10405 Best Sights in USA

Start your visit here, on the mainland near the Sapelo Island ferry docks, where you can view exhibits on the island's history, culture, and ecology, and get helpful trip planning tips from knowledgeable staff. Check in advance to see if they are offering a bus tour of the island on the day of your visit. The sights that make up the bus tour vary, but generally include the old sugar mill, the airfield, the cemetery, Nanny Goat Beach, and the 80-foot-tall Sapelo Lighthouse. Built in 1820, it's a symbol of the thriving cotton and lumber industry once based out of Darien. You may also book a tour with one of the residents on Sapelo Island—staff can assist. To get to the visitor center and Meridian ferry dock from downtown Darien, go north on Route 99 for 8 miles, following signs for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Turn right on to Landing Road at the Elm Grove Baptist Church in Meridian. The visitor center is about ½ mile down the road.

Four miles of trails lead through the 220-acre Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bird artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes named the woods after two yellow-bellied sapsuckers he had spotted in the area. A computer touch screen leads you through interpretive displays. The visitor center is open weekdays 8–5 (until 4 on Friday), Saturday 9:30–4, and Sunday 11–4.

Learn how the F. X. Matt Brewing Co. creates its Saranac-brand traditional lager, pale ale, pilsner, Adirondack amber, and old-fashioned root beer. The same family has operated the seven-story brick brew house for more than a century. Inhaling the yeasty aroma of fermenting hops and malt, you can see several steps of the brewing process. Tours are on the hour and end with a beer or root-beer sampling. Call in advance for reservations.

One of the state's charming, family-owned and -operated attractions fills 10 acres with native and exotic plants and animals. The gardens date from 1939, and still have an Old Florida feel. Residents include red-tailed hawks and great horned owls, American alligators, and a variety of snakes, as well as furry creatures such as lemurs and prairie dogs. You can talk to trainers; take in the Wildlife Wonder, Reptile, or Jungle Bird shows; wander through a butterfly house and garden; hand-feed flamingoes; and learn about plants like the rare Australian nut tree and the Peruvian apple cactus. A café and a jungle-theme playground are also among the offerings.

America's love affair with the car is celebrated in this museum in a former bottling plant in Saratoga Spa State Park. Included are three galleries and an orientation theater. Changing exhibits display classic and racing cars.

The museum, on the grounds of Saratoga Raceway, displays antique horseshoes, high-wheeled sulkies (the two-wheeled vehicles used for harness racing), and horse-related artwork.

Hot mineral waters flow freely through the Saratoga Hobo Hot Springs, and the adjacent cooler swimming pool is heated by the springs. People have been coming here to soak for generations, including Native Americans, who considered the area neutral territory. Hardy folk can do as the Native Americans did and first soak in the hot water, then jump into the adjacent icy waters of the North Platte River. The free pools are open all day, every day. Bathing suits are required.

The former Union Pacific Railroad depot houses the Saratoga Museum, with displays of local artifacts related to the history and geology of the area. Outdoor exhibits include a sheep wagon, caboose, and a one-bedroom cabin built by a local pioneer.

The Battle of Saratoga, fought 12 mi southeast of Saratoga Springs at this site in 1777, is recognized as the turning point in the American Revolution. The visitor center at the Route 32 entrance provides historic information and an orientation to the park, which encompasses the battlefield and two sites in the nearby villages of Schuylerville and Victory. Ten stops along a 9½-mi tour road through the battlefield explain the battle and its significance. Reenactments and other living-history programs are scheduled throughout the summer. The road is popular with bicyclists in warm-weather months and, when closed to traffic in winter, with cross-country skiers. The John Neilson House, the only structure standing on the battlefield that was here in the time of the Battle of Saratoga, might have served as headquarters for Benedict Arnold.

Developed for the study and therapeutic use of the mineral springs here, this 2,200-acre park is now listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. It is home to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Lincoln and Roosevelt baths, the Spa Little Theatre, and eight active springs. Recreational facilities include walking trails, 36 holes of golf, two pools, clay and asphalt tennis courts, picnic facilities, an ice-skating rink, and 12 mi of cross-country skiing trails.

This sleepy little community just south of Patrick Air Force Base, about 15 miles south of Cocoa Beach on Route A1A, sits on a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Indian River lagoon on the other. Its beach is protected by dunes, and sea turtles flock here to lay their eggs. A popular spot for family vacations because of its slow pace and lack of crowds, Satellite Beach has several beachfront parks with playgrounds, pavilions, and picnic facilities. One park, which teaches visitors about the importance of the dune system, has boardwalks that meander over the dunes to the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking.

After more than four decades of laughs, SNL continues to push buttons and nurture comedic talents. All "live from New York." Requests for advance tickets (two per applicant) must be submitted during the month of August by email only, sent to  [email protected]; you may ask for a ticket for either the dress rehearsal (8 pm) or the live show (11:30 pm). All recipients are determined by lottery. Standby ticket reservations for up to four people open at 10 am on the Thursday prior and are distributed at 12:01 am on the day of the show; see the NBC ticket website for information. You must be 16 or older to sit in the audience.

A goal to provide high-quality, year-round arts programming to people of all ages and backgrounds in the Saugatuck area led to the establishment in 2003 of this nonprofit organization. Housed in a former pie factory (the 420-seat theater used to be the freezer), it fits right into the artsy Saugatuck feel and achieves its mission with gallery exhibits, arts classes for adults and children, live musical performances, two film festivals—one for children—and professional Broadway-caliber shows like "Avenue Q" and "Cabaret" in the Mason Street Warehouse Theatre.

Originally used to transport horses across the Kalamazoo River, this fringy little ferry is now a top tourist attraction. Built in 1857, it's the only hand-cranked chain ferry left in the country. It takes about 200 cranks and about five minutes for the U.S. Coast Guard-inspected vessel to float the 100 yards across the river.

Designed for thrill seekers and nature buffs alike, the dune rides are a popular activity and many claim your visit is not complete until you have viewed the region from a towering sand dune. Included in a 40-minute ride along rolling dunes on Lake Michigan, seated in a 20-passenger customized schooner, are historical facts about the region. To protect yourself from flying sand, be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and sunglasses. Plenty of stops along the way provide photo opportunities.

Running about 4 miles, this trail system connects the Savage River pullout and campground areas. You can use the Savage River Shuttle to access the trailhead or your personal vehicle. Note that if you're using your own vehicle, the trail spits you out about 2 miles down the road system. If you park at one end, you can use the park's shuttle service to get back to your vehicle. Access is dependent on the weather. The trail isn't accessible for most of the winter. Moderate.

Located at mile 15, the Savage River stop is where the concrete ends and private vehicles must turn around. Near the river are a couple of uncovered picnic tables and seasonally available bathroom facilities. Two trailheads start from the picnic area. One of these, the Savage Alpine Trail, connects with the Mountain Vista picnic spot, while the Savage Canyon Trail runs along the river. Like the picnic area at Mountain Vista, it can get windy here. Access is dependent on weather conditions from fall through spring.

True to its name, the River Loop follows the Savage River up the valley carved between Mount Margaret and Healy Ridge for about a mile. The trail crosses a bridge before traveling down the valley and reconnecting with the Savage River Picnic Area. The trail is inaccessible during winter months. Moderate.

Once the private collection of Savannah businessman Don Cole, this assemblage of more than a thousand sculptures, artifacts, tribal costumes, carved masks, pottery, and other sacred objects from West and Central Africa is now on display for the general public in a beautifully restored yellow mansion. The museum has works and artifacts from more than 180 cultures and also hosts workshops and lectures relating to African history.

Adhering to the principle of learning through doing, the Savannah Children's Museum has open green spaces with several stations geared toward sensory play, including a water–sand play excavation station, sound station of percussion instruments, and an organic garden. The storybook nook is a partnership with the public library and encourages visiting youngsters to balance physical and mental recreation. One station includes costumes for stage performances.

This history museum houses exhibits on Savannah's cultural and military history. Inside you'll find much about the lives of early Native American settlers, including the development of tabby (crushed oyster shells with lime, sand, and water) for use in early construction. Subsequent historical periods are portrayed, including the Revolutionary and Civil War eras and the Industrial Revolution. More modern highlights include the city's countless Hollywood film appearances over the years, the most memorable of which might be Forrest Gump. The very bench that Tom Hanks sat on can be seen here.

In 1824, officials chartered a project to use African American and Irish laborers to dig a 16-mile canal between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers—by hand. Although it was once used to float lumber and other commodities via a series of tidal locks, only the small portion between Highway 204 and the Ogeechee River remains open to the public. Take the tow path toward the river, and you might see hawks, owls, snakes, and other wildlife; just don't touch the crumbling bricks. Be sure to stop into the on-site museum to chat with Connie the Canoe Lady. If the museum is closed, you can leave the admission fee in the honor box; better yet, PayPal a donation to  [email protected].

Once a reservoir, the 550 acres have been returned to their natural wetlands state. Today the wilderness area has campgrounds, interpretive trails, and a boat ramp, and the recreation area is open year-round. Canoe and kayak rentals are available Thursday through Monday. A dog park (open daily) is also on site. Amenities include showers, toilets, and free Wi-Fi for campers.

Formerly located in tight quarters at Easton’s Beach, the aquarium run by local conservation group Save the Bay is now prominently sited at the Gateway Transportation Center, making it the first stop for many Newport visitors. The aquarium exclusively features marine life found in Narragansett Bay; the residents of touch tanks and created habitats ranging from shorelines to salt marshes and eelgrass are returned to the Bay after their temporary stint educating and entertaining visitors.

Tucked away behind the Hula campus, Burlington's unofficial tech and co-working headquarters, Vermont-based SAVU has set up two of its high-end Scandi-inspired saunas right on the shore of Lake Champlain; they're ideally placed for an after-work sweat and a cold plunge, but offer a relaxing break if you're on vacation, too.

Catch a good glimpse of plants and wildlife—from ospreys and alligators to turtles, snakes, and fish—on a 30-minute airboat ride through the Everglades. The fee covers admission to all nature exhibits as well as a visit to a model Seminole village.

Nature truly comes alive at night. Sawgrass Recreation Park offers longer nighttime airboat rides on Wednesday and Saturday at 8 pm, reservations required.

A 2½-mile paved walking path and bike trail parallels the road from Ketchikan to Saxman Native Village, named for a missionary who drowned while helping Native Alaskans establish a new settlement in the area in 1886. A totem park dominates the center of Saxman, with poles representing clan crest figures, including bears, ravens, whales, and eagles. Saxman's Beaver Clan tribal house, which features a painted house screen by master carvers Nathan Jackson and Lee Wallace, is said to be the largest in Alaska. Carvers still create totem poles and totemic art objects in the adjacent carver's shed. You can visit the totem park on your own (on foot or by taxi, bicycle, or city bus), but to visit the tribal house and theater you must take a tour; book through Cape Fox Lodge.

Built in 1718, this waterfront home was remodeled in the 1760s by Jonathan Sayward, a local merchant who had prospered in the West Indies trade. By 1860, his descendants had opened the house to the public to share the story of their Colonial ancestors. Accessible only by guided tour (first and third Saturday, June through mid-October, 11–4 with the last tour at 3), the house reveals the decor of a prosperous New England family and the stories of the free and enslaved people who lived here at the outset of the Revolutionary War. The parlor—considered one of the country's best-preserved Colonial interiors, with a tall clock and mahogany Chippendale-style chairs—looks pretty much as it did when Sayward lived here.

You can explore this Maine Audubon–run nature center on foot or by kayak or canoe and on your own or as part of a guided walk or paddle. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent and come with a life jacket and map. The salt marsh is Maine's largest and is an excellent place for bird-watching and peaceful paddling along its winding ways. The center has a discovery room for kids and a good gift shop. Programs include birding walks and full moon and sunset tours. Entrance is free, as are many programs, including family nature walks held on Wednesdays.

With generally moderate surf, this 42-acre beach has stunning views of where the Narragansett Bay empties into the ocean—although the scent of a nearby wastewater treatment plant can sometimes mar the experience (this long beach is split into north and south sections; the former is farthest away from the facility). There's a concrete boardwalk with gazebos and an observation tower. A grassy section on the southern end of the beach is good for kite flying and picnicking, and a trail connects it to Black Point, a scenic fishing and hiking area along the rocky coastline. RIPTA buses service the beach, making it the easiest to access by transit. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.