North America attractions

Discover the story of soul music at the historic home of Stax Records, now the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The museum lays out the legacy of one of soul music’s top record labels while also unraveling the evolution of soul music in America. Along the way, discover the backstory of artists ranging from Otis Redding to Aretha Franklin.

Packed with fun photo opportunities, Niagara Falls’ Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars presents lifelike likenesses of screen and music world icons. Wax figures of celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley are displayed alongside Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp and famous movie characters including Harry Potter.

Part of the LEGOLAND California Resort located just north of San Diego proper, the SEA LIFE® Aquarium comprises numerous habitat areas, diving shows, and other educational activities across 16 interactive zones. Popular among families with children of all ages, the aquarium makes it easy to discover the wonders of the deep sea.

Herbert Glacier’s white-blue ice fields and dramatic walls offer an accessible yet secluded glacier viewing opportunity in the expansive Juneau Icefield. Reachable on helicopter tours and via a scenic hiking trail, the Herbert Glacier is set against the backdrop of majestic peaks, giving visitors a quintessential Alaska glacier experience.

Make a pit stop at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to take in more than six decades of Corvette history. You’ll find over 80 of the classic American cars—rare and concept cars, classic models, and prototypes organized by time period—as well as historic photographs and memorabilia.

Founded in 1916 and nestled into the rock and oak of the surrounding area, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is set in a cluster of Spanish-revival buildings surrounding a beautiful courtyard. The museum is home to expertly preserved displays of birds, insects, mammals, and sea life, along with a planetarium.

Music, art, wildlife, and outdoor recreation collide at Overton Park, Memphis’ 342-acre (138-hectare) public park. It draws both locals and visitors looking to relax, explore, picnic, or see where Elvis Presley performed in 1954, in what is considered to be the first ever rock ‘n’ roll show.

Stretched across the mouth of Massachusetts Bay east of Boston, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an Atlantic Ocean reserve designed to protect the area’s rich marine environment. Created in 1992, the sanctuary is visited by migrating wild whales and other sea life, and draws numerous whale-watching boat trips from Boston.

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach borders the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its vaulted underwater walkways, large tanks filled with colorful sea creatures, and live shark-feeding shows. Set in the Broadway-at-the-Beach shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, the aquarium features exhibits for visitors of all ages.

The Arlington outpost of Six Flags Over Texas is home to about 50 rides, with new ones popping up every few years. Here you’ll find something for any age, from gentle Yosemite Sam’s Texas Tea Cups for little ones to Titan, a stomach-churning roller coaster, plus several water rides for cooling off on a hot Texas summer day.

Driving through Bearizona Wildlife Park means spotting a stunning number of North American animals from the comfort of your car. Watch as a black bear lumbers through the ponderosa pine forest or an Alaskan tundra wolf sneaks between the trees, and snap pictures of bighorn sheep, bison, and bobcats along the way. The park also has a walk-through area highlighting creatures from jaguars to javelinas, plus scheduled animal encounters.

Home to abolitionist, statesman, and intellectual Frederick Douglass for nearly 20 years, Cedar Hill is located in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington DC. A National Historic Site since 1988, his former home is now overseen by the National Park Service; today, visitors can tour the site and learn about Douglass’ life and work.

Descend via elevator to a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter-long) boardwalk along the Niagara River to see the swirling Class VI whitewater rapids up close. Information points along the boardwalk delve into the immense power of the river, as well as the geology and wildlife of the Niagara Gorge, while observation areas offer front-row views of nature’s power.

The Aquarium du Quebec is a family-friendly destination and home to more than 10,000 marine animals. Kids learn about the magic of the marine world through visits to tanks, marine mammals like polar bears and walrus, and educational exhibits. Animal feedings and trainings, seasonal events, and a riverside picnic area are also popular.

If you’ve ever wanted to play inside a giant sandbox, book a session at Dig This Las Vegas. A reservation secures you a spot behind the controls of heavy construction equipment, which you can use to dig, push, and lift your way through an open-air playground of gravel mountains, junked cars, dirt piles, stacked tires, and more. It’s located right on the edge of town, with spectacular desert scenery that makes for an impressive backdrop.

Inside this interactive art experience, visitors are tasked with finding a 10-year-old character named Jared who has gone missing, by sorting through emails, videos, photos, and the boy’s drawings. Located at Grapevine Mills, just north of the Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal is set in a suburban house filled with psychedelic colors, featuring the art collective’s signature quirky touches.

Stretching some 98 miles (158 kilometers) across Nevada’s remote desert, the Extraterrestrial Highway (State Route 375) is a road trip with a touch of cosmic mystery. Officially named in 1996, this lonely stretch passes near the secretive Area 51—the US Air Force facility where many believe the mysterious activities hail from—provoking tales of UFO sightings, alien lore, and roadside oddities.

With sweeping views of rocky peaks, glaciers, and dense coastal rainforest, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola soars for 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) between the twin summits of North America’s largest ski resort. In winter months, the gondola whisks skiers and riders over their snowy playground. But unmatched vistas during the 11-minute ride make it a destination for travelers of all kinds, even outside of skiing season.

Covering an area of 480 square miles (1,245 square kilometers), the protected waters of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park (Parc Marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent) are among Eastern Canada’s best wildlife-viewing hot spots. Many impressive cetaceans, from blue whales to belugas, as well as several types of seals and hundreds of different species of sea birds dwell here.

One of the oldest zoos in the country, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is home to everything from black rhinos to red pandas. More than just exhibits, the zoo is dedicated to conserving and rehabilitating endangered species. Visit animals from multiple continents, or check out one of the zoo’s educational programs.

For a dash of spectacle during your trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, don’t miss the world-class illusionists that grace the stage of the Greg Frewin Theatre, known for its magic show and tribute concert series. Make an evening of it and dine at the theater buffet, or grab a drink at the full bar.

Wrigleyville is a sporty Chicago neighborhood located on the city’s North Side, which is centered around the iconic Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs). However, this lively enclave offers more than just baseball. Whether it’s a game day or an average weekday, dozens of sports bars, pizzerias, and casual eateries draw Cubs fans and thirsty locals alike looking for a fun night out.

No matter the season, there’s always something to do at Breckenridge, one of Colorado’s most popular ski resorts. Five massive peaks and an average annual snowfall of 350 inches (9 meters provide epic terrain for skiers and snowboarders. As the snow melts, visitors keep coming back for summertime fun at this majestic Rocky Mountain playground.

Perched atop Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory offers sweeping views of LA by day and a portal to the night sky after dark. You may have spotted the art deco building in a movie or on a postcard, but it’s even more impressive in person—tour the cosmos in the planetarium or gaze at the heavens through a state-of-the-art telescope. If you’re more into celebrities than celestial bodies, the views of the Hollywood Sign alone justify the trip uphill.

Home to more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) of hiking trails, Coachella Valley Preserve sits between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. The preserve is known for its Thousand Palms Oasis and other palm oases, which are formed by water flowing from the San Andreas Fault.

Thrill-seekers looking for more than casinos and nightlife will want to visit nearby Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The speedway hosts a lineup of racing tournaments, including the Pennzoil 400 and NASCAR Cup Series. But you can do more than just watch from the grandstand. Sign up for an experience that puts you in the driver’s seat, or take a track tour and gain access to restricted areas such as NASCAR garages and the infield.

Safari West is a 400-acre (162-hectare) private wildlife preserve located in Santa Rosa, California. The park focuses on species native to Africa and is home to more than 800 wild animals, including cheetahs, Cape buffalo, zebras, rhinos, and giraffe.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is the historic home and plantation of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president. Visiting gives you a sense of Jackson’s everyday life—original furnishings make the mansion homey—and also of 19th-century life in the South for everyone, from aristocrats to enslaved persons. Plus, it’s a great Nashville day trip.

Copley Place is the premier high-end shopping destination in Boston’s historic Back Bay. With over 50 shops spread across two levels, the impressive mall also features dining options, as well as convenient access to office buildings and two hotels. The mall has many luxury brands stores Stores that attracts locals and visitors alike.

Located within Central Florida’s Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is a family-friendly attraction with slides, water cannons, pools, and water rafts. According to the fun and fictitious legend, this once tropical paradise was hit by a huge storm, which is why you’ll find features such as a shipwrecked shrimp boat perched atop Mount Mayday. The park also boasts the largest inland wave pool in North America.