10457 Best Sights in USA

Rice, not cotton, dominated Georgia's coast in the antebellum years, and the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation is the last remaining example of a way of life that fueled an agricultural empire. The main farmhouse, in use since the 1850s when the original house burned, is now a museum with family heirlooms accumulated over five generations, including extensive collections of silver and Canton china. A guide gives an insightful talk on rural plantation life. Though grown over, some of the original dike works and rice fields remain, as do some of the slave quarters. A brief film at the visitor center complements exhibits on rice technology and cultivation, linking them to Sierra Leone, the country from which many slaves were taken because of their expertise in growing rice.

This small settlement near the southern end of Sapelo Island is one of the few remaining Gullah/Geechee communities on the south Atlantic Coast. The Saltwater Geechee people, Georgia's sea-island equivalent to the Gullah of South Carolina, are descendants of slaves who worked the island's plantations during the 19th century. Hog Hammock's roughly 50 residents still maintain their distinct language and customs, which share many characteristics with their West African origins.

This 42-acre zoo, nestled at the base of Emigration Canyon, has been a delightful destination for families since 1931. In the African Savanna you can spy zebras, giraffes, and ostriches; Asian Highlands showcases big cats in natural surroundings; Rocky Shores includes underwater viewing of polar bears, sea lions, seals, and otters; and Elephant Encounter has elephants and white rhinos in a simulated African plain. In between you'll find many exhibits with species native to the West, including wolves and bison. A children's zoo, interactive exhibits, and special presentations make visits informative for all ages. Just for fun is the Lighthouse Point Splash Zone, with a tube slide, the Zoo Train, and a carousel.

A trip on the Hogwarts Express will enchant you—from departure at Hogsmeade Station to arrival at King’s Cross Station (on Platform 9¾ no less) in Universal Studios. Settle into the compartment, and gaze out your window at the village of Hogsmeade and towering Hogwarts Castle. As the train leaves the station on its four-minute journey, Hagrid waves good-bye, centaurs gallop beside you, and the Weasley brothers fly by on their broomsticks. Hogwarts gradually recedes, and you move briskly through the rainy British countryside and to the streets of London. When the train stops, you're just steps from the magic of Diagon Alley. Remember that to travel between one area of the land known only to wizards and the other, you need a two-park Universal ticket.

When Universal announced the Studios’ Diagon Alley would connect to IOA’s Hogsmeade via a train ride, many people assumed an open-air train ride through the park’s backstage area. But many people aren’t nearly as creative as the geniuses at Universal. To reach Hogsmeade, you walk through an exact re-creation of a London rail station, where a magical effect takes you to Platform 9¾. When the train arrives, settle into the compartment with other guests. Outside your window as you chuff away from the station, an owl follows you, music plays, and it feel as if you’re traveling through the English countryside.

Adding to the magic, silhouettes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear in the corridor outside your window, with their narration adding to the drama of the trio's attempt to banish Dementors (and to corral a loose box of chocolate frogs). By the time Hagrid appears, and you arrive in Hogsmeade, you really feel as if . . . you’ve arrived in Hogsmeade. You need a two-park ticket to travel between the wizarding worlds. Also, Express Pass is available here, but it might not save much time except later in the day, when lines can be especially long.

Pick up park maps and pamphlets, permits, and activities lists in this busy, woodsy chalet, which also has a shop and exhibits on natural history. Several short interpretive trails and longer wilderness treks start from here.

The 1,230-acre Holbrook Island Sanctuary protects the region’s fragile ecosystem and has nine hiking trails (pick up trail maps in the parking lot), a gravel beach with splendid views, and a picnic area. There's a good chance you'll spot a blue heron, osprey, or bald eagle here. Note that the sanctuary, which is open from 9 am till sunset, is on the mainland; Holbrook Island itself is privately owned.

Run by Kathy Grayson, the art-world It girl and former director of the highly influential Deitch Projects, this contemporary-arts gallery usually hosts several shows a month. The artists lean more toward the up-and-coming rather than the establishment, and it's pretty much always worth stopping in to the space for a short but entertaining stroll.

This old-school roadside attraction, 12 miles south of Moab, may look a bit questionable from the road, but it's a worthwhile stop. A short tour takes you inside the 14-room, 5,000-square-foot home that former owners Albert and Gladys Christensen carved and blasted into solid rock. Beyond the impressive cave dwelling is a petting zoo, available for a separate entrance fee. A small convenience store has drinks, snacks, and ice cream for those really warm desert days.

On the way to southeastern Utah in 1879, Mormon pioneers chipped and blasted a narrow passageway in solid rock, through which they lowered their wagons. The Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, now an extremely rugged 60-mile unpaved washboard road that's officially known as BLM 200, leads south from Highway 12, 5 miles southeast of Escalante, to the actual hole-in-the-rock site in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The original passageway ends where the canyon has been flooded by the waters of Lake Powell—you can hike the half-mile from the end of the road to a dramatic viewpoint overlooking the lake.

Just keep in mind that it can take up to three hours to drive to the end of the road, and high-clearance vehicles are best (and a requirement when muddy—check with the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center before setting out). However, there are some amazing hiking spots located along the route, including Zebra Slot Canyon (at mile 8.5) and Devil's Garden (at mile 12), which are less daunting to reach. Other worthwhile hikes and stops along the route include Peek-A-Boo Gulch (off Dry Fork Road, at mile 26) and Dance Hall Rock (at mile 36).

Created millions of years ago by volcanic activity, Hole-in-the-Wall formed when gases were trapped between layers of deposited ash, rock, and lava, and the gas bubbles left holes in the solidified material. You will encounter one of California's most distinctive hiking experiences here. Proceeding from the blue sign across from the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, you walk gently down and around a craggy hill, past cacti and fading petroglyphs to Banshee Canyon, whose pockmarked walls resemble Swiss cheese. From there you head back out of the canyon, supporting yourself with widely spaced iron rings (some of which wiggle precariously from their rock moorings) as you ascend a 50-foot incline that deposits you back near the information center. The one-hour adventure can be challenging but wholly entertaining.  There are no services (gas or food) nearby; be sure to fill your tank and pack some snacks as well as water before heading out here.

The hike to Holland Falls is about 1½ miles from the lodge. The last bit is a steep climb, but it's well worth it for the view.

In a meadow near Mill Creek, this lovely spot for a picnic has 10 tables and is open year-round. It's also close to the Hollowell Park and Mill Creek Basin Trailheads.

The mere mention of this intersection inspires images of a street corner bustling with movie stars, hopefuls, and moguls arriving on foot or in a Duesenberg or a Rolls-Royce. In the old days this was the hub of the radio and movie industry: film stars like Gable and Garbo hustled in and out of their agents' office buildings (some now converted to luxury condos) at these fabled cross streets. Even the B Line Metro station here keeps up the Hollywood theme, with a Wizard of Oz–style yellow brick road and movie-themed artworks in tile on permanent display. Sights visible from this intersection include the Capitol Records Building, the Avalon Hollywood nightclub, Pantages Theater, and the W Hollywood Hotel.

Originally the tearoom for the Hollywood Bowl, this unassuming, two-story museum not only recounts the history of one of L.A.’s most renowned landmarks, but also commemorates some of the major and unforgettable performances that have taken place here. While the second floor mostly touts temporary exhibits, the first floor boasts permanent displays, a few of which are interactive. A quick visit to this museum is a definite must whether you’re a musicophile or you’re coming to see a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

Designed in a garden style along the banks of the James River, the cemetery requires at least an hour to stroll through the grounds. Many noted Virginians are buried here, including presidents John Tyler and James Monroe; Confederate president Jefferson Davis; and generals Fitzhugh Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and George E. Pickett. Pets are allowed on leashes.

This unassuming wooden building across from the Hollywood Bowl is a treasure trove of memorabilia from the earliest days of Hollywood filmmaking, including a thorough look back at Cecil B. DeMille's starry career and a recreation of his office. The building itself is the restored Lasky-DeMille Barn, the oldest studio and oldest building in Hollywood, designated a California State Historic Landmark in 1956. Models show the building's former location on the Paramount Studios lot. Changing exhibitions cover movie and film history.

Providing equipment for countless Los Angeles bands since the 1960s, Guitar Center pays tribute to its rock-star clientele with the Hollywood RockWalk in front of the building. The concrete slabs are imprinted with the talented hands of Van Halen, Carole King, Chuck Berry, Dick Dale, Slash, Carlos Santana, AC/DC, and others. Two standouts are Joey Ramone's upside-down hand and Lemmy of Motörhead's "middle finger salute." 

Just off Branson's famous Route 76, the local branch of the Hollywood Wax Museum offers visitors the chance to get their photos snapped with eerily realistic replicas of their favorite film stars of yesterday and today, from Charlie Chaplin to Johnny Depp. You can even climb into the fist of a giant King Kong figure, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want to take the photo home. The gift shop in this recently renovated museum is chock-full of Hollywood memorabilia.

A bronze sculpture depicts refugees clinging to a giant bronze arm that reaches out of the ground and 42 feet into the air. Enter the surrounding courtyard to see a memorial wall and hear the music that seems to give voice to the 6 million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis. It's easy to understand why Kenneth Treister's dramatic memorial is in Miami Beach: the city's community of Holocaust survivors was once the second largest in the country.

This memorial and education center to those who died and survived the Holocaust is housed in a stark, cylindrical edifice. Devastating and uplifting, the main exhibit, "Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers," can be viewed individually or by tour. There is also a 1942 German Holocaust–era railcar, the type that was used to carry millions of innocent victims to their deaths.

The Holocaust Museum uses its extensive collections of photos and artifacts, along with audio tours and interactive tools, to evoke European Jewish life in the 20th century. The mission is to commemorate the lives of those who perished and those who survived the Holocaust. The building is itself a marvel, having won two awards from the American Institute of Architects.

While mostly rocky topography makes swimming and snorkeling a bit difficult here, this little park is still scenic and relaxing. Take the short trail over to the petroglyph trail; interpretive signs will guide you. There are showers, picnic tables, and restrooms; public parking is limited.

Displays at this 17,000-square-foot museum include folk art, crafts, photography, painting, and sculpture, with an emphasis on homegrown Montana artists.

There is a lot going on at this USDA-organic-certified coffee farm and processing facility, from growing the beans to milling and drying. The processing plant next door to the farm demonstrates how the beans are roasted and packaged. A flock of 50 geese welcomes visitors and "provides fertilizer" for the plantation at no charge. Holualoa also processes beans for 200 coffee farms in the area. Enjoy a cup of their finest as you peruse the gift shop after the tour.

In this area where the prevailing architecture is modern strip-mall, the Holy Assumption in Kenai's cute Old Town stands out with its bright teal onion-shaped domes. Completed in 1896, it's the oldest standing Russian Orthodox church in Alaska. The church has a small gift shop and offers daily tours.

The ornate Russian Orthodox church is a visual feast, both inside and out. The cross-shaped building is topped by two onion-shaped blue domes, and the interior contains brass candelabra, distinctive chandeliers, and numerous icons representing Orthodox saints. Three different churches have stood on this site since 1794. The present structure, which still operates as a church, dates to 1945.

A scenic half-mile interpretive trail leads you over the Colorado River to the original dude ranch that the Holzwarth family, some of the park's original homesteaders, ran between the 1920s and 1950s. Allow about an hour to view the buildings—including a dozen small guest cabins—and chat with a ranger. Though the site is open year-round, the inside of the buildings can be seen only from Memorial Day through Labor Day.