10405 Best Sights in USA

Adjacent to the visitor's center and ferry to Cape Lookout, this towering wood structure feels like the private hunting lodge of a well-to-do club of duck hunters, and you're invited to relax in the library stocked with books by outdoor enthusiasts and to browse the collections of duck decoys, patterned quilts, and Harkers Island ephemera. Be sure to walk to the top of Lookout Tower for views across the sound to Shackleford Banks and South Core Banks. A gift shop features local art built from driftwood and seashells.

A short, winding road leads to this airy, chaletlike tasting house with a spacious deck and one of the best vineyard views in the area. They host events like the Twilight Series, featuring live music and food trucks from late May to early September, some for an additional cover charge. Now under the banner of Bedell Cellars, they continue to produce acclaimed wines like the Chardonnay Reserve and Late-Harvest Reisling.

The 200 acres of plants and trees adjacent to the Cornell University campus are primarily organized in collections—peonies, rock-garden species, rhododendrons, old-time vegetable and flower gardens, conifers, flowering crabapples, wildflowers. There's even a section for poisonous plants. The winter garden includes evergreens, conifers, and assorted plants with interesting cold-weather colors and textures. The complex's arboretum includes an area with sculptures. Walking and bus tours are available; call ahead for seasonal times. Some tours are free and others are $5.

The field station, part of a Cornell University extension program, encompasses more than 200 forested acres, a greenhouse, and orchards. An exhibit here explains how maple syrup is made. You may buy some syrup to take home with you. Tours are available by appointment and are recommended during the production season, February through April. The station is also sometimes open on weekends in March and April.

With its historic buildings, weave of natural and man-made spaces, Cayuga Lake views, and two spectacular gorges, the campus of this private university is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Founded in 1865, Cornell is a mixture of modern structures and ivy-covered 19th-century buildings. Wear your walking shoes; there is almost no public parking near the campus center. Free 75-minute tours of the campus leave daily from Day Hall, at Tower Road and East Avenue.

After leading an effort to revive a local winery, Lloyd Davis, an African American financier and oenophile, turned his attention to making the experience of learning about wine and food-wine pairings less daunting. To that end he opened a light-filled space for tastings of Sonoma County wines guests can pair with cheeses or small bites. The lineup includes a brut rosé sparkler, a Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc, a rosé of Pinot Noir, and several reds. Corner 103's welcoming atmosphere makes it an excellent choice for wine novices seeking to expand their knowledge.

Inside Yountville's whitewashed 19th-century passenger train depot, Cornerstone shares a space with an apparel shop and displays contemporary art. The winery produces Cabernet Sauvignons from the valley's benchland and mountain sections. Because each Cabernet receives similar treatment from winemaker Kari Auringer, the wines express what's unique about their subappellations, vineyard sources, and vintages. Cornerstone is a good place to find out what type of Napa Valley Cabernet you prefer—perhaps the smooth Benchlands blend, in recent years softened with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, or maybe the sturdier yet still lush Howell Mountain offering, usually 100% Cabernet.

One of the world's premier glass museums, the Corning Museum of Glass displays pieces ranging from contemporary glass sculpture to Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows to glassware crafted by Egyptians 3,500 years ago. About 10,000 of the more than 45,000 glass objects in the museum's collection are on display at any one time. Interactive exhibits show the history, beauty, and creativity of 35 centuries of glasswork. Glassmaking demonstrations are given throughout the day and a workshop encourages you to make your own glass souvenir ($10–$30); even preschoolers may participate. In the 18,000-square-foot gift shop you can buy works from local or internationally known glass artists, from a $5 glass-bead bracelet to a $17,000 Pepi Hermann cut-crystal platter, as well as utilitarian items, like the namesake CorningWare. Also available is Steuben Glass, founded in Corning; Steuben masterpieces have been presented as gifts to foreign heads of state and are in museums around the world. The museum adjoins a glass studio, which serves as a workshop for professional gaffers and an educational center for glass students.

The Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge leads to this expansive green space along the Hudson River. A 5.3-mi trail, which can be used for biking and hiking, snakes through the preserve. At the north end are a public boat launch and a restaurant on a barge. June through August, the 800-seat amphitheater hosts musicians.

An elevator whisks you up 589 feet to the 42nd-floor observation deck of this building, the tallest structure in the state outside New York City. The views on a clear day include the Berkshire, Catskill, and Adirondack mountains. To get to the deck, you first must present a photo ID at the plaza-level security desk.

This 460-foot bridge, 1½ miles south of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, connects New Hampshire to Vermont across the Connecticut River. Erected in 1866, it is the second-longest covered bridge in the United States. The notice on the bridge reads, "Walk your horses or pay two dollar fine."

Visitors are welcome to watch potters as they work, producing a variety of items that are fired in an on-site, 35-foot-long, wood-fired tube kiln. A selection of items—including seconds—are available for purchase in the workshop. A larger store, located farther north in West Cornwall ( 415 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike), offers the wood-fired pots along with items made by local glassmakers, woodworkers, and metalsmiths.

Fifteen-minute ferries connect two locations along the Downtown San Diego waterfront with the Coronado Ferry Landing. Boats depart on the hour from the Broadway Pier on the Embarcadero and on the half hour from Coronado Ferry Landing to the Embarcadero during operating hours. Between the San Diego Convention Center and the Coronado Ferry Landing, service departs every 30 minutes during operating hours. Buy tickets at the Broadway Pier, 5th Avenue Landing, or Coronado Ferry Landing. To reach the heart of downtown Coronado from the Ferry Landing, you can rent a bike at the landing (or bring one with you), or catch the 904 shuttle bus that runs along Orange Avenue. Ferry service is operated by Flagship Cruises.

This collection of shops at Ferry Landing is on a smaller scale than the Embarcadero's Seaport Village, but you do get a great view of the Downtown San Diego skyline. The little bayside shops and restaurants resemble the gingerbread domes of the Hotel del Coronado.

The neoclassical First Bank of Commerce building, constructed in 1910, holds the headquarters and archives of the Coronado Historical Association, a museum, the Coronado Visitor Center, and the Coronado Museum Store. The free museum's collection celebrates Coronado's history with photographs and displays of its formative events and major sights. A guided tour of the area's architecturally and historically significant buildings departs from the museum lobby on Sunday at 11 am and Tuesday at 1 pm and costs $20 for adults (reservations required). Alternatively, pick up a self-guided tour in the museum's shop.

Those driving to Coronado National Memorial, dedicated to Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, will see many of the same stunning vistas of Arizona and Mexico the conquistador saw when he trod this route in 1540 seeking the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola. Hikers come here for both the excellent views and the opportunity to walk the 1-mile Yaqui Trail, the southernmost leg of the 800-mile Arizona Trail, that ends at the Mexico border. The views are excellent atop the nearly 7,000-foot Coronado Peak; to get there you drive (or walk) a little more than 3 miles up a dirt road from the visitor center to Montezuma Pass Overlook, and then go another ½ mile on foot only. There's also Crest Trail, a difficult but rewarding 12-mile round trip to Miller Peak, the highest point in the Huachuca Mountains (9,466 feet).

Kids ages 5 to 12 can participate in the memorial's Junior Ranger program, explore Coronado Cave, and dress up in replica Spanish armor.

The turnoff for the monument is 16 miles south of Sierra Vista on AZ 92; the visitor center is 5 miles farther.

Surely one of the world's curviest roads, the twisting Coronado Trail portion of U.S. 191 was referred to as the Devil's Highway in its prior incarnation as U.S. 666. The route parallels the one allegedly followed more than 450 years ago by Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado on his search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola, where he'd heard that the streets were paved with gold and jewels.

This 123-mile stretch of highway is renowned for the transitions of its spectacular scenery over a dramatic 5,000-foot elevation change—from rolling meadows to spruce- and ponderosa pine–covered mountains, down into the Sonoran Desert's piñon pine, grassland savannas, juniper stands, and cacti. A trip down the Coronado Trail crosses through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, as well as the Fort Apache and San Carlos Apache reservations.

Pause at Blue Vista, perched on the edge of the Mogollon Rim, about 54 miles south of Springerville-Eagar, to take in views of the Blue Range Mountains to the east and the succession of tiered valleys dropping some 4,000 feet back down into the Sonoran Desert. Still above the rim, this is one of your last opportunities to enjoy the blue spruce, ponderosa pine, and high-country mountain meadows.

About 17 miles south of Blue Vista, the Coronado Trail continues to twist and turn, eventually crossing under 8,786-foot Rose Peak. Named for the wild roses growing on its mountainside, Rose Peak is also home to a fire lookout tower from which peaks more than 100 miles away can be seen on a clear day. This is a great picnic-lunch stop.

After Rose Peak, enjoy the remaining scenery some 70 more miles until you reach the less scenic towns of Clifton and Morenci, homes to a massive copper mine. U.S. 191 then swings back west, links up with U.S. 70, and provides a fairly straight shot to Globe.

Once a privately owned packet landing, this is a beautiful crescent of white sand backed by low dunes on Cape Cod Bay. Amenities: snack bar; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Three Spanish treasure ships that ran aground on Padre Island in 1554 anchor the exhibits at this family-friendly museum. You'll want to schedule several hours to fully explore nine different exhibit areas that cover a variety of subjects, including agriculture, coastal ecology, history of trading, and reptile biology—each in a mind-bending, curiosity-building interactive way that will keep even the most skeptical teenagers engaged. Younger children have a designated area to play with dinosaur puzzles, climb on a two-story lighthouse, or make believe in a farmhouse. Pack a few extra coins to spend in the gift shop. Nerds love it!

Owner Lese Corrigan displays her own impressionist-influenced paintings of Charleston and the works of some 20 other painters and photographers at this charming French Quarter gallery. Most pieces fit the genre of contemporary Southern art, and many feature recognizable Charleston scenes.

Located in the Golden North Hotel building, this impressive (and free) scrimshaw museum highlights more than 40 exquisitely carved walrus tusks and other exhibits that detail Alaska's history. The museum was founded by Dennis Corrington, a onetime Iditarod Race runner, who passed away in July 2021.

Corsair's second location opened in 2016 and serves as the headquarters for this creator of small-batch whiskeys and other spirits. The hourlong tour includes a 45-minute history of the distillery that ends with a 5-spirit tasting. Tastings are available without tours, and cocktail classes are also available. Dogs are welcome on the large patio.

Towering Australian pines greet you at the entrance to this popular beach park, a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

The cultural center has exhibits on regional artists and Ancestral Pueblo culture, as well as events and fairs. Summer evening programs may include Native American dances and storytelling.

On the northeast edge of the park, this picnic area has 35 tables in well-tended grassy areas under large poplar trees. Cosby Creek runs through the grounds. A wheelchair-accessible pavilion seats 55 and can be reserved for $25. There's a ranger station, restrooms, trailheads, and horse trails. Cosby has easy access from Interstate 40 via the Foothills Parkway and Tennessee State Route 32.

More than 18 million people have come through COSI's doors since it opened in 1964. Interactive exhibits at this first-class science center allow you to explore underwater shipwrecks, discover hidden treasures, or join an archaeological dig. Find the country's only high-wire unicycle at the outdoor Big Science Park. You'll also be able to time travel in "Progress," leaping from 1889 to 1962 in the blink of an eye.

The Cosmopolitan is a truly different Las Vegas resort experience—a blend of artistic sophistication and comfortable elegance. This is evidenced by the digital artwork on the columns near the registration desk, as well as the vending machines with wood-block paintings from local artists. Don't miss The Chandelier, a three-story bar that, as the name suggests, sits inside a giant crystal concoction. The property mixologist is an expert in crafted cocktails and comes out with a brand-new menu for the bar seasonally. Elsewhere on the property, hipsters love Marquee nightclub and dayclub. A slate of restaurants includes offerings from José Andrés (Jaleo, China Poblano) and Bruce and Eric Bromberg (Blue Ribbon). There's also a Momofuku and a Milk Bar, both of which have cult followings from across the country. Plus, there's chef David Chang's Bang Bar, a quick spot to grab freshly griddled flatbread sandwiches and rice bowls. Shopping at The Cosmopolitan is second to none: one-of-a-kind boutiques include Stitched (men's clothes), AllSaints (fashions from East London), and CRSVR (sneakers).

Set in Sunnyside's white-clapboard former rail depot, Côte Bonneville winery has earned cult status among discerning sippers for its expressive wines produced from low-yield grape vines on the steep, rocky, south-facing slopes of nearby DuBrul Vineyard. Drop by this art-filled tasting room to sample the superb Cabernet Franc Rosé or one of the richly textured Bordeaux blends.

The 1849 Gothic Revival cottage, headquarters of the Madison County Historical Society, was designed by noted architect Alexander Jackson Davis. The group runs tours of the cottage, which contains seven rooms decked in period furnishings. Glassware from Canastota Glass and portraits of City of Oneida founder Sands Higinbotham and prominent abolitionist Garrett Smith are among the displays here. The building, which once belonged to Higinbotham's son Niles, includes a research library. Out back is the Hops Barn, where exhibits explain that the region was once the center of hops production for England. The annual summer Hops Festival celebrates this heritage.