77 Best Sights in USA

Hunkered down across from Grant Park, this 110,000-ton granite-and-limestone behemoth was an instant star when it debuted in 1899, and it didn't hurt the careers of its designers, Dankmar Adler and Louis H. Sullivan, either. Inside were offices, a 400-room hotel, and a 4,300-seat state-of-the-art theater with electric lighting and an air-cooling system that used 15 tons of ice per day. Adler managed the engineering—the theater's acoustics are renowned—and Sullivan ornamented the space using mosaics, cast iron, art glass, wood, and plaster. During World War II the building was used as a Servicemen's Center. Then Roosevelt University moved in and, thanks to the school's Herculean restoration efforts, the theater is again one of the city's premiere performance venues. Tours are offered most Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.

Here's a classic way to join in a beloved Castro tradition: grab some popcorn and catch a flick at this 1,500-seat art-deco theater built in 1922, the grandest of San Francisco's few remaining movie palaces. The neon marquee, which stands at the top of the Castro strip, is the neighborhood's great landmark. The Castro was the fitting host of 2008's red-carpet preview of Gus Van Sant's film Milk, starring Sean Penn as openly gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk. The theater's elaborate Spanish baroque interior is fairly well preserved. Before many shows, the theater's pipe organ rises from the orchestra pit and an organist plays pop and movie tunes, usually ending with the Jeanette MacDonald standard "San Francisco" (go ahead, sing along). The crowd can be enthusiastic and vocal, talking back to the screen as loudly as it talks to them.  The theater was under renovation until late 2025, which may change the nature of its availability. Check online for updates before planning your trip. 

Stroll the path through an artfully planted woodland and meadow to a rustic French cabin complete with waterwheel, where Belle's father, Maurice, tinkers with his inventions. The small homestead oozes Belle's provincial life, with a giant pot hanging in the fireplace and books stacked on a simple wooden chair. Inside her father's workshop, amid blueprints and tools, a giant gold-framed mirror hangs. A costumed cast member welcomes your group to the workshop (Bonjour!) and implores everyone to chant, "Take me back to the day Belle and Beast fell in love!" Voilà! The mirror becomes an animated screen straight from the Disney film Beauty and the Beast before transforming into a portal that leads to an elegant room of Beast's Castle.

Inside, an Audio-Animatronic Madame Armoire encourages you to grab props and play character roles from the "tale as old as time." Then it's on to the library, where a spot-on Audio-Animatronic Lumiere holds court from the mantle. Grab a cushy bench as a coiffed actress playing Belle joins you to perform a scene from the enchanted tale. You'll dance around the room to "Be Our Guest," and you might shed a tear as the interactive story unfolds. This live performance gets to the heart of Disney storytelling, and every participant poses for photos with Belle before a very happy ending. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible; equipped for handheld captioning and assisted listening. This is a slow-moving line that is mostly outside, so visit here first thing in the morning.

If you think you've seen enough Lion King to last a lifetime, you're wrong—unless you've seen this show. Disney presents a delightful celebration of song, dance, and acrobatics that uses huge moving stages and floats. The show's singers are first-rate; lithe dancers wearing exotic animal-theme costumes portray creatures in the wild. Timon, Pumba, and other Lion King stars have key roles. The show is presented in the Harambe Theater in the park's Africa area. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair- and ECV-accessible; equipped for assisted-listening and handheld-captioning devices; sign-language interpretation is sometimes offered. If you aren't using Genie+, arrive 30–40 minutes before showtime. If you have a child who might want to go on stage, try to sit up front to increase his or her chance of being chosen.

A recent update to this show sped up the storytelling but kept the beautiful costumes and puppets and the infectious tunes—including the heart-warming "Big Blue World"—from the previous Finding Nemo musical. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible. Equipped with reflective captioning and for audio-description and assisted-listening devices. Check with Guest Relations for sign-language schedule. Arrive 30 to 40 minutes before showtime. Bring little kids here while older tweens and teens ride nearby Expedition Everest over in Asia.

April 14, 1865, shocked the nation: during a performance of Our American Cousin, John Wilkes Booth entered the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre and shot Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head; the president died later that night. This block-long, Lincoln-centered, cultural campus encompasses four sites. In the Museum, you'll explore Lincoln's presidency and Civil War milestones and learn about Booth and those who joined his conspiracy to topple the government. Artifacts include Lincoln's clothing and weapons used by Booth. The Theatre, which stages performances throughout the year, is restored to look as it did when Lincoln attended, including the Presidential Box draped with flags as it was on the night he was shot. In the restored Petersen House, you can see the room where Lincoln died and the parlor where his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, waited in anguish through the night.

The centerpiece of the Aftermaths Exhibits at the Center for Education and Leadership is a jaw-dropping, three-story tower of 6,800 books written about Lincoln. Visitors take an immersive step back in time, entering a 19th-century street scene where they find a reproduction of Lincoln's funeral train car and see its route to Springfield, Illinois. Visitors also learn about the chase for John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators' trial, and they interact with an "escape map" to the tobacco barn where Booth was captured. Exhibits also explore the fate of Lincoln's family after his death, explain the milestones of Reconstruction, and describe Lincoln's legacy and enduring impact on U.S. and world leaders. A visit ends with a multiscreen video wall that shows how Lincoln's ideas resonate today.

Visits to Ford's Theatre require a free, timed-entry ticket. Same-day tickets are available at the theater box office beginning at 8:30 am on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also reserve tickets in advance at  www.fords.org with a $3 fee per ticket.

The four-block stretch closest to the French Quarter is where it's at—complete with cafés, bars, hotels, and music clubs. The true magic happens come nightfall, when live music spills from the doorways of clubs and crowds gather for street performers, but it's still a great daytime destination, too.

One of a dwindling number of vintage movie palaces in the nation, the Fox was built in 1929 in a fabulous Moorish-Egyptian style. The interior's crowning glory is its ceiling, complete with moving clouds and twinkling stars above Alhambra-like minarets. Threatened by demolition in the 1970s, the Fox was saved from the wrecking ball by community activists. Today it hosts musicals, rock concerts, dance performances, and film festivals—with an optional rooftop VIP experience at the reservations-only Marquee Club.

Tours should be scheduled in advance.

This magnificent 1876 Victorian-gingerbread "wedding cake" theater on the Connecticut River—so called for its turrets, mansard roof, and grand filigree—is widely recognized for its role in the preservation and development of American musical theater. More than 20 Goodspeed productions have gone on to Broadway, including Annie and Man of La Mancha. Performances take place from May through December; one-hour Opera House tours are offered on the first Saturday of the month.

For those seeking a quintessential Los Angeles experience, a concert on a summer night at the Bowl, the city's iconic outdoor venue, is unsurpassed. The Bowl has presented world-class performers since it opened in 1920. The L.A. Philharmonic plays here from June to September; its performances and other events draw large crowds. Parking is limited near the venue, but there are additional remote parking locations serviced by shuttles and a dedicated ride-share drop-off/pickup lot. You can bring food and drink to any event, which Angelenos often do, though you can only BYOB to L.A. Phil performances and some rock and other shows. (Bars do, however, sell alcohol at all events, and there are dining options.) It's wise to bring a jacket even if daytime temperatures have been warm—the Bowl can get quite chilly at night. Visitors can sometimes watch the L.A. Phil practice for free during the season, usually on a weekday; call ahead for times.

Intended to make a contemporary design statement, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has some architectural oomph with its dramatic vaulted glass roof. The 450,000-square-foot venue by architect Rafael Viñoly includes the 2,500-seat Verizon Hall, the more intimate 650-seat Perelman Theater, a central plaza, and a rooftop terrace bar. Making their home at the Kimmel are the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Philly Pops. Free performances are given before some performances and on many weekends in the center's Commonwealth Plaza.

Decorated with light fixtures made from buffalo skulls (the eye sockets glow amber in the dark), traditional Navajo symbols, dazzling tilework, and nine spectacular Western-theme wall murals by Carl Von Hassler, the 1927 Carl Boller--designed movie palace represents Pueblo Deco at its apex. The 660-seat KiMo (refurbished with its original balcony, hand-painted ceilings, and restored marquee) would be a standout anywhere. Former Albuquerque resident Vivian Vance of I Love Lucy fame once performed on the stage; today you're more likely to catch Mary Chapin Carpenter or the Wallflowers, a ballet, flamenco performance, or a film- or book-festival event. Guided tours are occasionally offered.

Fascinating and futuristic, this 2,739-seat hall is the home of the San Francisco Symphony. The glass wraparound lobby and pop-out balcony are visible from outside, as is the Henry Moore bronze sculpture on the sidewalk. The hall's 59 adjustable Plexiglas acoustical disks cascade from the ceiling like hanging windshields. Concerts range from typical symphonic fare to more unusual performances, such as singer Al Green and film screenings with a live orchestra performing the score.

The most exciting new concert venue in Las Vegas opened in 2023. With the largest high-definition (wraparound) video screen in the world, it's an unforgettable concert venue for such stars as Kenny Chesney, The Eagles, and the Backstreet Boys, but you don't have to see a concert to experience it. There are two other options to experience the magic. The "Sphere Experience" includes the Darren Aronovsky film "Postcard from Earth" as well as early entrance to play with some of the interactive, high-tech doodads in the lobby; it's usually shown daily (sometimes several times depending on the concert schedule). You can also watch a film of U2's inaugural concert at the venue in 2023 (called "V-U2"), which is shown on nights when there's not a concert or other event. The Sphere is accessible by a pedestrian bridges from The Venetian if you aren't arriving in a vehicle.

From mid-April through mid-October, tens of thousands of theater lovers descend on Ashland for some of the finest Shakespearean productions you're likely to see outside of London—plus works by both classic (Ibsen, O'Neill) and contemporary playwrights, including occasional world premieres. Around 10 plays are staged in repertory in the 1,200-seat Allen Elizabethan Theatre, an atmospheric re-creation of the Fortune Theatre in London; the 600-seat Angus Bowmer Theatre, a state-of-the-art facility typically used for five different productions in a single season; and the 350-seat Thomas Theatre, which often hosts productions of new or experimental work. The festival, which dates to 1935, generally operates close to capacity, so it's important to book ahead.

Besides being home to the Academy Awards for a decade in the '50s, this stunning art deco--style theater near Hollywood and Vine has been playing host to many of the musical theater world’s biggest and greatest productions, from the classics like Cats, West Side Story, and Phantom of the Opera to modern hits like Hamilton and Wicked. During your Los Angeles jaunt, see a show in order to really experience its splendor. While guided tours are not being offered to the public, an annual open house is available to theater subscribers for an exclusive and informative tour of the theater and its history.

The exquisite 9,000-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre, amid majestic geological formations in nearby Morrison, is renowned for its natural acoustics, which have awed the likes of Leopold Stokowski and the Beatles. Although Red Rocks is one of the best places in the country to hear live music, be sure to leave extra time when visiting—parking is sparse, crowds are thick, paths are long and extremely uphill, and seating is usually general admission.

A country music shrine, the Ryman Auditorium and Museum was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The auditorium seats 2,000 for live performances of classical, jazz, pop, gospel, and, of course, country. Self-guided tours include photo ops on the legendary stage and a stroll through the museum, with its photographs and memorabilia of past Ryman Auditorium performances. Visitors can also take a backstage tour of the dressing rooms and even record their own version of a legendary song at the in-house recording studio.

To watch opera in this strikingly modern structure—a 2,128-seat, indoor--outdoor amphitheater with excellent acoustics and sight lines—is a memorable visual and auditory experience. Carved into the natural curves of a hillside 7 miles north of the Plaza, the opera overlooks mountains, mesas, and sky. Add some of the most acclaimed operatic talents from Europe and the United States, and you begin to understand the excitement that builds every summer. This world-renowned company presents five works in repertory each year—a blend of seasoned classics, neglected masterpieces, and world premieres. Many evenings sell out far in advance, but less expensive standing-room tickets are often available on the day of the performance. A favorite pre-opera pastime is tailgating in the parking lot before the evening performance—many guests set up elaborate picnics of their own, but you can also preorder picnic meals at the opera website by calling 24 hours in advance or ordering a take-out meal from one of the many local restaurants that offer opera meals. In the off-season, the opera house hosts shows by contemporary artists.

More retro 1930s and '40s than Victorian, 2nd Street—Raton's main commercial drag—also has a number of handsome old buildings. The pride and joy of the neighborhood is the Shuler Theater, a 1915 European rococo–style structure whose lobby contains WPA murals depicting local history. The Shuler is one of the few remaining stages where all sets, curtains, and scenery are hand-operated with hemp rope and wooden pulleys. On weekdays between 10 and 5 the staff will happily take you on a free tour.

Most visitors stumble on this stunning performance venue thanks to its national and international musical acts—and indeed, it's an ideal size and structure for that with a 3,000- to 8,000-person capacity; it's spacious but not too big to enjoy the show. But that's just the beginning of what the peninsular, waterfront spot offers, from ice-skating in the winter to local craft fairs throughout the year. And on select Thursdays and Fridays from 4 pm till sunset in the summer, entry is free, dogs are welcome, and live music and lawn games are on offer with some of the city's best food trucks lining up to feed the happy crowd.

The show begins in an intriguingly creepy preshow area where masks, props, and rubber skeletons from classic and contemporary horror films and tributes to great makeup artists like Lon Chaney, Rick Baker, and Jack Pierce make a great backdrop for a horrifying family photo. Inside the theater, your host brings out a special-effects expert who describes and shares some secrets about what goes into (and oozes out of) creepy movie effects (e.g., corn syrup and food coloring make for a dandy blood substitute).

Older children, in particular, eat up the blood-and-guts stories. But despite the potentially frightening topic, most audiences get a kick out of the show, because the subject is handled with an extraordinary amount of dead-on humor, including one-liners delivered with comedy-club timing. For people with disabilities: The theater is wheelchair accessible. Good scripts and good shtick mean that those with visual impairments can enjoy the show. Arrive about 15 minutes before showtime (doors close immediately after show starts).

While the venue gets its name from a well-known WXPN-FM program, and WXPN is housed in the same building, World Cafe Live is in fact a separate entity, even though aesthetically it hews to the XPN sound of acoustic, independent, and world-beat contemporary music. There are two live concert spaces, the larger of which, Downstairs Live, can pack in up to 650 concertgoers. There's a menu, but the food is so-so—better to eat a good meal elsewhere and then come for the show. If you can land gratis tickets via online pre-registration, XPN’s “Free at Noon” is a wholly unique concert experience—notable artists break the routine, performing stripped-down lunchtime sets for an intimate crowd. Adele, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, the Pixies, and the Pretenders are just a few of the big names who have graced the daytime stage. The upstairs venue is more of a drop-in place to listen to quality, mostly local bands.

The pavilion's key attraction is this 100-yard dash through history, and you'll be primed for the lesson after reaching the main entry hall and hearing the stirring a cappella Voices of Liberty. Inside the theater, the main event begins to the accompaniment of "The Golden Dream," performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. This show combines evocative sets, a rear-projection screen (72 feet wide), enormous movable stages, and 35 Audio-Animatronics players.

Beginning with the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and their grueling first winter, Benjamin Franklin and a wry, pipe-smoking Mark Twain narrate the episodes, both praiseworthy and shameful, that have shaped the American spirit. Each speech and scene seems polished like a little jewel. You feel the cold at Valley Forge. You're moved by Nez Percé Chief Joseph's forced abdication of ancestral lands, by Frederick Douglass's reminder of the miseries of slavery, and by women's rights campaigner Susan B. Anthony's speech. You laugh with Will Rogers's aphorisms and learn about the pain of the Great Depression through an affecting radio broadcast by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. For people with disabilities:wheelchair- and ECV-accessible; reflective captioning and equipped for assisted-listening and audio-description devices. Arrive 10 minutes before the Voices of Liberty are slated to perform (check the My Disney Experience app), and then head inside to enjoy the a cappella tunes.

The enormously popular radio show, the Grand Ole Opry, has been performed in the Opry House since 1925. You can see superstars, legends, and up-and-coming stars on this stage. The Opry has been in its current location since 1974, when then-President Richard Nixon played a song on the house piano on opening night, and as such it’s the epicenter around which the rest of Music Valley has rippled out over the years. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of country music, it’s definitely worth a visit for the spectacle of it all. And if attending a live show isn’t enough to satisfy your love of country music, you can take a backstage tour seven days a week to hear more about the history, stars, and stories that make the Grand Ole Opry truly grand.

The rousing theme music from the Indiana Jones movies heralds action developed by Glenn Randall, a stunt coordinator who has worked on such movies as Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., and Jewel of the Nile. Presented in a 2,200-seat amphitheater, the show starts with a series of near-death encounters in an ancient Maya temple. Indy slides down a rope from the ceiling, dodges spears, avoids getting chopped by booby-trapped idols, and snags a forbidden gemstone, setting off a gigantic boulder that threatens to flatten him.

Next comes the Cairo street scene, circa 1940, where lucky audience members are chosen to perform as extras. When the nasty Ninja-Nazi stuntmen come out, you start to think that it's probably better to remain seated. Eventually, Indy returns with his redoubtable girlfriend, Marian Ravenwood, portrayed by a Karen Allen look-alike. She's kidnapped and tossed into a truck while Indy fights his way free with bullwhip and gun, and bad guys tumble from every corner and cornice.

The actors do a commendable job of explaining their stunts, so you learn how cameras are camouflaged for trick shots. Only one stunt remains a secret: how do Indy and Marian escape the grand finale explosion? That's what keeps ’em coming back. Note, though, that there are continuous rumors about this show being updated or possibly dropped, in keeping with Disney's new "immersive" theme. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible. Equipped for assisted-listening, audio-description, and handheld-captioning devices. There's sign-language interpretation twice weekly. Don't waste valuable early-morning hours here; there's plenty of room in the afternoon. Come at night to see the idols' eyes glow.

Mickey Mouse might be the headliner here, but it's Donald Duck's misadventures—reminiscent of Mickey's as the sorcerer's apprentice in Fantasia—that set the comic pace in this 3-D animated film. As you settle into your seat, the on-screen action takes you behind the curtains at a grand concert hall where Donald and Mickey prepare for a performance. But when Donald misuses Mickey's sorcerer's hat, he finds himself on a whirlwind journey that includes a magic carpet ride and an electrifying dip under the sea. And you go along for the ride. On the way, you meet Ariel, Simba, Aladdin, Jasmine, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and others.

The film startles with its special-effects technology—you'll smell a fresh-baked apple pie, feel the rush of air as champagne corks pop, and get lost in the action on the 150-foot-wide screen. The 3-D film marks the first time that classic Disney characters appear in a computer-generated animation attraction. Some of the effects can startle small children, and some of the darker scenes are a bit muddy through the recycled 3-D glasses. For people with disabilities: There's a special viewing area for guests in wheelchairs. Reflective captioning is provided; equipped for assisted-listening and audio-description devices.

An effort is under way to fully restore the three-story Tabor Opera House that opened in 1879, when it was proclaimed the "largest and best west of the Mississippi." It hosted luminaries such as Harry Houdini, Buffalo Bill, and Oscar Wilde. Shows on the current schedule are mostly music and dance, but there's also a community talent show to give local stars a spotlight on the famous stage.

Built in 1908 along the old town square, this auditorium reflects the grandeur of the days when lavish road shows and stellar entertainers took center stage. Current productions range from contemporary light comedies to local renderings of Broadway musicals. Self-guided tours are available.

Culture vultures and other artsy types are drawn to this stunning performing arts center, which includes the 2,400-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House, the 2,200-seat John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, the black-box Carnival Studio Theater, and the outdoor Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts. Throughout the year, you'll find top-notch performances by local and national touring groups, including Broadway hits like Wicked and Hamilton, intimate music concerts, and showstopping ballet. Think of it as a sliver of savoir faire to temper Miami's often-over-the-top vibe. The massive development was designed by architect César Pelli. Complimentary one-hour tours of the Arsht Center, highlighting the architecture and its public art, are offered every Saturday and Monday at noon. Arrive early for your performance to dine at BRAVA, where a prix-fixe menu allows you to enjoy three courses with plenty of time to make it to your seats for the show.