10457 Best Sights in USA

Docents lead hikes along scenic Pecho Coast Trail (3½ miles round-trip) to see the historic 1890 lighthouse and its rare Fresnel lens. If you'd prefer a lift out to the lighthouse, join a shuttle tour. Hikes and tours require reservations.

The 1889 lighthouse at this state park still stands watch from atop a large volcanic rock. Four lighthouse keepers lived here with their families until 1974, when the station became automated. Their homes and working spaces are open to the public only on three-hour ranger-led tours. Considerable walking, including up two stairways, is involved. Strollers are not allowed.

This gorgeous swimming and snorkeling beach is protected by a long breakwater left over from a now-defunct boat harbor. The entire length is sand, and a reef creates smallish waves perfect for novice surfers. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

From the attractive log cabin–style main lodge, an easy trail leads to nine granite caves that formed some 50,000 years ago, during the last ice age. This family-friendly attraction begun in 1922 also contains a small petting zoo with a herd of adorable fallow deer.

Inaccessible when Baker Creek Road is closed in the winter, this picnic area at the mouth of a canyon has a handful of tables and fire grills but no water. It does have a restroom. Access is via a narrow, one-lane road.

On the banks of the North Fork of the Flathead River on Glacier National Park's western edge, this tiny community (population 25) has just one store, one restaurant and saloon, one camp store, and one hostel, yet it is a gem in the wilderness. You can see where a massive wildfire burned up to some of the buildings in 1988 and how quickly new growth has advanced. The entrance station, staffed in summer only, is the gateway to Bowman and Kintla lakes, as well as Logging and Quartz lakes, which are in the backcountry and accessible only by hiking trails. The bakery at the Polebridge Mercantile store is amazing, with huckleberry macaroons or bear claws and hot, gooey cinnamon buns.

Draws of this often-deserted beach include long, wide stretches of white sand, where sea turtles lay their eggs; unobstructed views of Molokai; and, at the northern end, a rocky lava cliff with some interesting tide pools. Strong currents and a sudden drop in the ocean floor make it very dangerous to swim here; at times, strong trade winds make it uncomfortable to sunbathe or walk here; and a dirt access road with pockets of deep sand makes it hard to get here in dry weather and impossible to do so when it rains. If you do manage to reach it in your 4WD vehicle, do not endanger the sea turtles by driving on the beach. Note, too, that thirsty wild bees sometimes gather around cars. To get rid of them, put out water some distance away and wait. The beach is 11 miles north of Lanai City; turn right onto the marked dirt road past Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods). Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

The Chicago metro area has the largest Polish population of any city outside Warsaw, and this museum celebrates that fact. Take a trip to the old country by strolling through exhibits of folk costumes, memorabilia from Pope John Paul II, and the reconstructed rooms of famed pianist and statesman Ignacy Paderewski. There's also Hussar armor and an 8-foot-long sleigh in the shape of a dolphin. Chat up the knowledgeable docents and you might be treated to tales of Paderewski's romances or the exploits of the progressive 13th-century queen Jadwiga. 

The house where abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock painted his masterpieces is now a museum and study center. You can see the paint-splattered floor of his studio, plus exhibits on Pollock and his wife and fellow artist, Lee Krasner. Call for a schedule of art exhibits, lectures, workshops, and guided tours.

The late horticulturist and part-time Vineyard resident Polly Hill tended some 2,000 species of plant and developed nearly 100 species herself on her old sheep farm in West Tisbury. On-site are azaleas, tree peonies, dogwoods, hollies, lilacs, magnolias, and more. Hill raised them from seeds without the use of a greenhouse, and her patience is the inspiration of the arboretum. Run as a nonprofit center, the arboretum also runs guided tours, a lecture series, and a visitor center and gift shop. It's a beautiful spot for a picnic. The grounds are open year-round.

Small and secluded, this crescent fronts the Fairmont Kea Lani. Swimming and snorkeling are great here, and it's a good place for whale-watching. As at Wailea Beach, private umbrellas and chaise lounges occupy the choicest real estate, but there's plenty of room for you and your towel. There's a nice grass picnic area, although it's a considerable distance from the beach. An area pathway is a great spot to jog or to take in awesome views of nearby Molokini and Kahoolawe. Rare native plants grow along the ocean, or makai, side of the path—the honey-sweet-smelling one is naio, or false sandalwood. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

At the tip of North Kohala, this is one of the Big Island's most scenic beaches. Rain and erosion over millennia have created a stunning, deep-cut windward valley with a windswept gray-sand beach that is piled with large, round boulders and driftwood and backed by ironwood trees and sheer green cliffs. The trail is steep and rocky; it can also be muddy and slippery, so use caution. A Pololu Trail Steward program stations local “stewards” at the trailhead to share historical and cultural perspectives of the valley. Please visit with respect for the land and for all area residents. This is not a safe swimming beach even though locals swim, body board, and surf here. Rip currents and usually rough surf pose a real hazard. Because this is an isolated area far from emergency help, extreme caution is advised. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude.

Polson, a quiet community of 5,000 on the southwest corner of Flathead Lake, sits under the morning shadow of the jagged Mission Mountains. It's the largest town on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Picnic spots, lake access, and playgrounds are found at Boettcher, Sacajawea, and Riverside parks. Some other parks are for tribal members only; signs identify picnic areas that are closed to the public. Plan on attending the two-day Flathead Cherry Festival in late July to get your fill of the area's famous cherries.

Just west of Aberdeen on the Hoquiam River, this 26-room mansion built in 1924 is filled with artifacts and mementos relating to Grays Harbor's past, including an exhibit tracing the history of tall ships in the Pacific Northwest. Upstairs is the logging exhibit, with a replica Little Hoquiam Railroad; a period-costume room; and the children's room and dollhouse. Outside you can visit a replica of a vintage railroad shed and wander the 2-acre riverside grounds dotted with specimen trees and a rose garden.

Re-created individual villages showcase the lifestyles and traditions of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, New Zealand, and Tonga. In addition, the 42-acre center, which is 35 miles from Waikiki and which was founded in 1963 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has restaurants, hosts luau, and demonstrates cultural traditions, such as hula, fire dancing, and ancient ceremonies. The Hukilau Marketplace carries Polynesian handicrafts.

There are multiple packages available, including luau and Ha: Breath of Life show options. Every May, the center hosts the World Fireknife Championships, an event that draws the top fireknife dance performers from around the world. Get tickets for that event in advance. If you're staying in Honolulu, see the center as part of a van tour so you won't have to drive home late at night after the two-hour evening show.

Although the route will take you slightly out of the way, take I–94 on your way to Hardin and stop at Pompey’s Pillar National Monument, the only on-site physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The site gets its name from Sacagawea’s son, whose nickname was “Pomp.” When William Clark saw this small sandstone mesa rising out of the prairie along the Yellowstone River on July 25, 1806, he climbed to the top to survey the area and then marked it with his signature and the date. His graffiti, along with other engravings by early-19th-century fur traders and homesteaders, is still visible. You can climb to the top of the mesa and view the signature year-round during daylight hours. To get to Hardin, continue east on I–94 for a few miles and then head south on Highway 47.

Originally one of two posh hotels Henry Flagler built in the 1880s, this building—which is now part of a small liberal-arts college—is a riveting Spanish Renaissance–revival structure with towers, turrets, and stained glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The former Hotel Ponce de León is a National Historic Landmark, having hosted U.S. presidents Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding. You can view the building for free or take a guided tour offered daily through Flagler's Legacy Tours (check ahead for availability).

At the southern tip of the barrier island that includes Daytona Beach is the sleepy town of Ponce Inlet, with a small marina, a few bars, and casual seafood restaurants. Boardwalks traverse delicate dunes and provide easy access to the beach, although storms have caused serious erosion. Marking this spot is the bright-red, century-old Ponce de León Inlet Light Station, a National Historic Monument and museum, the tallest lighthouse in the state and the third tallest in the country. Climb to the top of the 175-foot lighthouse tower for a bird's-eye view of Ponce Inlet.

Baroness Micaela Pontalba built this twin set of town houses, one on each side of Jackson Square, around 1850; they are known for their ornate cast-iron balcony railings. Baroness Pontalba's father was Don Almonester, who sponsored the rebuilding of the St. Louis Cathedral in 1788. The strong-willed Miss Almonester also helped fund the landscaping of the square and the erection of the Andrew Jackson statue at its center. The Pontalba Buildings are publicly owned; the side to the right of the cathedral, on St. Ann Street, is owned by the state, and the other side, on St. Peter Street, by the city. On the state-owned side is the 1850 House, and at 540--B St. Peter Street on the city-owned side is a plaque marking the apartment of Sherwood Anderson, writer and mentor to William Faulkner.

Lush gardens and more than 300 acres of vineyards provide a rustic, elegant setting at Ponte, whose small-lot bottlings range from sparkling wines and light whites to very fine Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec reds. Another favorite in the light-filled tasting room is the flagship Super T wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon–Sangiovese blend. To find out how the wines are made, take the Premium Tour ($85) by electric bus of the vineyards and production facility. The tour (reservation required) concludes with a wine and cheese tasting. The shaded outdoor Restaurant at Ponte serves salads, wood-fired pizzas, and seafood daily for lunch, and on Friday and Saturday for dinner.

Public beach access for non–resort guests is minimal in most areas because of heavily restricted parking. But Mickler's Landing (pronounced Mike-ler), south of most residences and offering free public parking, is a great access point. The beach is also famous as a place to find fossilized sharks' teeth. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

Built in 1891, the simple, redbrick Pontiac is an early Chicago School skyscraper—note the classic rectangular shape and flat roof. It is the city’s oldest existing Holabird & Roche building.

The only dedicated house museum to an African American person in the state, this historic house was built for Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope around 1900 with all the modern conveniences of the time. Dr. Pope had been a military surgeon during the Spanish American War, then the first practicing black doctor in North Carolina, and later a mayoral candidate in the heavily segregated Jim Crow era. The two Columbia-educated daughters of Dr. Pope maintained the house until the 1990s, preserving 3,000 artifacts that give a glimpse of the life of a prominent black family in the 20th century.

As with every ride at IOA, there's a storyline here, but the real attraction is boarding the wide, circular raft with 11 other passengers and then getting splashed, sprayed, or deluged as the watercraft bounces and bobs down and around the twisting stream. The degree of wetness varies, since the direction your raft spins might or might not place you beneath torrents of water flooding from a shoreline water tower or streaming from water guns fired with enthusiasm by guests at an adjacent play area. Pregnant women and guests with heart, back, neck, or motion-sickness problems should skip this one. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to a ride vehicle. Come first thing in the morning or an hour before closing, and stow your items in a locker, since you will likely get completely soaked.

The octagonal architecture of Poplar Forest, now standing in a residential neighborhood and surrounded by only a few remaining poplars, was conceived and built by Jefferson, and he would occasionally stay here between 1806 and 1813. This Palladian hermitage exemplifies the architect's sublime sense of order that is so evident at Monticello. Erected on a slope, the front of the house is one story high, with a two-story rear elevation. The octagon's center is a square, skylighted dining room flanked by two smaller octagons. The restoration to its Jefferson-era state is ongoing, and likely to continue for years to come. Every July 4 there's a free celebration that includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence and living-history exhibits. The house is deliberately unfurnished, so visit during a special event to see the property at its best.

Take a tour of what was once a major peanut and sweet potato farm in North Carolina, with an 1850 Greek revival manor house and its outbuildings. Watch a blacksmith at work, admire the farm animals, see weaving and basket-making demonstrations, and learn about the difficult lives of the people who were enslaved here. On Wednesday from 8 to 1, mid-April through late September, local farmers, growers, and artisans sell their produce, plants, and crafts. The site adjoins the hiking trails of the 67-acre Abbey Nature Preserve.

With modern, funky, and intriguing exhibits by new and emerging artists, this small, beautifully designed modern museum is inside the former home of the late artist and publisher Esther Barrows Webster, one of Port Angeles's most energetic and cultured citizens. Outside, Webster's Woods Sculpture Park—open daily dawn to dusk—is dotted with oversize art installations set against a backdrop of the city and harbor.

Located in Ft. Seward in a renovated old bakery with gorgeous views, the Port Chilkoot Distillery offers craft cocktails and samples of its locally made spirits, including vodka, gin, and bourbon. As in other distilleries around the state, patrons are limited to two drinks on the premises.