North America attractions

Opened in 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards, the Grammy Museum celebrates all aspects of the music industry. Located in the LA Live entertainment complex in downtown Los Angeles, it’s the largest music-themed museum in LA, with four stories and over 30,000 square feet (2,787 square meters) of space.

Johnston Ridge Observatory marks the heart of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, offering up-close views of the surrounding volcanic blast zone. In the plaza, visitors can enjoy the panorama with interpretive signage and telescopes to peer more closely into the lava flow area. The adjacent observatory features interpretative exhibits, theater presentations, and a gift shop.

Named in honor of philanthropist and collector Dolores Olmedo, this museum in Mexico City’s Xochimilco suburb houses a collection of more than 130 original works by Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera. Paintings by Frida Kahlo and Rivera’s first wife, Angelina Beloff, also line the halls of the 16th-century building.

At the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the verdant Chipinque Ecological Park is one of the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park’s most easily accessible areas. Hike or bike through pine and oak forests, visit the butterfly house, and enjoy flora and fauna filled respite from the hustle and bustle of Monterrey.

Step back into old Florida, and explore the estates of two of the United States’ most prominent men. Registered as National Historic sites, the buildings and beautifully landscaped lawns of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates tell stories of early Florida as well as the lives and times of the inventors.

The Miami Children's Museum is more like a playhouse than a traditional museum, with areas for kids to practice grown-up activities such as banking, grocery shopping, caring for pets, and acting as a TV news anchor or firefighter. The venue combines art, culture, and community into interactive experiences for children and their families.

From its first-rate beginning as a statesman's mansion to its humble years as a boarding house, Otis House captures the history of Boston within its 18th-century walls. As the last of the great mansions in Bowdoin Square, you can uncover Federalist history on a guided tour of this carefully-restored home, a National Historic Landmark.

La Fontaine Park (Parc La Fontaine), located just north of Montreal’s Gay Village, is an 84-acre green space where locals come to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Built in 1845 on what was once farmland, the park now boasts walking and bike paths, picnic areas, ponds, a dog park, tennis and pétanque courts, and outdoor swimming pools.

Located in Deschutes National Forest, Newberry National Volcanic Monument sprawls across a scenic 54,000 acres (21,853 hectares) of Central Oregon’s high desert. This natural wonder was once the site of the Newberry Volcano, which erupted over 75,000 years ago—and is still seismically and geothermally active. It’s now filled with lakes, hiking trails, lava tubes, and hundreds of vents and cinder cones, and it’s a popular spot for outdoor recreation with a volcanic twist.

Wonder at the more than 250 native and international species, spread across 10 exhibitions and ranging from ethereal jellyfish to salt-water sharks and even penguins, at the Veracruz Aquarium (Acuario de Veracruz). Considered one of the largest aquariums in Latin America, it's focused on marine conservation and education.

Tucked under the Santa Monica Pier, this tiny aquarium aims to educate passing visitors about ocean conservation and the marine life of Southern California. Though small compared to other big-name aquariums, it's a quick and easy way to connect with hundreds of native species, from jellyfish and sea stars to octopuses and moray eels.

Built by miners and railroad workers in the late 19th century, Downtown Durango—a nationally registered historic district—holds onto its Wild West flair. On its historic main street, you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and cowboy-toutin’ places of note, including the original Strater Hotel, built in 1887, and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a historic steam train that travels through the San Juan Mountains and straight into downtown.

Dollywood® is more than a theme park—it’s a full-on celebration of the Smoky Mountains’ spirit, blending top thrills with Appalachian culture, music, and hospitality. Set against a backdrop of rolling hills, the park pairs adrenaline-pumping rides with live performances and Southern comfort food. Whether you’re chasing big roller coasters, eager to try the cinnamon bread, or curious to learn more about Dolly Parton’s legacy, Dollywood is a must-visit in Pigeon Forge.

Experience military and maritime history aboard the USS Wisconsin, one of the biggest battleships ever built. Having been through three wars, “Wisky” now serves as a floating museum docked next to the Nauticus Maritime Center in Norfolk.

Taos Pueblo is a community of adobe homes and ceremonial structures built into terraced tiers outside of Taos, New Mexico. Its extraordinary 1,000-year history has rightly earned the site recognition as a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Roughly 1,900 tribal members, known as the Red Willow People, live on Taos Pueblo lands, with 150 people that live within the pueblo year-round.

Located in Yorba Linda, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum documents the life and legacy of the controversial 37th president of the United States. Visit the museum—fully renovated in 2016—to engage with interactive displays, new exhibits, multimedia presentations, and replicas of the Oval Office and East Room.

Locals and visitors alike flock to the Waterfront, which stretches from one of the city’s best parks to the Boston Tea Party ships. In the vibrant neighborhood, you’ll find enough tourist attractions, restaurants, and shops to keep you busy for days. Or, just take in the view of Boston Harbor as you leisurely stroll the walkways.

Just across from the White House, St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of Washington DC’s most important historical places of worship. Designed by Benjamin Latrobe and unveiled in 1816, the Greek Revival landmark has hosted presidential Inauguration Day services for nearly a century, and is a US National Historic Landmark.

Station Square is a mixed-use complex featuring shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located in the South Shore neighborhood along the Monongahela River, the area was originally designed as a railroad complex for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad in the late 1800s and was redeveloped in the 1970s as a commercial space. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular gathering spaces for locals and visitors alike.

A waterfront restaurant and club, Kin Ha Water Park (Balneario Kin Ha) brings together some of Isla Mujeres’ top activities, including snorkeling, paddleboarding, and beachside relaxation. Highlights include an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar, a water trampoline, and a rope swing, all with sweeping views over the Mexican Caribbean. If you’re looking to take a load off, hammocks, sunchairs, and cabanas offer perfect places to relax.

Once home to director John Huston, Las Caletas Beach and Nature Reserve is a secluded stretch of Bay of Banderas shoreline, which has since become a dream day-trip destination for vacationers in Puerto Vallarta. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of busy central beaches and while away the hours swaying in a hammock, snorkeling, or enjoying a soothing massage on the shores of Las Caletas.

Set on a small island off the Gulf Coast of Florida, St. Pete Beach is known for its white-sand beaches, water sports, and the historic Don CeSar resort. Despite the island’s small size, you can find everything you need, from mom-and-pop restaurants and quaint hotels to upscale resorts, art galleries, and shopping.

Formerly the lavish Hotel Utah, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is now a social center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Named after the church’s founder, the Salt Lake City building acts as the welcome center for Temple Square and features the Legacy Theater, which regularly shows church-produced films.

Enjoy the ultimate indoor LEGO® adventure at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona. Located in the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, this interactive LEGO-themed entertainment park features a dozen rides, build-and-play zones, games, workshops, a café, shop, and a 4D cinema, and offers hours of educational fun for kids and their families.

A few blocks away from the popular Olas Altas Beach, Mazatlán’s Old Town is a neighborhood filled with restored, French-style 19th and 20th century buildings. Centered around the leafy and laidback Plazuela Machado, visitors can explore art galleries, small museums, boutiques, and a range of bars, restaurants, and cafes, as well as historically significant attractions such as the Ángela Peralta Theater.

A noncaptive, natural refuge for the endangered Florida manatee, Fort Myers’ Manatee Park is one of the top places in the area to spot the aquatic mammal. You’ll also find walking paths, kayak and canoe rentals, playgrounds, and more.

Possibly the city’s most popular attraction, the Calgary Zoo has been caring for animals and animal lovers since 1929. Surrounded by botanical gardens with a rain forest and butterfly enclosure, Canada’s second largest zoo is home to more than 1,000 critters representing dozens of species from all corners of the globe.

Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park are a gorgeous spot to soak your bones after a hike in the Rocky Mountains. Known as the hottest springs in the Canadian Rockies, the mineral-rich water gushes out of the mountainside at a steamy 129°F (54°C) before being cooled to 104°F (40°C) for a comfortable dip in the pool.

The Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre has been a landmark theater in Branson since the 1990s, when Mickey Gilley became one of the first country music stars to set up a theater residency in Branson. Guests visit the state-of-the-art theater to see a wide variety of shows, including music, comedy, and acrobatics.

Established in 1964 from couple John and Johanna Bass’ private art collection, The Bass Museum of Art has since become one of Miami Beach’s premier art institutions. Now housed in an expansive, sleek building following its 2017 renovation, the museum is dedicated to international contemporary art, and also offers educational programming.