10457 Best Sights in USA

The posh Harbor Beach community includes Fort Lauderdale's most opulent residences on the Intracoastal Waterway. Due east of this community, a stunning beach has adopted the name of its surroundings. The Harbor Beach section has some of the only private beaches in Fort Lauderdale, and most of this beach belongs to hotels like the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa and Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club. (To be clear: Only hotel guests have access.) Such status allows the hotels to provide guests with full-service amenities and dining options on their own slices of heaven. Amenities: water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

A compelling collection of exhibits describes the city's maritime history, and there are photo archives, video programs, and a research library focusing on the area's pioneer heritage and Native American culture. The facilities include a one-room, early-20th-century schoolhouse and a 65-foot, 1950s purse seiner, a type of fishing vessel from the community's famous seafaring fleets. News clippings and videos about "Galloping Gertie," the bridge over the Tacoma Narrows that famously collapsed in 1940, are eerie.

During World War II the U.S. Army constructed a road to the 2,000-foot level of Harbor Mountain, a perfect spot from which to watch for invading Japanese subs or ships (none were seen). This road has been improved over the years, and it is possible to drive 5 miles to a spectacular summit viewpoint across Sitka Sound. A trail climbs uphill from the parking lot, then follows the ridge 2½ miles to a Forest Service shelter. From there, ambitious hikers can continue downhill another 3½ miles to Sitka via the Gavan Hill Trail.

Whimsical murals on cement barriers, colorful wooden chairs mounted on the outside wall of a commercial building, large-scale sculpture—together around 30 pieces generate an artistic ambience in the industrial setting of East Boston's working marina and shipyard. HarborArts curates a rotating collection of works by local and international artists across 14 acres, completely open to the public for perusal.

Inside two glass-enclosed marketplaces are a plethora of shops and eateries: the Light Street Pavilion has two stories of food courts and restaurants, and the Pratt Street Pavilion is dedicated mainly to retail stores. More than a dozen restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Tir Na Nog, offer waterfront dining. Specialty shops as Destination Baltimore and McCormick World of Flavors carry interesting souvenirs. In summer, performers entertain at an outdoor amphitheater between the two pavilions, and paddleboats are available for rent south of the Pratt Street building. A skywalk from the Pratt Street Pavilion leads to The Gallery, a four-story shopping mall with 70 more shops, including Bath & Body Works, Forever 21, and Michael Kors.

This 8.6-mile hike begins on the valley floor and with a gain of 1,000 feet, makes its way up through forests, then above the tree line and offers a stunning view of the Harding Icefield. This hike is considered strenuous and usually takes 6 to 8 hours. Difficult.

West of Chatham center, on the calmer and warmer waters of Nantucket Sound, Harding's Beach is very popular with families. It can get crowded, so plan to arrive earlier or later in the day. Amenities: food trucks; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Using a 1,200-liter Arnold Holstein still, the folks at Hardshore gather and employ all aspects of Maine’s natural bounty in their gin—not the least of which is pure water straight from Sebago Lake. The result? A spirit that tingles with fresh mint, bright rosemary, and botanicals like orris root and coriander. It’s a boon for most any cocktail, which the staff at this tasting room shakes up with aplomb and loves to chat about.

In winter, it's worth taking the picturesque mountain drive about 25 miles east of Logan to Blacksmith Fork Canyon, where the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources feeds 500 to 600 elk during the snowy months. A 20-minute sleigh ride takes you up close to the majestic creatures. Dress warmly in layers. The visitor center is only open December through early February, when tours are offered, but from spring through fall, the area is also popular for hiking and wildlife viewing.

The massive Harley-Davidson dealership on the south end of the Strip is ultimate destination for hog lovers. You can window-shop or even buy a bike right off the showroom floor, with financing and even shipping available—or rent one through Eagle Rentals ( 844/378–3060  www.eaglerider.com), which operates a branch office on the premises. There’s also a specialized service department and a riding academy for newbie and experienced riders, some of them including a license waiver. And if you’re looking for Harley merchandise—from vests to T-shirts to onesies for babies—you aren’t likely to find a better selection anyplace else. 

The first Harley rumbled onto the road in 1903, riding a path to history and the hearts of millions of motorcycle enthusiasts. See that past rev to life in the exhibits of this fascinating and fun museum, showcasing more than 450 Harleys through the ages, including the Serial Number One, the oldest in existence. The "Custom Culture" gallery looks at some of the most creatively customized bikes of celebrities like Elvis Presley; the "Experience Gallery" gives visitors a chance to sit on a Harley; and "Imagination Station" is all about getting kids going HOG wild. The Motor Bar and Restaurant fuels appetites with all-American meals like burgers, wings and chili.

Death Valley's mule teams hauled borax from here to the railroad town of Mojave, 165 miles away. They plied the route until 1889, when the railroad finally arrived in Zabriskie. Constructed in 1883, one of the oldest buildings in Death Valley houses the Borax Museum, 2 miles south of the borax works at the Ranch at the Oasis at Death Valley (between the restaurants and the post office). Originally a miners' bunkhouse, the building once stood in Twenty Mule Team Canyon. Now it displays mining machinery and historical exhibits. The adjacent structure is the original mule-team barn.

In a traffic circle at the northern edge of the Warehouse District, an 1884 bronze statue of Civil War General Robert E. Lee, by sculptor Alexander Doyle, stood high above the city on a white marble column—until spring 2017, that is, when Mayor Landrieu responded to local protests and nationwide attention to remove glorified Confederate monuments. Formerly called Lee Circle, it has now been renamed Harmony, as a public space that unites the city.

This 112,800-square-foot museum has five main collections: Asian, with works dating back to the Neolithic era; African, encompassing costumes, domestic wares, and personal adornments; Modern, featuring the works of Georgia O'Keeffe, William Morris Hunt, Claude Monet, and George Bellows; Contemporary, with original pieces by Yayoi Kusama and El Anatsui; and Photography, including the work of Jerry N. Uelsmann, a retired University of Florida professor.

Overlooking the track is this museum and hall of fame dedicated to harness racing. Exhibits include a three-dimensional racing simulator, prints, and paintings. Original track stables house some of the displays.

Lodi grape growers since the 1900s dawned, the Harney family only started a winery in 2006. Three Zinfandels star in a lineup that includes Albariño, Chardonnay, two rosés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Tempranillo, and an old-vine Zinfandel port-style dessert wine. Extend your tasting with a glass in the "forest" garden, where three-century-old cedars supply the shade. Learn about the family and Lodi on the Home Ranch Tasting & Tour.

Opened in 1991 and named for Chicago's first African American mayor, this library was primarily designed by architect Thomas Beeby, of Hammond, Beeby & Babka. Gargantuan and almost goofy, the granite-and-brick edifice is a uniquely postmodern homage to Chicago's great architectural past. The heavy, rusticated ground level recalls The Rookery; the stepped-back, arched windows are a reference to the great arches in the Auditorium Theatre; the swirling terra-cotta design is pinched from the Marquette Building; and the glass curtain wall on the west side is a nod to 1950s modernism. The huge, gargoyle-like sculptures atop the building include owls, a symbol of wisdom. The excellent Children's Library, an 18,000-square-foot haven on the second floor, has vibrant wall-mounted figures by Chicago imagist Karl Wirsum. Works by noted Chicago artists are displayed along a second-floor walkway above the main lobby. There's also an impressive Winter Garden with skylights on the ninth floor. Free programs and performances are offered regularly.

David Harouni, a favorite local artist, offers his take on neo-Expressionism in his paintings of faces, figures, and streetscapes, created in this gallery-studio space.

Along the cobblestone streets of the town abolitionist John Brown made famous, costumed interpreters in 19th-century homes and storefronts demonstrate period activities such as candle-dipping. Lectures and special tours are offered on weekends. Several hikes meander through the shady mountains that surround the sprawling park, passing over stone bridges and past the remains of homes and churches. There's plenty of parking at the Cavalier Heights Visitor Center along with the free shuttle buses that depart approximately every 15 minutes.

At the stunning convergence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the town of Harpers Ferry—just over the border in West Virginia—played a key role in the events leading to the Civil War. This historical park brings to life details of the famous raid led by John Brown, a radical abolitionist. His plan—to take control of the town and commandeer weapons from the arsenal for the fight against slavery—was ultimately foiled and Brown was later tried and hanged. Still, historians cite the incident as the spark that helped ignite the conflict between North and South. The town, at the crossroads of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, has been restored to its appearance during Brown's time, and various exhibits highlight early American life and Civil War history. The breathtaking rivers, shrouded by wooded cliffs, are popular spots for rafting and tubing during the warmer months.

Abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) spent her final years at this 1871 Victorian Gothic cottage, now a popular stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail. The center was built around the cottage in tribute to the author of the antislavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe's personal writing table and effects are housed inside.

Uncle Tom's Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe lived here in the 1830s. You can view her journal, along with exhibits on the abolitionist movement and African-American history.

Now part of the National Park Service's Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, the property's simple white clapboard house is where, beginning in 1890, Harriet Tubman tended to elderly African-Americans; the adjacent brick house served as her primary residence. Before Emancipation, Tubman led more than 300 slaves to freedom in the North. At the encouragement of William Seward, an abolitionist who served in two presidential cabinets, she settled in Auburn in the late 1850s. Seward and his family lived on the same road, a mile closer to town. The grounds are open for self-guided tours; house tours are given twice-daily (reservations are not required but are encouraged).

This green space is home to the first statue on city-owned property honoring a woman. The 10-foot bronze statue of Harriet Tubman is dedicated to the famous abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, nurse, spy, warrior, and crusader for women's rights. Although she never lived in Boston, Tubman had many links to the area through her abolitionist network.

Displays of multimedia folk art reflect the largely German and Scotch-Irish culture of the valley. One Civil War exhibit includes an electric map that traces Stonewall Jackson's famous 1862 Valley Campaign.

You can learn about the stars and watch science presentations that transport you to vast landscapes at the planetarium's full-dome theater. Entertainment shows, where images dance to music above you, are also sometimes offered. Public shows are typically on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as certain holidays. Private bookings also available.

Situated near the center of the park, Byrd Visitor Center is a stone's throw from Big Meadows Lodge and Big Meadows Campground. On the way in, admire the "Iron Mike" statue dedicated to the Civilian Conservation Corps, the men who created much of the park during the Great Depression. Inside, a U-shape exhibit hall tells the story of the park's establishment and development through historic photos and artifacts. Watch Shenandoah: The Gift, a 14-minute video on the creation of this national park. You'll also find restrooms and a park bookstore. From the back porch, take in the sweeping views across Big Meadows.

Nearly all of the park's trails, including the Boardwalk Trail, begin and end at this small but thoughtful visitor center. Inside, you'll find a gift shop; exhibits about the park's animals, trees, and flora; and a theater with a short video on the park's history. Volunteer docents staff the trailhead to provide updated info on conditions and recent wildlife sightings.

 Stop into the gift shop before your hike for critical supplies like bug spray or water.

Located on the UT campus, this oft-overlooked Austin institution is one of the world's greatest arts archives and humanities research centers. Among its fantastic riches are original self-portraits by Frida Kahlo, Einstein's notebook calculations on general relativity, Robert De Niro's archive of film costumes, and a complete copy of an original Gutenberg Bible. Tour the permanent and rotating exhibits, access millions of rare literary documents, photos, scripts, and artistic artifacts in the Reading Room, or check the monthly events calendar for special poetry readings, film screenings, and various artist-led discussions. Certain research materials can only be seen with advance notice, so call ahead if you have a specific item in mind.

Renovations to this circa-1890 landmark have restored the home and gardens to the Truman era, down to the wallpaper pattern. A free photographic review of visiting dignitaries and presidents—John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton are among the chief executives who passed through here—is on display in the back of the gift shop. Engaging 45-minute tours, conducted every 20 minutes, start with an excellent 10-minute video on the history of the property and Truman's visits. On the grounds of Truman Annex, a 103-acre former military parade grounds and barracks, the home served as a “winter White House” for Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy. Entry is cheaper when purchased in advance online; tickets bought on-site add sales tax.  The house tour does require climbing steps. Note that you can also do a free self-guided botanical tour of the grounds with a brochure from the museum store.