10405 Best Sights in USA

A center for New York's Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th century, this 9-building community (it originally held 14 buildings) was once home to as many as 500 craftsmen, aka Roycrofters. The community was founded in 1895 by Elbert Hubbard, who had met William Morris during his travels in England. Existing campus buildings include the Roycroft Inn, the 1902 blacksmith shop and the furniture-making and bookbinding building (both now housing artisan and antiques shops); and the old chapel, now the town hall.

The self-proclaimed home of the world's richest quarter-horse race, has a fabulous mountain vista as the setting for cheering the ponies. On Labor Day the track is the site of the All-American Quarter Horse Futurity, with a total purse of as much as $3 million. Revenues from the Billy the Kid Casino, which has some 300 slot machines, funds the races. Casino gambling allowed at horse-racing tracks is credited with reviving the sport in New Mexico by attracting quality horses and competition. The casino is decorated with murals suggesting nearby historic Lincoln, where Billy the Kid once hung out. The facility offers year-round, full-card simulcasting from the nation's largest tracks.

Stop by a venerable general store across from the ferry dock that serves excellent fresh seafood.

This colorful, creative aquatic playground gives kids plenty to discover through a wide range of toys and activities that'll keep them busy and entertained. There are shallow wading areas, low-pitched slides (that probably seem stupendously huge from their perspective), spray guns, bubbling geysers, and dump cups. For people with disabilities: Guests in wheelchairs can transfer into the wading areas.

Cascading near Two Medicine, these are actually two different waterfalls from two different sources. In spring, when the water level is high, the upper falls join the lower falls for a 40-foot drop into Two Medicine River; in summer, the upper falls dry up, revealing the lower 20-foot falls that start midway down the precipice.

It's easy to overlook this three-track flume ride hidden on the far red slope of Mt. Gushmore. Yet, if you have the courage to carry your tube all the way up to the top, you'll eventually come upon three twisting, turning, 600-foot-long flumes—even one that's in the dark (keep in mind the tunnel slide is for single riders only, while the open slides are for one- or two-passenger tubes). Once you're in, it's way more fun than scary. Still, guests who are pregnant or who have heart, neck, or back problems should skip it. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to inner tubes. Your water chair will be sent to the bottom of the hill for you. It's worth riding both an open slide and the tunnel slide, but remember that the tunnel slide is only for single riders.

Run by Louisiana State University, the Rural Life Museum is an outdoor teaching and research facility that aims to represent the rural life of early Louisianans. Three major areas—the Barn, the Working Plantation, and Folk Architecture—contain more than 32 rustic 19th-century structures spread over 25 acres. A visitor center adjoins the Barn, which holds a collection that includes old farm tools, quilts, 19th-century horse-drawn carriages, items once belonging to enslaved people, and much more. The plantation section's buildings include a gristmill, a smithy, and several outbuildings. The tranquil Windrush Gardens were created by the late landscape designer Steele Burden, and sometimes hosts special events with food and music.

Stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone, ribbons, columns, helictites, and the "Big Room" are all part of the worthwhile tour into this privately owned cave. In 1876, miners found the opening to the cave while digging a flume into the mountainside to carry water to the gold mines below. The cave was opened to the public in 1927, just before the carving of Mount Rushmore began. The attraction also features the Soaring Eagle Zipride, Rushmore Mountain Coaster, Wingwalker Challenge Course, and other theme-park-style activities.

Beginning and ending in Helen, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is a 41-mile loop through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in northeastern Georgia. Start the counterclockwise drive from Route 17/74 north of Helen, turn left on Route 180, left again at Route 348, and another left at Route 75 Alternate back to Helen. The loop passes the Raven Cliff Wilderness, wildlife management areas, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, and a section of the Appalachian Trail, and goes near the state parks of Vogel, Unicoi, Smithgall Woods, and Brasstown Bald Mountain.

The Russian–American Company built this registered historic landmark for Bishop Innocent Veniaminov. Completed in 1843 and one of Alaska’s few remaining Russian-built log structures, the house, which faces the harbor, contains exhibits on the history of Russian America. In several places, portions of the structure are peeled away to expose Russian building techniques. The ground level is a free museum. The National Park Service operates the house and rangers lead guided tours of the second floor, which holds the residential quarters and a chapel.

Live music on Fridays and weekends attracts an eclectic clientele to this winery specializing in single-vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, but it's worth a stop anytime. In good weather, most guests enjoy tastings under pergolas, shade trees, and umbrellas as woodpeckers pilfer acorns from nearby oaks, caching their booty in the redwood roof of the property's hop-barn-style structure. The countrified setting has been known to induce "couch lock," causing patrons to while away hours sipping wine and nibbling on gourmet food boards, sandwiches, and salads (lunch is served daily). Some folks even settle in with a book, an option that wine service by the glass or bottle makes all the more tempting.

Reflecting a time when the South End was the most prestigious Boston address, this slice of a park is framed by lovely Italianate bowfront houses.

Phoenix's only national landmark, this park was once the site of a 500-acre Hohokam village supporting about 1,000 people and containing homes, storage rooms, cemeteries, and ball courts. Three exhibition galleries hold displays on the Hohokam culture and archaeological methods. View the 10-minute orientation video before heading out on the ½-mile Ruin Trail past excavated sites that give a hint of Hohokam savvy: there's a building whose corner doorway was perfectly placed for watching the summer-solstice sunrise. Children especially like the hands-on interactive learning center. Guided tours by appointment only.

Built as a general store in 1912 by Japanese immigrant and businessman Sadanouke Hata and his family, this two-story building now houses galleries, a restaurant, and small shops, with offices upstairs. When first built, it was one of the only buildings in Hawaii constructed out of concrete. During World War II, when Hata family members were interned because of their heritage, the building was confiscated by the U.S. government. When the war ended, a daughter repurchased it for $100,000. A beautiful example of Renaissance Revival architecture, the building won a state award for the authenticity of its restoration.

Established in the late 18th century, this is the last active Shaker community in the world. The farmstead’s many structures include the 1794 Meetinghouse and 1839 Ministry’s Shop, where the elders and eldresses lived until the early 1900s. Guided tours are limited to these two buildings, but this admission includes "Creating Chosen Land," an exhibit on the village's history and evolution (Chosen Land is its "spiritual name") in the 1816 Granary. Admission to the exhibit is also sold separately, and the one on Shaker childhood in the 1850 Boys’ Shop, now the visitor center, is free. Pick up a free self-guided walking tour with information about all of Sabbathday Lake's buildings. Visitors are also welcome to walk the gardens. The visitor center shop sells books, Shaker-related items, and handcrafts by area artisans. More await at the longtime roadside Shaker Store in the Trustees' Office, an 1816 building. Shaker-made products like jams, candles, and soap are also sold; in the antique section you may happen upon “fancy goods” like the poplar boxes and dolls made here years ago for sale to tourists. Check the website for events, including one-day workshops. The village's Wabanaki Arts Market in late August and Harvest Festival on Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day are free and open to the public.

At the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, this park occupies the site of Ainsworth, a railroad town that flourished from 1879 to 1884. It's named for the Shoshoni woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition over the Rocky Mountains and down the Snake River. The 284-acre day-use park has an interpretive center and a large display of Native American tools. A beach, boat launch, picnic area, and children's playground round out the facilities; sand dunes, marshes, and ponds are great for watching wildlife.

Located just over the town line in Middletown and more commonly known as Second Beach, this mile-long sandy beach is known for its lively surf—the western end, aptly known as Surfer's End, attracts many surfers. Surfboard and standup paddleboard rentals are available. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; sunsets.

During the War of 1812, two battles were fought here between the British and Americans. The harbor served as headquarters for divisions of the U.S. Army and Navy. Today the site includes a nicely restored commandant's house, which dates from 1850. In summer, guides reenact camp life; an audio tour and stories are available through your cell phone through mid-October.

A pandemic-era video campaign revolving around this museum's antique printing presses went viral, making a TikTok star out of a longtime volunteer named Howard. Other exhibits investigate Sacramento's gold-rush past and agricultural, economic, and political evolution. A must-see third-floor stop provides insights into the life of a 12-year-old girl through personal belongings discovered in a trunk a century after her death in 1879. The museum's Old Sacramento Underground Tours, booked separately, explore vestiges of the city before floods wreaked havoc in the 1860s and 1870s and many buildings were raised a story or two higher.

This route, which connects with Castle Trail and Medicine Root Loop, is a steep, ¼-mile round-trip route up and down the side of "The Wall," an impressive rock formation. Plan on spending about an hour on this climb. Difficult.

A short drive down a country lane leads to this winery whose founder, Nils Venge, made history as the first U.S. winemaker to earn a 100-point score from the critic Robert Parker. The wine that earned this distinction was a Cabernet Sauvignon for nearby Groth. These days, Venge makes two Cabs for his own label, along with Pinot Blanc, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Malbec, and several others guests sample by appointment at vineyard's-edge picnic tables. Saddleback's presentation is decidedly retro compared to its tonier Oakville neighbors, but the stories, wines, and mountain views east and west cast a memorable spell.

Four severe blazes in town in the 1800s led to the establishment of the first volunteer fire department in New York State. The museum, housed in an 1833 building that served as fire-company quarters as well as town hall, displays an 1890 hand-pulled hose cart, a 1920s fire chief's vehicle, model fire trucks, and other old firefighting equipment.

Noted 19th-century architect Minard Lafever designed this striking 1845 Greek Revival mansion for shipowner Benjamin Huntting and his family. Museum displays include scrimshaw pieces, a boat collection, period furnishings, and model ships. Special exhibits take place in the summer, events include the Harborfest Party, and tours of a whaling captain's house are offered.

Known for a time as the "summer White House," this 23-room Victorian was President Teddy Roosevelt's cherished family retreat from 1885 until his death in 1919. In addition to the original furnishings and some personal effects, the house contains animal heads and skins from Roosevelt's many hunting expeditions. The servants' quarters offer a behind-the-scenes look at life here.

This gravel route near the Pinnacles entrance follows the road less traveled and covers rougher terrain than Badlands Loop Road. Sage Creek Rim Road is completely negotiable by most vehicles, but should be avoided during a thunderstorm when the sudden rush of water may cause flooding. It might also close temporarily after snowstorms. A vast mixed-grass prairie covers the rest. Keep an eye out for free-roaming bison.

Docents in period dress are on hand to take you on a tour of this historically important home dating back to 1697. The manor served as a military headquarters for the British Army during the Revolutionary War, and George Washington slept here after the war, in 1790. Today the 150-acre estate holds a substantial collection of antiques and historical exhibits depicting its early days. Special events including seasonal festivals, holiday celebrations, and art, antiques, and car shows are held here throughout the year.

Newport's former Armory is the new home for this museum dedicated to the sport and history of sailing. Incorporating the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the museum mixes historical information and displays on legendary sailors and boats with hands-on interactive stations where visitors---including kids---can get a feel for navigating, steering, and racing boats.

A tower, arched doorways, and a large round window form bold masses on the exterior of this church, designed in 1887 by Daniel Burnham and John Root. The Romanesque interior, with vaulted arches, gives a feeling of breadth and spaciousness. The parish was organized to serve Irish workers at the nearby Union Stock Yards.

This pioneer helped dispel the conventional wisdom that only the French could produce great Pinot Noir. With their subtlety and balance, Saintsbury's wines continue to please. In recent years the winery has expanded its reach from Los Carneros to the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, the Sonoma Coast, and elsewhere in California with equally impressive results. Named for the English author and wine lover George Saintsbury, this unpretentious operation also makes a few Chardonnays and a Chenin Blanc. Visits are by appointment only. When the weather cooperates, tastings take place in a rose garden.

A scenic drive down Route 77 ends at this quiet southeastern tip of Rhode Island. People like to fish off the Army Corps of Engineers breakwater, or walk along it to enjoy views of the harbor. The 1884 Sakonnet Lighthouse on Little Cormorant Rock is picturesque, offshore, and not open to the public.