10457 Best Sights in USA

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.

Bring your dog, your kids, and your laptop to this outdoor gathering spot in Carlsbad where a handful of grab 'n' go eateries surround a parklike setting with picnic tables and firepits. Each business has its own hours of operation, so plan accordingly.

Relive the days of "King Cotton" in the architectural splendor of the city's cotton trading floor, re-created as it appeared in 1939, when Memphis did a booming business in cotton. Numerous cotton-related artifacts are on display.

This picnic area is in a lovely valley near the river. There are grills, drinking water, restrooms, eight open tables, eight covered tables, and two shelters.

This area was home to the indigenous Cahuilla people for centuries, and its spring provided them, as well as travelers and early prospectors, with water. It still supports a large stand of fan palms and cottonwood trees and is one of the best spots in the park for bird-watching. There are some remains, including concrete pillars, of several gold mines that were located here. Numerous hikes begin here as well.

Shady trees make this a pleasant place to picnic. It has drinking water and restrooms with flush toilets.

The south entrance is the closest to I–10, the east–west highway from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Exhibits in this small center, staffed by rangers and volunteers, illustrate the region's natural history. The center also has a small bookstore, a water-filling station, and restrooms with flush toilets.

Four miles outside of McKenzie Bridge is the highest embankment dam ever built by the Army Corps of Engineers—452 feet above the streambed. The resulting reservoir, on the South Fork McKenzie River, covers 1,280 acres. The dam generates 25 megawatts of power, and includes a fish collection and sorting facility, and a temperature control tower to keep the downstream water at a suitable temperature for spawning. The public recreation areas are in the Willamette National Forest. You can visit the dam year-round, but some campgrounds are open only from April to September.

Given the rapid growth of Seattle's Eastside suburbs, it's a little hard to believe you can still find completely wild and secluded woodland trails less than 10 miles southeast of downtown Bellevue. This 3,115-acre county park centered on 1,614-foot Cougar Mountain is indeed wonderfully peaceful and undeveloped, with nearly 40 miles of hiking trails connected by four different trailheads. You can discover everything from lush wetlands to sheer cliffs here—even a few caves. Near the park's northeast border, the 11-acre Cougar Mountain Zoo ( www.cougarmountainzoo.org) is home to lemurs, Siberian reindeer, Bengal tigers, and many other species; it's well worth a visit if you're in the area.  

The highest point in Portland, at 1,073 feet, this 43-acre bluff-top patch of greenery is a superb spot to take in sunsets and sunrises. Along with nearly 180-degree views of the Portland metro area, a clear day also affords views of the surrounding peaks—Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Rainier. Trails connect Council Crest with Marquam Nature Park and Washington Park.

History buffs appreciate this park's significance as the place where Isaac Stevens and the Pend d'Oreille and Flathead Kootenai Indians signed the Hellgate Treaty in 1855 to relinquish their ancestral lands in exchange for the Flathead Reservation in the Mission Valley. The park occupies 187 primitive acres; it has interpretive signs, a picnic area, fishing access, and a hiking trail.

Even timid youngsters love this stage show's wisecracking, cornpone, lovelorn Audio-Animatronics bears as they joke and sing. Check before visiting this attraction: although performances have featured country music and 1950s rock and roll, a new-in-2024 version will reportedly feature the bears belting out Disney showstoppers in a Nashville-style review. Regardless, the emcee, the massive but debonair Henry, will no doubt lead a stellar Grizzly Hall cast of characters like the robust Trixie; the harmonizing Bubbles, Bunny, and Beulah; and Big Al, the off-key cult figure who has inspired his own shopping kiosk.

For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible; reflective captioning provided; equipped for assisted-listening devices. If you lip-read, ask to sit up front.  Visit during an afternoon parade or late in the day. Stand to the far left in the anteroom for the front rows and to the far right for the last row, where small kids can perch atop seats to see better.

When gold was discovered here in 1887, the Country Boy Mine became one of the region's top producers---lead and zinc, which were vital for U.S. efforts in World War I and World War II, were big here, too. The gold mine tour takes visitors more than 1,000 feet deep into the mountain. Visitors can pet the donkeys that roam the area, pan for keepable gold, or go on a treasure hunt with a metal detector. The mine has a 55-foot ore-chute slide, historic buildings, and plenty of mining artifacts.

You'll feel like you're walking through the pages of Country Living at this three-day fair held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds every June. There are antiques, home decor, furniture, and artisan-made products for sale. You can also meet the magazine's editors at various seminars, as well as participate in craft and cooking demonstrations.

This trio of peaks bears the names of, from left to right, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Mt. Moroni is the reddish peak on the far right that partially blocks the view of Jacob. Hike the trail that leaves from The Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint, 1½ miles north of Canyon Junction, to get a much better view of the sandstone prophets.

The original Courthouse of 1770 was used by municipal and county courts until 1932. Civil and minor criminal matters and cases involving slaves were adjudicated here; other trials were conducted at the Capitol. The stocks once used to punish misdemeanors are outside the building: they can make for a humorous photo opportunity. The courthouse's exterior has been restored to its original appearance. Visitors often participate in scheduled reenactments of court sessions.