North America attractions

Spanning five city blocks, the Fremont Street Experience is a massive outdoor shopping and entertainment district and home to Las Vegas’ very first freestanding casino building. Visitors come here for its 10 casinos, plenty of restaurants, and daily free concerts and live entertainment. It’s also notable for the famous Viva Vision canopy, a nightly music and light show projected onto a huge overhead canopy screen.

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers visitors a front-row seat to the region’s striking natural beauty. Home to everything from lush rainforest and the Halemaumau Crater to lava tubes and rolling black lava fields—where hot steam still rises from fissures and rifts that dot the rugged landscape—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must on the Big Island.

With unparalleled access to the Caribbean Sea and all of its bounty, a trip to Xcaret is a must when visiting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Snorkeling, ziplining, river rafting, exploring underwater rivers, and hiking tropical trails through jungle ruins are all options within this natural adventure park, which gives fast access to many of Cancun’s greatest attractions.

One of the highest waterfalls in North America and the world, this superstar attraction in Yosemite National Park is made up of three falls with a cumulative drop of 2,425 feet (739 meters). It’s especially stunning in late spring when the snow melts, and water flow is at its peak. Most visitors take in this natural marvel from easily accessible viewpoints, but adventurous hikers can climb the historic trail to the top.

Named for its frequent and predictable eruptions, Old Faithful Geyser is the gold standard of geysers and a star attraction of Yellowstone National Park. The steaming, multicolored pool looks impressive even when dormant, but it’s worth sticking around to see the spectacle: The geyser erupts around every 1–2 hours, shooting boiling water up to 180 feet (55 meters) in the air.

This vast archive in Washington DC is not only the national library of the United States, but the world’s largest library. It houses the country’s most important historical documents—all 160 million of them. Maps, manuscripts, films, and rare prints comprise part of the collection, while 25 million books alone line miles of bookshelves in three different buildings, though many are not on public display.

Occupying an entire city block, New York City St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a neo-Gothic masterpiece in the heart of Manhattan’s midtown neighborhood. The cathedral’s soaring 330-foot (100-meter) spires stand out among the steel and glass skyscrapers of Midtown, and each year it beckons more than five million visitors inside with its arches, altars, a colossal organ, and intricate stained-glass windows.

The Sunset Strip, a storied stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, first became famous as an old-Hollywood hangout, then as the center of the rock and roll music scene. Today, the 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) strip, which extends east–west from Beverly Hills to Hollywood, is lined end to end with several legendary 20th-century venues—plus comedy clubs, upscale shops and restaurants, and rooftop bars with stellar city views.

The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the wreckage of the USS Arizona—a United States battleship that was attacked in Pearl Harbor during World War II. Today, the memorial commemorates the final resting place of those who perished there and features a marble wall etched with the names of those who served onboard. It also has openings looking down through the water to the sunken battleship below.

The Bahia de Cabo San Lucas (Bay of Cabo San Lucas) is the cape’s hub for water sports and beach activities such as jet skiing, kayaking, waterskiing, parasailing, and more. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, the bay is lined with scenic stretches of sand and swimmable beaches, with Medano Beach being the safest and most popular in Cabo San Lucas.

Carved over time by the Virgin River, Zion National Park is a remarkable 148,000-acre (59,900-hectare) stretch of white, pink, and red rock formations in southern Utah’s canyon country. The state’s first national park draws hikers, birders, and nature lovers with its slot canyon walls and diversity of wildlife.

Yankee Stadium is more than just a ballpark—it’s a symbol of New York pride. (The current structure replaced the old-time original in 2009.) Whether you’re catching a game or touring the venue’s halls, visiting offers a chance to experience baseball’s past and its energetic present. With towering grandstands, fan-filled concourses, and tributes to legends such as Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter, this is a must-see for sports fans and anyone curious about NYC’s cultural heartbeat.

Visitors flock to Coit Tower to take in views of downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge. With its perch atop Telegraph Hill in Pioneer Park, the 210-foot-high (64-meter) tower offers some of the best photo ops in the city. This 1933 landmark also draws art buffs with its cycle of lobby murals depicting life in early 20th-century California, painted by artists as part of Roosevelt’s Public Works of Art Project.

Renowned for its powerful shore breaks, Sandy Beach Park is one of Oahu’s most popular bodyboarding destinations. However, it is colloquially known as “Break Neck Beach” for good reason, so novices should avoid the beach’s treacherous waters and soak up the sun on its long stretch of fine white sand.

One of the most popular waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii, Rainbow Falls is loved for its easy access and the rainbows that frequently hang over the falls on misty mornings. The Wailuku River, which powers the falls, varies dramatically based on rain, but this 80-foot (24-meter) cascade and its uber-lush environs wow visitors whether it’s a thundering torrent or delicate trickle.

Along with the White House and US Capitol, the Supreme Court ranks among Washington DC’s most significant, iconic landmarks. Founded in 1789 and now housed in a neoclassical building that dates to 1935, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and visitors are welcome to visit (even when court is in session).

One of the most-visited destinations in San Francisco, the multilevel Pier 39 complex is home to shops, restaurants, street performers, and a video arcade. Many boat tours depart from the pier daily, making it a key stop on the tourist circuit. Its location on the San Francisco Bay means visitors can also admire panoramic views and even watch sunbathing California sea lions.

With steep emerald cliffs, lush valleys, and remote cascading waterfalls, the Na Pali Coast is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful regions, and no trip to the island of Kauai is complete without a visit to this magical coastline. There are only three ways to explore the Na Pali Coast—by air, by sea, and on foot—and each offers its own unique perspective.

Across the bay from downtown San Diego, the small resort town of Coronado, with its wide sandy coastline and tree-lined main street, is ideal for scenic strolls, browsing boutiques, or stopping for a bite to eat on Orange Avenue. Visitors also come here to relax on the beach or explore historical sights, or just to unwind and watch the sunset.

More than just one church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an expansive site on the edges of Mexico City, containing shrines, museums, and chapels. From the sweeping green copper roof of the modern basilica to the small, unique Capilla del Pocito (Chapel of the Well), the complex sprang up around the spot where the Virgen de Guadalupe is said to have appeared multiple times to a devout peasant.

Grand antebellum homes and historic plazas lined with live oaks are just some of the sights that define Savannah’s Historic District. Considered the heart of the city, the Historic District is not only the centerpiece of a Savannah vacation but also where visitors will find a high concentration of bars, restaurants, and historic attractions. If there’s one Savannah district not to miss, it’s this one.

Located in the city’s North End and built around 1680, the Paul Revere House is the oldest residence in downtown Boston. It’s famous for being the house that industrialist and military officer Revere left from in 1775 on the night of his famous “midnight ride” to warn his compatriots that the British were coming to arrest them. The building now serves as a house museum alongside the adjacent Pierce-Hichborn House.

Playa Norte (North Beach) is a relaxing stretch of white sand on Isla Mujeres, a small island off the Yucatan Peninsula. Isla Mujeres was once considered a sacred site devoted to a Maya goddess, and it earned its name—meaning Island of Women—when the Spanish discovered images of the goddess on the island. Today, the Caribbean waters of Playa Norte offer a laid-back alternative to bustling Cancun.

While Lake Mead may be the most famous landmark in the scenic Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the sprawling 1.5 million-acre (607,000-hectare) landscape features desert canyons, reservoirs, and mountains. Just driving through offers fabulous views, but the recreation area is also a hub for outdoor activities, such as kayaking, hiking, and off-roading. It’s all within day-tripping distance of Las Vegas, making adventures here accessible for anyone on shorter trips.

Just outside of Banff, Lake Minnewanka is everything a mountain lake should be: crystal clear, glacier fed, and surrounded by alpine forests and imposing peaks. A visit to Lake Minnewanka is a perfect introduction to the beautiful Canadian Rockies. It’s also the only lake in Banff National Park that allows privately operated motorboats.

Home to the soaring rock faces, summits, and waterfalls that Yosemite National Park is famous for, “the valley” is the heart of the action. Its well-known sights include El Capitan and Half Dome, as well as Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls, and there are endless opportunities to enjoy hiking, climbing, photography, nature walks, and more.

Sprawling and stunning, San Diego’s Balboa Park is a nexus for culture, nature, history, and recreation. The various gardens are home to flora from around the world—from the eucalyptus-perfumed paths of the Australian Garden to the delicate magnolia and cherry blossoms of the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum. Hosting more than a dozen museums, assorted sports complexes, and attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is a must-visit.

Famous for its white sand beaches, photo-worthy art deco architecture, and carnival-like atmosphere, South Beach is Miami’s most iconic stretch of coastline. The area blends beach relaxation with a buzzing café culture, exciting nightlife options, and endless people-watching. With 10 miles (16 kilometers) of shoreline and oceanfront views, it’s one of the most glamorous and energetic beach destinations in the United States and a must-visit for those coming to Miami.

The Central Park Zoo is among the country’s oldest municipal zoos and one of the most-visited spots in the famous New York City green space. Located in the southeastern corner of Central Park, the zoo is home to more than 130 animal species, including red pandas, snow leopards, tufted puffins, and ruffed lemurs. Young visitors can also explore the Tisch Children’s Zoo, a petting zoo with farm animals.

A must-visit on any trip to Key West, the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA is the island’s most recognizable and photographed landmark. Just off the main Duval Street strip, the brightly painted concrete buoy marks the southern edge of the contiguous United States. A photo here has become a Key West tradition, with the buoy’s signature red-and-black designs echoed throughout the local souvenir shops.