USA attractions

Developed in the 1920s, Tudor City was one of Manhattan’s first residential complexes. A peaceful area bordering the East River in Midtown, the neighborhood is known for its distinctive European-looking architecture featuring Tudor-inspired stone and brick facades. There’s not much by way of attractions here (other than the United Nations Headquarters, located nearby), but Tudor City is popular with history and architecture buffs.

Raquette is a scenic lake in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. A long-time getaway for well-to-do New Yorkers, the lake is a popular summer cool-down spot with boatloads of outdoor recreation, including swimming, boating, scenic cruises, fishing, and hiking. With 99 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline, Raquette is the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks.

Spanning genres and media, the David Zwirner Gallery specializes in cutting-edge contemporary art in the heart of Chelsea. You’ll find an ever-changing roster of paintings, sculptures, and other works at this sleek gallery, which has several locations in NYC as well as outposts in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, and Paris. But be quick—the shows here usually last only a month or two.

Rainbow flags, painted flower stencils, and an eclectic montage of paper lanterns welcome you to the Cubbyhole, one of just a handful of lesbian bars left in New York City. Starting life as DT’s Fat Cat in 1987, it changed into the Cubbyhole in 1994, continuing to be a safe haven for LGBTQ+ folks and anyone else who wants to swing by.

Pier 45 is no longer in the boat game—it’s now a 900-foot (275-meter) promenade that’s essentially a waterfront lawn, with shade structures, seating areas, and plenty of live music when the sun is shining. For a free afternoon in NYC, this spot in Hudson River Park offers an ideal break from the hustle of the city.

One of DC’s key historical churches, the Church of the Epiphany has been a place of worship since 1842, and is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. Once frequented by figures such as President Abraham Lincoln and known for its Civil War associations, the church is just a few blocks from the White House.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center is an expansive 83-acre (33.6-hectare) arts complex featuring museums, themed gardens, and performance spaces. The site on Staten Island was once a home for retired sailors, but now hosts art exhibitions at the Newhouse Center, concerts, and festivals. Come here to explore the beautiful landscapes, learn about maritime history, and enjoy cultural events.

While most people associate Oregon wine with the lush Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge region, the mineral-rich soils in parts of Eastern Oregon are great for wine-growing, too. The people behind Copper Belt Winery in Baker City know this, and the winery is celebrated for producing a huge range of delicious wines from grapes grown in higher elevations.

Don’t just take the Staten Island Ferry for the views—get off and explore a site with centuries of history. Now an excellent public park, Fort Wadsworth was a British stronghold until 1783. Nowadays, it’s less about cannons and more about walking, biking, and jogging, as well as learning a bit about New York’s past.

Overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx, Wave Hill is both a public garden and a cultural center. Spanning 28 acres (11 hectares) of lush gardens and woodlands, the site is also home to an art gallery, and it offers a wide range of programs, including walks, talks, workshops, nature and art programs, live performances, and seasonal events.

Blue Cypress Lake—located in Florida’s Indian River County, which is part of the region known as the Treasure Coast—offers stunning natural beauty with cypress trees that rise up from the water. The lake attracts visitors interested in fishing, kayaking, bird-watching, and wildlife photography. It's particularly famous for its large osprey population, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts.

The Cutting Room is an intimate concert and events venue, known for its cozy, cabaret-like vibe. Founded by the actor Chris Noth—of Sex and the City fame—back in 1999 at a different Manhattan location, it reopened at 44 East 32nd Street in 2013. Its stage hosts an eclectic mix of artists, from chart-topping musicians to emerging acts.

Van Cortlandt Park is New York City’s third-largest park. Located in the northwest Bronx, its thickly forested interior valleys and ridges are flanked by sports fields, a pool, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities. Containing some of New York City’s last remaining native woodlands and wetlands, it’s an ideal place to hike and get outdoors without going too far from the city.

Step back in time at the Meux Home Museum, which showcases what life was like in the 1800s for the wealthy. This Fresno historical mansion once belonged to a Civil War–era surgeon and his family, and it features original, Victorian-style decor and furnishings throughout.

While Central Park might be New York City’s most famous park, Pelham Bay Park is its largest, at more than three times bigger than its Manhattan counterpart. Located on the city’s outskirts, it has sports fields, historic sites, golf courses, playgrounds, hiking trails, the Bronx’s only public beach at Orchard Beach, and more.

A magnet for locals in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, this sprawling park is beloved for its lush surroundings and vibrant community events. It stands at the site of a fort that was built during the Revolutionary War and rebuilt during the War of 1812.