425 Best Sights in USA

In 1824, officials chartered a project to use African American and Irish laborers to dig a 16-mile canal between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers—by hand. Although it was once used to float lumber and other commodities via a series of tidal locks, only the small portion between Highway 204 and the Ogeechee River remains open to the public. Take the tow path toward the river, and you might see hawks, owls, snakes, and other wildlife; just don't touch the crumbling bricks. Be sure to stop into the on-site museum to chat with Connie the Canoe Lady. If the museum is closed, you can leave the admission fee in the honor box; better yet, PayPal a donation to  [email protected].

Less than a mile from the entrance to Schoodic Woods Campground and Ranger Station and just beyond Frazer Point Picnic Area, the only road into the park becomes one-way and continues for about 6 miles to the park exit (no RVs are allowed on the road after the campground entrance). Edging the coast and sprinkled with pullouts, the first few miles yield views of Grindstone Neck, Winter Harbor, Winter Harbor Lighthouse, and, across the water, Cadillac Mountain. After a few miles, a two-way spur, Arey Cove Road, passes Schoodic Institute en route to Schoodic Point. Here, huge slabs of pink granite lie jumbled along the shore, thrashed unmercifully by the crashing surf, and jack pines cling to life amid the rocks. Continuing on the loop road, stop at Blueberry Hill parking area to look out on near-shore islands. The Anvil and Alder trailheads are near here. From the park exit, continue 2 miles to Route 186 in Birch Harbor. There's a biking path trailhead with parking at the exit and another one about midway to Route 186, both on your left.

This fun, visitor-favorite museum is an homage to transport from years past. Get an up-close look at trolleys from major metropolitan areas worldwide—from Boston to Budapest, New York to Nagasaki, and San Francisco to Sydney—beautifully restored and displayed (and, sometimes, operational). Best of all, you can take a nearly 4-mile ride on the tracks of the former Atlantic Shore Line Railway, with a stop along the way at the museum restoration shop, where trolleys are transformed from worn-out into standout condition. The outdoor museum is self-guided.

Between Bass Harbor and Manset at the bottom of Mount Desert Island, this 14-site picnic area, open year-round, has restrooms. Tables are perched along the shoreline with water views. The park’s Seawall Campground is across the road.   A portion of Route 102A (Seawall Road) was temporarily closed after 2024's winter storms. While repairs should be complete, if the loop road is closed, access it from its southern terminus with Route 102 in Bass Harbor, not its northern terminus in Manset. Watch for signs.

This 1,400-acre expanse on the north shore of Sebago Lake is a great spot for swimming, boating, and fishing for both salmon and togue (lake trout). Its 250-site campground is the largest at any Maine state park. Bicycling along the park's roads is a popular pastime in warm weather, as is hiking on the 13 miles of trails. Come winter, the park offers 6 miles of groomed cross-country trails (stay to the ungroomed side for snowshoeing). On the park's edge, Songo Lock State Historic Site, an operational lock along the twisting, narrow Songo River and a remnant of a 19th-century canal system, is a pleasant—and free—picnic area. You can also fish off the ADA-accessible pier and launch a kayak or canoe.

Sego is one of the most dramatic and mystifying rock-art sites in the entire state. Large, ghostlike rock-art figures painted and etched by Native Americans approximately 4,000 years ago cover these canyon walls. There's also art left by the Ute from the 19th century. Distinctive for their large anthropomorphic figures, and for horses, buffalo, and shields painted with red-and-white pigment, these rare drawings are a must-see. A well-preserved ghost town is also nearby.

A paradise for bird-watchers, Sepiessa Point Reservation consists of 174 acres on splendid Tisbury Great Pond. There are expansive pond and ocean views, walking trails around coves and saltwater marshes, horse trails, swimming areas, and a boat launch.

At the parking area for this 90-acre park, placards and a stone memorial pay homage to wooden Civil War ships the federal government burned here for scrap years after the Civil War. Items salvaged from the ships are still found around town. A trail from here leads through woods and past pocket beaches and coves to a headland where you can enjoy wonderful views of Cobscook Bay and over Passamaquoddy Bay to Campobello Island. You can also see the pens for Eastport’s salmon-farming industry as well as Estes Head, where the city's cargo pier is located. The trail is part of an interconnected network totaling a few miles. There is also a short trail from the parking area to Cony Beach. 

Wild, wooded, and undeveloped, this 7½-mile-long barrier island, the southernmost part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, is made even more magical by myriad seashells along the shore and about 100 free-roaming horses. Folklore offers two reasons for the Banker ponies' presence. One tale claims they swam ashore from a long-ago Spanish shipwreck, but some locals say early settlers first put these horses to pasture on the island. The island hosted various settlements in the 1800s, but storms drove residents inland. Today, gravestones here and there are the only remaining evidence of the people who lived here. Island access is by kayak, personal watercraft, or ferry only, from Beaufort and Harkers Island, and although primitive camping is allowed (at no fee), there are no amenities aside from composting toilets.

Popular with families and birders, Ship Harbor's 1.3-mile figure-8 trail loops through woods and edges a sheltered cove where you may spot great blue herons feeding in the mudflats during low tide. Also great for families, Wonderland Trail is nearby on Route 102A. A portion of Route 102A (Seawall Road) was temporarily closed after 2024's winter storms. While repairs should be complete, if the loop road is closed, access it from its southern terminus with Route 102 in Bass Harbor, not its northern terminus in Manset. Watch for signs. Easy.

A mixture of hard- and softwood trees makes an excellent habitat for songbirds at Shore Acres Preserve on the eastern edge of Deer Isle. Walk the perimeter trail to see light sparkling off Greenlaw Cove, native plants like juniper, blueberry, and cranberry, as well as mushrooms, mosses, and ferns. You might even spot a fox, a red squirrel, or a hawk.

Hidden amid old-growth Douglas firs in the foothills of the Cascades, this is the largest state park in Oregon (8,700 acres). South Falls, roaring over the lip of a mossy basalt bowl into a deep pool 177 feet below, is the main attraction here, but 13 other waterfalls—half of them more than 100 feet high—are accessible to hikers. The best time to visit is in the fall, when vine maples blaze with brilliant color, or early spring, when the forest floor is carpeted with trilliums and yellow violets; in winter you can cross-country ski. Cabin and lodge accommodations are also available.

Bisecting the Boardwalk Trail loop, the wide Sims Trail runs a straight line through the swamp on an elevated causeway. It's a pleasant walk that sees fewer crowds than the Boardwalk loop, and it's the fastest route to access the wilderness trails deeper in the park. Easy.

Winding trails through maritime forest and along the Intracoastal Waterway invite hikers, naturalists, and wildlife seekers into a 588-acre world of natural beauty and history. Pack a picnic to explore saw palmettos and the old moonshine still, or reserve a camping spot to marvel at the night sky over the Skidaway Narrows. RV hookups, group shelter, and cabins available.

In this park, on a barrier island at the northernmost tip of New Smyrna Beach peninsula, 1½ miles of boardwalks leading to beaches and a fishing jetty crisscross sand dunes and delicate vegetation. Botanical signs identify the flora, and there are picnic tables and an information center. It's also one of the few county parks where pets are allowed (on leashes, that is).

Named after pop star and area congressman Sonny Bono, the 37,900-acre wildlife refuge on the Pacific Flyway is a wonderful spot for viewing migratory birds. There are observation towers, photography blinds, and platforms, as well as numerous trails through desert scrub and wetlands along which you might view eared grebes, burrowing owls, great blue herons, ospreys, yellow-footed gulls, or any of the 400 species that have been documented on and around California's largest lake.  Though the scenery is beautiful, the waters here give off an unpleasant odor, and the New River, which empties into the sea, is quite toxic.

It's tough to resist stopping for at least a glass at this winery’s bluff-top tasting room or adjacent patio—the Pacific views practically demand it. The Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and a Sauvignon Blanc stand out among the small-lot cool-climate wines, some from grapes grown less than 5 miles from the ocean.

Paddlers planning a one-way canoe day trip from Bannister Bridge Canoe Access will take out here, and it's also the primary access point for out-and-back paddles into the swamp.

Set on a spit along the Cascadia Marine Trail for kayakers, this popular spot for summer camping is on former Native American clamming, crabbing, and fishing grounds. A variety of campsites is available, from primitive tent sites to beachfront to full hookups. The lagoon is a favorite for kayaking, paddleboarding, and windsurfing.

The Helper area—in particular the area around Spring Canyon, 4 miles to the west—probably holds the state's best concentration of ghost towns. Spring Canyon Road winds past the remnants of several, including the towns of Spring Canyon, Standardville, Latuda, and Mutual. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of "the White Lady"—a ghost rumored to haunt the Latuda mine office. You can get a map of all the ghost towns in the Helper area at the Helper Museum information desk.

This quarter-mile trail through a 124-acre preserve leads to Springer's Point, a sound-side beach where Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard) gathered with fellow pirates and ultimately met his demise in a battle with British naval lieutenant Robert Maynard. The enchanting trail traverses maritime forest and coastal marsh.

There is no parking at the trailhead—walk or bike from the village.

A suburban upscale live-work-play complex hardly seems like a typical recommendation for travelers to go visit. However, there aren't many concepts like Springline, which quickly emerged as a kind of second downtown for Menlo Park (just a 5-minute walk from the actual downtown) after opening in 2023. Several notable San Francisco restaurants and food artisans have opened their first branches outside of the city here, including sushi juggernaut Robin, the outstanding Cali-Italian cuisine of Che Fico Parco Menlo, and the beloved Andytown Coffee Roasters. With palm trees and beautiful fountains, the central plaza area of Springline feels like a vacation even for stressed-out workers in the adjacent offices.

Stewart Beach Park has a bathhouse, amusement park, bumper boats, miniature-golf course, and a water coaster in addition to saltwater and sand. It's open weekdays 9 to 5, weekends 8 to 6, from March through May; weekdays 8 to 6 and weekends 8 to 7, from June through September; and weekends 9 to 5 during the first two weekends of October.

Three stone structures meant to mimic Scottish ruins coaxed into modernity form this complex with public and private tasting spaces and a bright outdoor patio. The attention to detail in the ensemble's design mirrors that of the wines, whose grapes come from estate and coveted outside sources. Several of winemaker Blair Guthrie’s recent Cabernet Sauvignons have received high-90s scores. Guthrie also makes a sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay whites, a rosé of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, and Pinot Noir, Rhône-style, and Zinfandel reds.

Built by Maryhill Museum founder Sam Hill, this remarkable full-scale replica of England's legendary Neolithic stone creation was constructed in 1918 as the nation's first memorial to servicemen who perished in World War I. The memorial is a five-minute drive east of the museum, on a promontory with dramatic vistas overlooking the Columbia River.

This memorial to John Lennon, who penned the classic 1967 song "Strawberry Fields Forever," is sometimes called the "international garden of peace." The curving paths, shrubs, trees, and flower beds create a deliberately informal landscape reminiscent of English parks. Every year on December 8, Beatles fans mark the anniversary of Lennon's death by gathering around the star-shape black-and-white "Imagine" mosaic set into the pavement. Lennon's 1980 murder took place across the street at The Dakota, which was home to Lennon and Yoko Ono and has been the residence of other celebrities from Boris Karloff to Leonard Bernstein. The building's elaborate exterior is best admired from Central Park West, as visitors are not welcome in the lobby, and there are no tours.

Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons from estate-grown grapes are the specialties of this slightly off-the-beaten-path winery whose tasting room and production facility occupy a stained-redwood former barn. Standout wines include the Summit Chardonnay and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter from Stuhlmuller's oldest vines. Other wines to look for are the Estate Zinfandel and the Block Twelve Cabernet Sauvignon from 2½ acres planted in the 1980s. Some tastings take place in a room adjoining the aging cellar, but in good weather you can sip outdoors on a patio near the vines.  Picnickers are welcome at this family- and dog-friendly winery.

Rolling grassy hills, athletic fields, multiple playgrounds, a creek, and a pond provide plenty of room to fly a kite or have a picnic at this big and popular neighborhood park. Take in stunning mountain views or head to the hill on the south end of the park—a go-to destination for sledding in winter. Odd fact: the park once housed a federal prison famous for incarcerating Utah's polygamists.

Tucked in the western hills of Paso Robles, Tablas Creek is known for its blends of certified biodynamically grown, hand-harvested Rhône varietals. Roussanne and Viognier are the standout whites; the Mourvèdre-heavy blend called Panoplie (it also includes Grenache and Syrah) has received high praise in recent years. A free guided tour of the cellar and vineyard starts every day at 10:15; reservations are required. There's a fine picnic area here.

Endurance riders Barry and Jennifer Waitte share their passion for horses and wine at their glam-rustic winery. The 22-acre Sundance Ranch remains a working equestrian facility, but the site also includes a state-of-the-art winery with separate fermenting tanks for grapes from estate vineyards in Yountville, Oakville, and elsewhere. Tamber Bey produces Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay whites, a Rhône-style rosé, and a few Pinot Noirs. The showstoppers are several subtly powerful reds, including the Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and a Yountville Merlot. The top-selling wine, Rabicano, is a Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy Bordeaux-style blend. Visits require an appointment.