10457 Best Sights in USA

This living-history complex has programs, exhibits, and interpretive demonstrations of the life and culture on a working farm in 1860. On weekends, costumed interpreters work in the fields, the barns, the doctor's office, the blacksmith forge, and the farmhouse, offering a glimpse into the daily activities of original owner Dr. John Mosby Sheppard and his family. Special activities for children include storytelling days, Civil War lantern tours, and harvest-picking parties. To boot, these programs are free.

Augusta's oldest residence, built around 1791, Meadow Garden was the home of George Walton, one of Georgia's three signers of the Declaration of Independence. At age 26, he was its youngest signer. Owned and operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1900, it is one of the oldest house museums in the state of Georgia.

Southern Methodist University is home to one of the world's largest and most significant collections of Spanish art outside Spain. Philanthropist Algur H. Meadows began acquiring the pieces while on business in Spain in the 1950s. He gave his collection to SMU, and the museum continues to acquire pieces today. The collection spans 1,000 years and includes masterpieces by El Greco, Velázquez, Ribera, Murillo, Goya, Miró, and Picasso, grouped chronologically in beautifully lit galleries. The museum also has an admirable sculpture collection and hosts exhibitions of wide-ranging interest. Don't miss the well-edited gift shop.

You can learn about the history of this small dot of a town at the Medicine Bow Museum, housed in an old railroad depot built in 1913. The summer cabin belonging to famed fiction author Owen Wister was relocated and stands right next door.

The Medicine Bow National Forest, Douglas District, southwest of Douglas in the Laramie Peak area, includes four campgrounds ($5–$10 for camping; campground closed in winter) and areas where you can fish and hike.

In summer Steamboat serves as the gateway to the magnificent Medicine Bow/Routt National Forests, with a wealth of activities from hiking and mountain biking to fishing. Among the nearby attractions are the 283-foot Fish Creek Falls and the splendidly rugged Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. To the north, two sparkling man-made lakes, Steamboat and Pearl, each in its own state park, are a draw for those into fishing and sailing. In winter the area is just as popular. Snowshoers and backcountry skiers are permitted to use the west side of Rabbit Ears Pass, whereas snowmobilers are confined to the east side.

The Medicine Bow–Routt National Forest, Hayden District covers 586,000 acres, including the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Encampment River, Huston Park, Savage Run, and Platte River wilderness areas.

You can hike, picnic, fish, ski, snowmobile, and take photographs in the 400,000 acres of Medicine Bow–Routt National Forest, Laramie District, and that is the short list. The Laramie District has 20 developed campgrounds, although some are closed for tree removal; dispersed camping is also allowed. Although the Laramie District administrative office is in Laramie, several of the most easily accessed campgrounds are along scenic Route 130, just west of Centennial. Lodgings such as cabins, forest guard stations, and even a fire lookout tower high in the Snowy Range are available for rent in summer. Pole Mountain, located north of I–80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, is a popular area for recreation and is approximately 55,000 acres in size.

Medicine Lake hosts one of the largest concentrations of American white pelicans in the nation, a colony of thousands of birds that has occupied Big Island and Bridgeman Point for almost 100 years. There are few facilities available, but that’s the point. The refuge has a relatively high visitation from hard-core birders who view migrating waterbirds in the spring and hunters who pursue upland game birds and waterfowl in the fall. Other than those seasons, you’ll have the refuge to yourself. Bring good boots and long pants and hike into remote ponds and prairie potholes that hold an unbelievable amount of wildlife. Winding through the central unit of the refuge is the Auto Tour Route, an excellent way to get a peek at the animals that call this pristine park home. Most of the route is open only during daylight hours. Birders often congregate in the Grouse Observation Blind, 2¼ miles east of the refuge headquarters, to watch sharp-tailed grouse do their mating dance. The covered area is also good for watching other wildlife, including white-tailed deer and pronghorn antelope.

Over millennia, wind and water carved holes in the sandstone pillars north of Ekalaka, creating an eerie and barren landscape. Embracing the terrain's mystery, Native Americans used the site for rituals to conjure spirits centuries ago. Teddy Roosevelt was struck by the area's unique beauty when he visited in the late 19th century, calling it "as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen." In 1957 the area was designated Medicine Rocks State Park. The 320-acre park is largely undeveloped: aside from a few picnic tables, a short hiking trail, and a handful of unmarked campsites, the land is exactly how it was when Native Americans first performed their ceremonies here.

The 53-acre Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens contain 1,500 native and hybrid species of rhododendrons and more than 100,000 spring bulbs on 10 acres of display gardens with more than four miles of nature trails. The flowers are in full bloom in April and May; summer flowers and fall color provide interest later in the year. The 43 remaining acres are kept wild as a nature preserve. Leashed pets are permitted on the gravel paths.

Winemaker Krystal Patel grew up making wine in the cellar with her grandmother, and turned part of her fifth-generation family ranch into a vineyard and tasting room in a former barn in Stonewall. You can taste her award-winning small-batch wines—reds are the specialty—and learn about the region's history through her fascinating family. (Her grandfather invented an "airship" in the 1860s, 40 years before the Wright brothers.) If you’re up for a bite, ask about a cheese board to accompany the wine tasting.

Melrose Avenue is a tale of two streets. West of Fairfax Avenue is vibrant with boutique shops, international restaurants, and avant-garde galleries. East of Fairfax is more eclectic with street art and murals, sneaker stores, and thrift and vintage shops. The open-air Melrose Trading Post Artisan Market is every Sunday at Fairfax High School starting at 10 am. There are rows of antiques, vintage clothing, art, furniture, and collectibles.

The park's main pool is a 1-acre oasis that's constantly fed by "melting snow" waterfalls. The man-made waves are positively oceanlike. If you're not a strong swimmer, stay away from the far end of the pool, where the waves originate. You can get temporarily stuck in a pocket even if your head is still above water. If you prefer to stay beached, there are plenty of recliner chairs around the bay. This is where moms and dads often relax and watch their kids swim in the lifeguard-protected waters. For people with disabilities: Guests using water-appropriate wheelchairs can enjoy shallow waters here. Get an inner tube if you plan to venture to deeper waters, and arrive early if you want to find a shady spot (the giant umbrellas are limited).

More than 5,000 years of art is contained within the 14 exhibit rooms at this museum, opened in 1913. Egyptian coffins, medieval tapestries, impressionist paintings, European masters, and African carvings are on permanent display. The collection of American art is strong and regional artists are represented and compete in juried shows here.

Located in the middle of Historic Deerfield, this stand-alone three-story museum displays Native American artifacts, as well as quilts, furnishings, and crafts from the early settlers. Highlights include the farm equipment, period rooms, children's room, and the military room with rifles and Revolutionary War jackets.

Severely damaged by a freak tornado in 1999, Memory Grove was carefully restored as a city park with veterans' monuments, beautiful landscaping, and the waters of City Creek. You can hike, jog, or bike on the paved road or dirt trails along City Creek Canyon. More trails commence here, including the 100-mile Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Flannery O'Connor, who suffered from lupus and died at age 39, is buried at historic Memory Hill Cemetery. Literary scholars from around the world come here to pay their respects. Because Milledgeville was the capital of Georgia from 1807 to 1868, there are many early Georgia governors and legislators buried here as well.

In East Memphis, the 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden has scores of species, from camellias to cacti. The grounds are superbly kept, making this an idyllic getaway.

The Memphis Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium, the converted pink marble mansion of Clarence Saunders, Memphis-based founder of the modern supermarket, houses a mix of natural history and cultural history exhibits, focusing on 20th-century Memphis. A planetarium with lasers and star projectors and an IMAX theater present seasonal shows.

In the shadow of the FedEx Forum just off Beale Street, this museum showcases Memphis as musical mecca, tracing the history of legendary performers who poured into Memphis and made everlasting contributions to blues, rock 'n' roll, and other musical forms. Several jukeboxes give visitors the opportunity to listen to the hits that originated in Memphis.

Overton Park houses the popular 70-acre Memphis Zoo, which includes a 9-acre Cat Country and Primate Canyon. In total, there are about 3,500 animals here, representing over 500 species. Don't miss giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le. The Northwest Passage features polar bears, seals, and sea lions. The zoo has some nice eateries, shops, fountains, and a farm discovery center.

The preshow of "the world's first ride-through video game" provides the storyline: to earn membership in MIB, you must round up aliens that escaped when their shuttle crashed on Earth. On board your vehicle with a few others, you enter the backstreets of a city where aliens pop out from windows, trash cans, and doorways. Fire at them with that laser gun mounted to your futuristic car, and since there's no limit to the number of shots you can take, blast away. Even though the gun's red laser dot is just a pinpoint, an onboard scoreboard helps you keep track of what you've hit. Aliens fire back at you, and if they score a hit, it'll cause your car to spin out of control. Depending on the collective score, your ride will wrap up with one of 35 endings, ranging from a hero's welcome to a loser's farewell.

All in all, it's pretty exciting, though the spinning nature of the cars might cause dizziness. Use caution if you're prone to motion sickness, and don't ride if you have heart, back, or neck problems. For people with disabilities: Equipped for assisted-listening devices. Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to a ride vehicle. In summer, waits can be up to an hour. Come first thing, or plan to use Express Pass.

A well-preserved example of 19th-century domestic architecture, this homestead (including the main house and several outbuildings) sits in a cove along a peaceful creek. As Quakers, the Mendenhalls opposed slavery, and here you can find one of the few surviving false-bottom wagons used to help those enslaved escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

Come in July, when kids can learn how to make a corn-husk doll or design a quilt square during the Village Fair.

Set at the point where Menemsha Pond meets Vineyard Sound, this tiny seaside outpost has been an active fishing center for centuries. Well-weathered fishing boats, including some that have been in the same family for generations, tie up at the docks when not out to sea. Spectacular sunsets make this a very popular evening spot. Several fish markets offer the freshest catch of the day. There's also a beach here, with gentle waters that are welcoming to families. If the harbor looks familiar, it might be because several scenes from the movie Jaws were filmed here.

You don't have to stay here to enjoy the ambience of San Antonio's most historic lodging. After you visit the Alamo, stop by this stunning 1859 property next door that offers a history book full of "who's who" have slept here. Famous guests include Civil War generals Robert E. Lee and William Sherman, Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum (who had a studio at the hotel), playwright Oscar Wilde, and author O. Henry, who mentioned the hotel in several of his short stories. As legend has it, William Menger built the Victorian hotel to accommodate the many carousers who frequented his brewery, which stood on the same site. Step inside the very cool Menger Bar to see its mahogany bar, a precise replica of one from a pub in London's House of Lords. Here cattlemen closed deals with a handshake over three fingers of rye, and Teddy Roosevelt supposedly recruited his Rough Riders—hard-living cowboys fresh from the Chisholm Trail. Note that the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum also makes the same claim; either someone's been playing too much poker and can't stop bluffing, or Teddy had to go recruiting more than once. Throughout the spacious lobby, hallways, and public areas, check out the fascinating historical mini-exhibits. The on-site Colonial Restaurant is also open to the public.

This small but first-rate museum about Mennonite history and culture has exhibits of furniture, needlework, tools, and photographs. The highlight of the center is a reproduction of the tabernacle carried by the Hebrews on their journey through the wilderness; a 35-minute multimedia presentation tells the story. There is also an extensive bookstore and a gift shop selling international crafts. Don't miss the Fraktur—elaborate, usually illustrated, works of Gothic calligraphy on paper (think needlework samplers).

Down a path from the Chapel of the Transfiguration, the ferry on display here is not the original, but it's an accurate re-creation of the double-pontoon craft built by Bill Menor in 1894. That was how people crossed the Snake River before bridges were installed. While the replica ferry is no longer in operation, it's fun to see. In the cluster of turn-of-the-20th-century buildings there are displays on historical transportation methods. Pick up a pamphlet for a self-guided tour.

This active Trappist monastery overlooking the Cooper River is on the site of the former plantation owned by Henry Laurens, a slaveholder whose wealth came from the transatlantic slave trade. It was later the home of noted publisher Henry Luce and his wife, Clare Boothe Luce, who commissioned renowned landscape architect Loutrel Briggs to design a sprawling garden in 1937. That garden remains a stunning place for a serene walk or contemplative rest on a waterfront bench. You can take a guided tour of the church or even stay here for a spiritual retreat in the sleek, modern facility with individual rooms and private baths. Hearing the monks sing during their normal daily routine is a peaceful, spiritual experience. The gift shop sells mushrooms from the abbey's farm as well as candies, preserves, and creamed honey from other Trappist abbeys. Church tours are offered at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.