North America attractions

Celebrated for its elaborate, pirate-themed attractions—and offering several different courses—Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is a popular Orlando destination for minigolf lovers. Located on International Drive (a quick trip from the city’s theme parks), it offers a fun-filled way to get outdoors and enjoy a sightseeing break.

While best known for vanilla production, proximity to the El Tajín ruins, and views of the striking Sierra Papanteca mountains, Papantla is also an attractive pueblo mágico (magic town) with a rich indigenous culture. Here, learn about the Totonac people at the Takilhsukut Theme Park and catch a live "Danza de los Voladores" performance.

Nestled in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountain range, the Cascadas de Llano Grande (Llano Grande Waterfalls) are part of the Copalitilla waterfall system. Its shallow pools and multiple cascading waterfalls also harbor plenty of interesting flora and fauna, plus caves and tunnels to explore. Climb a tree, leap off the rocks, or swing from a rope into the pristine waters below.

The Cuzamá area of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is known for its cluster of cenotes, or underwater sinkholes, which are unique in their methods of access. The three main cenotes are Chelentun, Chacsinicche, and Bolonchojol, and getting there is half the fun—the trip from Cuzamá’s town square to the cenotes is via traditional horse-drawn cart.

The Music Box Theatre has put on musicals, comedies, and plays for over a century, ever since it opened in 1921 to host The Music Box Revue by renowned composer Irving Berlin. Since then, it’s hosted legendary actors and performances, including Marlon Brando in his Broadway debut and the Tony Award-winning plays Jerusalem and One Man, Two Guvnors. The theater’s dainty, neo-Georgian architecture style is befitting of its name and sets it apart from other Broadway venues.

Boasting some of the “rarest and most collectible pieces of turquoise and turquoise jewelry in the world,” the Turquoise Museum offers a deep dive into New Mexico’s state gemstone in the elevated setting of an enormous castle mansion. The private museum is the only one of its kind on the subject, offering a highly personable, interactive, and well-curated experience.

The largest cultural museum in Western Canada, Glenbow Museum showcases the history and culture of indigenous Canadians—particularly the Blackfoot Confederacy, whose traditional land Calgary occupies. The museum's impressive collection spans artifacts, artworks, archives, documents, and fun interactive exhibits. Please note: The Glenbow Museum is currently closed for renovations, but you can see exhibits curated by the museum at its satellite gallery, Glenbow at The Edison, in downtown Calgary.

The sports and entertainment center of downtown DC, Capital One Arena hosts more than 220 events each year. The 20,000-seat arena is home to several of Washington’s top teams—basketball’s Wizards and Mystics and hockey’s Capitals—and has hosted two Stanley Cup Finals as well as concerts from celebrities such as Elton John and Lady Gaga.

Home to the largest collection of decorative art in Latin America, the Franz Mayer Museum (Museo Franz Mayer) houses a predominantly Mexican collection of artefacts and artworks that spans six centuries. In this converted 16th-century former hospital, explore the library and permanent exhibits of Mayer’s private collections, as well as garments, jewelry, and folk-art pieces donated by other collectors and creatives.

The Broadway Theater District in Los Angeles is among the first and largest American movie theater districts. The district, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, comprises one dozen lavish movie palaces built in Spanish Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque styles in the early 20th century—these vintage theaters today host performances, special events, and, sometimes, movies.

The popular Palm Springs Aerial Tramway soars over Chino Canyon and Mt. San Jacinto State Park, covering more than 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) during a 10-minute journey. Take in the scenery while the rotating aerial tramcars—some of the largest in the world—offer 360-degree views of the desert valley, then enjoy a range of activities at the upper station, 8,516 feet (2,595 meters) above sea level.

Explore the artwork of British Columbia from the 18th century to the present day at Audain Art Museum. Head to Whistler to see the museum's permanent collection of works from some of Canada’s most celebrated artists, including First Nations artists, as well as visiting exhibitions from around the world.

The Alamodome is a multipurpose stadium that hosts conventions, sporting events, concerts, and public events in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Since its opening in 1993, the Alamodome has hosted the annual NCAA college football Valero Alamo Bowl. It is home to UTSA Football, and the sports club, San Antonio Sports.

Black Sand Basin is a section of the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Though small, it is packed with exceptional thermal features like geysers, colorful pools, and hot springs, and is often less crowded than its big-name neighbors. Visit as a quick stop during your Yellowstone National Park tour—it’s worth every second.

TELUS Spark encourages curious museum-goers of all ages to explore topics of science, engineering, technology, math, and art through a series of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences. The center’s Dome Theatre hosts live planetarium shows and documentary-style movies on a huge screen.

Experiential art and blacklight illuminations take precedence in AREA15, a massive entertainment complex that’s a far cry from the casino floors that dominate the Las Vegas Strip nearby. AREA15 is anchored by its largest attraction—Meow Wolf Las Vegas (Omega Mart)—a surrealistic hybrid between a make-believe supermarket, an art installation, and an escape game. Other key things to do at AREA15 include playing laser tag, ziplining around the ceiling, and shopping for rave accessories and glowing toys.

Órgano Bay (Bahía Órgano) is an isolated stretch of beach just south of Santa Cruz in Mexico. Recommended for travelers who want to get away from it all, it’s an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving with calm, clear blue-green water and several interesting rock formations. Organo Bay is very near Maguey Bay, but not as popular or easy to access.

Olmec culture and native flora and fauna take center stage at La Venta Park-Museum (Parque Museo La Venta), an expansive open-air museum with one of the largest collections of Olmec artefacts in Mexico. Highlights include the rare Olmec heads displayed along labyrinthine jungle pathways and near-nightly sound and light shows.

The collection of historic civilian and military aircraft on display at the Hangar Flight Museum highlights the history of Canadian aviation and the stories of the men and women who designed and flew these engineering marvels.

Much-maligned critters, from tarantulas to cockroaches, are celebrated at this insectarium, which specializes in large tropical insects. Visitors can observe more than 40 live species of invertebrates, including praying mantises, stick insects, and glow-in-the-dark scorpions, as well as handling some of the creepy-crawlies.

The 263-foot-tall (80-meter-tall) Estrella de Puebla—or “Star of Puebla”—is the largest of its kind in the world, with the Guinness World Record to prove it. It has 50 standard gondolas, each with room for up to eight passengers, as well as four plush luxury gondolas for an extra-special experience; however, each one offers magnificent panoramic views of Puebla.

Stroll through St. Augustine and its historic roots are everywhere—from the narrow streets to the charming architecture. To explore local history further, check out the 17th-century Father Miguel O’Reilly House, the second oldest structure in St. Augustine. What was once a Catholic parish rectory is now a museum and garden with beautiful architecture and small exhibits on St. Augustine’s Catholic traditions.

Opened in 2011 on Salt Lake City’s Library Square, this museum of science, art, and technology is named after Leonardo da Vinci, Italy's famous painter, mathematician, and inventor. Its mission is to inspire visitors to explore the creative side of science and technology through interactive exhibits.

Stretching along the shores of Veracruz harbor, Veracruz Pier (Malecon offers stellar views across the water to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress, and a place for locals and travelers to congregate. The scenic seafront promenade serves as a tourist attraction, recreational area, and marketplace all rolled into one— it’s always buzzing with activity.

Go behind the scenes at the oldest registered distillery in the United States, Jack Daniel’s, which was founded in 1866. Learn the history behind the distillery that’s emblematic of Southern culture and find out how the legendary old No. 7 whiskey is made, right at the source.

No visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up look at the Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most popular attractions. The 13-mile-long (19-kilometer-long) glacier ends at Mendenhall Lake and is easily viewed from the historic Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The glacier is beautiful on sunny days, but arguably even more impressive on cloudy, drizzly afternoons when the ice takes on a deeper shade of blue.

Not to be confused with Sea World, 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away, SEA LIFE Orlando is a separate aquarium in the ICON Park entertainment complex. As part of the largest family of aquariums on the continent, SEA LIFE Orlando is an educational tourist attraction and a facility providing marine health care.

The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center offers an introduction to Fort Sumter National Monument and its long and tumultuous history. The exhibits within tell the story of how tensions escalated in the area, eventually leading to the outbreak of the Civil War, as well as the role Fort Sumter played in the conflict.

The New Orleans School of Cooking is a local institution where visitors can learn how to prepare classic Cajun and Creole dishes such as shrimp etouffee, jambalaya, bread pudding, and pralines. Led by chefs, the school offers small-group, hands-on classes, as well as demonstration sessions where you simply watch, learn, and eat. It’s a go-to spot for anyone wanting to master authentic Louisiana cooking.

The Albert Gilles Copper Art Museum offers a unique look at an unusual art form: metal embossing. This craft, perfected by Albert Gilles, continues to be practiced by his children and grandchildren today at the museum and store close to Quebec City.