13 Don’t-Miss Bucket List Experiences in the US
If you have a travel bucket list, you're steps ahead of most travelers. And, if you have a US trip on the horizon, you're in luck. It’s here, after all, that majestic nature, world-class cities, and stirring history create a grade-A recipe for experiences to take part in before, well, kicking the bucket. You'll want to pay respects to the Statue of Liberty and visit the Grand Canyon, but have you considered swimming with manta rays or admiring the Lincoln Memorial at night? These bucket-list experiences will have you shouting "America the Beautiful" all the way home.
1. Visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial
Learn about one of the most fascinating—and troubling—periods of American history on this walking tour of historic Salem, Massachusetts, the site of 17th-century witch trials. Reliving the witch trial hysteria may or may not be on your bucket list, but visiting the Salem Witch Trials Memorial on this night-time, lantern-led tour should be.
2. Pay a visit to emblematic New York monuments
What's a US bucket list without the Statue of Liberty? Kick off your once-in-a-lifetime trip with an experience that gets you up close and personal with the statue that still welcomes immigrants to America and learn the stories of the "poor and huddled masses" who have passed through Ellis Island over the centuries. Top it off with a ferry ride through New York Harbor.
3. Get up close and personal to the American side of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of the most iconic natural wonders in the US. With this bucket-list experience, feel the rush of the fall's power from a distance at an observation tower. Then, get as close as (safely) possible in two ways: by boat on the Maid of the Mist and by land at the Cave of the Winds.
4. Travel through the Wild West on a vintage train in Arizona
Sadly, American train travel had its heyday long ago—but you can relive it with this Grand Canyon railway adventure package. Board your train in Williams, Arizona, and ride to the Grand Canyon, listening to the crew share folklore and play music along the way. Opt for a narrated tour of the Grand Canyon Rim before riding the train back to Williams.
5. Catch Chicago’s best views
The best way to discover the Windy City is an architecture tour down the Chicago River. Cover more than 130 years of Chicago history in under a couple of hours with this convenient river cruise past some of the most distinctive architecture in the US, including Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
6. Gaze at Washington DC’s Lincoln Memorial illuminated at night
There are many must-see memorials in the US, but none more legendary than those in Washington DC, the nation's capital. Ride a luxury minibus past the city's major historical landmarks at night when they're ablaze in light. See the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the US Capitol, and others.
7. Watch whales breach in Alaskan waters
Don’t miss seeing the vast and wild nature of Alaska—but do so safely from viewing platforms and boat cabin decks on this glacier and whale-watching tour. See the Mendenhall Glacier, one of Juneau's most soul-stirring natural wonders, from view decks and viewing platforms, then set sail in search of humpback whales, bald eagles, and herons along the coast.
8. Parasail above the scenic Hawaiian coast
The US isn't just about thrills and games, but you should include them on your bucket list. With this adventurous parasail flight, cruise off the coast of Waikiki, buckle in your harness, and soar at least 500 feet (152 meters) above Oahu's south shore coast waters.
9. Swim with manta rays at night in Hawaii
After parasailing above the ocean near Oahu, put on your snorkeling gear and swim with manta rays under cover of darkness. Cruise out to a site off the Big Island where the rays gather, catch a Hawaiian sunset, and swim with the graceful giants. Enjoy admiring them as they feed and interact with other sea creatures as diving lights shine down from the surface.
10. Off-road through the Mojave Desert in Nevada
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—but when the party's over, it's best to get out of town and ride off into the desert. After meeting on the Las Vegas Strip, head out to the Mojave Desert. Hop on your own all-terrain vehicle and hit off-road trails around a private track near the Lake Mead Recreation Area.
11. Ride through Louisiana swamp country
Experience the New Orleans Bayou, a body of water quintessential to the American South, with this airboat ride through the cypress swamps near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, named after a 19th‐century pirate. If you visit during summer, expect to see plenty of alligators sunning or swimming in the water—a quintessentially American experience.
12. Escape into nature in the American Southwest
Embrace the rugged beauty of the US with this 3-day National Park adventure in the American Southwest. See magical desert landscapes and sublime rock formations in Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. You can even drive through Monument Valley with a Navajo guide and fly above the Grand Canyon’s South Rim on a helicopter.
13. Camp overnight in Yosemite National Park
Speaking of the great American outdoors, don’t leave Yosemite National Park, the grandest of them all, off your list. This camping experience combines both camping and exploring the delights of this famed park. See Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, hike through the Yosemite "high country," walk among giant sequoia trees, and spend two nights in a tent before returning to San Francisco, California.
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