48 Best Sights in USA

The crystal clear waters of the Casino Point Dive Park are home to protected marine life. This is where moray eels, bat rays, spiny lobsters, harbor seals, and brilliant orange garibaldi (California's state marine fish) cruise around kelp forests and along the sandy bottom. It's a terrific site for scuba diving, with some shallow areas suitable for snorkeling. Equipment can be rented on-site next to the world-famous Catalina Casino. Water temperature ranges in the mid-60s to low 70s during the summer, with September to mid-October being the warmest.

Part of the Appalachian Trail Corridor, this National Natural Landmark has chasms, cliffs, four major waterfalls, smaller drops, pools, exotic flora, and intriguing rock formations like The Jaws, where outcroppings almost form a land bridge along the gulf or gorge. The West Branch of the Pleasant River drops a few hundred feet as it flows through 3-mile, slate-walled Gulf Hagas east of Greenville. Managed by Maine North Woods and open for public recreation, but not staffed like a park, this remote forest is accessible by gravel logging roads (always yield to logging trucks; roads aren't plowed in winter). A per-person fee is charged during the warm season at entry checkpoints or gates (cash or check only), where you can get trail maps and hiking information.

The difficult Rim Trail and the less challenging Pleasant River Tote Road are approximately 8 to 9 miles, depending on where you start; connector trails create shorter loops. Because of the rim trail's slippery rocks and rugged terrain, hikers are urged to wear sturdy footwear, not sneakers or sandals. Not up for such a rigorous trek? From either parking area you can hike to a premier waterfall on a route that only briefly includes the rim trail. These are good choices for families with young children and anyone lacking the preparation, experience, skill, and time the rim trail demands. From the Gulf Hagas (Lower Gulf) parking area, where most hikers start, it's a 3½–mile round-trip trek to spectacular Screw Auger Falls on the gulf's eastern end. After fording the Pleasant River—usually easily done in summer but dangerous in high water—you'll pass through The Hermitage, a stand of old-growth white pine. Near the falls, there's a stream crossing. From the Head of Gulf (Upper Gulf) parking area, the hike to Stair Falls at the gulf's western end is 3.4 miles round-trip. There's a bridge over the river—no fording required.

Show your kids where Ice Age fossils come from by taking them to this fascinating outdoor park and indoor museum. Oil rises and bubbles to the earth's surface, as it is collected in shallow pools, and coagulated into asphalt. In the early 20th century, geologists discovered that all that goo contained the largest collection of Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossils ever found at one location. There are more than 600 fossils of species of birds, mammals, plants, reptiles, and insects. Roughly 100 tons of fossil bones have been removed in excavations during the last 100 years, making this one of the world's most famous fossil sites. You can see most of the pits through chain-link fences, and the Excavator Tour gets you as close as possible to the action.

Two sandy beaches anchor this 531-acre park, with plenty of picnic tables (bring your own basket or hit the concession stands), a playground, and seasonal kayak and paddleboard rentals. There are a few shady walking trails, which offer good bird-watching and wildlife viewing. If you head east, you can connect to the Sammamish River Trail and walk or bike all the way to Marymoor Park.

This natural rock opening, which measures 306 feet from base to base and looks like a delicate ribbon of rock bending over the horizon, is the longest geologic span in North America. In 1991, a slab of rock about 60 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 4 feet thick fell from the underside, leaving it even thinner. You reach it via a rolling, gravel, 1.8-mile-long trail. Easy.

Arguably best known for its remaining apricot orchards, Mountain View's neighbor, Los Altos, is one of the most charming, Main Street USA–evoking downtowns in the Bay Area—well worth a stroll and a lunch break. Anchored by a grand clock at the intersection of its two main streets, the small business area is split between Main and State Streets, where both run for roughly five blocks. Linden Tree Books ( 265 State St.) is the signature boutique in town, and families drive from many miles away to browse the children's book selection and attend the book talks and other events a few days each month.

Popular breakfast and lunch spots along Main Street include Red Berry Coffee ( 145 Main St.), Manresa Bread ( 271 State St.), Tal Palo ( 149 Main St.) and The American Italian Delicatessen ( 139 Main St.). In the evening, crowds descend upon the contemporary farm-to-table cooking at Roja ( 242 State St.) and Cetrella ( 160 State St.), contemporary Indian cuisine at Aurum ( 132 State St.), yakitori specialist Sumika ( 236 Plaza Central), and craft cocktails at Amandine Lounge ( 235 1st St.). A five-minute drive from downtown takes you to Chef Chu’s ( 1067 N. San Antonio Rd., Suite 1300), an institution for excellent Chinese cooking (its legendary proprietor Larry Chu is also the father of the renowned Hollywood film director Jon M. Chu).

Boeing, the world's largest builder of aircraft, was founded in Seattle in 1916. This facility at Boeing Field, between Downtown and Sea-Tac airport, houses one of the city's best museums, and it's especially fun for kids, who can climb in many of the aircraft and pretend to fly, make flight-related crafts, or attend special programs. The Red Barn, Boeing's original airplane factory, houses an exhibit on the history of flight. The Great Gallery, a dramatic structure designed by Ibsen Nelson, contains more than three dozen vintage airplanes. The Personal Courage Wing showcases World War I and World War II fighter planes, and the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is home to the NASA Full Fuselage Space Shuttle Trainer.

Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer has renewed interest in that Cold War era of Las Vegas, when visitors could occasionally see a roiling mushroom cloud in the distance at the nearby Nevada Test Site. Located on the corner of the UNLV campus and operated in association with the Smithsonian, the museum is filled with film footage and artifacts from the Test Site, including bomb-testing machinery and the bombs themselves: a decommissioned B-53 "bunker buster" is 12-feet long and weighs 8,850 pounds. Some exhibits are pay homage to the sometimes frightening, sometimes comical treatment of "the bomb" in pop culture. There's a mini-theater that gives you the sensory jolt of an atomic explosion. Two galleries for rotating exhibits augment the permanent exhibition. Early 2025 brought the new "Atomic Odyssey" exhibit, a colorful, interactive, and kid-friendly introduction to the structure of the atom and how to tell nuclear fission from fusion.

The museum also offers virtual tours of the 1,375-square-mile Nevada National Security Site (larger than the state of Rhode Island) and is the starting point for occasional in-person group tours of the test site, which is still operational 65 miles northwest of Downtown. These tours book as much as a year ahead, with museum donors getting first chance.

In only a few years, North Hollywood's performance arts hub has grown from the residential home of aspiring actors who frequent a few fringe theaters and several chain restaurants to a completely revitalized one square-mile district that boasts a vibrant collection of stages, galleries, dance studios, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and colorful street art.

One of the West Coast's leading zoos resides in the rolling hills of southeast Oakland. More than 850 animals from near and far live here, often putting on quite a show for the human visitors. The children's zoo and the California Trail are notable areas, with the latter featuring two of the most iconic animals in the Golden State: California condors and grizzly bears. The zoo has a handful of entertaining rides, but the main non-animal highlight for most guests is the Sky Ride gondola that offers incredible Bay Area views.

One of the East Bay's most desirable places to live is this fashionable, upscale neighborhood. Explore the tree-lined streets that radiate out from College Avenue, just north and south of the Rockridge BART station for a look at California Craftsman bungalows at their finest. By day, College Avenue between Broadway and Alcatraz Avenue is crowded with shoppers buying fresh flowers, used books, and clothing; by night, the same folks are back for satisfying meals filled with fresh local ingredients, artisanal wines, and locally brewed ales. There's even a cider bar, one of the few in the Bay Area (Redfield Cider Bar & Bottle Shop 5815 College Ave.). With its specialty food shops and quick bites to go, Market Hall, an airy European-style marketplace at Shafter Avenue, is a hub of culinary activity, including the wonderful Californian-Mediterranean cooking of the attached Acre Kitchen & Bar ( 5655 College Ave.).

When this iconic landmark opened in 1914, it was the tallest office building outside New York City and the fourth-tallest building in the world. (It remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi for nearly 50 years.) The Smith Tower Observatory on the 35th floor is an open-air wraparound deck providing panoramic views of the surrounding historic neighborhood, ball fields, the city skyline, and the mountains on clear days. It's also a superb spot to take in a sunset. The top floor includes the speakeasy-themed Observatory Bar, which features striking original architectural details and a cocktail and nibbles menu that pays homage to the Prohibition era. Smith Tower's ground-floor retail shop packed with locally made goods is also worth a visit.

When the fog hasn't rolled in, this expansive stretch of sand is about as close as you can get in Marin to the stereotypical feel of a Southern California beach. There are several clothing-optional areas, among them a section south of Stinson Beach called Red Rock Beach. Pets are not allowed on the national park section of the beach.

Swimming at Stinson Beach can be dangerous; the undertow is strong, and shark sightings, though infrequent, have occurred. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer months.

On any hot summer weekend, roads to Stinson are packed and the parking lot fills, so factor this into your plans. The town itself—population 600, give or take—has a nonchalant surfer vibe, with a few good eating options and pleasant hippie-craftsy browsing. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer); parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: nudists; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking, windsurfing.

Sunset Boulevard is a sexy and seductive drive with bigger than life celebrity billboards, architecturally unique hotels, a variety of casual to upscale restaurants, and fashionable boutiques. The cocktail bars charge a premium, but the iconic Hollywood sign and Los Angeles views justify the price.

Stunning bay views, a kid's steam train, and a botanical garden with a comprehensive collection of California plant life are the hallmarks of this 2,077-acre park in the hills just east of the UC Berkeley campus. The garden's visitor center offers weekend lectures about its plants and information about Tilden's other attractions, including its picnic spots, Lake Anza swimming site, golf course, and hiking trails (the paved Nimitz Way, at Inspiration Point, is a popular hike with wonderful sunset views). Children love Tilden's interactive Little Farm and vintage carousel.

Downtown Palo Alto’s main street is a continuation of Stanford’s Palm Drive after the university stretch reaches the Caltrain station. Shops, restaurants, and an always-popular Apple Store (it’s no different than other stores but considered special since Steve Jobs lived nearby) line the blocks of the street until it becomes residential.

The crown jewel is the Stanford Theatre ( 221 University Ave.), a magnificent ode to classic Hollywood. Across the street is Lytton Plaza, a spacious, eclectic gathering place where surely somebody will be putting on an impromptu concert or protest. Toward the eastern end of the downtown area is what previously was another Hollywood Golden Age cinema, the Varsity Theatre. Its classic Colonial Spanish and Mission Revival–influenced architecture is still stunning and, in typical 2025 fashion, has a Blue Bottle Coffee café ( 456 University Ave.).

There are dining highlights up and down University Avenue, led by contemporary Vietnamese stalwart Tamarine ( 546 University Ave.) and the silky hummus specialty at Oren’s Hummus ( 261 University Ave.). The quieter side streets off University Avenue also feature several standout restaurants including Ramen Nagi ( 541 Bryant St.), the Georgian cooking of Bevri ( 530 Bryant St.), craft cocktails with excellent French bistro fare at Zola and BarZola ( 565 and 585 Bryant St.), outstanding seasonal contemporary cooking and a unique martini rendition at Ethel's Fancy ( 550 Waverley St.), contemporary Indian cuisine in lavish surroundings at Ettan ( 518 Bryant St.), and Taverna’s ( 800 Emerson St.) excellent modern and rustic Greek dishes.

Known simply as "Cal," the founding campus of California's university system is one of the leading intellectual centers in the United States and a major site for scientific research. Chartered in 1868, the university sits on 178 oak-covered acres split by Strawberry Creek. Campus highlights include bustling and historic Sproul Plaza ( Bancroft Way and Sather Rd.), the 307-foot-tall and 61-bell carillon of Sather Tower ( Campanile Esplanade), hands-on Lawrence Hall of Science ( 1 Centennial Dr.), the vibrant 34-acre Botanical Gardens ( 200 Centennial Dr.), and the historic Hearst Greek Theatre ( 2001 Gayley Rd.), the classic outdoor amphitheater designed by John Galen Howard (who also designed Sather Tower).

Walk 2 miles south of the bay up to Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, home to many plants native only to Southern California and the Channel Islands. Today there are five different sections where you can see Catalina ironwood, wild tomato, and rare Catalina mahogany. The Wrigley family commissioned the garden as well as the monument, which has a grand staircase and a Spanish-style mausoleum inlaid with colorful Catalina tile. You'll find great views at the top.