10450 Best Sights in USA

You can travel at 45 mph on this 450-foot-tall swing, said to be the tallest in the world, which also rotates 360 degrees. It's as terrifying as it sounds, so this ride is not for either the faint of heart or small children. Ticket packages for ICON Park attractions are available.

In the early 1800s, the wooden-rail balcony extending over Orleans Street was linked to a ballroom where free women of color met their French suitors—as Madame John of "Madame John's Legacy" is said to have done. The quadroons (technically, people whose racial makeup was one-quarter African) who met here were young, unmarried women of legendary beauty. A gentleman would select a favorite and, with her mother's approval, buy her a house and support her as his mistress. The sons of these unions, which were generally maintained in addition to legal marriages with French women, were often sent to France to be educated. This practice, known as plaçage, was unique to New Orleans at the time. The ballroom later became part of a convent and school for the Sisters of the Holy Family, a religious order founded in New Orleans in 1842 by the daughter of a quadroon to educate and care for African American women. The ballroom itself is not open to visitors, but a view of the balcony from across the street is enough to set the historical stage.

This sumptuous mansion was built in 1868 as a wedding gift from Colonel William Lewis Wynn to his daughter. The side building, on the Uptown side of the main building, is an auditorium added in the 1950s. The house is closed to the public, but serves as headquarters to a ladies' social club and hosts many debutante teas and wedding receptions.

From vaudeville to film to opera to concerts the Orpheum has seen it all in its storied 172 years. Built in 1852, it is one of the oldest theaters in the United States. Unfortunately, the city has grown up around it, and passersby might just miss finding it, as it sits back from Tremont Street. To get inside the Orpheum today, you must purchase a ticket to one of its special events.

Sunny weekends at this farmhouse-style tasting venue less than a mile from Healdsburg Plaza have a lawn-party vibe. Guests seated in cabanas or at teak tables shaded by candy-apple-red umbrellas sip wines from Italian varietals, occasionally pausing to play cornhole or ogle the 70 acres of vineyards surrounding the property. Orsi, whose motto is "Italian roots in Sonoma County soil," makes whites like Biancolella and Fiano, but the reds—Aglianico, Barbera, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Sangiovese, and Schioppettino among them—are the highlight.

In 1890, at a cost of $108,223, the Osceola Gravel Mining Company constructed an 18-mile-long trench. The ditch was part of an attempt to glean gold from the South Snake Range, but water shortages and the company’s failure to find much of that precious ore forced the operation to shut down after a decade and a half. This trail takes to you the eastern section of the ditch and passes through pine and fir trees, with interpretive signs along the way. Allow 30 minutes for this 0.3-mile round-trip walk. Easy.

Top wines here, like the rich Cabernet Sauvignon, are becoming serious players, but the winery still knows how to have fun. During prime season they offer plenty of picnic tables on the lawn (pack your own lunch), three BBQ stations, a volleyball net, an outdoor bar, and live music on weekends. Try the 2011 Carmenere. For a true taste of the holidays, go for the spice wine, and serve it warm.

The stately Federal-style manor in Bowdoin Square was designed by Charles Bulfinch for former Boston mayor and lawyer Harrison Gray Otis. Today, the National Historic Landmark serves as the headquarters for the heritage organization Historic New England, and visitors can stop in for guided tours that offer insight into wealthy domestic life during the early 1800s. Due to its age, this building is not ADA accessible.

A stop on Park Loop Road's Ocean Drive section, Otter Cliff looms 110 feet above the North Atlantic’s crashing surf and is the literal highpoint on Ocean Path, which parallels the road and heads across the clifftop before ending at nearby Otter Point. Use caution on the cliff: rocks may be slippery. Look for rock climbers on the cliff face—one of several popular climbing areas in Acadia. Near the headland, thousands of round boulders along the shore have been smoothed into shape by thousands of years of wave action. Otter Cliff has a parking area and a seasonal Island Explorer bus stop, or you can walk here on Ocean Path from Thunder Hole or Sand Beach, its other terminus (4.4-mile round trip). Trek down to narrow Otter Cove at the path’s very end for the lovely view of Dorr and Cadillac mountains.

The original Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, built in 1629, was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 when Native Americans ousted the Spanish. In 1699 the mission was rebuilt, and in 1966 it was restored. A powerful series of murals by Alex Seowotewa depicting each of the Zuni kachinas now lines the interior walls; the aging adobe structure is again in need of restoration. Visits are by tour only, arranged through the Zuni Visitor & Arts Center.

Keeping watch over Butte is Our Lady of the Rockies, on the Continental Divide. The 90-foot-tall, 80-ton statue of the Virgin Mary is lighted at night. For a 2½-hour bus tour, stop by the visitor center, run by a nonprofit, nondenominational organization. Reservations are required, so call ahead. The gift shop is open year-round, while tours run during the non-snowy months.

This small but surprisingly stocked museum housed in an 1887 hospital highlights the history of mining, ranching, and railroading in the San Juan Mountains. The basement features a life-size model mine tunnel, as well as an impressive collection of locally found gems and minerals. Other exhibits include Native American artifacts and depictions of domestic and commercial life in the late 1800s.

The massive, renovated Ouray Hot Springs Pool is brimming with a million gallons of naturally heated mineral water, kept between 78°F and 106°F. Kids love the two large waterslides, bouldering wall, volleyball net, and inflatable obstacle course, while grown-ups can bask in peace in the adults-only pool.

Established in 1960, this refuge consists of 11,987 acres of land along the Green River. Here you can see more than 200 species of migratory birds in spring and fall, mule deer and golden eagles year-round, and bald eagles in early winter. An information kiosk at the refuge has a bird checklist and other leaflets. The best times to visit are in the early morning and early evening. The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

A project of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, this attractive education center opened in 2011. It couples a hands-on museum featuring native habitats—including a freshwater aquarium—with a 32-acre outdoor campus offering outdoor activity classes and equipment rentals year-round. There are 1½ miles of hiking trails on the property.

The small office in the Santa Barbara Harbor provides maps and other information about Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary; the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is housed in the same building. Call ahead to verify hours.

In late June and early July, enjoy musicals, melodramas, or comedies under the stars. Shows typically run Monday through Saturday.

On Saugatuck's most scenic beach, the park, which has 100 acres of protected sand dunes, attracts close to 200,000 visitors each year for its walking trails and the mile-long shoreline. Comfortable shoes are a must as the dunes can be challenging to climb. Barbecue grills and picnic-table sets are available and there is a seasonal concession stand. Viewing nightly sunsets over the beach is a favorite activity for locals.

Sensational views of 93-foot-tall Overall Run Falls, the park's tallest waterfall, are yours when you embark on this moderately challenging 6¼-mile loop hike. Beyond the falls, eye-pleasing views of the dramatic Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain from well-placed rock ledges reward resolute hikers. The falls are best viewed in spring or fall when you're more likely to reach a gushing waterfall, rather than a trickle, which can be the case in summer. An elevation gain of 1,600-feet can challenge hikers on this steep and rocky circuit hike, but the cascades over the rocks make it worth every step. Hiking time is about four hours. Moderate.

The progressive outlook of this Black-owned winery encompasses its embrace of earth-friendly farming techniques, low-intervention wine making, and an everybody's-welcome vibe in the tasting room, which evokes 1970s soul chic. It's okay to dance (classic soul and R&B are in heavy rotation) should the mood strike you while sipping affordable wines—Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Zinfandels, and a Cabernet Sauvignon among them—from noteworthy vineyards. In good weather, the party expands to the pond-side patio out front.  A second Overshine label, Idlewild, which specializes in wines from northern Italian grapes, has a separate tasting room just off Healdsburg Plaza.

This small, sandy harbor beach is just steps away from the ferry terminal in Vineyard Haven, making it a great spot to catch some last rays before heading home. Amenities: lifeguards; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Perched on an 80-foot promontory at the southern entrance to Rockland harbor, this white-brick tower built in 1852 provides broad views of Penobscot Bay. When volunteers are available, visitors may climb the tower to the small, glass-enclosed space at the top that houses the Fresnel lens, installed in 1856. In the 1930s, a light keeper's springer spaniel learned to pull the rope to ring the fog bell, and is said to have thereby saved vessels entering the harbor in poor visibility. A stone near the bell marks the dog's grave. In the small museum and gift shop, you can pick up a copy of a children's book that tells the story. The American Lighthouse Foundation is headquartered in the keeper's house.

If you're fascinated by machines that move on wheels or wings, don't miss this impressive museum. You'll find more than 150 restored vintage automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, and planes, as well as many related artifacts. The best part about this collection is that most of the vehicles are in operating condition, which means you may see them rolling along or flying overhead.

The view from this spot at the end of the North Unit drive looks over the unit's westerly badlands and the Little Missouri River, where it takes a sharp turn east. This is the place to come for stargazing.

View displays, models, and pictures of sailboats. Some boats were built in Oxford, site of one of the first Chesapeake regattas (1860). Check out the full-scale racing boat by the door. Other artifacts include the lamp from a lighthouse on nearby Benoni Point, a sailmaker's bench, and an oyster-shucking stall. Docents elaborate on the exhibits, which set the context for a walking tour of nearby blocks.

Begun in 1683, the ferry may be the oldest privately owned ferry in continuous operation in the United States. It crosses the Tred Avon River between Bellevue, 7 miles south of St. Michaels (via Routes 33 and 329), and Oxford in seven to 10 minutes.

This park preserves 20th-century farm life on a site where the Piscataway Native Americans once lived and was also once part of the Underground Railroad. Children can feed chickens, milk cows, and take a wagon ride. There's a fine view of Washington over the Potomac River. Throughout the year, the National Park Service offers programs such as sheep shearing in May, cider making in September, and "Talking Turkey," when kids can learn about and feed domestic and wild turkeys in November.