10457 Best Sights in USA

The 400-foot with a playground, beach house, and summer lifeguards, faces Huntington Bay.

Just south of Furnace Creek, these glimmering mountains are perhaps best known for their role in the original Star Wars. The canyon is a fine hiking spot, with a 3-mile out-and-back route offering gorgeous views of the Panamint Mountains, ancient dry lake beds, and alluvial fans. Moderate.

When all the other fire hydrants went dry during the fire that followed the 1906 earthquake, this one kept pumping. Noe Valley and the Mission District were thus spared the devastation wrought elsewhere in the city, which explains the large number of pre-quake homes here. Every year on April 18th (the anniversary of the quake), folks gather here to share stories about the disaster, and the famous hydrant gets a fresh coat of gold paint.

The waters of Puget Sound may be bone-chillingly cold, but that doesn't stop folks from jumping in to cool off. Besides brave swimmers, who congregate on the small strip of sand between the parking lot and the canteen, this Ballard-area park is packed with sunbathers and walkers in summer. In other seasons, beachcombers explore during low tide, and groups gather around bonfires to socialize and watch the glorious Seattle sunsets. The park has drinking water, grills, picnic tables, a playground, restrooms, and a snack shop. It also has two wetlands, a short loop trail, and unbelievable views of the Olympic Mountains. The park has two dedicated parking lots, but they fill up quickly on summer weekends.

Follow your nose down Ross Alley to this tiny but fragrant cookie factory, an institution churning out treats for more than 60 years. Two workers sit at circular motorized griddles and wait for dollops of batter to drop onto a tiny metal plate, which rotates into an oven. A few moments later, out comes a cookie that's pliable and ready for folding. It's easy to peek in for a moment, and hard to leave without getting a few free samples and then buying a bagful of fortune cookies for snacks and wisdom later. You can even write your own fortunes.

This riverside park is the hub of downtown celebrations, including free evening concerts. The plaza is dominated by the towering statue of the Unknown First Family, encircled by plaques containing the names of 4,500 local families who contributed to the building of the plaza. Make your visit part of a stroll along the serene and underappreciated footpath along the Chena River.

Two properties—the Golden History Center and the Clear Creek Golden History Park (formerly Clear Creek History Park)—have combined under the name of Golden History Museum and Park. The park interprets the Golden area circa 1843–1900 via restored structures and reproductions, including a teepee, prospector's camp, one-room schoolhouse, and cabins. It is also populated with live chickens and bees. On select days, guides in period clothing lead 45-minute tours, but you can stroll the park and peek into the buildings anytime, and picnic lunches on the grounds are welcome. There's also a research center and an interactive area for kids.

Built during the 1898 gold rush, the Golden North Hotel was—until closing in 2002—Alaska's oldest hotel. Despite the closure, the building has been lovingly maintained and still retains its gold rush–era appearance; a golden dome tops the corner cupola. Today the downstairs houses shops.

Near Baxter State Park, a roughly 20-mile no-fee stretch of this private east–west logging road—named for the huge sum a paper company paid to build it, according to one story—offers access to Maine’s wilderness without venturing too far in. Though paved, it’s rutty and bumpy; yield (keep right!) to logging trucks. From Millinocket follow signs for Baxter State Park from Route 157; 8 miles from the railroad overpass at the edge of town there’s a crossover from Millinocket Lake Road to the Golden Road. This is where the drive begins. Golden Road Crossing is here across from Ambajejus Lake. Stop not just for coffee or a bite, or to shop for supplies or souvenirs, but to pick up the free handout highlighting stops along the drive—with mileage. You’ll need it, since ponds for moose spotting aren't signed and hiking spots that are can be easy to miss. At the end of the drive, walk or drive across Ripogenus Dam, just off the Golden Road between Ripogenus lake and gorge. Below the dam is the best spot (marked on the handout) for watching white-water rafters.

Take photos of Baxter's Mt. Katahdin from the footbridge alongside Abol Bridge: this view is famous.

As you hike to the base of The Golden Throne, you may be lucky enough to see one of the park's elusive desert bighorn sheep, but you're more likely to spot their split-hoof tracks. The challenging but rewarding hike sees a steady elevation gain of nearly 800 feet and sheer drop-offs. The Golden Throne is hidden until you near the end of the trail, when suddenly this huge sandstone monolith appears before you. If you hike near sundown, the throne burns gold. The round-trip hike is 4 miles and takes two to three hours. Difficult.

Maps and concise displays at this visitor center explain the layered ecology of the valley, which encompasses virtually every ecosystem in the Northwest. Rangers offer guidance on hiking, camping, and other activities and arrange bike tours. The center also has an arts-and-crafts gallery and audiovisual and children's programs. Campers can pick up free backcountry permits. Note that access to Stehekin is by boat or trail only.  The visitor center was closed throughout 2024 due to budget constraints; confirm whether it has reopened while planning your trip.

Established in 1996 by the founders of what's now The Duckhorn Portfolio, Goldeneye makes Pinot Noirs from estate grapes, along with a Brut Rosé sparkling wine, Gewürztraminer, and a blush Vin Gris of Pinot Noir. Leisurely tastings, some by appointment only, take place in a restored farmhouse or on a patio with vineyard views.

Goldfield became an instant town of about 4,000 residents after a gold strike in 1892; it dried up five years later when the gold mine flooded. Today the Goldfield Ghost Town is an interesting place to grab a cool drink, pan for gold, go for a mine tour, or take a desert jeep ride or horseback tour of the area. The ghost town's shops and saloon are open daily and gunfights are held on weekends.

Free gold panning and in-season tours of a historic schoolhouse are among the activities offered through this RV park's gift shop. The shop also has gas and diesel, an ATM, and free Wi-Fi. Not equipped with a full-size motorhome? Guests can also stay the night in suites, camping sites, and cabins.

This bright, cheery, 30,000-square-foot ode to playful learning has 12 state-of-the-art permanent galleries that do not disappoint. Kids of many ages and abilities (exhibits were designed to be accessible for children with special needs, too) will love the gigantic Banyan Tree, a focal point at 45 feet tall and a climbing obstacle of sorts; the Farm & Market, a cooperative playground where roles are assigned (a harvester or cashier, for example) to subtly encourage team building and math skills; and the Green Construction zone, where hard hats and eco-friendly building materials will inspire future architects.  The museum is in the same place as the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon water park, and it's possible to do both in one day.

Let a gondolier \"o sole mio\" you down Vegas's rendition of Venice's Grand Canal. We love this attraction because it's done so well—the late owner Sheldon Adelson was obsessed with getting the canals just right: he had them drained and repainted three times before he was satisfied with the hue, and the colossal reproduction of St. Mark's Square at the end of the canal is authentic right down to the colors of the facades. The gondoliers who ply the waterway are professional entertainers and train for two weeks to maneuver the canals. It all makes for a rather entertaining way to while away an hour on the Strip. Outdoor gondola rides along the resort's exterior waterway are also available, weather permitting. Photo packages are available with all rides. Whether or not you ride, keep your eyes peeled for The Gondolier March at 9:45 am and 4:20 pm, as they begin or end the day in song.

This beach has calm, waveless waters and soft sand, and is surrounded by grassy dunes, making it perfect any time of year. In summer (June, July, and August), it is lifeguard patrolled and wheelchair accessible, and there is a snack bar if you don't feel like packing in food. The restrooms and showers are also accessible, and you can pick up beach toys at the concessions. On weekdays parking is plentiful, but the lot fills by 10 am on weekends. Reserve a space online to avoid disappointment. In June, green flies can be bothersome. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

The Good Life Center is on the site of Forest Farm, the historic homestead built in the 1950s by Helen and Scott Nearing, a back-to-the-land couple who practiced and advocated for simple, sustainable living. Sign up for one of the lectures or workshops, take a garden tour, or peace out in the meditation yurt. Look out for regular events and classes, as well. The center is open to the public from 1 to 5 pm, though opening days vary by season.

Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan, among others, host this early-morning news and entertainment show. It airs live, weekdays from 7 to 9 am. You can be part of the action by gathering on the corner of West 44th Street and Broadway to participate in outdoor segments. For its Friday Summer Concert Series, GMA puts up a stage at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park; tickets are free but must be requested in advance. Check the website for more information.

One of three original churches still standing in the park, Good Spring Church is a remnant of the Cade community. The adjacent cemetery contains stones with names of the families that lived here. More information about the Cade community is available at an outdoor exhibit at Maple Springs Group Campground nearby on Maple Springs Loop Road.

This restored Creole cottage was a modest prototype for much of the far more elaborate architecture of the surrounding Garden District. The scale, derived from the climate-conscious design prevalent in the West Indies, made this style easily adaptable to the higher pretensions of the Greek Revival look, as well as the slightly more reserved Colonial Revival. Built in 1837, the house has had one famous occupant: Henry Morton Stanley, renowned explorer of Africa and founder of the Congo Free States who most famously uttered the phrase "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" upon encountering the long-lost Scottish missionary.

Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River are two of Cleveland's greatest assets, and the Goodtime III shows them off in style. One of the largest leisure cruise ships on the Great Lakes winds its way along the Cuyahoga, a Mohawk word meaning "crooked river," and the Lake Erie shore for two-hour cruises, providing the best skyline views of the city. Regularly scheduled tours run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, on weekends only (but including Memorial Day) until mid-June. Luncheon, dinner, and dancing cruises are also available.

The large retractable windows of this boutique winery's barnlike tasting space open up to views of Cabernet Sauvignon vines—in fine weather, guests on the outdoor deck can practically touch them. Goosecross makes two Chardonnays and a Pinot Noir from Carneros fruit, but the soul of this cordial operation is its 12-acre State Lane Vineyard, planted with red Bordeaux grapes. A Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot from State Lane are the stars, along with the Holly's Block 100% Cab and the Aeros blend of the vineyard's best blocks. The last two aren't always poured, but the intentionally big Branta red wine or a Tempranillo tempered by Viognier usually is. Appointments are advised for weekend visits.

Stare down the spectacular, 1,000-foot cliffs, and you can see how this remote park got its name: the San Juan River's serpentine course resembles the necks of geese. Geologists also say this is the best example of an "entrenched meander" in the world, including rock 300 million years old. The nighttime skies here are legendary, and in 2021 Goosenecks officially became an International Dark Sky Park, a recognition from the International Dark Sky Association. Camping sites are all first-come, first-served. You'll find the park 8 miles northwest of Mexican Hat off Highway 261.

This quick little stroll provides a great introduction to Capitol Reef and the surrounding landscape. You'll enjoy the dizzying views from the overlook. It's only 0.2 miles round-trip to the overlook. Easy.

Josiah Roberts, the one-time president of the C&O Canal, commissioned this Second Empire–style house on fashionable Washington Street in 1867, a few years after he was released from prison for being an alleged secessionist. The Allegany County Historical Society has its headquarters here today, and costumed guides lead guests through rooms of Victorian furnishings. A courting couch in the parlor has three sitting compartments—the young lady and her caller sat on opposite ends while two chaperones were perched between them. The museum hosts themed teas throughout the year.

This 27,500-seat amphitheater has won accolades as best outdoor concert venue due to its fine acoustics and stunning vistas of the Columbia River—a setting comparable to the Grand Canyon's. Set in one of the sunniest parts of the state, the concert season runs from May to September. Concertgoers often overnight at the adjacent campground or at motels and hotels in Quincy, Soap Lake, Moses Lake, Ellensburg, and Wenatchee.

Built in 1917 to support the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project—three dams (Gorge, Diablo, and Ross) that work together to provide power—this art deco structure has a visitor gallery with displays on project operations and history. Currently about 20% of Seattle's electricity comes from here. The best way to visit is on one of the summer tours operated by Skagit Tours in partnership with Seattle City Light and the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.

The oldest harness track in the United States is also a National Historic Landmark. You can watch daily training or take a self-guided walking tour of the premises, but these days races are run only in June and July.