The Denver Botanic Gardens fill more than 24 acres (10 hectares) with a diverse collection of plants from across the world, offering a natural haven in the middle of the Mile High City. The dynamic grounds showcase drought-resistant gardening techniques suited to the local climate as well internationally inspired gardens such as Japanese gardens and a tropical conservatory.
A grand historic house–turned–Civil War field hospital, Carnton is a must-see for history buffs visiting the Nashville area. The house, now a top area attraction, once served as the grounds of the Battle of Franklin, one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War.
Named after the now-demolished fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Fort Street has long been at the heart of Victoria’s commercial life. Once a hotbed for vintage and collectibles, this central artery is now home to an eclectic mix of shops and eateries, among them several remaining second-hand stores and auction houses.
Surrounded by toppling mountains on the northern edge of Resurrection Bay, you can feel Alaska’s hard-working spirit come to life at Seward Boat Harbor. With seabirds scouting salmon from the sky, fishing boats recounting their catch, tour boats heading off on adventures, and visitors and locals alike browsing the nearby shops and restaurants, there’s never a dull moment at the harbor.
The Museum of the Cherokee People is home to vibrant displays that tell the story of the Cherokees, from their paleo ancestry to their current lifestyles. Far more than an exhibit of artifacts, the museum keeps the tribe’s culture alive through education, events, and traditional gatherings.
Like everything in Texas, the Natural Bridge Caverns are big—they’re actually the largest known caverns in the state. Discovered near San Antonio in 1960, the caverns extend hundreds of feet underground and are dotted with stalagmites and stalactites. During excavations, archaeologists found artifacts dating back 12,000 years. While the caverns are still being explored today, you can visit for adventures ranging from underground cave tours to an enormous outdoor maze.
To combine a theater experience with the buzzing atmosphere of lower Manhattan, check out the Orpheum Theatre. This East Village theater, first opened in 1904, is a must-visit for theater buffs and New York history enthusiasts. The Orpheum has hosted many notable productions in its history, from Anything Goes to Little Shop of Horrors to three decades of Stomp. With just 347 seats, it’s advisable to book well in advance to guarantee admission.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of Colorado’s premier science museums, and a fun, educational destination for visitors of all ages. It boasts a planetarium, a movie theater, and a wide range of exhibitions that showcase the biological and geological history of Earth and the universe. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to interactive virtual-reality zones that the whole family can explore.
An Italian-style mansion set in the Arizona desert, the Wrigley Mansion was the vacation home of wealthy chewing-gum entrepreneur William Wrigley, Jr. and his wife Ada in the 1930s. Now a historic landmark and a fine restaurant, the mansion is a popular destination for special occasions, historical tours, and wine tastings.
Some consider Kaʻu coffee to be the Big Island’s “secret” coffee—some also think it to be just as good, if not better, than its globally famous sibling, Kona coffee. Find out what your tastebuds prefer on a visit to the Kaʻu Coffee Mill, which runs regularly scheduled tours and is open to visitors every day of the week.
At 5.6 million square feet, Minnesota’s Mall of America is bigger than Vatican City—it literally has its own zip code. It’s the largest mall in the US, and its doors swing open for some 40 million visitors yearly. With more than 500 stores, dozens of restaurants, and an indoor amusement park, you could vacation here for weeks.
Sabino Canyon is a popular South Arizona recreation area outside of Tucson at the feet of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The area is known as a picnicking spot. It's also a hiker’s paradise with first-rate trails, such as the Seven Falls trail through Bear Canyon. The Sabino Canyon Crawler, an electric tram rolling through the canyon, is popular, too.
The Kamin Science Center (formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center) is a multi-floor museum and research center featuring family-friendly exhibits, a planetarium and observatory, and a huge cinema theater. Located next to Acrisure Stadium on the bank of the Ohio River, the center opened in 1991 as the third of the Carnegie Institute’s four museums in Pittsburgh.
Technically located in Queens, Rockaway Beach is an oceanfront stretch home to golden beaches, a plethora of food vendors, and an array of beginner-friendly surf spots; in fact, it’s the city’s only legal surfing beach. In summer, come here to soak up the sun, go splashing in the waves, and surfer-watch along the gorgeous, 5.5-mile (8.8-kilometer) boardwalk lining the coast.
At the heart of one of Mexico City’s most chaotic thoroughfares, the glass-roofed Reforma 222 shopping mall offers air-conditioned respite from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. Across four floors, visitors can browse stores, grab lunch, catch a film, or workout at the on-site gym.
The King of Rock and Roll is available to do it all at the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas: he walks the bride down the aisle (if she wishes), performs the wedding ceremony, and sings classic hits. Alternatively, couples can choose to forgo the kitsch factor and opt for a traditional religious or non-religious wedding, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony.
To call the San Francisco Botanical Garden a living museum of plants does not adequately describe this remarkable conservatory. With 55 acres (22 hectares) of landscaped and open spaces, the urban garden is a veritable sanctuary, an escape from the hustle and bustle, in the heart of Golden Gate Park.
Through the 1950s and 1960s, the distinctive mushroom clouds that rose from the Nevada Test Site could be seen from the Las Vegas Strip, and watching them even became a popular tourist activity. Today, the National Atomic Testing Museum tells the story of the United States’ atomic testing program with exhibitions that cover everything from Atomic pop culture to the global impact of nuclear weapons.
Thousands of visitors travel to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs each year, and the academy’s all-faiths Cadet Chapel is the most visited man-made attraction in Colorado. Among the best examples of modern academic architecture, the striking 150-foot-tall (46-meter-tall) chapel is designed with 17 spires created from aluminum, steel, and glass.
Just a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip, Lion Habitat Ranch offers a rare chance to get close to majestic big cats in a sanctuary setting. Here, lions once used in MGM Grand’s famous habitat now roam in more natural enclosures, joined by giraffes, tortoises, and exotic birds. Keeper talks and animal feedings bring the zoo experience to life, making this a great escape for wildlife lovers, families, or anyone curious about conservation beyond the casinos.
One of Santa Fe’s most mind-bending attractions, Meow Wolf Santa Fe (House of Eternal Return) is a vast immersive experience that transports visitors to new dimensions. Comprising 70 artist-created rooms and environments—all seemingly contained within a normal-looking Victorian home—the exhibition tells the story of a family’s mysterious disappearance, and the resulting warping of space and time.
Adults and kids alike will be interested in the Strong National Museum of Play, the world’s largest museum dedicated to all things play. The museum spans nearly 150,000 square feet (13,935 square meters) and offers interactive exhibits, a massive collection of toys, games, and other play artifacts, a butterfly garden, and a ropes course.
Waterfowl and endangered birds such as the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), ‘alae ‘ula (Hawaiian gallinule), ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), and the nēnē (Hawaiian goose) make their home in the wetlands of Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, a swath of protected land on Kauai’s southeast side. Visit the surroundings of the refuge to spot the water birds, in a lush area historically used for taro cultivation, a cornerstone of Hawaiian agriculture.
Located at an altitude of 3,000 feet (914 meters) on the slopes of Mt. Hualalai, the 70-acre (28-hectare) privately owned Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is the most accessible cloud forest on the Big Island. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including ancient and endangered native plants and rare birds. You can visit this tropical ecosystem on a tour or guided wellness experience that focuses on nature.
The National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. With numerous exhibits ranging from the Asia Trail to the Reptile Discovery Center, the zoo is home to more than 2,200 animals and 300 species, including elephants, big cats, rare birds, and more. Past residents have included giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the real-life Smokey Bear, and even the first chimpanzee to go to space.
Experience the frontier days of the Wild West and take in the beautiful scenery of the Nevada high desert on a ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. One of the most famous of all American short-line railroads, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad operates three routes using century-old steam engines and heritage diesel locomotives.
Stretching through much of central Oregon, the Deschutes River—a north-to-south tributary of the Columbia River—has long been a popular spot for outdoor recreation. It's particularly known for its ample fly-fishing and white water rafting opportunities, and it draws droves of visitors in summer.
Situated on the western edge of Alaska’s Cook Inlet, Lake Clark National Park is one of America’s most remote and least-visited national parks. With towering peaks, tumbling glaciers, active volcanoes, and glacier-fed rivers that are rich in sockeye salmon; Lake Clark is Alaska wilderness at its finest. Adventurous visitors are drawn to the park’s remoteness and the chance to view one of the park’s many resident brown bears.
Branson Landing is a waterfront outdoor shopping center and entertainment district in Branson, Missouri. In addition to mainstream shops and eateries, the landing has a scenic boardwalk along the Taneycomo Lakefront and a terraced town square with light, music, and water fountain shows that run daily on the hour from noon well into the evening.
Winding through the front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the glacial blue waters of the Kananaskis River offer exhilarating white water rafting adventures. Considered one of the most scenic rivers in Alberta, the Kananaskis also affords mountain views and the chance to spy wolves, elk, eagle, and black and grizzly bears.
