10450 Best Sights in USA

While waiting for the arrival of the British on the morning of April 19, 1775, the minutemen gathered at this 1690 tavern. A half-hour self-guided tour takes in the tavern's seven rooms, which have been restored to the way they looked in the 1770s. Among the items on display is an old front door with a hole made by a British musket ball.

Dating from 1889, this restored pioneer farm includes an apple orchard, farmhouse, barn, and many ranch buildings. You can pick up a self-guided tour booklet from the drop box. Feel free to enjoy apples from the trees in season. A harvest festival is held in October. The site may not be too accessible in winter if there's a lot of snow.

This 1856 home was built by cotton king Henry S. Buckner in overt competition with the famous Stanton Hall in Natchez, built by Buckner's former partner. Among the luxurious details are its 48 fluted cypress columns and a rare honeysuckle-design cast-iron fence. Now privately owned, the house served as the campus of Soulé College from 1923 to 1975 and appeared in American Horror Story.

Ranked among the best in the country, the Buell Children's Museum provides fun, interactive experiences for kids of all ages. The 12,000-square-foot facility has innovative exhibits on art, science, and history. It's in the same complex as the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.

The reward for the steep climb to get here is this eucalyptus-filled space with great city views. Dog walkers and homeless folks make good use of the park, and the playground at the top is popular with kids and adults alike. Be sure to scan the stone rain gutters lining many of the walkways for inscribed names and dates; these are the remains of gravestones left unclaimed when the city closed the Laurel Hill cemetery around 1940. A pit stop includes a portable toilet and disposal for used needles and condoms; definitely avoid the park after dark, when these items are left behind.

For a 360-degree view of Redwood Canyon and the High Sierra, make the 1-mile ascent (2 miles roundtrip) to Buena Vista. Difficult.

The architectural focal point of the winery considered the birthplace of modern California wine making is the rehabilitated stone former press house, built in 1864 to squeeze crushed grapes into wine. Now the main tasting space—no wines are made on-site—it doubles as a minimuseum whose exhibits tell the story of the Hungarian-born Count Agoston Haraszthy (his title was self-bestowed), who founded Buena Vista in 1857. Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignons, and several Bordeaux-style red blends are the strong suits among the several dozen wines produced.

Bird-watchers consider Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge unique because it's the only place in the United States where they can see a "grand slam" (four species) of quail: Montezuma quail, Gambel's quail, scaled quail, and masked bobwhite. If it rains, the 100-acre Aguirre Lake, 1½ miles north of the headquarters, attracts wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl—in all, more than 320 avian species have been spotted here. The quail share the turf with deer, coati, badgers, bobcats, and mountain lions. Touring options include a 10-mile auto tour; nature trails;  a boardwalk through the marshes at Arivaca Cienega; and guided bird walks, also at Arivaca Cienega (November–April, first Saturday at 8). A 3¾-mile guided hike in Brown Canyon is offered on second and fourth Saturdays, November–April (call ahead to reserve a spot). Admission and guided bird walks are free; Brown Canyon hikes cost $5. Primitive campsites are available without reservations. Pick up maps at the visitor center.

Even in the middle of winter you can soak in the sights and scents of the tropics under the domes of this Victorian glass conservatory. The greenhouses shelter cacti, fruit trees, palms, and orchids. The American Ivy Association certified the claim of the largest ivy collection of any botanical garden in the world. Formal gardens and a park with a golf course (the park is popular with runners) surround the conservatory. Guided tours are given by reservation.

A guided-missile cruiser, destroyer, and a World War II submarine are on display at this 6-acre waterfront site, the largest inland naval park in the nation.

About 6 miles west of downtown on U.S. 14, you'll pass through the Shoshone Canyon Tunnel (the state's largest, at 2.8 miles) and emerge at the northeast end of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, which was formed in 1910 by the construction of a 350-foot-tall dam. The reservoir, which is popular for boating and fishing, forms the heart of Buffalo Bill State Park, which also has a campground and picnic area. Just after exiting the tunnel, you can also stop by the visitor center operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, where you can peer over this immense dam from a viewing platform, and watch a film and explore exhibits on this impressive feat of engineering and the region's natural and human history.

This broad-shouldered art-deco architectural masterpiece rises from the heart of downtown. An elevator to the 25th floor, then three flights of (unmarked) stairs take you to an observation deck; though you can't go outside, it has spectacular views of the city and the Lake Erie waterfront.

This trail cuts across the southern backcountry, following old roadbeds to the Buffalo Creek drainage, and links several trails. At 1.1 miles, Dry Prong Trail heads north and Turnhole Bend Trail heads south. At 2.4 miles, Sal Hollow Trail heads south and Dry Prong Trail reconnects. The trail ends at a junction with Collie Ridge Trail and Wet Prong Trail. Horses and hiking only. 4.4 mi. Moderate.

Exhibits cover everything from anthropology to zoology. One exhibit uses the stories of three mummies to explore what daily life was like for ordinary citizens in ancient Egypt.

The Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum is building a winged gas station from unfinished Wright plans. A former Wright apprentice is involved with the project, which, once built, won't actually function as a station but will rather complement the museum's collection of cars and automobile memorabilia and artifacts.

Endangered Amur (Siberian) tigers, Asian elephants, and Indian rhinos are among the nearly 1,000 wild and exotic animals found in this natural setting in Delaware Park. The grounds include an interactive, mock, field-research station, and a rain-forest exhibit. There's also an on-site children's zoo, which features farm animals historically found in the Erie Canal area.

The relatively small size of Bug Light (it’s officially known to the U.S. coastguard as South Portland Breakwater Light) is what gave it its nickname, and then the name of the 9-acre park surrounding it followed. Bug Light was originally built in 1855 and rebuilt with plates and Corinthian columns in 1875, and stands today as both a landmark and a terrific place to catch views of Casco Bay and Munjoy Hill. The property was also once part of a 140-acre World War II shipyard that built 266 cargo vessels, 236 of which were Liberty Ships, which are said to have played a major part in the Allied victory in World War II. Look out for the Liberty Ship Memorial to learn more; you can't miss the sculpture which resembles an actual Liberty Ship.

A pioneer of Portland’s burgeoning craft spirits scene, this Slabtown distillery in a 7,000-square-foot warehouse creates superb single-malt Oregon whiskey, vodkas, and aquavit. Reservations for tastings are a good idea, walk-ins are welcome when space allows.

Even if you don't have a library card, it's worth browsing the beautiful neoclassical building built in 1916 with funding from a Carnegie grant. The grand foyer and revolving exhibits are nourishment for the senses, and the massive windowed reading lounge and third-story alcove are wonderful places to curl up with a book.

Early Kent residents Jacob and Isaac Bull first built a bridge on this site in 1760, where it was later crossed—as local legend has it—by George Washington. The current covered bridge was built in 1842, and is one of just a handful of covered bridges left in the state still open to traffic. It has been reinforced over the years, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. If you feel like a hike, there is an easy trail that leads to waterfalls and a small gorge.

At this rugged park along the north bank of the Coquille River (just across from downtown Bandon but reached via a 3½-mile drive up U.S. 101), you can tour the signal room inside the octagonal Coquille Lighthouse, built in 1896 and no longer in use; due to safety concerns, visitors can no longer tour the tower, but the signal room is open. From turnoff from U.S. 101, the meandering 2-mile drive to reach it passes through the Bandon Marsh, a prime bird-watching and picnicking area. The 4½-mile stretch of beach beside the lighthouse is a good place to search for jasper, agate, and driftwood—the firm sand is also popular for mountain biking. There's a campground with a wide variety of tent and RV sites as well as pet-friendly yurts.

Established in 2001 just a few blocks north of the Capitol, this fascinating museum (with a massive star statue out front) documents the history of the Lone Star State with excellent interactive exhibits and programming fit for all ages. Nearly 500,000 visitors from around the world tour the 34,000-square-foot museum every year, learning about "The Story of Texas" through permanent and traveling collections that cover prehistoric to modern times. The on-site Star Cafe serves coffee, snacks, and basic lunch fare. Check the events calendar in advance for showtimes at the on-site IMAX theater.

The views of Keuka Lake from here are spectacular. The wine is less so, and the tours are touristy, but the tastings are fun. Lunch and dinner are available at the Bully Hill Restaurant.

This premier showcase for western New York artists spotlights the works of watercolorist Charles Burchfield (1893–1967) and handcrafted objects from the Roycroft Arts and Crafts community. It is New York State's first LEED-certified art museum.

The colonial Georgian-style house General Cornwallis used as his headquarters in 1781 was built in 1770 (making it the oldest home in Wilmington open to the public) on the foundations of a jail where both European and enslaved African prisoners were imprisoned. After a fine, furnished restoration, this colonial gentleman's town house, framed by two stately magnolias, is now a museum that includes several small gardens, including an orchard, a rose garden, and a kitchen garden, along with an 18th-century debtors prison. The names of the enslaved people who toiled here are acknowledged in one display. The ground floor also includes a small art gallery and gift shop almost exclusively stocked by local artisans and authors. Tours are given on the hour, until 3 pm.

Founded in 1885, the Burke is the state's oldest museum with one of the newest buildings, thanks to a 2019 re-opening in a brand new space. It features exhibits that survey the natural history of the Pacific Northwest and a behind-the-scenes look at how museums work, with its open doors and windows. Highlights include artifacts from Washington's 35 Native American tribes, dinosaur skeletons, and dioramas depicting the traditions of Pacific Rim cultures. An adjacent ethnobotanical garden is planted with species that were important to the region's Native American communities, and the Native-owned café serves fry bread and Indigenous foods. Check out the schedule for family events and adult classes.

Approximately 27 miles long, the paved, flat, tree-lined Burke-Gilman Trail runs from Seattle's Gas Works Park, on Lake Union, east along the ship canal, and then north along Lake Washington's eastern shore. At Blyth Park in Bothell, the trail becomes the Sammamish River Trail and continues for 10 miles to Marymoor Park in Redmond. Except for a stretch of the Sammamish River Trail where horses are permitted on a parallel trail, the path is limited to walkers, runners, and bicyclists. There are a handful of bike rental shops on Sand Point Way, just north of the University of Washington, an easy access point for the trail. For additional access points, view the map online at www.seattle.gov/transportation/burkegilmantrailmaps.htm.

This beach is usually not crowded, mostly because it is a bit hard to find, and it’s a 10-minute walk from parking (at Chaplin Community Park  35 Cast Net Dr.). However, it’s a nature-lover’s hideaway on an otherwise bustling island. October through March off-leash dogs are welcome; outside of that window, they are permitted with restrictions. At sunrise, birds and deer bring the adjacent marsh to life. Time a visit around low tide—the marsh flooding during high tide can cut off access. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking; restrooms. Best for: solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This 3,100-acre state park attracts many campers to its 731 rustic campsites and shelters, nature trails, picnic and swimming areas, and boating and fishing opportunities on crystal clear Watchaug Pond.

Swans Island is a picturesque 6-mile ferry ride from Bass Harbor at the bottom of Mount Desert Island ( see the Getting Here and Around section of the Chapter Planner for more information). Opportunities abound for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, and beachcombing, but the 35-foot-tall white Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse on the south shore is not to be missed. Both the light (you can climb up!) and the keeper's house, which has history exhibits, art displays, gift shop, bathrooms, and free island and trail maps, are open from mid-June to mid-September. An apartment upstairs can be rented on a weekly basis from June through October. Aside from vacation rentals, Swans Island only has one lodging, Harbor Watch Inn ( www.harborwatchinnswansisland.com)—four rooms with kitchens or kitchenettes as well as an upstairs suite. The Island Market & Supply ( www.tims-swans-island.com) is a great place to get picnic supplies or other general needs.