10457 Best Sights in USA

Called Makoshika or "Bad Land" by the Sioux, the Little Missouri State Park has unusual land formations that create the state's most awe-inspiring scenery. The beehive-shaped rock formations resulted from the erosion of sedimentary rock deposited millions of years ago by streams flowing from the Rocky Mountains. Undeveloped and rugged, this wilderness area has both primitive and modern camping and 50 miles of horse trails.

The unpaved but flat outer loop of this 1.1-mile trail passes through badlands and woodlands to the river's edge. The trail's paved 0.7-mile inner loop is wheelchair-accessible. It's a great way to see the park's diverse terrain and wildlife, and because it shouldn't take you longer than an hour, it's a great trail for families with children. Easy.

Atop the eponymous mountain at the southeastern edge of town, this 522-acre park, which rises to nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, has great views of the Skagit Valley (especially in March and April, when the daffodils and tulips are in full bloom), the San Juan Islands, Mount Baker, and the distant Olympic Mountains. It's a lovely spot for a picnic.

Hike in the state preserve in Cutler (Cutler Coast Public Land) for views of this 1876 cast-iron lighthouse, which faces the ocean on 15-acre Little River Island fronting Cutler Harbor. Better yet, boat or kayak over: the island is open to the public 9 am–sunset. A wooden walkway leads from the boat ramp, and rock-clad shores and trails through pine woods await visitors. Friends of Little River Lighthouse offers overnight stays from June through September in the charming 1888 Victorian-style keeper’s house; check the website for details.

This 5.1-mile loop (if Cucumber Gap and Jakes Creek trails are included) offers a little of everything—historical buildings, a waterfall, and wildflowers. The first part of the trail wanders up the Little River, past remnants of old logging operations and cottages that were once the summer homes of wealthy Tennesseans. You'll see several inviting swimming holes, beautiful cascades, and perhaps a person or two fly-fishing. Huskey Branch Falls appears at about 2 miles. The Little River Trail passes a junction with three other trails, offering the possibility for even longer hikes—Cucumber Gap at 2.3 miles, Huskey Gap at 2.7 miles, and Goshen Prong Trail at 3.7 miles. The trail is normally open even in winter. This is the habitat of the synchronous fireflies, which put on their light show on late May and June evenings. Moderate.

Ranch paraphernalia, handmade quilts, a doll collection, and the original 1870s-era cabin of mountain man Jim Baker are exhibited at the Little Snake River Museum in Savery. There are more than a dozen historic buildings at the site, including one that houses an exhibit completely dedicated to the history of sheep raising in Carbon County. At certain times in the past, it had more sheep than any other county in the country. The museum also has a nice gift shop, with a good selection of books. In nearby Baggs, the museum owns and operates The Outlaw Stop. Both museums are open from Memorial Day to "some cold day in October," which heralds the coming of winter.

There's no doubt you can find Japanese restaurants and shops all over Manhattan, but the area roughly bounded by East 10th and St. Marks Place (aka East 8th Street), between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, is home to what might be the highest concentration of Japan-style goods and dining spots. You can shop for Japanese groceries, snacks, and prepared food at specialty store H Mart ( 39 3rd Ave.); stop in at tiny storefronts like Cha-An BONBON ( 238A E. 9th St.) for fancy Japanese desserts and teas; and dine at a variety of Japanese curry, ramen, soba, and sushi spots. There's even karaoke at Sing Sing ( 9 St. Marks Pl.).

The list of ALWWC alums is impressive: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Michael Jordan, Britney Spears, and Frank Sinatra. Patty Duke liked it so much, she got married here twice. Try the Hawaiian theme, where the minister plays a ukulele and blows into a conch shell to close out the ceremony. Or, get hitched in a pink Cadillac while an Elvis impersonator croons. One of the five chapels is a drive-through, for the ultimate in shotgun weddings.

This picnic area tucked in the middle of interesting rock formations is near a stand of Joshua trees.

Sparks fly on this morning program, which books an eclectic roster of guests to chat with hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Tickets are available online about six weeks in advance. Standby tickets become available weekdays at 7 am at ABC Studios. Children under 10 are not permitted in the audience.

A canopied boat cruises through three artificial biomes—rain forest, desert, and prairie—and into an experimental live greenhouse that demonstrates how food might be sourced in the future, not only on the planet but also in outer space. Shrimp, tilapia, eels, catfish, and alligators are raised in controlled aquacells, and tomatoes, peppers, squash, and other fruits and vegetables thrive in the Desert Farm area via drip irrigation that delivers just the right amount of water and nutrients to their roots. Gardeners are usually interested in the section on integrated pest management, which relies on "good" insects like ladybugs to control more harmful predators.

See Mickey Mouse–shape fruits and vegetables (there might be pumpkins, cucumbers, or watermelons) nurtured with the help of molds created by the science team; scientists also have grown a "tomato tree"—the first of its kind in the United States—that has yielded thousands of tomatoes from a single vine. Many of the growing areas are actual experiments-in-progress, in which Disney and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have joined forces to produce, say, a sweeter pineapple or a faster-growing pepper. The plants and fish in the greenhouse are regularly harvested for use in The Land's restaurants. For people with disabilities: Those using an oversize wheelchair or ECV must transfer to a standard wheelchair. Equipped for handheld-captioning and audio-description devices. If your party finds Living with the Land interesting, check out Behind the Seeds, an hour-long tour for ages 3 and up that provides a more detailed look at the greenhouse. The tour is offered every half hour and costs $35 per person. Sign-up in advance on the My Disney Experience app or check the desk by the ride's exit.

The 1902 Livingston Depot Center is situated in the former Northern Pacific depot, which served as the gateway to Yellowstone for the park's first 25 years. In the summer months it's now a museum with displays centered on Western and railroad history.

Several small wineries, most without their own tasting rooms, pour their wines at this modest downtown Geyserville storefront. There's no fee to sip—extraordinary for wines of this quality—and the knowledgeable hosts are happy to pour you a flight so you can compare, say, Cabernet Sauvignons. Locals occasionally hosts guest speakers and wine seminars.

This 4-mile in-and-out backcountry hike through forest and wetlands covers terrain infamously known as "flat but rugged." There are also several hills en route to the turnaround point. Difficult.

This beautiful spot is nirvana for those who enjoy hiking, biking, fishing for catfish or bass in a clear-water creek, swimming, bird-watching, or camping beneath the stars, where you can experience the beauty and tranquility of nature. There is also a stunning waterfall, shaded woods, and even a historic golf course.

The narrated two-hour Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises travel the canal, viewing historic buildings and passing through five locks.

This ornate tribute to Victorian decorating, built in 1864 as the summer home of financier and railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood, remains one the oldest (and finest) surviving Second Empire–style country homes in the United States. It's hard not to be impressed by its octagonal skylighted rotunda and more than 50 rooms of gilt, frescoes, marble, intricate woodwork, and etched glass. Movie buffs will be interested in knowing that the mansion was used as the location of the Stepford Men's Association in The Stepford Wives—the original (1975) film.

After Samuel Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, bought this circa-1830 house, he remodeled it into a Tuscan-style villa. It still contains the possessions and keepsakes of the family that lived here after him. The Morse Gallery, inside the visitor center, has exhibits of telegraph equipment and paintings by Morse. The grounds include gardens and hiking trails.

This redbrick Georgian plantation house was built around 1790 by William and Lucy Croghan, who was George Rogers Clark's sister (the Revolutionary War hero and founder of Louisville lived here during the last nine years of his life). The 55-acre grounds include eight outbuildings and restored gardens; the last tour departs at 3:30.

Josiah Hasbrouck—a lieutenant in the American Revolution and U.S. congressman during the presidential terms of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe—built the 1814 Federal-style mansion, which has an impressive three-story central hall. The house and its original furniture and paintings remained in the family until Hasbrouck's great-great-granddaughter opened it to the public in 1959. Tours are available by appointment.

Along with exhibits on the area's history, geology, and wildlife, the center screens an outstanding 22-minute film about bears. You can buy books, maps, wilderness permits, and tickets to cave tours here.

This 2-mile hike pairs the easygoing Frazier Discovery Trail with the Appalachian Trail for an eye-pleasing hike with rock scrambles, creek crossings, and far-reaching views. Take this loop counter-clockwise and you’ll reach a show-stopping vista just past the mid-way point that's perfect for spotting the sunrise. Continue on to connect with the Blue Spring Trail and pass the Ivy Creek maintenance hut before the conclusion of this hike. Hiking time is two hours. Easy.

Visitors can roam the grounds and tour log cabins representative of life on the North Texas plains in the 19th century. Staff members and volunteers wear period dress and crush corn, cook on an open fire, help visitors dip candles, and demonstrate the techniques of blacksmiths. Children particularly enjoy ringing the bell outside the schoolhouse and exploring the one-room school's interior. The Seela Cabin allows little ones to try on bonnets, aprons, and workshirts and get to work—sweeping, cooking, and spinning yarn.

The focal point of Logan Circle, one of the city's gems, is the Swann Memorial Fountain of 1920, designed by Alexander Stirling Calder, son of Alexander Milne Calder, who created the William Penn statue atop City Hall. You can find works by a third generation of the family, modern sculptor Alexander Calder (1898–1976), the mobile- and stabile-maker, in the nearby Philadelphia Art Museum and in Calder Gardens (opened 2025). The main figures in the fountain, three Native American figures in the form of river gods, symbolize Philadelphia's leading waterways: the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers and Wissahickon Creek. One of William Penn's five squares, Logan Circle was originally a graveyard and execution grounds. In 1825, the square was named for James Logan, Penn's secretary and a mayor of Philadelphia; in the 20th century it became a traffic circle.

At 6,646 feet, this is the park's highest point accessible by motor vehicle. Crowded in July and August, it offers unparalleled views of both sides of the Continental Divide. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bears frequent the area. The Logan Pass Visitor Center is just east of the pass.

Built of stone, this center stands sturdy against the severe weather that forces it to close in winter. When it's open, rangers give 10-minute talks on the alpine environment and offer a variety of activities including guided hikes. You can get advice from them and buy books and maps.

The park that gives Logan Square its name can look a little worse for the wear---the colossal eagle-topped column at its center has seen its fair share of graffiti tagging---but that doesn’t stop locals from setting up shop for the afternoon with a book and a portable hammock. An old-world Norwegian church and restaurants with busy sidewalk patios fringe the square (really more of an oval), imparting a cosmopolitan vibe. Wide, rambling Kedzie and Logan Boulevards---two of the neighborhood’s loveliest assets---radiate outward from the park; pick out your dream mansion on a postprandial stroll.

It took Mormon settlers 27 years to build the tabernacle, which they completed in 1891. Today's tabernacle is a venue for concerts and lectures. You can also tour the building or search for information about your family history at the genealogical research facility.