10457 Best Sights in USA

Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers full-lake tours; sunset cruises; lunch, champagne brunch, and jazz dinner excursions; and the famous—and daring—U.S. Mailboat Tour, showcasing the talents of the mail carriers who leap between docks and moving boats to deliver the mail to its shoreline recipient. The sweet Ice Cream Social tour aboard the climate-controlled Grand Belle travels half of Geneva Lake, cruising for about 75 minutes, with commentary on the history of the lake, the town and its amazing mansions. As for the ice cream, a server will take down your choice of topping (strawberry, caramel or chocolate) for a generous scoop of Breyer's vanilla, along with nuts, whipped cream and a cookie.

This museum takes an in-depth look at the history of the region with exhibits on the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, London Bridge, Parker Dam, the mining industry, and historic steamboat operation.

This site with picnic tables and vault toilets has views of several summits, including Lassen Peak.

This 320-acre, man-made lake outside Henderson is regarded for its golf courses, boating, fishing, and hotels. Two resorts sit on the lake shore: Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa and The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The lake was created by an earthen dam in 1991.

The largest cemetery in the metropolitan area, known to locals simply as Metairie Cemetery, is the final resting place of nine Louisiana governors, seven New Orleans mayors, and musician Louis Prima. Many of New Orleans's prominent families are also interred here in elaborate monuments ranging from Gothic crypts to Romanesque mausoleums to Egyptian pyramids. The arrangement of tombs reflects the cemetery's former life as a horse-racing track, with the tombs arranged around the perimeter and interior. Cemetery staff are happy to offer a map to anyone who asks.

Just once a month, and only from November through March, the park offers up to 50 participants the chance to visit Lake Lucero, in the southwest corner of the park. This generally dry lake bed is fascinating because of what it shows us about how the park formed—a story that rangers tell during these tours, which cost $8 per person and must be booked in advance (up to two months ahead). The lake bed is filled with selenite crystals, which over time erode and break, forming ever smaller fragments and eventually forming the bright white dunes for which the park is famous. Tours begin at the White Sands Missile Range "Small Missile" Gate at mile marker 174 on U.S. 70, about 25 miles southwest of the park entrance.

This beautiful, 10-mile-long lake, the parks' largest, is accessible year-round from Going-to-the-Sun Road. Cruise to the middle for a view of the surrounding glacier-clad mountains. You can fish and horseback ride at either end, and in winter, snowshoe and cross-country ski.

People come to Lake Mead primarily for boating and fishing. Adjacent marinas offer watercraft rentals, restaurants, and paddle-wheeler cruises; the turn-off for them is just past the entry gate. A few cultivated areas allow for swimming but they are not designated swim beaches, so no lifeguards are on duty. In fact, the National Park Service highly recommends wearing life jackets, as high winds come up fast on the lake making for potentially dangerous swimming conditions. The rocky Boulder Beach swimming area is about 2 miles past the visitor center.  A fishing license is required within the states of Nevada and Arizona, so if you plan on fishing Lake Mead, get one.

In the center of Oakland just east of downtown, this tidal lagoon with its unique habitat for more than 100 bird species became the country's first wildlife refuge in 1870. Today the 3-mile path around the lake is a refuge for walkers, bikers, joggers, and nature lovers. Lakeside Park has Children's Fairyland ( 699 Bellevue Ave.) and the Rotary Nature Center ( 600 Bellevue Ave.). The Lake Merritt Boating Center ( 568 Bellevue Ave.) rents kayaks and rowboats ( From $18; cash only).

On the lake's south side, the Camron-Stanford House ( 1418 Lakeside Dr.) is the last of the grand Victorians that once dominated the area; it's open Sundays for tours. 

The lake's necklace of lights adds allure for diners heading to Lake Chalet ( 1520 Lakeside Dr.), as well as to a host of tasty options along Grand Avenue, from Ethiopian cuisine at Enssaro ( 357A Grand Ave.) and Korean barbecue at Jong Ga House ( 372 Grand Ave.) to comfort gourmet at Grand Lake Kitchen ( 576 Grand Ave.). The historic 1920s-era Grand Lake Theatre ( 3200 Grand Ave.) resides just above the northern part of the lake and still features a Mighty Wurlitzer organ before and after some movies.

The third-largest glacial impoundment in Washington anchors the coastal strip of Olympic National Park at its north end. The small town of Ozette, home to a coastal tribe, is the trailhead for two of the park's better one-day hikes. Both 3-mile trails lead over boardwalks through swampy wetland and coastal old-growth forest to the ocean shore and uncrowded beaches.

An old 30-foot-tall ski slide right in town has been converted into a hair-raising toboggan run that spits you out onto and across iced-over Mirror Lake. The chute usually opens after Christmas but might be open as early as November and as late as February, so call to check conditions.

You could spend 30 years exploring the lake's 2,000 miles of shoreline within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and still not experience everything there is to see. Most of us have only a few days or a week, but that’s still plenty of time for recreation in the second-largest reservoir in the nation. Every water sport imaginable awaits you, from waterskiing to fishing. Renting a houseboat and camping are popular within Lake Powell, though small communities around marinas in Page and Wahweap have hotels, restaurants, and shops where you can restock vital supplies.

South of Lake Powell the landscape gives way to Echo Cliffs, orange-sandstone formations rising 1,000 feet and more above the highway in places. At Bitter Springs the road ascends the cliffs and provides a spectacular view of the 9,000-square-mile Arizona Strip to the west and the 3,000-foot Vermilion Cliffs to the northwest.

This glimmering lake, 4½ miles long and 300 feet deep, is the first landmark you'll reach when driving the west-side loop of U.S. 101. The rain forest is thickest here, with moss-draped maples and alders, and towering spruce, fir, and hemlock. Enchanted Valley, high up near the Quinault River's source, is a deeply glaciated valley that's closer to the Hood Canal than to the Pacific Ocean. A scenic loop drive circles the lake and travels around a section of the Quinault River.

Built in 1915, the first of six lakes in the state built by the Georgia Railway and Power Company, Lake Rabun covers only 834 acres. Its small size is misleading, as its narrow fingers dart through mountain valleys. Lightly visited by tourists and populated with weekend homes and old boathouses, it has a low-key charm. The lake offers boating, fishing, and camping. There's a small beach at Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area at the east end of the lake available for day use for a fee.

The 150-mile-long lake was created by the Columbia River when it was backed up by Grand Coulee Dam. Several Native American villages, historic sites, and towns lie beneath the waters. Visitors find abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation on the lake, including fishing, swimming, and boating. The Fort Spokane Visitor Center and Museum operates from the former guardhouse and provides detailed and interesting information about the area's history, including its use as a military fort and later a boarding school for Native Americans and a tuberculosis hospital. 

Two sandy beaches anchor this 531-acre park, with plenty of picnic tables (bring your own basket or hit the concession stands), a playground, and seasonal kayak and paddleboard rentals. There are a few shady walking trails, which offer good bird-watching and wildlife viewing. If you head east, you can connect to the Sammamish River Trail and walk or bike all the way to Marymoor Park.

You'll find a swimming beach, nature trails, boat and canoe rentals, and a snack bar at this pretty park.

Created when Shasta Dam corralled the Sacramento River in the 1940s, Lake Shasta evolved into a habitat for numerous types of fish, including rainbow trout, salmon, bass, brown trout, and catfish. The region also supports a large nesting population of bald eagles. You can rent houseboats, fishing boats, ski boats, sailboats, canoes, paddleboats, Jet Skis, and windsurfing boards at marinas and resorts along the 370-mile shoreline.

Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this center is at the foot of the aerial lift bridge in historic Canal Park. Among the highlights is the Fresnel lens, installed in 1901 to light the south pier of the Duluth Ship Canal across the street. It was refurbished 100 years later. Although the center is self-guided, dialing 218/213–9069 from a cell phone provides a recording of historical facts about the tug Bayfield, Duluth Ship Canal, the aerial lift bridge, local lighthouses, and the shoreline anchor display.

The centerpiece of this 1,569-acre park, Lake Taghkanic has two sandy beaches, picnic areas, boat rentals, playgrounds, restrooms, and trails for hiking. You may camp here from early May through October, choosing between tent or trailer sites or rustic cabins (with bathrooms and hot and cold water). Kids enjoy climbing the water tower. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice-skating, and ice fishing are options in winter.

Protecting much of the lake's eastern shore from development, this park consists of several sections that stretch from Incline Village to Zephyr Cove. Beaches and trails provide access to a wilder side of the lake, whether you're into cross-country skiing, hiking, or just relaxing at a picnic. With a gently sloping beach for lounging, crystal clear water for swimming and snorkeling, and a picnic area shaded by cedars and pines, Sand Harbor Beach sometimes reaches capacity by 11 am on summer weekends. A handicap-accessible nature trail has interpretive signs and beautiful lake views. Pets are not allowed on the beach from mid-April through mid-October. Parking is $10 for cars with Nevada plates, $15 for out-of-state cars. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking.

Swimmers have access to the warm, relatively shallow, brackish Lake Tashmoo from this beach—or cooler, gentler Vineyard Sound. It's a favorite spot for surf casters. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

This 12-acre green space along Lake Union's southern shore includes a model boat pond, a boardwalk, a beach where you can launch small craft like kayaks and rowboats to paddle past the houseboats, a spray area for little kids, plus the Museum of History & Industry and the Center for Wooden Boats. Several historic ships sit in the dock, and cruise options also depart from the park. A 45-minute narrated Ice Cream Cruise on the Seattle mini ferry is a family favorite on Sundays year-round (on the hour from 11 to 5; $15), with additional Saturday sailings in summer.

Lake View Beach features picnic shelters with charcoal grills. The beach earns its name from the expansive views of Lake Michigan. Amenities: parking (entrance pass required); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

A monument to Ohio native and former President James A. Garfield stands at his tomb in Lake View Cemetery. Some of Cleveland's most renowned citizens, including oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller and John Hay, President William McKinley's Secretary of State, are buried in the 285-acre cemetery. The Wade Chapel's interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Self-guided tours of the grounds, cemetery, and architecture are available; the office provides maps and a tour cassette or CD ($10 deposit).

One of the area's most beautiful cemeteries, dating back to 1872, looks east toward Lake Washington from its elevated hillside directly north of Volunteer Park. Several of Seattle's founding families are interred here (names you will likely recognize from street names and public places); the graves of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon are also among the most-visited sites.

The 95-acre parkland surrounding idyllic Lake Waramaug, one of Connecticut's largest and most picturesque natural lakes, is a great place for swimming, boating, fishing, and picnicking. The park has 76 campsites in wooded and open settings (with bathrooms and showers available) that are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day; canoes and kayaks can be rented on-site in summer, too.

The cliffs of Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor drop to the edge of Lake Willoughby on opposite shores, giving this beautiful, deep, glacially carved lake a striking resemblance to a Norwegian fjord. The trails to the top of Mt. Pisgah reward hikers with glorious views. Take note: the beach on the southern end is Vermont's most famous nude beach.

This public beach bustles with beachgoers of all ages thanks to the prolific family offerings. The waterfront retail promenade—the old-fashioned nongambling Lake Worth "casino"—has a Mulligan's Beach House Bar & Grill, a T-shirt store, a pizzeria, and a Kilwin's ice cream shop. The beach also has a municipal Olympic-size public swimming pool, a playground, and a fishing pier—not to mention the pier's wildly popular daytime eatery, Benny's on the Beach (open for dinner weekends in season). Tideline Ocean Resort and Four Seasons guests are steps away from the action; Eau Palm Beach guests are a short bike ride away. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming.

Completed in 1891 and meticulously restored in recent years, the oldest lodging in Yellowstone National Park is a splendid wedding cake of a building with a gorgeous setting on the water. Casual daytime visitors can lounge in white wicker chairs in the sunroom and watch the waters of Yellowstone Lake through massive windows. Robert Reamer, the architect of the Old Faithful Inn, added a columned entrance in 1903 to enhance the original facade of the hotel.