10450 Best Sights in USA

The 1-mile trail is at its best in early morning or late afternoon, when the sun accentuates the brilliant red, blue, purple, and other hues of the desert and petrified forest landscape. Moderate.

A 28-mile scenic drive takes you through the park from one entrance to the other. If you begin at the north end, the first 5 miles take you along the edge of a high mesa, with spectacular views of the Painted Desert. Beyond lies the desolate Painted Desert Wilderness Area. After the 5-mile point, the road crosses I--40, then swings south toward the Puerco River across a landscape covered with sagebrush, saltbrush, sunflowers, and Apache plume. Past the river, the road climbs onto a narrow mesa leading to Newspaper Rock, a panel of Pueblo rock art. Then the road bends southeast, enters a barren stretch, and passes tepee-shape buttes in the distance. Next you come to Blue Mesa, roughly the park's midpoint and a good place to stop for views of petrified logs. The next stop on the drive is Agate Bridge, really a 100-foot log over a wide wash. The remaining overlooks are Jasper and Crystal forests, where you can get further glimpses of the accumulated petrified wood. On your way out of the park, stop at the Rainbow Forest Museum for a rest and to shop for a memento.

This is the place to go for general park information and an informative 20-minute film. Proceeds from books purchased here will fund continued research and interpretive activities for the park.

The fossils at the Painted Hills, a unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, date back about 33 million years, and reveal a climate that has become noticeably drier than that of Sheep Rock's era. The eroded buff-colored hills reveal striking red and green striations created by minerals in the clay. Come at dusk or just after it rains, when the colors are most vivid. If traveling in spring, the desert wildflowers are most intense between late April and early May. Take the steep, ¾-mile Carroll Rim Trail for a commanding view of the hills or sneak a peek from the parking lot at the trailhead, about 2 miles beyond the picnic area. A few Forest Service roads lead north toward the Spring Basin Wilderness and the town of Antelope, but these can only be managed safely by high-clearance vehicles and when dry.

The handsome Palace Green runs north from Duke of Gloucester Street up the center of Palace Street, with the Governor's Palace at the far end and notable historic houses on either side.

Set right beside the beach, this 5-acre cluster of amusement park rides, midway games, and a huge arcade has been entertaining residents and visitors for generations. The park features more than two dozen kiddie, family, and thrill rides, including two coasters and the ever-popular Pirate—a pirate ship that swings like a pendulum and causes brief feelings of weightlessness; height and weight restrictions vary by ride. Inside the arcade, there are more than 200 modern and vintage video games, as well as Skee-Ball, crane games, and photo booths. There is no cost to enter and walk around, but rides as well as arcade and midway games require credits that can be purchased on a reusable card. Parking is available nearby at numerous municipal and commercial lots.

When opened in 1929, this was a vaudeville house and movie theater designed to resemble Versailles Palace in France. The 2,827-seat Downtown venue had a brush with destruction before it was saved in 1989. Today the theatre accommodates shows for the Broadway in Columbus series and Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) concerts.

Palafox Street is the main stem of historic Downtown Pensacola and the center of the Palafox Historic District. The commercial and government hub of Old Pensacola is now an active cultural and entertainment district, where locally owned and operated bars and restaurants attract both locals and visitors. While in the area, stop by Veterans Memorial Park, just off Bayfront Parkway near 9th Avenue. The ¾-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the more than 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in the conflict.

\"Palazzo\" is an apt name for this luxe resort. Wide, cavernous corridors give way to an expansive casino, which, in turn, fronts escalators to Grand Canal Shoppes, a mall with nearly 200 stores. Just off the hotel lobby is an array of public art that's changed frequently. The Palazzo Theater is now home to the sleight-of-hand magic of Shin Lim (formerly at The Mirage) and performances by music stars and comedians. With a top-quality energy conservation program and other green amenities, The Palazzo has received LEED Gold distinction from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Artist and film director Julian Schnabel lives here. But that's not why it's worth making a point to stand across the street and marvel at this pink structure of wonder. Plopped atop a former horse stable, this 12-floor pink Venetian-style palace rises 170 feet above the low-level skyline of the West Village. The facade is highlighted by Renaissance-style porticos and the name engraved halfway up, Palazzo Chupi—a reference to a popular brand of Spanish lollipop and the pet name for Schnabel's wife. When it was completed in 2008, there were rumors that various celebrities—Bono, Madonna, the Olsen Twins—were going to buy one of the five apartments inside. (The only famous person who actually did buy a place was actor Richard Gere.) The building immediately became a divisive flashpoint for West Villagers: some passionately hated it while others loved it. Over time, the haters have thinned out and now most locals love Palazzo Chupi.

With an exhibition gallery, small cinema, screening room, and a computerized catalog of more than 160,000 television and radio programs, the Paley Center's New York outpost examines the constantly evolving state of media. Temporary exhibits on the first floor showcase anything from game shows to sporting events through photographs, recordings, and artifacts. The center also hosts public seminars, lectures, and screenings that explore the history of broadcasting. The fourth-floor library is the top draw: if you want to see an archived awards show, news program, sitcom, or historic event, simply check into a semiprivate computer terminal, enter your search terms, and enjoy. Possibly the most entertaining part of these TV shows from yesteryear is that the original commercials are still embedded in many of the programs. If ads are your thing, you can watch compilations of classic commercials.

This is actually two very small pocket beaches separated by a slender rocky point. The narrow beach area can all but disappear in wintertime. However, in summer, the steep rocky trail (don't trust the rusty handrails and rotting ropes) that provides access reduces the number of beachgoers, at times creating a deserted beach feel. Winter's high surf creates dangerous conditions. The parking lot is small. Don't attempt the trail after a heavy rain—it turns into a mudslide. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; surfing.

Local artist Fatima NeJame, who started the organization in Delray Beach in 1977, achieved her dream of a larger cultural site devoted to photography by moving into a 33,000-square-foot space in the West Palm Beach City Hall complex in 2009. The bright, spacious museum hall showcases changing exhibits; the second floor has classrooms and a large photo studio—but with the digital age in mind, there is no darkroom. Check the website for upcoming classes, workshops, and lectures.

At this 23-acre wild kingdom you can admire more than 700 animals, from the Florida panther to the giant Aldabra tortoise. Kids enjoy the zone that honors Central and South America with jaguars, capybaras, and tapirs, plus Mayan structures, stone sculptures, and foliage that make it seem like you're not in Florida anymore. A sizable Australian section with koalas, emus, and wallabies is also popular as are the daily animal and bird shows. On sweltering afternoons, kids can cool off at the large play fountain and catch a breeze on the carousel. A concession serves burgers and snacks.

Enjoy an instant escape from the buildings and concrete of urban life in this Balboa Park oasis. Lush and tropical, with hundreds of palm trees representing more than 50 species, the 2-acre canyon has a shaded path perfect for those who love walking through nature.

Houses in 19th-century South Florida were often built of tabby mortar, a concrete-like material made of sand and seashells. For a fine example of such construction, stop by Palm Cottage, built in 1895 and one of the Lower Gulf Coast's few surviving tabby homes. The historically accurate interior contains simple furnishings typical of the period. Next door to the cottage, Norris Gardens was designed to reflect turn-of-the-last-century garden trends. Docent tours of the home are included with admission; for an extra $10, join the two-hour walking tour of the garden and historic district held on Wednesday morning (reservations required).

This world-class art museum, housed in a building by famed architect E. Stewart Williams, focuses on photography, modern architecture, contemporary glass, and fine art. Outside, you're greeted by several large-scale works, including Seward Johnson's 26-foot, 34,000-pound Forever Marilyn statue, which depicts the actress in the iconic, billowing-dress Seven Year Itch pose. Inside, 28 bright, open galleries contain permanent-collection works and photos by such artists as Dale Chihuly, Allen Houser, Deborah Butterfield, Ginny Ruffner, Mark Di Suvero, Julius Shulman, and William Morris. Other highlights include enormous Native American baskets, as well as furniture handcrafted by the late actor George Montgomery.

A 433-seat theater and an 85-seat hall present plays, concerts, lectures, operas, and other cultural events while two gardens are filled with sculptures. There's a great gift shop for classier souvenirs. Free Thursday nights are accompanied by DJ performances. Note, too, that the museum operates a separate Architecture and Design Center ( 300 S. Palm Canyon Dr.), which, coincidentally, is housed within a former savings-and-loan office also built by Williams.

A small, old-fashioned tasting room leads out to a wooden deck and lawn—a top spot for watching the sun set over acres of vines and farm fields. Palmer wines regularly impress top critics, especially the "41/72" merlot cuvée. The Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc are among the most popular vintages here. In-season, look for special events including live music, yoga, food truck, and Friday night firepit with open mike.

As the second-largest canyon in the United States, this 80-year-old, 14,103-acre park is popular for hiking, horseback riding (including a variety of guided rides with cowboy-style breakfast), swimming, fishing, and camping. Rent a vintage CCC cabin or pitch a tent and picnic under giant cottonwood trees. The park's amphitheater hosts summer performances of Texas, an outdoor drama about the history of the region.

Just north of its confluence with the Snake River, the Palouse River gushes over a basalt cliff higher than Niagara Falls and drops 198 feet into a steep-walled basin. Those who are sure-footed can hike to an overlook above the falls, which are at their fastest during spring runoff in March. Just downstream from the falls at the Marmes Rock Shelter, remains of the earliest-known inhabitants of North America, dating back 10,000 years, were discovered by archaeologists. The park is available for day use only and has no cell phone service. It's a popular birding spot and has plenty of picnic tables, plus a shaved ice vendor on site Friday through Sunday from April to October.

Although this rails-to-trails multiuse throughway stretches for 250 miles across Washington, following the former route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, this section over the Cascades and into Cle Elum is one of the more scenic and popular. Formerly known variously as the John Wayne Pioneer and Iron Horse Trail, it climbs over Snoqualmie Pass, burrows through Snoqualmie Tunnel (it's closed in winter), and then runs alongside several alpine lakes on its way to the old rail station in South Cle Elum (an excellent place to pick up the trail). From here you can also continue east toward the Columbia River through Ellensburg, if you're up for a longer adventure. The headquarters of this linear park is at Lake Easton State Park, 15 miles west of Cle Elum and just off Interstate 90. The trail is open to hiking, jogging, biking, and horseback riding, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

On April 2, 1865, Union troops successfully attacked General Robert E. Lee's formerly impenetrable defense line, forcing Lee to abandon Petersburg. Today you are greeted by the 300-foot-long facade of the Battlefield Center, a concrete representation of the Confederate battle lines. Besides the center, which focuses on the April 2 battle, there's a 2-mile battle trail with 2,100 feet of 8-foot-high earthen fortifications, reconstructed soldier huts, and original picket posts. Also on the grounds is Tudor Hall, an 1812 plantation home that served as the 1864 headquarters for Confederate general Samuel McGowan. The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier on the grounds has interactive displays and nearly 700 artifacts. You can select an audio guide that includes the actual letters and diaries of a soldier. Allow at least two hours to visit the park and museum. Pamplin is an easy day trip from Richmond, located 30 miles south off Interstate 95, I–85 or U.S. 1.

With nearly 100 access points along 27 miles of the sugary white sand and jewel-green waters for which the Emerald Coast is known, it's easy to find a place to sunbathe or swim on Panama City Beach. It still attracts the spring-break crowd, but the atmosphere is far less rowdy and much more family-focused these days, and the tradeoff for all the high-rises is an abundance of places to stay, play, and feast—you won't easily get bored or go hungry here. If, however, you're planning to drive to the beach, note that there are only four public parking lots. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

The rock outcropping here, 14 mi west of downtown Jamestown, spans 25 acres. The park has caves, 60-foot-high cliffs, and crevices said to have been used by American Indians for shelter and as places to keep meat cool in summer. Outlaws are also said to have used the rocks as hiding places. As you hike along the 1-mi self-guided trail here, you may find rare mosses, wildflowers, ferns, and oddly shaped tree roots.

Calling this a nature walk doesn't really do it justice. A path winds through dense foliage, alongside streams, and past waterfalls. En route there are viewing points where you can watch a beautiful rare okapi (a member of the giraffe family) munching the vegetation, a family and a separate bachelor group of lowland gorillas, hippos (which you usually can see underwater), comical meerkats (a kind of mongoose), exotic birds, and a bizarre colony of hairless mole rats. Disney animal experts are at many viewing points to answer questions. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible and equipped for audio-description devices. Guests with service animals should check with a host before entering. Come just after you exit your safari vehicle on Kilimanjaro Safaris; avoid coming at the hottest time of day, when the gorillas like to nap.

The high-ceilinged tasting room of this winery named for the optimistic doctor from Voltaire's satire Candide occupies a restored 1902 stone building across from Sonoma Plaza. Originally a general store, it's a striking setting to sip white and red blends and single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Syrah wines. You can enjoy them by the flight or glass, with or without small bites. Walk-ins are usually possible on weekdays.

You'll get a nice view of whale-shape Hume Lake from the top of this Grant Grove path, which is paved and only 300 feet long. It's fairly steep—strollers might work here, but not wheelchairs. Trailers and RVs are not permitted on the steep and narrow road that leads to the trailhead parking lot. Moderate.

An amalgam of hilly desert terrain, streams, and lagoons, this park has picnic ramadas (shaded, open-air shelters), a golf course, a playground, hiking and biking trails, and even largemouth bass and trout fishing. (An urban fishing license is required for anglers ages 15 and over. Visit for more information.) The hike up to landmark Hole-in-the-Rock—a natural observatory used by the native Hohokam to devise a calendar system—is steep and rocky, and a much easier climb up than down. Governor Hunt's Tomb, the white pyramid at the top of Ramada 16, commemorates the former Arizona leader and provides a lovely view.

Those tired of the same old white- or black-sand beaches can lace up good hiking shoes or sneakers to get to this olive-green crescent, one of the most unusual beaches on the island. It lies at the base of Puu O Mahana, at Mahana Bay, where a cinder cone formed during an early eruption of Mauna Loa. The greenish tint is caused by an accumulation of olivine crystals that form in volcanic eruptions. The dry, barren landscape is totally surreal but stunning, as aquamarine waters lap on green sand against reddish cliffs. Drive down to South Point; at the end of the 12-mile paved road, take the road to the left and park at the end. To reach the beach, follow the 2¼-mile coastal trail, which ends in a steep and dangerous descent down the cliffside on an unimproved trail. The hike takes about two hours each way and can get hot and windy, so bring lots of drinking water. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are no longer permitted on the trail. The surf is often rough and swimming can be hazardous due to strong currents, so caution is advised. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This popular (and often-crowded) park is also known as Thousand Peaks because there's barely a break between each wave. Beginner to intermediate surfers say it's a good spot to longboard or bodyboard. It's easy entry into the water, and you don't have to paddle out far. The beach itself leaves something to be desired, but there is some shade, mostly from thorny kiawe trees; footwear is a good idea. There's roadside parking, and portable toilets are available. Camping is allowed by county permit. Amenities: toilets. Best for: surfing.