USA attractions

Walking into the Hard Rock Cafe Pigeon Forge is like stepping into a rock-and-roll museum packed with fun music-legend memorabilia—except it also serves food. Choose from three dining areas, each honoring a music great—Dolly Parton, Jimi Hendrix, and Taylor Swift—with Swift's section featuring a stage for live music performances.

For a day of kid-friendly adventure in Amarillo, don't miss a visit to Wonderland Amusement Park, a seasonal, family-owned theme park brimming with rides, games, and activities for all ages. There's no shortage of amusements at the park, from coasters for adults, to kids-only rides, water slides, arcade games, and mini golf.

The DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace is a vibrant Duluth hub set in a historic building near Canal Park’s waterfront. It offers a mix of unique shops, cafés, and galleries, with a variety of dining options. It's a perfect spot to explore Duluth’s local culture, have a meal, and shop for one-of-a-kind items.

In a city with tens of thousands of eateries, it’s hard to stand out—and yet, New York City’s Tavern on the Green may just be the Big Apple’s best-known restaurant. Located in Central Park overlooking the Sheep Meadow, Tavern on the Green has been a destination for well-heeled New Yorkers and visitors since 1934, and it remains a staple today.

Queens is known for its multicultural population, which is reflected in its diverse food scene. The seasonal Queens Night Market, held in the grounds of the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is a great place to sample this local cuisine and is a must-visit for foodies. It operates from mid-April to mid-October.

Old Alabama Town gives visitors a glimpse into the state’s past. The village features authentic 19th- and early 20th-century homes and buildings that have been saved from demolition, carefully restored, and reopened to the public as a history museum. You’ll get a good feel for how people used to live and work in Central Alabama.

Colorful and creative, Bauhaus Brew Labs is named after a niche school of German architecture, which should tell you a lot of what you need to know about this eclectic, fun, and innovative space. Specializing in German beers, this spot in Minneapolis’ funky northeast side is a place to drink up, let loose, and fuel your creativity.

The Stedman-Thomas Historic District is one of Ketchikan’s oldest neighborhoods—and one of the most significant, serving as a hub for Asian and Pacific Islanders who worked for Alaska’s fishing industry in the first half of the 20th century. Complete with boardwalks and original restored buildings built on wooden pilings from the early 1900s, it’s one of the most visited areas in Ketchikan, especially for cruise ship passengers.

Commonly referred to simply as Higgs Beach, this stretch of sand on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West features the Reynolds Street Pier, a Civil War–era fort, and memorial sites. Visitors head here for swimming and snorkeling, as well as sunbathing, beach volleyball, tennis, and pickleball. Because of its fine sandy beaches and shallow water, Higgs Beach is considered ideal for families with small children.

While most people have heard of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks are just as spectacular. Within their ranks hide fabulous high-elevation lakes, of which Cottonwood Lake is one of the best. Popular with hikers, anglers, campers, and more, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water, overnight thrills in the wild, and endless exploration.

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.

Part of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument and White River National Forest, Quandary Peak is a mountain summit with an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,347 meters). It’s one of Colorado’s many 14er peaks, though it’s considered one of the least technical. Quandary Peak is easily accessible by car and seasonal shuttle bus from downtown Breckenridge.

Blue herons, snowy egrets, and spoonbills are just a few of the birds that make their homes and nests in swamp-wrapped Lake Martin. It’s no surprise that the Lake Martin Rookery is a big destination for bird-watchers, but there’s more to see here, as well. The rookery is part of the larger Cypress Island Preserve that encompasses ancient cypresses, bottomland hardwood forest, and plenty of lounging alligators.

This shrine to human flight holds enough vintage and modern aircraft to excite even the most seasoned aviation fans. Classic, antique, warbird, ultra-light, and unique aircraft spanning history from the Wright Brothers to modern NASA launches are the museum's claim to fame, plus an educational restoration center. Children will love the flight simulators and educational exhibits.

Shop vintage clothes, unique collectibles, and more at the weekly, seasonal Brooklyn Flea, one of the borough's largest flea markets. The primary location is in the Dumbo neighborhood, near the scenic Brooklyn waterfront. Browse records, antiques, homewares, jewelry, art, and more on a visit to this outdoor market. Located in the Dumbo Archway, Brooklyn Flea also offers a full bar.

Riverside Church offers a slice of 13th-century France standing tall in the Manhattan skyline. Modeled after a massive Gothic cathedral in the French town of Chartres, this 1930 church has a nearly 400-foot bell tower—the tallest in the US—along with impressive stained glass windows and an ornate pulpit that has been graced by speakers including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.

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.

Running from the Wisconsin–Michigan border in the north, the Wisconsin River courses for some 430 miles (692 kilometers), through the hilly Driftless Region and all the way to the Mississippi River. Ideal for rafting, paddling, fishing, and wildlife-watching, this waterway is a fine example of the scenic splendor of the Upper Midwest.

For a taste of the Big Easy in the Las Vegas desert, head to The Orleans Hotel & Casino: a New Orleans-themed property that leans heavily into the Mardi Gras spirit. This family-friendly resort offers plenty of bars and restaurants, but it’s perhaps best known for its entertainment venues, including the sprawling Orleans Arena.

The restored opulent interior of Kings Theater is like something from a bygone era—think chandeliers, plush velvet, and art deco splendor—making this performance arts venue one of the loveliest in Brooklyn (Flatbush, to be exact). A powerhouse of cultural events, it hosts big-name concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, and red-carpet events.

You’d be forgiven for confusing this tiny island for a fishing village in New England. But no, this tranquil slice of the Long Island Sound coast is part of New York City, located in the northeastern corner of the Bronx. The area draws sailing and boating aficionados, locals looking to tuck into a meal at a seafood shack, and travelers in search of a quiet escape.

Set along US Route 66, this quirky cultural landmark is Oklahoma’s largest and most important collection of environmental folk art. Creator Ed Galloway spent decades in the mid-20th century building this collection of stone and concrete totem poles decorated with brightly painted bas-relief designs that tower up to 90 feet (27 meters) high.

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.

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.

Penn Quarter is a lively and compact neighborhood in eastern Washington DC; its famed for its diverse selection of restaurants, bars, museums, and sports and entertainment venues. The district is a short distance from the National Mall and US Capitol.

Born in Los Angeles to American-Japanese parents, Isamu Noguchi’s decades-long career as an artist saw him design everything from public sculptures to stage sets to modernist furniture. This museum and sculpture garden, located in Astoria, was designed and curated by the artist himself and remains the most significant collection of his works.

Magnolia Bakery has been a New York City food icon for decades, perhaps best known for its cameo on Sex and the City. Based in Manhattan’s downtown Greenwich Village neighborhood—and now operating additional locations across town—the bakery is famed for its signature cupcakes, although other treats aren’t to be missed, including its cult-favorite banana pudding.

Inside Fresno’s Kearney Park stands the Kearney Mansion Museum, the site of historical buildings created in French Renaissance style by land developer Martin Theodore Kearney. Visitors tour the main headquarters of the estate, showcasing many of the original furnishings from the early 1900s, as well as the ranch kitchen and a gallery.

The Boulder Public Library, located along pretty Boulder Creek, is a hub of culture. Beyond offering books and learning materials, it has a modern design featuring open spaces, reading areas, and a bridge connecting different sections—great for a quiet moment in a bustling city. The library also hosts art exhibits, workshops, and other events, making it a vibrant space for learning, creativity, and collaboration.

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.