USA attractions

Yellowstone National Park is home to one of the largest concentrations of mammals in the Lower 48, and the spectacular Lamar Valley ranks among the best locations in the park to spot wildlife—black and grizzly bears, elk, bison, wolves, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and many species of birds. It’s easy to see why it’s nicknamed “America’s Serengeti,” and it’s can’t-miss on any visit to Yellowstone.

Few buildings capture as much of Charleston’s history as the Old Exchange, which has witnessed everything from banquets with George Washington to the ratification of the South Carolina Constitution. Today, the museum shares pieces of Charleston history through galleries of period artifacts, paintings, and historic documents that bring the city’s early days to life. Down below, the Provost Dungeon holds a piece of the city’s original seawall, tucked below the rooms where prisoners were once held.

San Francisco's Painted Ladies are a pristine example of the city's candy-colored, Queen Anne-style architecture. Also known as Postcard Row—and one of the most-photographed sights in the city—the houses stretch uphill right across from Alamo Square Park and boast impressive views of the downtown skyline beyond. They are known for featuring in the opening credits of the late-1980s TV show Full House.

Rainbow Row’s cluster of pastel-hued townhomes is one of the most photographed spots in historic Charleston. The 13 colorful Georgian row houses along East Bay Street date back to the 1700s, when they were built as residences and commercial spaces; they were restored in the early 20th century. A must-see for architecture lovers and first-time visitors, this designated historic landmark is made up of private residences that can only be admired from the outside.

The Boston Public Garden is a 24-acre (10-hectare) botanical oasis of Victorian flowerbeds, manicured lawns, and weeping willow trees shading a central lagoon. It’s a year-round respite from the bustling city, and depending on the season, you'll find it awash in either colorful blooms, gold-toned leaves, or untrammeled snow. Adjacent to Boston Common, the public botanical garden—the first in the country—is part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace system of parks that connect via parkways and waterways.

Lush bamboo forests, a massive banyan tree, and a 400-foot (122-meter) waterfall are the highlights along Pipiwai Trail, a scenic hiking route and worthwhile detour off Maui’s Road to Hana (Hana Highway). Set in the remote Kipahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, the moderately challenging trail takes you about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip to the base of Waimoku Falls.

Stretching from Key Largo all the way to Key West and the Dry Tortugas National Park, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary spans the entire coastline of the Florida Keys. Ranking as the third-largest barrier reef in the world—and the only one in the United States—the vast protected waters harbor more than 6,000 marine life species and more than 1,000 shipwrecks.

Grand Central Terminal (more commonly known as Grand Central Station) is a beaux arts gem in the heart of Manhattan. Much more than a train station, Grand Central is a slice of NYC history and a magnet for architecture buffs who swoon over its vaulted ceiling adorned with a turquoise and gold mural depicting the constellations of the zodiac, and the information booth’s 4-faced opal clock.

With expansive white-sand beaches and warm, turquoise waters, Florida's Clearwater Beach, a waterfront community on the Gulf of Mexico, is an ideal launching pad for kayaking, parasailing, boating, and biking. It's known as being more low-key than its southern neighbor, the bustling St. Pete Beach, and many consider Clearwater Beach to be among the best beaches in the United States.

The TCL Chinese Theatre—formerly and still commonly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre—is one of Hollywood’s iconic landmarks. Known for its grand architecture, star-studded movie premieres, and celebrity handprints pressed into the forecourt concrete, this theater has been drawing in film fans since 1927. It’s an atmospheric place to soak up some Tinseltown glamour, and a prime photo stop along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Fountains of Bellagio in front of the Bellagio Las Vegas are like many Sin City attractions: an over-the-top spectacle, but in a good way. The waterworks synchronize with music and are illuminated for extra effect. The water, which spouts from a manmade lake inspired by Lake Como in Italy, can shoot as high as 460 feet (140 meters) into the air.

Though it’s the epicenter of San Diego’s party scene, the lively Gaslamp Quarter offers more than just nightlife. The charming downtown neighborhood is also rich with museums, galleries, concert venues, and symphony halls, plus destination-worthy eateries. In the evenings, clubs, dive bars, and cocktail lounges draw student crowds, while diverse audiences fill the Spreckels and Balboa theaters for performing arts, comedy shows, and live music.

Framed by the graceful arch of a footbridge, Multnomah Falls looks like something out of a fantasy novel. One of the most popular attractions in Oregon, it spans 620 feet (189 meters) and plunges two tiers down a steep, moss-covered cliff. Each new season brings new beauty to the spot—icicles sparkle in the winter, autumn leaves seem to glow, and the spring and summer bring lush greenery—drawing hikers to explore the surrounding trails year-round.

The Philadelphia Art Museum is one of the largest public art museums in the United States. Housed in an iconic, Greco-Roman-style building that overlooks the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the museum’s collection includes roughly 240,000 objects spanning multiple cultures and thousands of years of art history. Outside, this cultural treasure is nearly as famous for its “Rocky Steps,” immortalized in the hit 1976 film, and the adjacent Rocky statue.

Bryant Park, off bustling 42nd Street in Manhattan, encompasses nearly 10 acres (4 hectares) of green space in the middle of the city. Visitors will find historic monuments, benches, blooming flowers, and kiosks with vendors selling coffee and snacks. Whether you play a game of chess or take a nap on the grass, the park offers a fun and relaxing Midtown reprieve just blocks from Times Square.

Located in the Flatiron District, Madison Square Park is a bustling, leafy square packed with benches, playground equipment, and open space to soak up the sun. Visitors come here to enjoy public art, use the Wi-Fi, relax over a picnic, or wait in line at Shake Shack. The park offers easy access to landmarks such as the Flatiron Building, but most people plan a visit here to enjoy the green space and people-watch.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has appeared in Forrest Gump,2001: A Space Odyssey, and multiple John Ford westerns—but seeing its red-rock landscapes onscreen simply doesn’t compare to admiring them in person. Otherworldly sandstone formations, such as the West and East Mitten Buttes and Three Sisters, soar up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the desert’s endless stretches of shrubs and copper sand, creating picture-perfect views that have come to symbolize the American West.

Iolani Palace is the United States’ only official royal residence, located in the heart of Honolulu. Restored to its 19th-century grandeur, the palace showcases richly furnished staterooms, private suites, and the room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was once imprisoned. Whether you're interested in Hawaiian history or exploring Oʻahu’s cultural landmarks, it’s one of the most immersive and meaningful sites on the island.

This San Diego landmark goes beyond the typical museum experience—its collection includes a working fleet of watercraft spanning sailing ships, steamships, and one of the deepest-diving submarines in history. Inside the museum itself are exhibits exploring navigation, model ship building, and more, in both rotating and permanent exhibits. The museum is also a starting point for harbor tours aboard historic and replica vessels.

St. Paul’s Chapel opened in 1766, one year into the American Revolution—George Washington once attended services here. Located in what is now Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, it is an active place of worship and part of the parish of Trinity Church. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the chapel became a place of refuge for firefighters and emergency workers. Today, it’s known as Manhattan’s oldest public building still in use.

From the Hills to the Sign, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood is synonymous with the entertainment industry and its glamorous appeal. Match your handprints and footprints to those of 2,800 Hollywood stars on the Walk of Fame; look out for local celebs; and visit famed theaters, such as Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, Grauman's Chinese Theatre—now the TCL Chinese Theatre—and adjacent to it, the Egyptian Theatre.

Hiking trails, scenic drives, horseback rides, and overlooks take in the eroded red-rock wonderland of Arches National Park in southeastern Utah, which contains more than 2,000 natural stone arches. Geological marvels abound—here, you will find hundreds of soaring pinnacles, the iconic Delicate Arch, and Landscape Arch, one of the largest natural arches in the world at 290 feet (88 meters) across.

The Alamo is one of the most famous historic sites in the United States, forever linked to the 13-day Battle of the Alamo, and a visit is essential for understanding the history of early Texas and the Texas Revolution. Today, the 18th-century Mission San Antonio de Valero complex welcomes more than 1.6 million visitors per year to its chapel, barracks, gardens, and small museum.

Smack in the middle of historic Charleston, the Charleston City Market is a must-see landmark for Holy City visitors. In addition to being one of the most popular historic attractions in town, the City Market—which opened in the 1790s—is also one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States. Today, shoppers can browse stands featuring the work of local chefs, artists, and craftspeople, including handmade sweetgrass baskets, a unique Gullah handicraft.

Known as Chicago’s Front Yard, Grant Park stretches across 300 acres (121 hectares) and is the city’s primary downtown green space. It’s in the Loop, sandwiched between Lake Michigan and soaring skyscrapers, and houses numerous cultural attractions. Highlights include its Museum Campus, Millennium Park with its shiny bean-shaped sculpture, the centuries- and globe-spanning Art Institute of Chicago museum, and the Petrillo Music Shell and Jay Pritzker Pavilion, both premier outdoor venues for concerts, festivals, and events.

A popular stop en route to the Grand Canyon, the historic Cameron Trading Post combines American Indian art and culture with a modern travel stop. Browse the expansive souvenir shop, eat at the restaurant, or even stay overnight in the hotel—all while experiencing the traditional food, crafts, and decore of Navajo and Hopi tribes.

George Washington supposedly asked Betsy Ross to stitch the first-ever American flag. The seamstress is said to have created the Stars and Stripes in 1776. Today, visitors can explore the 18th-century house where Betsy Ross purportedly lived, examine artifacts from her life, and even meet a costumed Betsy Ross impersonator.

The most significant landmark on Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange is both a striking historic building and a hub of today’s financial activity. While security measures mean that the stock exchange is not open to the public, it is possible to experience the daily buzz of the financial district by planning your visit to coincide with the ringing of the morning bell (9:30am) or the closing bell (4pm).

Perched atop Vista Rock in Central Park, this miniature castle looks more medieval than Manhattan—yet Belvedere Castle has become one of the park’s most iconic landmarks. Its visitor center doles out helpful info to travelers, and the gift shop is stocked with Central Park-themed souvenirs. Most people come for the view from the castle’s terraces, which gaze out across Turtle Pond, the Ramble, and the Great Lawn.

Hollywood's Dolby Theatre (formerly the Kodak Theatre) is best known as the home of the Academy Awards. This 3,400-seat entertainment complex features an incredible sound system comprising 215 powered speakers. Although it's best known for the Oscars, the Dolby Theatre hosts all sorts of other live entertainment, from concerts to comedy shows.