10457 Best Sights in USA

This sandy protected cove is usually completely deserted on weekdays but can fill up when the surf is up. The water in the cove is clear and shallow with plenty of well-worn rocky areas. These conditions make for excellent snorkeling, swimming, and body boarding on calm days. Locals like to surf in a break called Dixie's or Dixie Maru. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

Serving Cleveland since the 1910s, Karamu House is the nation's oldest African-American cultural institution. Its theater program includes performances of plays by Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, and Langston Hughes.

A giant golden Buddha resides in the colorful shrine room of this Tibetan Buddhist monastery, where you can meditate or wander the grounds. Stroll around to discover a fishpond, guesthouse, and solitary-retreat cabins, or join a guided tour on weekends at 1:30. Because this is a religious center, you're not permitted into the main shrine room wearing shoes, hats, or revealing garments. Introductory instruction in shinay (mind-calming) meditation is also available. The monastery is about 3 miles north of the village center.

Housed in the former American Legion hall and across from Wright Park, the museum showcases rare and unpublished letters and documents by notables who have shaped history. Themes of the rotating exhibits have included the correspondence from the family of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams and Einstein's theory of relativity.

The tiny Haida community of Kasaan celebrated a significant milestone in 2016 when local carvers completed the five-year restoration of Náay I’waans ("The Great House", also known as the Chief Son-I-Hat Whale House), the last traditional Haida longhouse in the country. The site includes three interior house posts and nine exterior totem poles, some restored originals and others re-carved in the 1930s. The longhouse and the poles can be viewed as part of a two-hour guided tour offered several times a week through the Organized Village of Kasaan ( www.kasaan.org).

Home to moose, bald eagles, salmon, Canada lynx, and bobcats, two rivers flow and streams and ponds abound at this rugged 87,500-acre North Woods preserve east of Baxter State Park. Mt. Katahdin can be seen from many locales here including Lookout Mountain, where the inspiring 7,900-square-foot Tekαkαpimək Contact Station opened in 2025. Winglike sections sided with raw cedar jut into the landscape, anchoring walking paths and outdoor spaces such as the gathering circle and lookout. True to its Penobscot name, which means "as far as one can see," the visitor center has a Katahdin viewing deck, and you can see the monument's expanse from the curving, open interior. Exhibits relate the history and importance of these lands and waters through the "perspective" of Maine's Wabanaki nations, whose artisans crafted the floor tiles and woven ceilings. All monument roads are gravel or dirt; local roads leading here are rough. There aren't services for water, food, and fuel, and cell service is unreliable. Except at Tekαkαpimək, there are only pit toilets. In the monument's southern portion, 17-mile Katahdin Loop Road has Katahdin views and trailheads for short hikes and Barnard Mountain, a 4-mile round-trip that links with the International Appalachian Trail. Winding through the monument, it's part of the 50-plus-mile trail network here, much of it along old logging roads where visitors can hike side by side. You can bike on monument roads; mountain bike–designated routes link with the loop road. Visitors paddle and fish, and there's primitive camping year-round (two rustic cabin rentals are winter only). When the snow flies, folks cross-country ski (some groomed trails), snowshoe, and fat-tire bike along and near the waterfall-dotted East Branch of the Penobscot River in the preserve's northern section.

The museum's changing exhibitions span a wide range of cultures, mediums, historical periods, and social issues. It's not uncommon to see a show about banjos or puzzles followed by a more traditional art exhibit—a review of Latin American works or a retrospective of Richard Diebenkorn's prints, for example. Guided tours start at 2:30 Tuesday through Sunday.

People take this short hike, 1.6 miles round-trip, to see faded human footprints, fossilized in hardened volcanic ash. Easy.

This beach was relatively unknown—except by local fishers, of course—for a long time, hence the common reference to it as "Secret Beach." You'll understand why once you stand on the coarse white sands of Kauapea and see the solid wall of rock that runs the length of the beach, making it fairly inaccessible. For the hardy, there is a steep hike down the western end. From there, you can walk for a long way in either direction in summer. During winter, big swells cut off access to sections of the beach. You may witness dolphins just offshore, and it's a great place to see seabirds, as Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and its historic lighthouse lie at the eastern end. Nudity is not uncommon, though it is illegal in Hawaii. A consistent onshore break typically makes swimming here very dangerous. On big-surf days, don't go near the shoreline. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's Royals

Thanks to Hilo's abundant rainfall, this lava tube is lush with plant life. Concrete stairs lead down to the 2½-mile-long tube, which has no lighted areas. The ground is uneven and damp, so wear sturdy shoes, bring a flashlight, and explore as far as you dare to go. There are restrooms and a covered picnic table at the cave, and parking across the street. Heed all warning signs when entering the caves.

Central Molokai's main town looks like a classic 1940s movie set. Along the its main drag is a cultural grab bag of restaurants and shops, and its friendly residents will supply directions or maybe even "talk story." Preferred dress is shorts and a tank top, and no one typically wears anything fancier than a cotton skirt or aloha shirt.

Once bustling with barges exporting pineapples, these docks now host visiting boats and the regular barge from Oahu. Fishing, sailing, snorkeling, whale-watching, and scuba-diving excursions depart from its wharf, which is the longest in the state and is also a wonderful place to catch sunsets. To get here, take Kaunakakai Place, which dead-ends at the wharf.

In 1851 Methodist Episcopal missionaries built a school for Kaw children, now known as the Kaw Mission State Historic Site. You can learn about the converging of the two cultures through exhibits featuring leather handicrafts, beadwork, textiles, weapons, and furniture, which also showcase the heritage of the Kaw Indians, the Santa Fe Trail, and early Council Grove. Its oak floors, rosewood features, porches, and light fixtures—added during a 1926 remodel—are in immaculate condition. An eight-minute video, "The Original Kansans," is a great prelude to the self-guided tour.

Called Hawaii's Westminster Abbey, this historic house of worship was completed in 1842 and witnessed the coronations, weddings, and funerals of generations of Hawaiian royalty. Each of the building's 14,000 coral blocks was quarried from reefs offshore at depths of more than 20 feet and transported to this site. Interior woodwork was created from the forests of the Koolau Mountains, and the upper gallery displays paintings of the royal families. The graves of missionaries and of King Lunalilo are adjacent. Services in English, with songs and prayers in Hawaiian, are held each Sunday (Kawaiahao's affiliation is United Church of Christ). You can follow a free audio tour of the church and grounds or just look around by yourself.

The Kaweah River rushes out of the Sierra from high above Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. When it reaches the hills above the Central Valley, the water collects in in this lake, a reservoir operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. You can swim, sail, kayak, water ski, hike, camp, fish, and picnic here. The visitor center at Lemon Hill has interesting exhibits about the dam that created the lake.

Trails at this 344-acre wildlife sanctuary off the main road to Sequoia National Park lead past majestic valley oak, sycamore, cottonwood, and willow trees. Among the 134 bird species you might spot are hawks, hummingbirds, and great blue herons. Bobcats, lizards, coyotes, and cottontails also live here. The Sycamore Trail has digital signage with QR codes you can scan with your smartphone to access plant and animal information.

The only visitor center on the park's far west side, Kawuneeche has exhibits on the plant and animal life of the area, as well as a large three-dimensional map of the park and an orientation film.

Dahlonega's largest winery, Kaya's wines are produced exclusively from estate-grown grapes, including Chardonnay, Viognier, Touriga, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The tasting room offers sweeping panoramic views of Dahlonega's beautiful mountain scenery and regularly features events. Tastings are offered daily along with light lunch items.

Taking a tour of this unique kazoo museum and factory is a fun and informative experience; you even get to make your own kazoo at the end.

Tree-lined and grassy, this arboretum in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve is a perfect spot for a picnic—and there are lots of picnic tables scattered throughout the parklike setting. A typically shallow, cascading stream makes for a fun spot for kids to splash, although the water's a bit chilly. After crossing the stream on the bridge, the 1-mile walking trail meanders through mango, monkeypod, and exquisite rainbow eucalyptus trees. This is usually a peaceful place, but pay attention to the weather as the stream can flood quickly.

Adjacent to the highway heading north out of Kapaa, ½-mile-long Kealia Beach attracts bodyboarders and surfers year-round. It's a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Kealia is not generally a great beach for swimming, but it's a nice place to sunbathe and enjoy the beach scene. The safest area to swim is at the far north end of the beach, near the lava jetty. The waters are often rough and the waves crumbly, due to an onshore break (no protecting reef) and northeasterly trade winds. A scenic lookout on the southern end, accessed off the highway, is a superb location for saluting the morning sunrise or spotting whales during winter. A level paved section of the Ke Ala Hele Makalae bike path, with small covered pavilions, runs along the coastline here and is popular for walking and biking. Amenities: lifeguard; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking.

Natural wetlands have become rare in the Islands, so the 700 acres of this reserve attract migratory birds, such as Hawaiian coots and long-legged Hawaiian stilts that casually dip their beaks into the shallow waters as traffic shuttles by; it's also home to other wildlife. The visitor center provides a good introduction, and interpretive signs on the ½-mile elevated boardwalk, which stretches along the coast by North Kihei Road, explain the journey of the endangered hawksbill turtles and how they return to the sandy dunes year after year. The boardwalk includes ramps that lead to the adjacent beach so you can explore tidal pools. Note that there's no restroom at the boardwalk.

At this arboretum you can enjoy tropical trees in their natural setting or enjoy a challenging hike into the forest. Signs help you learn the names of the many plants and trees now considered native to Hawaii; the rainbow eucalyptus trees are a big draw here (do not write on them). The meandering Piinaau Stream adds a graceful touch to the arboretum and provides a swimming pond when there is enough water. You can take a fairly rigorous hike from the arboretum if you can find the trail at one side of the large taro patch. Be careful not to lose the trail once you're on it. A lovely forest waits at the end of the 25-minute hike.

In one direction from this observation point near mile marker 17, you can take in the patchwork effect the taro patches create against the dramatic backdrop of the ocean. In the other direction, there are awesome views of Haleakala through the foliage. This is a great spot for photos, but it is not recommended that you fly your drones over the inhabited areas.

Accessed via a dirt road, this fascinating relic of Death Valley's gold-mining past, built in 1907, reopened in November 2017 after nine years of repair work. Its most unique feature is the mile-long tramway, with the original cables still attached, that descends 1,000 vertical feet and once carried gold ore. From here, a network of trails leads to other old mines. A 1,500 foot climb 1.4 miles to the uppermost tramway terminal is rewarded by expansive valley views.

You'll be one of the few outsiders at this Waianae coast beach at the very end of the road. If it weren't for the little strip of paved road, it would feel like a deserted isle: no stores, no houses, just a huge, sloping stretch of beach and some of the darkest-blue water off the island. Locals come here to fish and swim in waters calm enough for children in summer. Early morning brings with it spinner dolphins by the dozens just offshore. Although Makua Beach to the south (off Farrington Hwy.) is the best spot to see these animals, it's not nearly as beautiful or sandy as Keawaula. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming.

Buildings here have been restored to their original 1920s and '30s vintage plantation styles. Although most shopping is along Kamehameha Avenue two blocks below, the ambience on Keawe Street offers a nostalgic sampling of Hilo as it might have been decades ago.

This working microbrewery offers free tours and tastings. (Stout fans should try Mother's Milk.) It also holds quarterly rock concerts, either in the brewery itself or in the parking lot, and functions as a gallery and performance space.