USA attractions

Locals and visitors flock to Washington Square Park, a New York City gem known for its arch (echoing the Arc de Triomphe), street performers, and prime people-watching. The heart of Greenwich Village, the park blends city energy with neighborhood charm, making it ideal for a relaxing stroll or kicking back in the sunshine. Whether you come for the music, chess matches, or a chance to see NYU life in action, it’s a quintessential New York experience.

Established in 1769, Old Town San Diego is the site of California's first European settlement, earning it the nickname "the birthplace of California." Highlights include Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with its preserved adobe buildings and living-history demonstrations, such as blacksmithing, showcasing the city’s evolution from Kumeyaay village to Mexican pueblo to American settlement. The area is also home to restaurants, shops, and live entertainment.

This uptown New York City neighborhood is rich in history: In the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance saw an explosion of African American art, literature, and music. Today the area remains a cultural powerhouse, with jazz clubs, theaters, and soul food spots tucked away among old brownstones and contemporary restaurants and bars. Head here to catch a show, see some art, or grab a bite.

At Mammoth Hot Springs, geothermal waters heated in Yellowstone’s caldera valley emerge through cracks and fissures, depositing minerals that create constantly changing terraced travertine formations. In summer, visitors traverse boardwalks above these steaming hydrothermal features, taking in one of Yellowstone National Park’s most impressive natural wonders; in winter, snowmobiling or snowshoeing along the whiffs of sulfur is another wild park experience.

Restored buildings in brick and stone flank the tree-lined streets of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood—the city’s original downtown and a National Historic Landmark District. Today, it’s a hub for art and nightlife, known for its galleries, clubs, and wine bars. Plus, on the Pioneer Square waterfront, manmade Pioneer Square Habitat Beach is a haven of native plants in the heart of the city.

It takes some travelers to Alaska several days to check bears, bald eagles, and wood bison off their wildlife-viewing list—but you can see all three in just one visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Not far from Anchorage, this 200-acre (81-hectare) animal sanctuary cares for more than a dozen different species, from moose to lynx, and educates visitors about its conservation projects.

The western gateway to the Dallas Downtown Historic District and a National Historic Landmark in its own right, Dealey Plaza is one of the city’s most-visited attractions. Its legacy is a dark one: the public plaza made headlines around the world on November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through the square.

Lined with tumbling waterfalls and crisscrossed by hiking trails, the Columbia River Gorge stretches out for 80 miles (128 kilometers) of lush temperate rainforest and arid grasslands, the rapid transition meaning you can see multiple biomes in the same day. Along with the draw of the dramatic landscape, the Columbia River Gorge area is dotted with small towns full of craft breweries, farm markets, and community museums.

One of three major bridges that connect Manhattan to Brooklyn—alongside the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge—the Manhattan Bridge is a key part of the New York City skyline. Built in 1909 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, the suspension bridge today carries more than 450,000 commuters across the East River by subway, car, bike, and on foot. It’s a popular landmark on Dumbo walking and photography tours.

Its name may suggest cartoon elephants, but Dumbo—short for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass"—is actually one of northern Brooklyn’s most stylish and photogenic neighborhoods. Formerly an industrial area, the now-regenerated Dumbo boasts cobblestone streets and converted warehouses that contain trendy galleries, boutiques, and coffee shops. Its views of the Manhattan skyline (and both the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge) are hard to beat.

Tucked inside the lush Kipahulu district of Haleakalā National Park, ʻOheʻo Gulch is a scenic series of tiered waterfalls and freshwater pools fed by mountain streams. Also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, this remote valley is a favorite stop on the Road to Hana for its natural beauty and cultural significance. Surrounded by bamboo forests and rugged cliffs, it offers a chance to stretch your legs and experience Maui’s rugged, unspoiled landscape.

It’s no wonder Kauai is nicknamed the Garden Isle. In the center of the island sits Mt. Waialeale, one of the wettest places on Earth. Beautiful jungle expanses characterize this emerald mountain and a massive cliffside dubbed the Weeping Wall, where countless waterfalls rush to their depths. Movie buffs, take note: Areas near the mountain were used as a backdrop for some of the scenes in Jurassic Park.

More than 10,000 Bostonians are interred at Copp's Hill Burying Ground, a colonial cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places. This Boston landmark is a stop on the famed Freedom Trail. It's located steps from sights like the Paul Revere House and Old North Church, and offers easy access to the area's standout Italian eateries.

Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is a colorful section of the trendy South Beach neighborhood, with around 800 designated historic buildings to admire—including nautical–themed hotels and pastel mansions dating back to the 1920s. The district has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors come here to dine, stay at fancy hotels, and explore the photo-worthy buildings.

Fort Sumter National Monument is famed for being the site where the Civil War began, and today is a top attraction off the coast of Charleston. The sea fort retains much of its original stone structure, plus a few lodged cannonballs, letting visitors experience a piece of US history firsthand. The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center provides historical context and harbor views while you wait to board your ferry.

Get undisrupted views of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park, which stretches across six piers on the borough’s northern waterfront. In addition to being a popular reprieve from the city with its nature trails and gardens, the park also features family-friendly attractions such as a roller rink, recreational courts, and Jane’s Carousel.

Known for its galleries, restaurants, and curio shops, Royal Street in New Orleans is just a block away from the bar-fueled bustle and grit of Bourbon Street. But while it's less well-known, it still oozes historic French Quarter character. The iron-lace balconies of French and Spanish colonial buildings overlook upscale stores and courtyard cafés along this charming street, which was made for wandering.

Situated on the edge of the French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park honors its namesake, one of New Orleans’ most famous jazz musicians. With sculptures of the city’s music legends as well as fountains, trees, and duck ponds, the green space offers a peaceful escape from the nearby bustle of Bourbon Street. It also holds festivals, concerts, and cultural events throughout the year.

Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a music venue unlike any other—a sandstone stadium forged by the elements and blessed with natural acoustics. Many musicians have taken to this stage, and when shows are in town, concertgoers are also rewarded with stellar views of the Colorado landscape. The best part: Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre tickets are only required for concerts or special events.

The 8.5 million acres (3.4 hectares) of land that are protected by Gates of the Arctic National Park lie north of the Arctic Circle. This massive, mountainous swath of land is larger than the entirety of Belgium, yet scarcely more than 10,000 people visit this remote park each year. Caribou, grizzly bear, and moose roam free across hundreds of miles.

At 48 square blocks, Little Italy San Diego is one of the largest Little Italy districts in the United States. Once home to Italian fishing families, it’s now a lively and walkable neighborhood that’s filled with restaurants, cafés, wine bars, and craft brewpubs. This trendy district also has upscale boutiques, art galleries, boutique hotels, and live music venues, so there’s far more to experience than just its delicious food and drink.

A mecca for art lovers, the Wynwood neighborhood, just north of downtown Miami, has evolved from a rundown warehouse zone to a lively area known for its street art. Creative energy runs through every block, and visitors can browse independent galleries, sip craft coffee, and visit local breweries. The star attraction, though, is Wynwood Walls—an open-air museum of murals by over 100 artists.

Protecting cliffs, canyons, bridges, and domes (like the US Capitol, its namesake—get it?), Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park offers a deep dive into outdoor adventure, geology, human history, and more. Beyond those rock formations, you’ll find Indigenous petroglyphs, Mormon orchards, and plenty of fabulous scenery. Moreover, you’ll also find a fraction of the crowds compared to nearby Arches or Zion.

Performers from Ella Fitzgerald to Sammy Davis Jr. have graced the neoclassical stage of this Harlem landmark—and its sometimes raucous, weekly Amateur Night has been running for nearly a century. During the rest of the week, the venue draws crowds for music, theater, film, and other performances. And on guided tours of the venue, travelers get the chance to peek backstage.

Kualoa Ranch is an adventure playground and highlight for Oahu travelers. Stretching from the Koolau Mountains to the sea, the 4,000-acre (1,619-hectare) cattle ranch is one of the largest tracts of accessible nature on Oahu. The property spans several verdant valleys and offers everything from ATV rides and zipline adventures to film-location tours.

Named after one of Washington DC’s most iconic landmarks, Capitol Hill is both the heart of the American government and a vibrant neighborhood favored by politicos and tourists alike. From literary highlights such as the Library of Congress and Folger Shakespeare Library to the Supreme Court Building and the United States Botanic Garden, there is much to see and do on the Hill beyond the US Capitol itself.

Established in 1921, the Chicago Theatre isn’t just one of downtown Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks—it’s also a highlight of the city’s cultural scene. Located in the Loop, the theater is instantly recognizable for its glittering marquee, and it boasts a lavish interior to match. Today, the venue hosts a wide range of performances and events, from concerts and film screenings to stand-up comedy performances and beyond.

Acting as both the waterfront and major road along the eastern edge of San Francisco, the Embarcadero stretches from Fisherman’s Wharf to South Beach, passing through some of the city’s most popular destinations. It attracts visitors and locals with its restaurants, bars, hotels, tourist attractions, event spaces, bay cruises and ferries, and a wide pathway for walkers and joggers.

This larger-than-life bronze statue standing at the top of the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become an essential stop on any visit to the hometown of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. Modeled after the famous shot from the first film, with both arms raised, the Rocky Statue was made for the movie Rocky III (1982) and gifted to the city by Sylvester Stallone. More than 40 years later, it’s still drawing crowds.

You don’t have to brave the Skywalk or take a helicopter flight for a view of the Grand Canyon—one of the best lookouts over the East Rim can be reached at the Desert View Watchtower. Climb the 85 stairs to the top of the National Historic Landmark, and you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping panorama that includes the Colorado River, the North Rim, the Painted Desert, and Little Colorado Gorge.