One of the country’s largest and oldest urban parks, Rock Creek Park is a popular place to experience nature in the capital. Established in 1890 and spanning over 2,000 acres (810 hectares), it’s more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park. Rock Creek’s offerings range from hiking trails and historical landmarks to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Artifacts and documents detailing Alaska's history—its original inhabitants, natural history, occupation by Russia, and eventual purchase and statehood—have a home in the striking and lofty Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff building in downtown Juneau. The expansive Alaska Native collection features items from the region's major cultural groups.
Springs Preserve offers a green refuge in the desert, showcasing Las Vegas’s natural and cultural roots. Across 180 acres (70 hectares), you’ll wander botanical gardens, explore interactive museum galleries, stroll through desert trails, and learn about sustainable living. It’s a place where history, ecology, and innovation converge—ideal if you're with your family, love nature, or are just curious.
The permanent collection at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville tells the story of this part of the American South—from prehistoric times to the present day. The main space is split into seven exhibitions, including First Peoples and The Civil War and Reconstruction. Rotating exhibitions have included artwork from Japanese museums, the original Emancipation Proclamation, and photos of Memphis-born Elvis Presley.
A multi-use recreational trail that runs along the eponymous waterway, the Schuylkill River Trail extends for some 75 miles (121 kilometers) from Montgomery, Chester, and Berks Counties to Center City Philadelphia. Projected to reach 120 miles (193 kilometers) upon its completion, the trail passes by scenic towns and historical landmarks.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG) is a beautiful natural conservatory featuring over 78 acres (31.5 hectares) of lush greenery, with over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants. Guided tours are free, and a walk among the oaks, boulders, and dusty trails makes for an enjoyable dive into California flora.
Separate the myths from the facts while learning all about the history of witchcraft through the ages, with a visit to the Salem Witch Village. Tours are led by practicing witches. The village also features an indoor maze and eclectic gift shop.
Set on the campus of the former Sheldon Jackson College in downtown Sitka, the Sheldon Jackson Museum is dedicated to Alaska's cultural history and is one of the oldest museums in the state. An extensive collection of Native artifacts provides insight into the history of Aleut and Alutiiq, Athabascan, Inupiat and Yup'ik, and Northwest Coast cultures, and highlights include a full-size Tlingit dugout canoe and argillite carvings.
Drowning out the noise of Uptown Houston, the 64-foot (20-meter) semicircular, double-sided fountain known as the Waterwall serves as one of the city’s best photo backdrops. Shaded by Williams Tower, the tallest skyscraper outside of downtown, and nearly 200 Texas live oak trees, Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is the ideal place to rest after shopping at the nearby Galleria—and to beat the Houston heat by standing beside the fountain’s cascading water.
Opened in 2018, the National Comedy Center in Jamestown is the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to comedy as an art form. Featuring more than 50 immersive exhibits and interactive experiences, the museum celebrates the great minds and voices of American comedy and gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the comedic process.
A National Historic Landmark built in the 1930s for the philanthropic Stern family, Longue Vue House and Gardens is today one of New Orleans’ most notable—and scenic—house museums. Known for its classical revival style and 8 acres (3 hectares) of lavishly landscaped gardens, Longue Vue is a great destination for architecture and history fans, as well as nature lovers.
On the slopes of Haleakala Volcano, the charming town of Makawao is at the heart of Upcountry Maui. Rich with cowboy (paniolo) culture—the island’s biggest rodeo is held here each July 4—it’s equally known for its art scene and eclectic selection of shops, boutiques, and restaurants, centered around Baldwin Avenue and Makawao Avenue.
At the San Diego Model Railroad Museum (SDMRM), America’s love affair with train travel comes alive. Part of Balboa Park, this 27,000-square-foot facility details the routes that once crossed—or almost crossed—the American West in highly accurate and detailed scale models. Visitors will also learn about the history of US train travel in permanent and temporary exhibits.
Located in the heart of Waikiki in Honolulu, Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu was the first Hard Rock to open in Hawaii. Spanning two floors, the café features a shop on the first floor and dining and bar options on the second floor, along with a ceiling of guitars, rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, an interactive Rock Wall, and frequent live music.
The turn-of-the-century Historic Adams House in Deadwood showcases the architectural style of the 1890s with oak interiors and stained glass. Visit this Queen Anne-style home to admire the building’s design, learn about Deadwood's founders, and see firsthand how families spent their wealth in this gold-mining town.
The massive Hualalai Volcano looms over the town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island’s western coast and is lesser-known than its more popular neighbors, the Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. Hualalai is still considered active and is expected to erupt again within the next 100 years. Hawaii’s famed Kona coffee grows on its slopes and the area is a popular hiking attraction.
A short jaunt from Sedona, the Broken Arrow Trail is a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) trail that's rated an easy hike. It offers great views of the area's red rock scenery and draws in hikers and mountain bikers, while nearby and adjacent roads are used for 4WD tours.
Every winter, tens of thousands of monarch butterflies stop in Pismo Beach during their mass migration to a warmer climate. The bright-orange-and-black monarchs cluster together among the branches in a protected eucalyptus grove, creating a stunning natural display that attracts visitors from up and down the California coast.
Created to celebrate the history of its namesake festival, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum keeps the spirit of the annual event alive year-round. The museum traces the origins of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, alongside an impressive collection of carriages, folk art, clothing, artifacts, and rodeo paraphernalia.
Kentucky’s long-standing transportation hub, the L&N Depot, once had more than 20 trains departing the site daily. The depot and Historic RailPark and Train Museum are now home to an extensive collection of vintage railcars, transportation exhibits, and interactive displays. Take the whole family for a day of educational entertainment.
The former resort town of Winter Park, Florida, exudes charm and encourages relaxation, showcasing some of the best natural scenery in central Florida. Nature lovers flock to this suburban city in Orange County to enjoy more than 70 parks. For those still looking for a resort feel, Winter Park also has top-notch golf courses and a popular shopping district.
Devil’s Hole State Park is a peaceful place to relax after visiting thunderous Niagara Falls or when exploring the Niagara Gorge. The 42-acre (17-hectare) park has picnic areas, hiking trails, and fishing spots. Just north of Niagara Falls, New York, it overlooks the Devil’s Hole Rapids on the Niagara River and has views across to Canada.
Made up of three islands in Alamitos Bay, the Italian-inspired neighborhood of Naples is one of Long Beach’s most charming. Attractive homes line narrow canals that provide opportunities for water activities such as kayaking and gondola rides. The largest bay island is bisected by 2nd Street, the main drag home to restaurants and shops.
Connected to the Templo de Santo Domingo, the impressive Oaxaca Culture Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca) is housed in a beautifully restored monastery. Well-curated exhibits featuring crafts, herbal medicines, and local dress transport travelers through the history of Oaxaca, from ancient times to the modern day. A particular highlight is the collection of Mixtec silver, jade, and gold.
Comprising 63 tree-topped islands scattered near Lake Huron’s southwest shore, Georgian Bay Islands National Park is known for its beaches, wind-bent white pines, and stark granite coastline. The pristine freshwater archipelago inspired Canada’s Group of Seven artists in the 1920s and continues to attract summertime adventurers.
The Sherman Library & Gardens is a Newport Beach oasis, ideal for relaxing, viewing seasonal flowers, and discovering diverse plants. Visitors find flora from near and far, including deserts and tropical forests—flanked by fountains, walking paths, and sculptures. Don't miss the library, where you can learn about the Pacific Southwest.
Mexico City’s Memory and Tolerance Museum (Museo Memoria y Tolerancia) examines the impact of indifference, discrimination, and global violence through eye-opening exhibits. This groundbreaking museum is divided into two major sections—aptly named Memory and Tolerance—that illustrate the international struggle between harm and hope.
The largest and grandest of Philadelphia’s transit hubs, 30th Street Station—which now goes by William H. Gray III 30th Street—serves numerous train routes, including Amtrak lines that connect the city with other destinations on the east coast. Renowned for its neoclassical design, the station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Operating from its sizable lot on Melrose Avenue since 1926, Paramount Pictures Studio is a symbol of the golden age of cinema and the only major film studio still running in Hollywood proper. It’s also one of a handful of LA studios offering guided tours, affording you a look past the palm tree–lined gates to its 65 acres (26 hectares) of soundstages, backlots, and other facilities where movies and TV series are made.
In French, "Bon Secour" means “safe harbor,” and this swathe of land along the Gulf Coast is a sanctuary for migratory birds, sea turtles, and other flora and fauna. One of the largest undeveloped land areas on the Alabama coast, with beaches, dunes, marshes, and scrub forests, the refuge is good for hiking, kayaking, and birding.
