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.
Part of the Wildlands Conservancy group of California nature preserves, Mission Creek Preserve spans more than 4,700 acres between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. In addition to the typical arid landscape of the desert, the preserve features a patch of wetlands and is home to wildlife such as deer, bears, and bighorn sheep.
Set in a schoolyard in East Harlem, this open-air gallery of street art has been a New York City cultural institution for over four decades. Established back in 1980 by a pair of graffiti artists, it once served as a meet-up and practice space for emerging talents. Today, the Graffiti Hall of Fame is a canvas for international street-art stars.
Founded in 2018, Glacier 45 Distillery produces all-natural vodkas in a range of flavors—think blood orange, hot cinnamon, cucumber, huckleberry, and more—plus gin and bourbon whiskey. You can try it for yourself at its tasting room in downtown Baker City, Oregon.
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.
The Amache National Historic Site is a solemn reminder of a dark chapter in American history—the unjust internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. Located in Granada Colorado, it's a poignant memorial and educational resource to honor the resilience of those who endured this injustice.
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.
If you’re looking for guaranteed pink flamingo sightings, a trip out to Celustun is your best bet. There’s a pleasant enough beach where you can spread out a blanket, look for shells, or go swimming, but the main reason to visit is to hire a boat captain to take your party out on a flamingo tour. You head into a lagoon area where the big pink birds hang out each day, flying around and settling down in shallow areas in large groups to look for food. It’s rare to come here and not see a few dozen flamingoes in bunches as you troll around on the boat. The tour also usually includes a “petrified forest” with mangrove stumps sticking out of the mud and a visit to a swimming hole on land filled by cool, clear spring water. It’s a great place to cool off from the viewing time in the hot sun. Afterwards there are a variety of inexpensive seafood restaurants near the beach and town square, all serving shrimp ceviche, fresh-caught fish from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold beer or margaritas.
Franklin Mountains State Park offers exquisite desert landscapes, rugged mountain trails, and acres of exploration just north of El Paso, Texas. Popular for hiking, biking, and rock climbing, it features over 100 miles (160 kilometers) of trails of varying difficulty levels. Visitors can also enjoy relaxing views, wildlife spotting, and stargazing. And with nice weather year-round, this spot is always in season.
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.
Established back in the mid-1980s in Long Island City, Socrates Sculpture Park boasts an open-air collection of sculptures overlooking the East River. This outdoor museum is popular with photography lovers—the Manhattan skyline makes for a stunning backdrop—while its green spaces and walking paths offer a relaxing escape from the bustle of the Big Apple.
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.
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.
Artists without formal training produced the 7,000-plus works in the collection at the American Folk Art Museum, New York City’s only museum dedicated to folk and self-taught artists. The permanent collection—spanning four centuries and many mediums, from paintings and photographs to sculptures and textiles—portrays everyday American life. Diverse exhibitions change every few months.
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.
Most zoos showcase animals from around the world, but Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (ZOOMAT) focuses on the flora and fauna of Chiapas, the second most biodiverse state in Mexico. Many animals are kept in naturalistic, open-air enclosures while others roam free, making ZOOMAT more like a national park than a traditional zoo.
Located in Battery City Park in Lower Manhattan, the Irish Hunger Memorial is dedicated to over a million lives lost during the great Irish famine of the mid-1800s, when hundreds of thousands of immigrants fled Ireland for New York. The distinctive design—with the stone ruins of a famine-era cottage and thick, marshy grass— is meant to evoke the Irish landscape.
Beside the lower station of the Whistler Village Gondola, this spacious chalet-style bar and restaurant is a popular après-ski spot. The roaring fire provides comfort and warmth after a day on the slopes. In summer, hikers coming down off the mountains are drawn to the large patio, which offers views of the surrounding peaks.
Like other Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the Washington DC branch of the megachain has plenty of rock ’n’ roll–themed memorabilia, along with regular live music performances. In an ode to their surroundings, however, this branch has a few localized decor features, with the words "Embassy of Rock" emblazoned on a mezzanine wall.
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.
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.
Granting travelers passage through the rugged Canadian Rockies for centuries, Yellowhead Pass began as trade thoroughfare and today is a National Historic Site and a popular roadside stop. In addition to a plaque noting its historical significance, the site provides road-trippers with views of Mount Robson and the Fraser River Valley.
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is a military museum located in a former barracks in London, Ontario. While the museum is one of the oldest in Canada, its interactive displays are compelling and current, making it one of Canada’s hidden gems.
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.
Perfect for fans of the long-running TV show, The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in New York City invites visitors to step straight into the world of the sitcom. Across two floors, this immersive Manhattan attraction comprises numerous recreated sets, plus a collection of original props and costumes. It even features a working replica of Central Perk, where you can sit down with your own friends over a cup of coffee.
Step into the world of Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey—and recreate scenes from everyone’s favorite TV show—at The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Vegas. Based at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, this immersive attraction is perfect for long-time fans of the series. Explore recreated film sets, discover replica props (including the orange couch), and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities.
