USA attractions

The Manhattan skyline is New York City’s shining beacon, designed to impress and inspire. It’s one of the most instantly recognizable backdrops, immortalized in countless films, and features historical fixtures such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, as well as modern masterpieces like One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue. See it sparkle from vantage points in New York and New Jersey.

In a city famous for its architecture, Marina City still stands out. The Chicago landmark features two concrete towers whose grooved surfaces are reminiscent of corn on the cob, and which once numbered among the tallest high-rises in the world. Today, the mixed-use residential and commercial space contains restaurants, bars, apartments, and shops, and is an unmissable part of the Chicago skyline.

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.

Greenwich Village is a popular downtown Manhattan neighborhood known for its cobblestone streets, historic brownstones, and charming feel. Formerly a hub of 1960s counterculture, the Village is home to arts organizations such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and Film Forum, LGBTQ+ landmarks such as the Stonewall Inn, and New York University. Today, it additionally boasts a range of upscale shops, destination restaurants, and lively bars.

Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park, nestled just off the famed Hana Highway (around mile marker 22.5), offers travelers a refreshing rainforest stop on the Road to Hana. This compact rest area features a paved trail that leads to a scenic waterfall and plunge pool framed by lush tropical foliage. With picnic tables and restrooms, it’s a convenient and relaxing stop for those seeking a break in nature without straying far from their journey.

At the Cave of the Winds observation decks, thrill-seeking visitors can get within 20 feet (6 meters) of the thundering Niagara Falls. This is one of the closest ways to experience the natural wonder, and feels like the inside of a tropical storm, with torrents of water and winds of up to 68 mph (109 kph). Safe to say, you should prepare to get wet.

Situated right on Biscayne Bay, the open-air, 2-story Bayside Marketplace is one of downtown Miami's most popular shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations. It's home to dozens of shops, selling everything from apparel and watches to cosmetics. It also offers a wide range of dining options, while its proximity to highlights, including the Skyviews Miami Ferris wheel, makes it a popular stop for families.

Spanning 1,000-plus acres (412 hectares) between Haight-Ashbury and Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park is one of the city’s largest and most popular green spaces. The park is home to museums, botanical gardens, hiking and biking paths, and more. From the attraction-laden east end to the wilder west side where bison roam, the park offers plenty of ways to relax, get a culture fix, exercise, or gather with friends.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial lies on the National Mall in Washington DC, on the edge of the Tidal Basin. The sprawling site comprises four distinct parts, portraying each of the 32nd president’s terms in office. Bronze sculptures and quotes engraved into the stone walls take visitors on a journey through FDR’s presidency and era.

This Oahu landmark is an active US Coast Guard lighthouse on the eastern tip of the island. It features a popular 2-mile (3-kilometer) paved hike that offers scenic views of the ocean and nearby islands, and it’s a great place for whale sightings during the winter months. The lighthouse itself is fully automated, with one of the largest Fresnel lenses in the country.

Located in the heart of New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter, the French Market is one of the oldest continuously operating open-air markets in the United States, making it a part of living Louisiana history. In addition to hosting vendors who sell everything from handmade goods to artisanal foods, the French Market also comprises a daily flea market, as well as a farmers market.

The easily recognizable spire of One World Trade Center stands 1,776 feet (541 meters) high; it’s currently the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and boasts one of New York City’s most incredible observation decks. Ride an elevator up 102 stories to see panoramic views of Manhattan, and don’t miss interactive exhibits within the observatory.

One of the most recognizable pieces of American revolutionary history (thanks in part to its famous crack), the Liberty Bell represents freedom in the city where the Declaration of Independence was drafted. Today, the Philadelphia icon is located within the free-to-visit Liberty Bell Center, a highlight of Independence National Historical Park and home to exhibits in addition to the bell itself.

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.

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.

Dating from 1729, Boston’s Old South Meeting House was a congregational church and a gathering place for protestors who sparked the American Revolution with the 1773 Boston Tea Party. A key site on Boston’s Freedom Trail, the brick building is now a museum where visitors can chart the beginnings of the country’s 1776 revolution.

With its chaotic crowds, neon lights, and video billboards, Times Square is one of New York City’s best-known landmarks. It’s near many of the Big Apple’s famous theaters and hosts the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop—an essential Manhattan experience. Whether you thrive in crowds or would rather avoid them, you should experience the NYC area at least once.

Despite its name, San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood does not border the water and has no sandy spots. But its position between Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and the Embarcadero makes it one of the city’s most popular areas for visitors and locals who are drawn to its Italian eateries, scenic parks, and nightlife scene. A stop here is essential for history buffs, literature lovers, and club-goers visiting San Francisco.

Flowing east from its source in West Virginia to where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River is rich in American history and lore. Known as "Our Nation's River," it passes the Mount Vernon, birthplace of George Washington, and the capital city of Washington DC. It also once marked the border between the Union and Confederacy, making it an important landmark from the American Civil War.

Towering high above the Grand Canyon, the South Rim offers fantastic views of the natural wonder and is one of the most convenient spots to start exploring the national park. You can get your bearings (and pick up maps) at the South Rim Visitor Center, take in vistas from different viewpoints, or hike along the popular Rim Trail or challenging Hermit Trail.

The focal point of Bethesda Terrace, this landmark fountain—one of the largest water features in New York City—is known for its bronze statue of a winged angel, which has been a Central Park landmark for around 150 years and has appeared in countless movies and television shows. Admire the fountain from the upper level of the terrace above the Arcade, or relax next to its grand lower basin fountain and people watch.

Located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku in the Hawaiian language) is the most accessible lava tube on the Big Island. Discovered in 1913, this 500-year-old tube was created by subterranean magma that once flowed through this section of ground. Today, the tube is illuminated to create an eerie glow for visitors.

Seattle’s landmark Space Needle, one of the most distinctive icons in the Pacific Northwest, rises 605 feet (184 meters) above the city. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, and once the tallest structure in the western US, the tower features indoor and outdoor observation decks offering 360-degree views over the Seattle skyline and surrounding mountains.

Situated on the northern end of Hawaii’s Big Island, Waimea (aka Kamuela) is the center of Hawaiian cowboy (paniolo) country. This historic area is filled with rolling green hills, endless open pastures, and spectacular valleys. With its fabulous scenery, bucolic vibes, and great local food, Waimea is one of the Big Island’s top tourist towns—it’s also the island’s north side hub.

Located on the east coast of Oahu, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts is set in the shadow of the Koʻolau Range. Having started as a roadside stand, today you’ll find a family-owned shop that sells locally grown macadamia nuts and products. A regular stop along many circle-island tours, and equally popular among locals, a visit here offers a unique and delicious taste of Hawaii.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s most prestigious art collections. Five million annual visitors stroll the Met’s 17 acres (6.9 hectares) of gallery space, gazing upon pieces representing 5,000 years of art and human history. From Egyptian tombs to American abstract expressionist paintings, the museum’s permanent collection has more than 2 million objects.

LaLaurie Mansion is not your regular tourist attraction in New Orleans. Also known as LaLaurie House, this French Quarter spot has a particularly gruesome past that involves torture, murder, and acts of brutality. The house tends to attract horror and true crime buffs (especially after dark), as well as visitors who want to learn more about the property’s chilling history.

The peaceful green fields of Arlington National Cemetery are lined with neat rows of simple white grave markers, shaded by towering oaks and maples. It’s a serene spot to commemorate and remember the lives of American soldiers, but it’s also a place of education and historic significance. Immaculately uniformed Sentinels guard the grand Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, adding an extra layer of ceremony.

Centered around the grand, gold-domed Massachusetts State House and hemmed in by the scenic parklands of Boston Common and the Charles River Esplanade, Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood is reminiscent of 19th-century London—replete with cobbled streets, brownstone buildings, and flower-filled window boxes. At night, gas lanterns flicker to life, creating a romantic atmosphere for fine dining and bar-hopping.

Forsyth Park, in the middle of historic downtown Savannah, has been a key city landmark since the mid-1800s—it’s the city’s oldest and largest park. Named after the 33rd governor of Georgia, John Forsyth, the park is known for its large Parisian-style fountain and its plethora of stately oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. If there’s one place to experience postcard-perfect Savannah, it’s right here.