10457 Best Sights in USA

A unique contribution to garden design in America, Innisfree is based on Chinese-garden design and draws inspiration from ages-old Chinese paintings. The term cup garden is used to describe the concept; it refers to the way spaces frame, or "cup," features, such as striking rock formations or small pools. Cliffs, low hills, waterfalls, streams, and picnic spots surround the 40-acre lake at the center of the garden. A path takes you through Innisfree.

In Northeastern Philly, a neighborhood not known for its tourist attractions, is a bug lover's heaven. Revel in this ugly-yet-beautiful collection of thousands of creepy crawlers—tarantulas, giant centipedes, assassin bugs, and metallic beetles that look like pieces of gold jewelry. Started by an exterminator, the museum is home to more than 50 live species and mounted insects from around the world. The 5,000-square-foot space has one of the largest butterfly and moth collections in North America, a working beehive, a man-made (and kid-sized) spider web, and a kitchen teeming with live cockroaches. It's definitely a place for screaming kids, but it's hard not to enjoy at any age. It's easier to drive here than to take public transportation. By public transit, take the Market-Frankford subway to the end (Frankford Transportation Center); transfer to SEPTA bus 66 to Welsh Road.

This 1½-mile hike along flat terrain takes in most of East Anacapa. There are great views from Inspiration Point and Cathedral Cove. Easy.

The exhibits in this small but excellent and thoughtfully arranged collection detail the history and continuing presence of 10,000 years of Native American life in New England, specifically in "Quinnetukut." Highlights include 15 acres of nature trails, a simulated archaeological site, and an authentically constructed 16th-century Algonkian Village with wigwams, a longhouse, a rock shelter, and more. A gift shop presents the work of some of the country's best Native American artists.

This gem (known until 2023 as the Oriental Institute) began with artifacts collected by University of Chicago archaeologists in the early 20th century (one is rumored to have been the model for Indiana Jones) and has expanded into an interesting, informative museum with a jaw-dropping array of artifacts from the ancient Middle East. With the largest collection of such antiquities in the United States, you'll see amulets, mummies, limestone reliefs, gold jewelry, ivories, pottery, and bronzes from the 8th millennium BC through the 13th century AD. A 17-foot-tall statue of King Tut was excavated from the ruins of a temple in western Thebes in 1930.

This museum, part of the University of Pennsylvania, has established a reputation for identifying promising contemporary artists and championing them at critical points in their careers. Among the creators who have had exhibitions at ICA and later gone on to international prominence are Andy Warhol (his first-ever solo museum show, in 1965), Laurie Anderson, Robert Mapplethorpe, and surveys of less famous but important artists such as Jamaican Mavis Pusey's geometric abstractions. ICA is dedicated to the one or two exhibitions they show at a time. Exhibitions are long-running but closing between them is typical, so check what's up before you go.

More often than not, California's, and specifically the high desert's, reputation for being wacky and weird is blown out of proportion. But in the case of this woo-woo wellness offering—namely, a 60-minute sonic healing session/sound bath during which someone plays 20 quartz singing bowls keyed to each body chakra while you lie on the floor of a white, domed structure in the middle of nowhere—believe the hype. If you go in with an open mind, you might just find inner peace, a clear mind, and deep relaxation. Even if you don't, think of the tale you'll be able to share with relatives at the next holiday get-together. 

Built on the ashes of railroad tycoon Mark Hopkins's grand estate, this 19-story hotel built in 1926 displays a combination of French château and Spanish Renaissance architecture, with noteworthy terra-cotta detailing. Over the decades it has hosted statesmen, royalty, and Hollywood celebrities. The 11-room penthouse was turned into a glass-wall cocktail lounge in 1939: the Top of the Mark is remembered fondly by thousands of World War II veterans who jammed the lounge before leaving for overseas duty. Wives and sweethearts watching the ships depart gave the room's northwest nook its name—Weepers' Corner.  With its 360-degree views, the lounge is a wonderful spot for a grand brunch or a nighttime drink.

One of Michigan's few remaining stands of virgin pine is protected in this 187-acre state park, adjacent to the esteemed Interlochen Center for the Arts, and 15 miles southwest of Traverse City. Snug between Green Lake and Duck Lake, it also has picnic areas, a campground, and activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing, while the mile-long Interlochen-Pines Nature Trail is suited for hiking and cross-country skiing. Established in 1917, the park was Michigan's first state park.

The Interlock is your one-stop-shop for all things dining, entertainment, shopping and relaxation. It’s truly a go-to destination nestled within the Westside, with no shortage of restaurants, ranging from Velvet Taco Tex-Mex to the à la carte sushi eatery, Kinjo Room. Looking for entertainment? Check out Puttshack for high-tech minigolf. Afterwards, head upstairs to Rooftop L.O.A., a restaurant and pool club. After a long day of exploring, get a room at the Bellyard, a boutique hotel with its own private dining area.

Opened in 2023, the International African American Museum deftly balances reflection on the horrific tragedy of enslavement with celebration of the art and culture created by the people brutalized by it. The museum's scope is vast, but exhibits grounded in the Lowcountry are among the most powerful, including the recreation of a Sea Islands praise house.

In 1982, residents of Canastota and boxing enthusiasts wanted to honor two hometown boxers, late 1950s welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio and his nephew Billy Backus, the 1970 winner of the world welterweight title. Their efforts resulted in the 1989 opening of boxing's first hall of fame and museum, where you may see memorabilia from such notable boxers as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Billy Graham. The hall of fame is 6 mi southwest of Oneida.

Founded in 1974 by photojournalist Cornell Capa (photographer Robert Capa's brother), ICP continues to put on exhibitions that explore the timely social and political aspects of photojournalism. The institution, which has moved its collection of more than 150,000 original prints—spanning the history of photography, from daguerreotypes to large-scale pigment prints—several times, finally has a permanent home with both education and exhibition spaces. The new building's spacious, second- and third-floor galleries really allow the exhibits to shine. There's a gift shop and small café on the ground floor. It's pay-what-you-wish ($5 minimum) on Thursday night 5 pm–8 pm.

On the outskirts of Atchison, a 15-minute drive from downtown, trees from 50 states and 38 countries were planted in honor of men and women involved in space exploration and aviation, and grow in harmony at the International Forest of Friendship. Overlooking Lake Warnock, the forest was a gift to the United States for its 1976 bicentennial from the city of Atchison, the University of Kansas Forestry Extension, and International Ninety-Nines, Inc. Access the forest through a gate marked "Allingham Drive" and travel down Memory Lane, paved with plaques that list the names of more than 1,200 pilots, astronauts, and manufacturers who have contributed to aviation. The Amelia Earhart Earthworks sculpture can be seen from the walking trail.

Anchorage's premier fine-arts gallery, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art has changing exhibits monthly and features some of Alaska's most forward-thinking work.

This colorful museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of American traveling shows and carnivals. Located in the winter home of many performers and circus employees, the more than 52,000-square-foot facility houses old-time artifacts—glittery burlesque costumes, historic photographs and posters, refurbished railway cars and antique wagons, and a working vintage Ferris wheel—that transport you to a bygone era.

Just up Main Street from Huntington Pier, in an iconic art deco building, the International Surfing Museum pays tribute to the sport's greats with an impressive collection of surfboards and related memorabilia. Exhibits are designed to encourage families to learn about the history of surfing. Highlights include Duke Kahanamoku's surfboard and the "World's Largest Surfboard" measuring 42 feet long, 11 feet wide, 16 inches thick, and weighing 1,300 pounds.

The exhibits in Burke Lakefront Airport's lobby and concourse chronicle centuries of female flight, from Napoleonic balloon captains to space-age pilots. The museum is particularly rich in the recent history of female astronauts.

The National Park Service sponsors all sorts of orientation activities, such as daily guided hikes and talks, which change with the seasons. The focus may be on any aspect of the canyon—from geology and flora and fauna to history and early inhabitants. Schedules are available online.

Opened in 2024, the Intuit Dome is Inglewood's newest sports and entertainment venue, seating 18,000 and serving as the home of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Its instantly iconic steel-and-fabric grid architecture is a high-tech nod to a basketball net. Visitors enter through tiered "sky gardens" that let in natural light and set the stage for the experience inside, which includes a huge 360-degree halo screen. Another standout feature at the Dome is the Wall, a floor-to-ceiling set of rows behind the net that amplifies fan voices and creates an imposing home-court advantage.

Intuit showcases work from creators outside the artistic mainstream, many of whom used whatever supplies they had at their disposal to realize their vision. Collectively it’s a testament to the force of the creative impulse, no matter one’s background. Temporary exhibitions change throughout the year, but the heart of the museum is its exhibition about the internationally renowned artist Henry Darger, featuring a selection of artwork and anchored by a recreation of the artist’s cramped one-room apartment with his actual ephemera---think volumes of scrapbooks, balls of twine, pencil stubs, and paint pots—along with digital elements that explore the art, writings, methods and motivations of this mystery-shrouded artist.

Formerly the Slate Mill Wine Collective, this lovely site just south of downtown Fredericksburg was bought by Heath Family Brands, the family that owns one of the largest vineyards in the Hill Country. It's now Invention Vineyards, and you can tour the 35-acre estate vineyards, taste the wine in a stylish, modern industrial tasting room, and simply relax, raise a glass, and enjoy delicious Texas wines.

Bring the kids to this 600-acre farm whose family-friendly activities include games and tractor rides. Seasonal offerings range from pick-your-own pumpkins (mid-September–October) to cut-your-own Christmas trees (late November–late December) and a petting farm from late June through August. For a real treat, catch a weekend brunch (late February–early April) with homemade maple syrup atop pancakes, waffles, and French toast.

The library, behind the post office, has two ancient petroglyphs out front and is home to a large collection of Alaskan books and computers with free Internet access.

The impeccably maintained gardens at 1,150-acre Ironstone—not to mention the mining-history museum and 44-pound specimen of crystalline gold on display—make a visit here enjoyable even if you don't drink wine. Known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, old-vine Zinfandel, and whites including Albariño and Chardonnay, the winery hosts concerts and other events. Its deli has picnic items. The history-oriented estate tour, conducted on Friday and Saturday, takes in the gardens and wine caverns.

Displays of ancient and modern artworks, archaeological relics, and ever-changing cultural exhibits and events celebrate one of the mightiest American Indian confederacies of the Northeast. The museum, which sits on 45 park acres in a building designed to recall a longhouse, includes an area devoted to exhibits for children.

Revolutionary in design when it was completed in 1883, the shingle-style Isaac Bell House combines Old English and European architecture with Colonial American and exotic details, such as a sweeping open floor plan and bamboo-style porch columns. McKim, Mead & White of New York City designed the home for Isaac Bell, a wealthy cotton broker.

When he designed this house in 1896, Frank Lloyd Wright was still moving toward the mature Prairie style achieved in the Robie House 13 years later. As was common with Wright's designs, Heller House is entered from the side. But rather than being long and low, this one has three floors, the uppermost one of which comes complete with pillars and sculptured nymphs. The building is not open to the public.