One of the largest museums in the American West—with perhaps the most remarkable exterior—the Denver Art Museum oversees a whopping 70,000-piece collection. From sculptures to photography, fashion to ultramodern contemporary pieces, interactive exhibits to works sparking profound cultural reflection, DAM (as locals call it) is a destination for art lovers of all ages. As well as the permanent collection, the museum runs temporary exhibitions and hosts a busy calendar of events.
One of Utah’s most popular state parks, this scenic spot would be a national park in any other state. A sea of sandstone “goblins” often likened to Mars, Goblin Valley State Park is the desert at its most curious, with wild rock formations, tall spires and pinnacles, and a sky so dark the Milky Way still glows. When you’re here, come ready to marvel.
Home to the San Francisco Giants major league baseball team (winners of the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series Championships), Oracle Park is known for its waterfront setting on San Francisco Bay. This ballpark also features better-than-average stadium food, from Dungeness crab tacos to Hawaiian-style poke to Ghirardelli chocolate sundaes.
Fairview Lawn Cemetery is a fascinating place to encounter some of the tragedies that have befallen Halifax, Nova Scotia. Most notably, Fairview is the final resting place of more than 100 people who were lost in the sinking of theTitanic, as well as many others who died in the 1917 Halifax Explosion that devastated the provincial capital.
Honolulu’s Bishop Museum focuses on Hawaii’s rich natural and cultural history. It is home to the world's largest collection of Polynesian artifacts, including items from the Hawaiian royal family and religious relics. With exhibits ranging from science to natural history and Polynesian culture, the museum is worth a visit for anyone interested in learning more about Hawaii’s ancient roots.
Once a popular hangout for sailors and pirates, the Pirates’ House is now a historic restaurant with a rich seafaring history. Built in 1794, the structure is known as the oldest—and allegedly most haunted—building in Savannah. It garnered fame when it was featured in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1881 adventure novel Treasure Island.
A highlight of Seattle’s waterfront, Fishermen’s Terminal has been home to the city’s North Pacific Fishing Fleet since 1914. With its setting on a freshwater pocket of Salmon Bay, the terminal also welcomes recreational vessels. Today, Fishermen's Terminal is home to a range of restaurants and shops where freshly caught seafood is on offer.
Critical events changed the course of history at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where soldiers successfully saved the city from British attack in 1812. Inspired by the sight of the American flag waving over the fort after the attack, Francis Scott Key was moved to write the United States’ national anthem.
Kilauea Iki crater is one of the most visited spots in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and its most popular hike cuts across the floor of the crater—a walk into the heart of an active volcano. Though today the crater looks tame from above, steam vents still rise from areas with moisture, and the otherworldly terrain of the crater floor is unique among others in the Hawaiian chain.
Designed for science fans of all ages, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) features five separate halls, eight hands-on science labs, a real submarine, an OmniMax giant-screen theater, and a planetarium. The museum is a science playground, with 200-plus interactive exhibits covering subjects such as climate change, chemistry, the human body, and technology.
Takakkaw Falls—whose name means “it’s magnificent” in the indigenous Cree language—tumble 1,260 feet (384 meters) down a rocky mountain, making it one of the highest waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. Located outside Field, British Columbia, the glacier-fed falls are the gateway to some of the best hiking trails in Yoho National Park.
The country’s second-largest metropolis and capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, Guadalajara retains a vibrant historical center (centro histórico) filled with colonial plazas, churches, and stately buildings. This downtown area includes some of the city’s top tourist attractions, such as the Palacio del Gobierno, Teatro Degollado, and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas.
About an hour’s drive from Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs Resort is renowned for its natural hot-springs lake, year-round ice museum, lodge and cabins, and northern lights viewing opportunities. Discovered more than a hundred years ago by gold miners who saw steam rising from the Chena River Valley, the curative waters have been soothing weary travelers ever since. It’s become a serious Alaskan destination.
A veritable icon of music and a Memphis landmark, Sun Studio is known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. In fact, the very first rock single (“Rocket 88”) was recorded here in 1951, when it was called the Memphis Recording Service. The former recording studio’s musical heritage—made famous thanks to the superstardom of artists such as Elvis and Johnny Cash—and its collection of one-of-a-kind memorabilia make it an unforgettable stop in Memphis.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park offers myriad options for enjoying the Caribbean Sea, whether you want to swim in the warm ocean, enjoy a massage, zip down water slides, or float in one of the park’s many pools. Here you can find beachfront lounge chairs and hammocks, a buffet and full bar, and even an underwater Maya city to explore.
A leading Canadian museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario is home of more than 79,000 works of art in its collection, including First Nations and Inuit carvings, noted Canadian works, and European art from Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry designed the gallery’s latest renovation.
One of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the US, the Historic Savannah Theatre is a buzzing performing arts venue with a schedule full of live theater, music performances, and special holiday shows. With its convenient location on Chippewa Square in the heart of the Savannah Historic District, the theater is a destination for visitors looking to discover the city’s thriving arts and culture scene.
Originating from the Athabasca Glacier, this pair of waterfalls are among the most picturesque in Jasper National Park, with easy access for those driving along the Icefields Parkway. The falls’ icy glacial water sprays a fine white mist up in the air as it drops, while pine forests and mountain peaks serve as the backdrop.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) is a stunning venue for experiencing art in all its urgent vitality. The permanent collection, exhibitions, and events give artistic voice to issues facing California, the United States, and beyond, and encourage visitors to engage with art as an essential part of public life through interactive installations.
The New York-New York Hotel & Casino is one of the most recognizable structures on the Las Vegas Strip. Visitors can see downsized replicas of iconic Manhattan landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. Inside, the Big Apple theme continues with replicas of Greenwich Village and Times Square, as well as New York–themed eateries, a roller coaster, entertainment spaces, bars, and slot machines.
The Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez), which takes up two blocks and is just a short walk from the city center zócalo (square), is one of four markets in close proximity in downtown Oaxaca City. Home to a wide variety of typical foodstuffs and artisanal handicrafts, the market is the ideal spot to browse for souvenirs or just get lost among the stalls.
The tiny city of Green River, Utah, is a base camp for big adventures. Outfitters here bring boaters through the soaring canyons and rapids of its eponymous river, while desert trails for hiking, biking, and four-wheeling abound in nearby parks. Starting in midsummer, local farms produce crisp melons, which explains the town’s giant watermelon statue.
Set along Maui’s lush northwest coast, Kapalua is a luxury resort community framed by white-sand beaches and marine reserves. Here you’ll find upscale accommodations such as The Ritz‑Carlton Kapalua and Montage Kapalua Bay, world-class golf courses, top-tier restaurants, high-end boutiques, and scenic trails that hug the shoreline. It’s a laid‑back, yet refined, destination for travelers in search of relaxation and refined aloha hospitality.
Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a family-owned Central Florida amusement park and entertainment center with locations in Orlando and Kissimmee. The Orlando park is known for having the city’s first wooden roller coaster, as well as the world’s second-tallest SkyCoaster (with the tallest being at the Kissimmee location). Orlando’s Fun Spot also has go-karts, carousels, bumper cars, a splash pad, and a wildlife oasis with birds, alligators, and other reptiles.
As one of the lesser-visited Maya ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula, the archaeological site of Kabah offers an escape from the crowds at Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. It's second largest site in the Puuc region after Uxmal, and holds the ornate Palace of the Masks, which is covered in a rare repeating motif of the rain god, Chaac.
Just north of Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec), the upscale district of Polanco is home to some of the country’s wealthiest families. In addition to high-end real estate, the city’s most luxurious hotels and priciest restaurants line the streets of the district’s five neighborhoods. At the center of it all is the welcoming green space of Parque Lincoln.
On an island surrounded by snorkeling opportunities and vibrant sea life, the Maui Ocean Center offers a deeper look into local marine ecosystems. Surround yourself with colorful fish, stingrays, and sharks in an aquarium tunnel, learn about rare Pacific corals and Native Hawaiian culture, and get up close with creatures you may not spot in the wild.
Binion’s Gambling Hall, opened in 1951, is one of the oldest and most notable casinos in the city. It blends classic Vegas charm—think vintage poker rooms and neon‑lit signage—with modern gaming and multiple bars and restaurants. If you want a feel for the city’s past, with plenty of slots and table games to keep things lively, head to this Fremont Street landmark.
Rising 1,800 feet (550 meters) above sea level from the Juneau waterfront, the Mt. Roberts Tramway—aka the Goldbelt Tram—is a favorite for those visiting the Alaska state capital. The ride itself provides views of the Chilkat Range, the Gastineau Channel, downtown Juneau, and Douglas Island, while the summit area features outdoorsy and cultural things to do.
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, the Gothic-style Grace Cathedral is best known for its stained-glass windows that depict modern figures such as Thurgood Marshall, Robert Frost, and Albert Einstein. The church’s commitment to social issues is showcased in its AIDS Memorial Chapel, which houses a bronze altarpiece by activist Keith Haring.
