightseeing. Originally built for the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905, this spot is as historic as it is beautiful—take time to smell some of the 10,000 roses representing 650 species when you stroll through the active test garden in Washington Park.
Situated along the Sea to Sky Highway, Porteau Cove Provincial Park offers easy access to Howe Sound, the southernmost fjord in North America. A popular destination year-round, the park provides waterfront day-use areas and campsites, pebble beaches, picnic areas, boat launches and mooring buoys, and plenty of ways to enjoy the water.
Set within Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, the Second Bank of the United States was the country’s national bank from 1816 to 1833. An architectural inspiration for later American banks, the Greek Revival building now houses a “People of Independence” collection of portraits and sculptures of leading 18th-and 19th-century Americans.
Situated beneath the Monte Albán archaeological site, the artisan town of San Antonio Arrazola offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Oaxaca. Best known for its fantastical painted wooden figurines called alebrijes—and the street art dotted around town dedicated to them—San Antonio Arrazola is the ideal spot to pick up some souvenirs from your time in Oaxaca.
One of the most scenic roads on the Big Island, the Chain of Craters Road stretches for 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano to sea level, a change in elevation of 3,700 feet (1,128 meters). The drive offers stunning vistas across changing landscapes, access to different volcanic features, and other interesting sites.
In the heart of downtown Dallas, Reunion Tower is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and ranks among the world’s most impressive towers. Nicknamed “The Ball” for its distinctive, LED–adorned geodesic dome at the top, it affords panoramic views of Dallas from the GeO-Deck and illuminates the city’s skyline with its nightly light show.
Ansel Adams is known for his striking black-and-white photos, capturing and preserving the wild beauty of nature’s monuments. Through his poignant images of Half Dome and Vernal Fall, Yosemite became a symbol for the evocative drama of the American West, and the park took its place in the hearts and consciousness of the American public.
Often called the Coffee Capital of Mexico, Coatepec is one of Veracruz’s most alluring Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns), where coffee, culture, and cloud forests combine. Situated in the foothills of the Cofre de Perote National Park, Coatepec was once a sacred Aztec site, but today it’s better known for its lively café culture, coffee plantation tours, and beautiful orchid gardens.
Centrally located on the Las Vegas Strip, the LINQ Hotel & Casino provides all the requisite offerings—shows, bars, restaurants, shops, and even a comedy club—but what sets it apart are the Fly LINQ zipline and the High Roller, a 550-foot-high (168-meter) observation wheel that opened as the world’s largest in 2014, offering on-board happy hour, yoga, and more.
Chicagoans take their baseball seriously—so it's no surprise that one of the best places to see a Major League Baseball game in the United States is at the home of the Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Field. Built in 1914 and known as the “Friendly Confines” due to its intimate scale and inviting feel, Wrigley Field is the oldest National League baseball stadium. It should be on the bucket list of any visiting baseball fan.
Among the largest urban redevelopment projects underway in the US, the Atlanta Beltline is a multipurpose outdoor route that occupies a former railway corridor ringing central Atlanta. Poised to transform the city upon its projected completion in 2030, the 22-mile (35-kilometer) loop of disused rail lines, parks, and trails will link 45 neighborhoods, creating an extensive path for pedestrians and cyclists lined with green spaces, eateries, shops, street art, and cultural activities.
If everything is bigger in Texas, JPMorgan Chase Tower in downtown Houston is no exception. The skyscraper tops out at just over 1,000 feet (305 meters), making it one of the tallest buildings in Texas. From afar, you can see the tower soaring over the Houston skyline, and up close, you’ll notice its unique five-sided design and the immense sculpture by Spanish artist Joan Miró perched out front.
One of the city’s most popular spots for live music, Preservation Hall in the French Quarter is known for its resident Preservation Brass, Legacy, and All Stars bands. Dating back to 1961, the hall has been a New Orleans jazz destination for decades, and boasts a festive and intimate atmosphere. Performances are hosted daily, with multiple concerts every evening.
Saddle Road is the most direct route between Hilo and Kona, but that’s not why most people take it. The drive shows off the Big Island’s diverse ecosystems as it crosses lava flows, pastures, and moonlike landscapes, cresting an elevation of 6,600 feet (2,011 meters). While the road used to be rough and unpaved, it’s now in good driving condition—but you’ll still want to take it slow and savor every minute.
Located in the heart of Chicago’s downtown Financial District, this 11-story building was completed in 1888. Though hard to imagine today, the Rookery Building was one of the world’s tallest buildings in the 19th century. At the turn of the 20th century, a then-unknown architect by the name of Frank Lloyd Wright was hired to redo the faded interior. He added gleaming white-and-gold marble, bronze chandeliers, and wrought-iron flourishes that visitors can still admire today.
Built for the 1976 Olympic Games, the Montreal Olympic Park (Parc Olympique de Montréal) now houses several attractions that form Montreal’s Space for Life museum district. There’s the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, the 56,000-seater Olympic Stadium, the Biodome, an indoor zoo with around 4,500 animals, as well as the Botanical Gardens and Insectarium in neighboring Maisonneuve Park.
Nestled in the Black Hills, South Dakota’s massive Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres (28,730 hectares) of rolling prairie hills, open grassland, pine forests, lakes and streams, and tall granite peaks. It’s one of the most impressive state parks in the country, known for its many herds of wildlife, including bison, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep, which freely roam the land.
Discover the sunshine state’s untouched side in the vast Big Cypress National Preserve, which borders Everglades National Park but receives a fraction of its annual visitors. Explore the preserve by scenic drive, trail, or boat to see basking alligators in their natural habitat. The landscape here spans mangrove swamps and woodlands, and is dotted with eight campgrounds where you can stay overnight in the Florida wilderness.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is one of Hawaii’s most sacred sites and a treasured cultural landmark. The park was once a sanctuary for people who broke forbidden kapu law, which was punishable by death. Today, visitors come to learn more about Hawaii’s history by walking through the traditional Kiʻilae Village and Royal Grounds, including ancient temple ruins and the well-preserved Great Wall (Pā Puʻuhonua).
