USA attractions

The USS Bowfin, a fleet attack submarine, was launched from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. This earned her the nickname of the Pearl Harbor Avenger. Fittingly, the USS Bowfin’s permanent home is at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum in Pearl Harbor on Oahu, where she serves as a memorial and National Historic Landmark.

Flagler College is a private college in St. Augustine, but it’s also an architectural landmark—the site was originally built as a luxury hotel by industrialist Henry Flagler. The campus is open to the public via history tours, during which you’ll visit a selection of rooms filled with opulent interiors, such as Dining Hall with its Tiffany stained-glass windows, and the Rotunda, featuring a 68-feet (21-meter) domed ceiling.

A suspended viewing deck with glass walls, Edge NYC is one of Manhattan’s most dramatic lookout points. Jutting out over Hudson Yards in Manhattan’s west side, the Edge’s SkyDeck offers 360-degree views and even an area with a see-through glass floor—peer down 100 stories if you dare. Visitors are drawn to the attraction not only for the unforgettable views but also for the Champagne bar, which offers a range of signature cocktails.

Officially dedicated on October 14, 2006 by President George W. Bush, the U.S. Air Force Memorial is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. This place of remembrance features three stainless steel spires that reach 402 feet (122.5 meters up into the sky.

Radio City Music Hall is a glitzy landmark that has entertained the masses since the Rockettes dance troop first kicked up their heels here in the early 1930s. The 6,000-seat theater was a gift from the Rockefellers to New York and continues to host nightly shows to this day. Performers range from stand-up comedians to chart-topping musical artists.

Kauai’s capital city and gateway to all island adventures, Lihue is located on the eastern coastline and is home to both the main cruise port and the only commercial airport. The city is also Kauai’s primary shopping destination and boasts several historic spots, such as the Kilohana Plantation and the Kauai Museum. Kalapaki Beach, located just north of Lihue, is one of the island’s top sunbathing spots.

A circle of granite pavers in front of the Old State House commemorates the Boston Massacre of 1770. The site marks the spot where British soldiers and colonists clashed: what started as a skirmish escalated into a riot, resulting in the deaths of five civilians. It’s considered one of the most pivotal events leading to the American Revolution.

Immerse yourself in the diverse cultures of the islands of Polynesia at the Polynesian Cultural Center, located on the North Shore of Oahu. Here, you can embark on a journey across the Pacific. Paddle a canoe, throw a spear, and marvel at the thrilling talents of a cast of traditional dancers and musicians while savoring island cuisine—all without leaving Hawaii.

The white steeple of St. Michael’s Church towers above Charleston, guiding visitors to the site of the city’s oldest church. While a still-functioning place of worship, this church is also notable as an architectural landmark with its Tiffany stained-glass windows and an original organ dating back to 1768. Services are held on Sundays, and access to the building for tourists is limited during times of worship.

Stretching more than 350 miles (563 kilometers) along the Pacific Ocean, the Oregon Coast winds from the storied Columbia River to California’s uncrowded northern border. Exquisite parks and forests grant close encounters with wildlife and ancient redwood groves, while coastal towns, towering cliff beaches, and pretty lighthouses make perfect pit stops—pit stops that could last for days, that is. Unbelievably, all of it is public.

Erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown's Bunker Hill Monument marks the site of the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War. Its 221-foot (67-meter) granite obelisk offers sweeping views of the city from the top of its 294 steps, and the on-site museum is a must for US history buffs. A popular stop along The Freedom Trail, the monument is easy to pair with other Revolutionary War-era landmarks in Boston and Charleston.

With more than 23 miles (37 kilometers) of sandy shoreline, the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront offers plenty of ways to spend the day. Visitors can try water sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling, jet skiing, and deep-sea fishing, or stay on land with beach volleyball, swimming, and jogging along the promenade. For a slower pace, many simply relax in a lounge chair on the beach and soak up the views—the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon.

This storied entertainment district in downtown Memphis is generally considered the birthplace of a distinctly American music genre: the blues. From 1920 to 1940, artists descended on Beale Street to collaborate, creating this new music style that blended smooth jazz with hard-charging rock ‘n’ roll. Today, this National Historic Landmark District is home to clubs where legendary greats such as BB King, Louis Armstrong, and WC Handy once played.

Founded by Lillian Disney to honor her husband Walt's commitment to arts and culture in LA, the Walt Disney® Concert Hall stands out from the Los Angeles cityscape with its striking stainless steel exterior. Designed by Frank Gehry, inside its Douglas fir–lined auditorium ensures world-class acoustics, and the venue is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, as well as hosting an eclectic range of international singers and musicians

Everything is bigger in Texas, and the Texas Capitol building in Austin certainly follows suit. It's the largest by square footage of any state capitol, and it stands around 15 feet (4.6 meters) taller than the US Capitol. Its rosy hue, which is most vivid at sunset, comes from red granite, which was quarried in the surrounding Texas Hill Country.

Once home to Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, this historic mansion has been restored to its 19th-century glory and offers tours and hosts Girl Scout events. Visit the first National Historic Landmark in Savannah to see exhibits that follow the Low family and the genesis of the Girl Scouts.

The oldest operating hotel in Austin, the Driskill has been legendary in Texas since it opened in 1886. A number of famous figures have visited the historic landmark, including former president Lyndon B. Johnson, who took Lady Bird there on their first date. The building is known for its Romanesque architecture and dramatic stained glass dome, which you can view even if you’re not a guest—just pop in for a pastry at the on-site café.

One of the first waterfalls that you'll see as you enter Yosemite National Park, Bridalveil Fall is a towering, plunge-type waterfall measuring some 620 feet (188 meters) in height. It flows year-round and reaches its peak around May. On windy days, it sometimes almost looks like the waterfall is falling sideways.

Waimea Valley on Oʻahu’s North Shore is a lush, cultural destination where botanical gardens, ancient sites, and a waterfall swim come together in one memorable visit. Walk shaded trails, explore sacred spaces, and stop for a photo in front of a 45-foot (13.7-meter) waterfall. Once a spiritual and political center, the valley offers a peaceful way to experience native flora, traditional practices, and Hawaiian history.

Located in Lappin Park in Salem, the Bewitched Statue is a tribute to actress Elizabeth Montgomery, the star of the popular 1960s show, Bewitched. Unveiled in 2005, the bronze statue features Montgomery’s character, the fictional witch Samantha Stephens, sitting on a broomstick in front of a crescent moon. Fans of the series stop here to snap selfies while twitching their noses in an homage to Samantha’s spell-casting technique.

Cherry trees and walking trails hug the edge of Washington DC’s 107-acre (43-hectare) Tidal Basin, a manmade reservoir surrounded by major landmarks. Steps away from its shore are the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Yet its blockbuster attraction is the bumper crop of pink-and-white cherry blossoms that arrives each spring, drawing strolling crowds to admire one of the capital’s most striking natural wonders.

San Francisco's man-made Treasure Island was created for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition and then became home to a naval training station and other military sites. In recent years, the small isle has become a trendy destination for its urban wineries, cultural events, and unbeatable views of downtown San Francisco and the bay. Though it’s grown in popularity, the area still maintains a neighborhood feel that makes it a welcome escape from the city.

Opened in 1897 as Chicago’s first public library, the Chicago Cultural Center is the city’s hub for arts and cultural events—it’s also one of the city’s most beloved architectural monuments. (Look up inside, and you’ll see two spectacular stained-glass domes.) The center is among Chicago’s most popular venues, hosting more than 1,000 free concerts, films, art exhibits, and other cultural events each year.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park commemorates the life, work, and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement leader. Walk in the footsteps of a legend as you explore the home where King was born and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both his father and grandfather served as ministers. The site is also home to the crypt where Dr. King is buried alongside his wife, Coretta Scott King; their graves feature an eternal flame.

The Verde Canyon Railroad winds its way along the scenic Verde River for a 4-hour rail journey, offering passengers a uniquely scenic way to experience the Arizona wilderness. The refurbished heritage railroad cars make the round-trip journey through the pristine gorge, with unobstructed canyon vistas out panoramic windows and open-air viewing cars as the train passes over bridges, through tunnels, and past soaring formations of red rock.

A popular stop for locals and visitors alike, Seaport Village sits directly on San Diego Bay and it’s known for being a great spot for shopping, dining, and entertainment. This buzzing harborside complex has a village-style layout and features waterfront dining options, boutiques, specialty shops, and outdoor performers. Whether you’re riding the carousel, browsing shops, or enjoying a meal by the water, it’s an easy place to slow down and soak up the harbor atmosphere.

When a city has an enviable location on a large body of water, like Puget Sound, the waterfront almost inevitably becomes a top attraction. This is definitely true in Seattle, where the nearly 20-block stretch along the water is home to restaurants, hotels, markets, shops, a Ferris wheel, and more than a dozen piers. There’s always something happening on the waterfront.

For views of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, and Mount Rainier, the hilltop Kerry Park (Franklin Place) is hard to beat. Popular with photographers, Kerry Park looks out across the city skyline, the leafy streets of the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood, and Puget Sound, where you can spot ferries leaving the Seattle waterfront for the San Juan Islands.

Founded in 1695 and located in the heart of Old City, Christ Church is one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most significant religious landmarks, formerly attended by Founding Fathers including George Washington. Christ Church Burial Ground serves as the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin, George Ross, and other American luminaries.

Hawaii’s volcanic activity creates beaches that range from powdery white sands to fine black pebbles, and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is one of the most striking. Part of the Big Island’s Volcanoes National Park, the black sand shoreline is framed by tall coconut palms and crashing waves, making it a popular photo spot. It’s not only the views that pull in the crowds—the beach is also known for its population of sea turtles.