10450 Best Sights in USA

Considered among the best natural history museums in the country, this museum houses more than 6 million specimens and artifacts. One hallmark is the "Streets of Old Milwaukee," depicting the city in the 1890s. Cul-de-sacs showcase domestic settings representing the ethnic groups that have settled Milwaukee, such as Greek, Scandinavian, and German. At the candy shop, you can buy penny candy, stick candy, and other old-fashioned favorites. Explore the two-story rain forest, and examine the levels of tropical life from the ground to the treetops. "Third Planet," complete with full-size dinosaurs, lets visitors walk into the Earth's interior to learn about its history. Butterflies fly free in their own enclosed habitat, and visitors can walk among them. The museum also houses the Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater and the

Like the Chicago River, Milwaukee's namesake waterway has become a focal point of its downtown. From the Edelweiss boats, you can view the city skyline, learn some Brew City history or dance the night away. Themed cruises include a Margarita Fiesta, Beer and Brats, Kids Caribbean Pirate Cruise, and the Dinner Cruise, a primo pick for dates. Most cruises pick up passengers at the Highland Avenue dock, but check your cruise departure information before heading there, as others leave from the Port of Call Bistro at 106 W. Wells Street. Arrive about 30 minutes before tour time.

The glacier-carved sawtooth spires of the Minarets, the remains of an ancient lava flow, are best viewed from the Minaret Vista. Pull off the road, park your car in the visitors' viewing area, and walk along the path, which has interpretive signs explaining the spectacular peaks, ridges, and valleys beyond.

Run by the Jerome Historical Society, the Mine Museum in downtown Jerome focuses on the social history of miners in the area. The museum's collection of mining stock certificates alone is worth the (small) price of admission—the amount of money that changed hands in this town 100 years ago boggles the mind.

The station's small visitor center has exhibits on area history. Wilderness permits and some books and maps are available.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet are prohibited on this side road into southern Sequoia National Park, and for good reason: it's smaller than a regular two-lane road, some sections are unpaved, and it contains 589 twists and turns. Anticipating an average speed of 20 mph is optimistic. The scenery is splendid as you climb nearly 6,000 feet from Three Rivers to the Mineral King Area. In addition to maneuvering the blind curves and narrow stretches, you might find yourself sharing the pavement with bears, rattlesnakes, and even softball-size spiders. Allow 90 minutes each way.

Many trails to the high country begin at Mineral King. Two popular day hikes are Eagle Lake (6.8 miles round-trip) and Timber Gap (4.4 miles round-trip). At the Mineral King Ranger Station ( 559/565–3341) you can pick up maps and check about conditions from late May to late September. Difficult.

More than 1,300 mineral specimens are displayed at Montana Tech University's Mineral Museum, including a 27½-troy-ounce gold nugget and a massive iron-nickel meteorite, which was discovered in Beaverhead County.

More than 2,000 mineral specimens are on display at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources' Mineralogical Museum, among them samples from the area's ore-rich mining districts of Magdalena, Santa Rita, and Tyrone. Exhibits cull from the museum's fabulous collection of more than 15,000 items, which has been called Coronado's Treasure Chest, as it contains everything the explorer wished he'd found in New Mexico but didn't. There is an excellent fluorescent minerals display, as well as mining memorabilia and some fossils. Tours can be arranged.

Volunteers converted a parking lot into a compact open-air tribute to the area's mining legacy. Signs along the path describe 19th-century mining operations and the equipment on display used to extract or process ore.

In the late 19th century this was a state-of-the-art gristmill, with two large grist stones powered by a store-bought turbine rather than a hand-built wheel. From mid-March to just after Thanksgiving, you can watch the miller make cornmeal and even buy a pound of it.

When Pat Arnell began collecting miniatures in the late 1970s, she probably didn't imagine that her hobby would eventually outgrow her house and become an offbeat but effective vehicle for people of all ages to explore history and culture. The modern museum displays more than 275 doll houses and room boxes, antique through contemporary, from the United States, Europe, and Asia. There are also plenty of wee folk, like fairies, wizards, and kewpie dolls, and even tiny appliance "samples" that were carried door-to-door by traveling salespeople.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts displays more than 80,000 works from every age and culture, including French Impressionists, rare Chinese jade, and a photography collection from 1863 to the present. The building also houses the Children's Theatre Company.

Adjacent to the museum is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the nation's largest outdoor urban sculpture garden.

Minnehaha Park is the site of Minnehaha Falls, which was made famous by Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. Minnehaha Parkway follows Minnehaha Creek, providing miles of jogging, biking, and in-line-skating trails.

Interactive exhibits at the Minnesota Historical Society show the story of the state from the perspectives of Native Americans, explorers, and settlers. A research library and museum store are on-site.

Built in 1836 as the first U.S. Mint, this building has been a home for art since 1936. The holdings in its impressive permanent collections include fashion, ceramics, coins and currency, and art of the ancient Americas.

Your ticket stub gets you free admission to the Mint Museum Uptown (good for two days).

The Houston Astros play in this modern-but-retro baseball stadium, which has a retractable roof and a monster a/c system to defy Houston's frequently changing weather. Upper-deck seats on the first base side have great views of the downtown skyline—even when the roof is closed, due to a very cool retractable glass wall. The stadium incorporates Houston's 1911 Union Station (designed by Warren and Wetmore of New York's Grand Central Station fame), which houses the ball club offices, retail stores, and eateries. Heavy hitters can rent out Union Station's rooftop, which has views into the stadium from above.

West of Lexington's center stretches this 1,000-acre park that also extends into nearby Lincoln and Concord. Begin your park visit at the Minute Man Visitor Center in Lexington to see the free multimedia presentation, "The Road to Revolution," a captivating introduction to the events of April 1775. It is worth noting that 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and new exhibits and events will be showcased all year at the park.

Continuing along Highway 2A toward Concord, you pass the point where Revere's midnight ride ended with his capture by the British; it's marked with a boulder and plaque, as well as an enclosure with wayside exhibits. You can also visit the 1732 Hartwell Tavern, a restored drover's (driver's) tavern staffed by park employees in period costume; they frequently demonstrate musket firing and militia drills and talk about life in Colonial Massachusetts.

It's pretty atypical for an apartment building to be featured as an actual tourist sight—but, then again, very few buildings are as notable, in terms of modern architecture, as the emerging East Cut neighborhood's MIRA, opened in 2020 and designed by the innovative Studio Gang. The 40 stories of its exterior seem to wrap around each other with a mix of waves and curves, like a giant twist tie. It's fascinating to see and almost seems like a visual allusion. Meanwhile at ground level on Folsom Street, there is a notable wine bar (Mili) and coffee shop (Saint Frank) at the base of the building.

Considered the nation’s largest air show,  this annual event features aerial acts, military demonstrations, immersive experiences, and static displays. You can even tour vintage aircraft and get the experience of soaring high in one of the on-site simulators. The event is usually held in September or October.

Commissioned in 1895 as the private home of French priest Jean-Baptiste Francolon, this magnificent architectural hodgepodge and museum in Manitou Springs is still decorated, in part, as if a family lived here. More than 30 rooms in this 14,000-square-foot space offer a wide variety of displays and furnishings primarily from the Victorian era, while the building itself includes a Gothic front door, medieval battlements, and nine styles of architecture. You can also have lunch or high tea in the Queen's Parlour Tea Room (reservations required).

Temecula's hippest winery sits high on a hilltop. Rhône-style whites (including the Four Torch Blanc blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Roussanne) and reds like the estate Syrah and Opulente blend of Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, and Touriga Nacional are the strong suits, though the Tempranillo and rosé have their partisans. Taste inside at the casual bistro or outside on the deck, perhaps with an artisanal cheese plate. On Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10, the winery goes into party mode with drinks, music, and dancing that spill into the vineyards. For an afternoon party, drop by on Sunday when DJs spin from 3 to 6 pm. 

The exhibits at this fun museum are designed for children under 12, who can tour an airplane cockpit, explore a fire truck or police car, scale a climbing wall, create crafts out of recycled materials, or learn about buildings in the construction zone.

Admission is reduced to $5 Friday 5–8.

A mile north of the crest of Bald Mountain Pass on Highway 150, this is arguably the best known lake in the High Uintas Wilderness. At an altitude of 10,000 feet, it offers a cool respite from summer heat. It's easy to reach by car, and families enjoy fishing, hiking, and camping along its rocky shores. Its campgrounds provide a base for hikes into the surrounding mountains, and the Uinta Highline Trail accesses the 460,000-acre High Uintas Wilderness Area to the east.

East of Park City, this scenic byway winds through aspens and ponderosa pines, skirts alpine lakes and waterfalls, and reaches 11,943-foot Bald Mountain. The ride is good, but getting out of the car is better. A spectacular hike is the 5-mile, five-lake Lofty Lake Loop, which starts at the Pass Lake Trailhead at mile 32. It's also a great place to snowshoe in the winter. Keep an eye out for moose, wildflowers, and changeable weather. Reward yourself with jerky from Samak Smoke House, a typical dry goods store near the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest's Kamas entrance.

Along this trail, you'll look up at Half Dome directly from its base and also take in Tenaya Canyon, Mt. Watkins, and Washington Column. The way is paved for a mile to Mirror Lake itself (total of 2 miles out and back). The trail that loops around the lake continues from there (for a total of 5 miles). Interpretive exhibits provide insight on the area's natural and cultural history. Easy–Moderate.

Part of the several-mile-long stretch of sandy beach that makes up Misquamicut, this ½-mile state-run portion is exceedingly popular. Expect the 2,100-space parking lot to fill up on sunny summer weekends. Bring your own chairs or blankets. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (seasonal); parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; family fun.

Built in 1725 and full of beautifully preserved colonial antiques, the museum contains artifacts and exhibits illustrating Amagansett life from the colonial period through the 20th century. On summer weekends pony rides are given on the museum lawn, and twice during the season there are huge antiques sales full of local treasures. In a barn to the rear of the property is the Roy Lester Carriage Museum, which displays locally made horse-drawn carriages.