Top USA Attractions & Museums - page 8

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a major stop on many Nashville travelers' itineraries, making ticket lines painfully long on most days. Bypass the annoyance of standing in line just to buy your way in, and instead, purchase your admission ticket online ahead of time. You’ll get to explore the hall of fame at your own pace with an audio guide that’s available in five languages.

Meet marine mammals, sharks, and starfish with tickets to SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium, and get a below-the-surface look at dozens of ocean ecosystems. Visit Doodle Reef, where kids can create their very own virtual sea creatures on a screen within a live display, then see blacktip reef sharks, sea turtles, and rays. Count all eight limbs on the giant Pacific octopus and test your marine knowledge on the aquarium’s quiz trail. Then, get a front row seat at a thrilling feeding frenzy.

Experience the ultimate thrill in Sin City with an exhilarating open-air plunge from SkyJump Las Vegas. From 829 feet (253 meters) above the Las Vegas Strip, you'll dive off the STRAT Tower, racing toward a landing pad at speeds of up to 40 mph (63 kph).

Take a step back in time on this docent-led tour of the Hearthstone Historic House Museum in Appleton. It’s the first house in the world that was lit by a Thomas Edison central hydroelectric power station; see the original fixtures inside the house for yourself. As you tour the rooms and educational exhibits, your docent shares fascinating stories about Appleton history.

Save money whilst enjoying access to Tampa's attractions with the Tampa Bay CityPASS. Ideal for travelers who want to see as much of the area as possible, choose from a selection of five attractions to visit. This includes Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, The Tropics Boat Tours, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Museum of Science & Innovation (MOSI), or Glazer Children's Museum.

Dive into America’s maritime history by securing your admission to Mystic Seaport ahead of time. Spend the day in a recreated 1870s seafaring village, climb aboard historic tall ships, and enjoy full access to the sprawling 19-acre (7.7-ha) campus and three tall ships. Parking onsite is included for convenience.

Uncover San Francisco’s haunted history on this thrilling ghost-hunting tour, complete with your own EMF detector. Explore eerie alleys, historic neighborhoods, and infamous sites like Gold Rush cemeteries and Chinatown’s old red-light district, while hearing chilling tales of paranormal activity, murders, and mysterious deaths. Perfect for thrill-seekers, this tour blends ghost stories with true crime and the city’s darker past.

Open year round, and one of the largest indoor water parks in the country, DreamWorks Indoor Water Park is a family-friendly destination located just a few miles from New York City—and this advance booking option enables a stress-free visiting experience. Book your tickets before you travel, and arrive at a time that works best for you. You can explore highlights like its many slides, indoor wave pool and more, all at your leisure.

Discover what life is like for Pennsylvania’s Amish community on this immersive, small-group tour. Step off the typical tourist trail when you venture to a working Amish farm, where you’ll see how cows are milked and will discover other aspects of farm life. Then, visit the studio of an Amish craftsman. Finally, drop by an Amish family home, where you can have the chance to relax and converse with members of the local community.

Avoid ticket lines at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum when you prebook your admission ticket. Learn about the history of blues, rock and soul music with the help of an included audio guide that adds depth to the museum’s exhibits. Delve into Memphis' musical legacy and learn all about the pioneers such as BB King and Muddy Waters who put Memphis on the map.

Learn about the history and culture of the Cherokee people with access to the Museum of the Cherokee People. Book your ticket in advance to guarantee entry, and then visit on your own schedule. The museum is full of informative and interactive exhibits that are both kid-friendly and engaging for adults.

A must-visit destination for football fans, Atlanta's College Football Hall of Fame offers three floors and over 95,000 square feet (8,825 square meters) of exhibition spaces—and this all-access pass makes exploring easy. Book before you travel to guarantee admission, and once inside, discover the 50-plus interactive options, from a virtual-reality quarterback experience and 47-yard football field to a football helmet installation and much more.

This restored French Quarter home built in 1831, includes a Federalist architectural façade, original operating open-hearth kitchen, urban slave quarters, and expansive courtyard. The Urban Enslavement Tour at Hermann-Grima House, looks at the experiences of those who were enslaved in an urban setting, how that differed from those enslaved in rural settings, and how the contributions of people of African descent have shaped New Orleans. Condé Nast Traveler voted it one of the best tours in New Orleans and the only tour listed from a museum. We believe that nothing tells a story like a home. In addition, the property’s 19th-century carriage house is home to the The Exchange Shop, originally founded in the 1881 by The Woman’s Exchange and one of the oldest women-led non-profits in the South.

Enjoy panoramic views of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and Puget Sound from the highest public viewing platform in the Pacific Northwest—the Sky View Observatory. Wrapped around the 73rd story of the Columbia Center, this 360-degree viewing platform is a great first stop for visitors who want to get acquainted with the city. While you’re there, a digital guide can help you plan your tour of Seattle.

Come aboard The USS Yorktown and hear the stories of the American Heroes who lived, died, and are still rumored to be here today. Commissioned in 1943, the “Fighting Lady” was once manned by over 3,000 people and designed to fight off enemies all over the globe during WWII. You will hear stories of their ultimate sacrifice and heroism as the people that once inhabited this ship dedicated their lives to the service of our country and to this great ship. This tour gives you exclusive night time access to areas of the ship that are closed to the public, including access to the flight deck after dark. Highlights may include: -Maritime Superstitions -Unusual Ship Christening -Captain Jocko Clark -Smokey Stover -Mysterious Sailor Disappearance

Learn about one of America’s most fascinating first ladies with this admission ticket to the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, Kentucky. It was the family home of the wife of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Take a self-guided tour of her childhood home to explore her story, which included controversy and tragedy.

Learn the history and craft of letterpress printing on a guided tour of Hatch Show Print, one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in the United States. This Hatch Show Print tour includes the opportunity to make your own commemorative souvenir poster, and offers a fascinating look at Nashville ephemera, including posters for the Grand Ole Opry, vaudeville, circuses, carnivals, and minstrel shows. Multiple tour times are available.

Discover one of the Windy City’s most spooky, gruesome destinations when you book advance tickets to the Medieval Torture Museum. Perfect for Halloween—or any other creepy-crawly occasion—this museum includes a wealth of information about medieval torture practices and devices, plus realistic models to add a macabre edge. Book tickets before you travel for a seamless visiting experience, and make use of an audio guide and included ghost-hunting app.

Experience New York City from a unique perspective at RiseNY, a simulation attraction that combines a bird's-eye view of the city with museum exhibit galleries. Soar over the five boroughs, experience all four seasons, and ring in the New Year year-round, while seated inside a 180-degree projection dome that gives the sensation of flight. Plus, discover New York history and culture in a fun way.

Sail back into history during this visit to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Enjoy one of the world’s biggest collections of historic ocean vessels, including five ships and one submarines. You’ll view the USS Dolphin research submarine, the iconic Star of India and the HMS Surprise (star of the ‘Master and Commander’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean films’) among others. A fun collection kid-friendly exhibits, plus an on-site maritime research library, round out the experience.

Combine a visit to the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak with a trip on the Cog Railway with this tour from Denver. Your driver will pick you up at Union Station and take you to the Garden of the Gods, where you'll explore for a bit before taking the railway up to Pikes Peak. You'll then have time to visit Manitou Springs before returning to Denver.

Guarantee your spot at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” when you book your ticket in advance. See more than 250 recovered items from the sunken ocean liner on display, including luggage and an unopened bottle of Champagne found among the wreckage. Learn the stories of passengers on the doomed 1912 maiden voyage and see replicas of the ship’s opulent Grand Staircase and cabins, plus a large piece of its original hull.

Explore a unique piece of Las Vegas history on a visit to the Neon Museum. Also known as the Neon Boneyard, avoid disappointment from crowd control measures and nighttime popularity when you book your ticket in advance. See more than 200 unrestored and 27 fully restored and illuminated signs, and enjoy a walk down memory lane, Vegas style.

This hard-to-get ticket gives you timed access to the observation deck. From the top, enjoy 360-degree views and a unique, top-down perspective of the city's major buildings and monuments. With the help of an exclusive guidebook, take in sweeping skyline views of the nation’s capital, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Potomac River, the Pentagon, Washington National Cathedral, and Arlington Cemetery. The iconic Washington Monument honors George Washington, the first President of the United States, and rises 555 feet above the National Mall. Built from marble, granite, and bluestone, it represents the strength and unity of the country and remains one of the most visited attractions in Washington, DC. Upgrade your ticket to include a small-group walking tour through the National Mall Memorials led by an expert local guide and make the most of your visit to Washington, DC.