USA attractions

The immersive Illuminarium Las Vegas transports visitors into stunning visual worlds. Featuring projections and in-floor haptics, its innovative experiences have themes ranging from rock history to a journey through the solar system. Ideal for families, this attraction offers a fun alternative to the usual Las Vegas entertainment options.

The Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, California, are a network of underground rooms, courtyards, and passageways built in the early 1900s by Baldassare Forestiere that are just as impressive today as they were way back when. Trees, shrubs, and vines still grow throughout, making for quite the sight next to the garden’s massive stone walls.

You don't need to choose between splashing down water slides and braving thrill rides at Sam's Fun City in Pensacola. With more than 20 adrenaline-fueled rides, arcade games, and the on-site water park—Sam's Surf City—this Gulf Coast destination is an ideal family-friendly, sunny day adventure.

Commonly referred to simply as Higgs Beach, this stretch of sand on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West features the Reynolds Street Pier, a Civil War–era fort, and memorial sites. Visitors head here for swimming and snorkeling, as well as sunbathing, beach volleyball, tennis, and pickleball. Because of its fine sandy beaches and shallow water, Higgs Beach is considered ideal for families with small children.

Branson’s country music lovers find some of the best music in the region at the 210-seat Little Opry Theatre. The intimate performing arts space stages everything from original shows to classic tributes such as the Glen Campbell Songbook.

The smallest of Maui’s Kamaole Beach Parks, Kamaole Beach Park III attracts travelers looking to enjoy its beautiful beaches. Many come to sunbathe, swim, whale watch, and picnic, but it’s most popular among boogie boarders who enjoy the calmer water. Colorful, tropical fish and marine life fill the water near the beach, so Kamaole Beach Park III is also an ideal snorkeling pick.

Located at the site of the historic Woodstock concert, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization working to make the arts more accessible to a wider public. The sprawling cultural center encompasses a campground, an outdoor pavilion and music venue, a café open for breakfast and lunch, and a museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the original Woodstock festival.

The red sandstone Moss Mansion Historic House Museum and its tranquil grounds have been preserved to provide a time capsule of life in Billings, Montana, at the beginning of the 20th century. Originally built as the Moss family home in 1903 and inhabited until the 1980s, the mansion now holds historic exhibits, special events, and educational tours.

A serene haven for displaced or mistreated animals, the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center is home to wildlife from across the globe, ranging from Floridian bears and reptiles to monkeys and Bengal tigers. A morning or afternoon at the center is a fun and illuminating experience for visitors of all ages.

While most people have heard of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks are just as spectacular. Within their ranks hide fabulous high-elevation lakes, of which Cottonwood Lake is one of the best. Popular with hikers, anglers, campers, and more, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water, overnight thrills in the wild, and endless exploration.

In a city with tens of thousands of eateries, it’s hard to stand out—and yet, New York City’s Tavern on the Green may just be the Big Apple’s best-known restaurant. Located in Central Park overlooking the Sheep Meadow, Tavern on the Green has been a destination for well-heeled New Yorkers and visitors since 1934, and it remains a staple today.

The Oaklands Mansion is a plantation home and museum in Murfreesboro, outside of Nashville. Learn about the Maney family, who lived here before and during the Civil War; see the rooms, decorated as they would have been over a century ago; and enjoy the arboretum, lush trails, and heritage gardens.

A favorite haunt for garden enthusiasts, nature lovers, and families, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of the premier outdoor attractions in Columbus. Explore its 40 acres (16 hectares) of lush gardens and greenhouses, home to hundreds of species of plants, flowers, and trees, its elegant 19th-century palm house, and the children’s garden. Visitors can also admire rotating installations from the largest private collection of Dale Chihuly glass artwork in a botanical garden.

Covering 39 acres (16 hectares), Queens Botanical Garden is an often-overlooked oasis within Queens, a borough of New York across the East River from Manhattan. Composed of themed areas, such as roses and herbs, the garden offers a restorative escape from the city and boasts historical roots, having originated as an exhibition at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Arguably the world’s most famous coffee chain, Starbucks got its start in 1971 in downtown Seattle—it’s one of the reasons the city is synonymous with coffee. There’s often a line out the door at what’s called the original location, with coffee drinkers eager to say they’ve had a cup of joe at the birthplace of a worldwide phenomenon.

One of Frederick’s most eye-catching landmarks, this downtown church was constructed in a Gothic Revival style back in 1854, and was founded over a century earlier, in 1738. Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church is still an active site of worship, and also presents organ concerts and other events.

The Smithsonian-affiliated Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center is the perfect meditative blend of natural forest, manicured landscape, and human-sculpted abstract art. Set in a leafy peninsular nook between the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay, the 30-acre (12-hectare) center contains dozens of permanent fixtures as well as installations on loan from the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

California’s second largest city is an appealing destination for vacationing cruisers in search of a beach break, outdoor recreation, diverse cultural experiences, and lots of sunshine. In fact, you can expect around 300 days of sunshine yearly in this southern California port city that shares a border with Mexico.

No one’s quite sure whether Kolob Arch is the second, fourth, or maybe sixth-longest arch in the world, but at 287 feet, it’s undoubtedly one of the most impressive. Situated in the northwestern backcountry of Zion National Park, to reach it requires a 7-mile, one-way pilgrimage through the park’s rugged red-rock wilderness—a worthwhile trek indeed.

Many who take a cruise around Southern California will make a stop in sunny Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Cruise Port is right in the heart of town on Cabrillo Boulevard, within walking distance of all sorts of local attractions. It’s an easy walk to the bottom of State Street, the main thoroughfare through town.

Old Alabama Town gives visitors a glimpse into the state’s past. The village features authentic 19th- and early 20th-century homes and buildings that have been saved from demolition, carefully restored, and reopened to the public as a history museum. You’ll get a good feel for how people used to live and work in Central Alabama.

Once a 2,000-acre cotton plantation, Rose Hill is one of the best-preserved plantation houses in the South—one with a dark, storied past. Today, the former plantation is a 44-acre state historic site, offering visitors a chance to walk halls and trails of Southern history, peek into the 19th century, and learn about life for freedmen and the enslaved during the Civil War.

A must for animal lovers of all ages, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo is home to around 400 creatures belonging to 100 species. The enclosures mirror the natural habitats of the animals, enhancing the wellbeing of the animals and making for a pleasant visitor experience. You’ll spot sea lions, Himalayan red pandas, Australian dingoes, and more.

Texas-sized stories get their due at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in Texas. Permanent collections cover topics from paleontology and petroleum to Native Americans and early pioneers. Whether you’re a fan of vintage cars, excited about Southwestern art, or drawn to the recreated village of an old-time Texas town, this landmark museum is full of surprises.

Spanning the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is better known by another name: Bob the Bridge. At 3,000 feet (914 meters) long, “Bob” is no small high-wire act, connecting walkers, cyclists, and runners to more than 150 miles of nature trails and excellent, easy-access views of the Omaha skyline.

With a history dating back to 1863, Saratoga Race Course is the oldest horse racing track in the US. Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Race Course is one of the premier institutions for thoroughbred racing and a popular destination during its summer racing season.

The Frederick Heritage Society has been documenting the town’s history for well over a century. At the Museum of Frederick County History, visitors can learn more about the picturesque, colonial-era Maryland town through multiple temporary exhibits. Shows focus on everything from local artists (including America’s first Black portrait artist), the county’s traditional decorative arts, and the Maryland families who helped shape generations of Frederick history.

The Alchemist Brewery calls a town known for its skiing and beer culture home. The family-owned Alchemist Brewery specializes in fresh, unfiltered IPAs. With spaces for beer lovers inside the brewery and on its grounds, and almost daily tours, a visit to this Vermont favorite is a must.

The El Paso Public Library, established in 1895, is one of the oldest public libraries in Texas. It offers a rich collection of books, digital resources, and community programs, including literacy classes and cultural events. With multiple branches, it serves as a vibrant hub for learning, creativity, and connection, fostering growth and knowledge for El Paso's diverse community.

Learn about the French and Indian War with a visit to the Fort William Henry Museum. This historic battle site and fort is now a busy museum that offers visitors the chance to see wartime relics, attend live military arms demonstrations, and enjoy daily talks, programs, and tours.