10405 Best Sights in USA

A refreshing stop for wildlife viewing, this 1,300-acre wildlife conservation property is intended to inspire, educate, and demonstrate conservation in action. Situated along 3 miles of the Bitterroot River, about 8 miles north of Hamilton, the refuge is home to otters, beavers, spotted frogs, and salamanders, as well as pileated woodpeckers, birds of prey, waterfowl, whitetail deer, and many native plants. Although most of the refuge is off-limits to the public (except by appointment), any visitors can take a stroll on the 1½-mile walking trail along the Bitterroot River. An education center conducts numerous conservation programs for the public. To get here, take Route 269 (Eastside Highway) to Quast Lane and follow the signs.

This is a karst region, a landscape where dissolving bedrock creates disappearing streams, springs, caves, and (sometimes massive) sinkholes. One such karst sinkhole is Cedar Sink, open for exploration via the Cedar Sink Trail. As a collapse feature, it acts as a window into geologic processes still going on deep beneath the earth. We see hidden streams emerge in the bottom of the sink and then hide again . . . only to form more sinkholes at Turnhole Bend farther along their route. Sinkholes of this size can form their own microclimate inside, encouraging the unseasonal growth of wildflowers.

Adjacent to Sam Hicks Monument Park, this museum focuses on Temecula Valley history, including early Native American life, Butterfield stage routes, and the ranchero period. A hands-on interactive area for children holds a general store, photographer's studio, and ride-a-pony station. Outside there's a playground and picnic area. A walking tour ($5) of Old Town Temecula is given every Saturday 10–11:30, departing from the Temecula Valley Museum.

The human-made Town Lake has turned downtown Tempe into a commercial and urban-living hot spot, and attracts college students and Valley residents of all ages. Little ones enjoy the Beach Park, and fishermen appreciate the rainbow trout–stocked lake. You also can rent a boat and tour the lake on your own.

 This unique Gothic-revival synagogue on Monterey Square houses the third-oldest Jewish congregation in the United States; its founding members settled in town only five months after the establishment of Savannah in 1733. The synagogue's permanent collection includes documents and letters (some from such notables as George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson) pertaining to early Jewish life in Savannah and Georgia, as well as a 15th-century Torah, the oldest Torah in North America.

The Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is impossible to miss from the Beltway near Silver Spring. One of its white towers is topped with a golden statue of the Mormon angel Moroni. It's closed to non-Mormons, but a visitor center provides a lovely view of the mammoth white-marble temple and runs a film about prophet Joseph Smith and an interactive exhibit hall. Tulips, dogwoods, and azaleas bloom in the 56-acre grounds each spring. In December locals of all faiths enjoy the Festival of Lights—650,000 of them—and Nativity scenes.

Family portraits and period furnishings fill this 1798 Greek Revival home built for General Abraham Ten Broeck, a former Albany mayor. The tour takes you through the house and well-kept gardens.

Just across Liberty Street from the World Trade Center site, the “Ten House” firehouse is officially known as Ladder Company 10 and Engine Company 10. On the morning of September 11, 2001, firefighters on duty here were among the first to respond to New York’s terrorist attacks. The companies lost six heroes that day. The “Ten House Bravest Memorial” stands inside the firehouse to commemorate their ultimate sacrifice and that of other Ten House heroes. Around the corner on Greenwich Street, the 56-foot-long bronze bas-relief FDNY Memorial Wall serves as a tribute to 343 firefighters who perished on 9/11.

A surreal landscape by any measure, the Ten Thousand Islands are a 35,000-acre chain of islands and smaller mangrove islets south of Marco Island. The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a magnet for kayakers, naturalists, birdwatchers, and photographers thanks to the refuge's proliferation of fish, birds, and other wildlife. Finding your way through the islands can be confusing, so the National Park Service recommends that visitors consult NOAA Charts #11430 and #11432. While the northern islands lie in the national refuge, the lower islands lie within Everglades National Park and are best accessed by boat tours leaving from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center. If you're driving from Naples, you can also park at the Marsh Trail, the best spot for accessing trails. Kayaking and hiking are popular activities for day visitors, who may spot endangered species such as Florida manatees, peregrine falcons, and Atlantic loggerheads.

The Tennessee Antebellum Trail, which has more than 54 historic sites, plantations, and Civil War battlefields, is a 90-mile loop tour that begins south of Nashville in Franklin and continues through historic Maury and Williamson counties. Nine sites are open to the public daily. The official website includes downloads of a detailed brochure and map.

The Tennessee River Museum has exhibits on the Civil War, the river, and fossils from 65 million years ago, when this area was underwater.

The State Capitol was designed by noted Philadelphia architect William Strickland (1788–1854), who was so impressed with his Greek Revival creation that he requested—and received—entombment behind one of the building's walls. On the grounds you'll also find the graves of the 11th U.S. president, James K. Polk, and his wife.

In 2018, the Tennessee State Museum relocated from Downtown to its own building in Germantown, right next to the popular Nashville Farmers' Market. Visitors to the museum will find thousands of artifacts and pieces of art in the museum's permanent collection, as well as periodic rotating exhibitions, all telling the story of Tennessee and its people. Admission to the museum is always free.

Witness the effects of time on these cone-shape rock formations colored by iron, manganese, and other minerals.

On the first Saturday of November, top chefs spice up cooling weather with chili cooking, bragging, and partying at this spicy chili cook-off held behind the Terlingua Store in Terlingua ghost town. Some of the prize-winning cooks dole out samples. And this is Texas, pardner: no beans allowed.

It's named for the calcium carbonate in the earth beneath it—Terra Blanca is Latin for "white earth"—and from this favorable soil grow wine grapes that produce the winery's specialties: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Chardonnay. This picturesque estate winery offers sweeping views of the Red Mountain region, and also has one of the only restaurants in Benton City, the Vineyard Grill, which served refined Pacific Northwest fare from Friday through Sunday. 

Don't be surprised to find yourself whiling away a few hours at this warehouse-like operation, whose proprietors grow grapes and olives; tend gardens; display art indoors and out; and care for goats, donkeys, and other rescue animals. The owners (and critters) won't mind if you do: this is a laid-back kind of place. Estate-grown Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the highlights.

The governor's opulent residence is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture, commissioned during the 1860s for an Iowa millionaire and built at a cost of $250,000. The 18,000-square-foot mansion earned status as a National Historic Landmark in 2003. Perched on a hill, it looks out over downtown Des Moines and is a major focal point from downtown. The governor and his family reside in a third-floor private apartment that is off-limits, but the hour-long guided tour explores other areas and outlines the storied history of the building.

Bring a towel and enjoy the soaking pools in this natural hot-springs area. Located an hour east of Eugene off of Highway 126, the pools are a short hike from the parking area, and include a changing area. Soaking aficionados will find Terwilliger to be rustic, which many regard as an advantage, though the popularity of this beautiful spot can be a drawback. The pools are in a forest of old-growth firs and cedars, and just downstream is a beautiful lagoon complete with waterfall that is also suitable for swimming. Clothing is optional.

This 700,000-acre refuge has most of the charismatic megafauna that visitors travel to Alaska to see, including black and grizzly bears, moose, Dall sheep, wolves, caribou, and tons of birds. Covering just south of the Alaska Highway east of the town of Tok all the way to the U.S.–Canada border, the refuge has a visitor center at Mile 1,229. A large deck here has spotting scopes, and inside are maps, books, and wildlife exhibits, as well as a board with information on current road conditions. At Mile 1,240 you can hike a 1-mile raised-plank boardwalk through lowland forest to scenic Hidden Lake. Basic lakefront campgrounds can be found at Miles 1,249 and 1,256 during the summer season.

Located on the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds, this regal 1890s edifice is the only surviving government building from Austin's first 30 years. Its Gothic style is attributed to its German architect, Conrad Stremme. This 2½-story structure, made of stuccoed stone and brick, opened in 1858 as the first home of the Texas General Land Office. The writer O. Henry worked here as a draftsman and used it as the setting for some of his short stories. Today, the visitor center and gift shop serve as a great first stop when touring the Capitol. The helpful staff can provide maps and brochures for self-guided walking tours of the grounds.

Embrace the rodeo and Western culture at this newer museum. Exhibits share details and gear from members of the hall fame, such as country-and-western singer George Strait, world champion Ty Murray, and rancher and photographer Bob Moorhouse. The museum also houses 60 wagons and carriages and a tribute to legendary bootmaker John Justin.

Every February, generally toward the end of the month, ranchers and cowboys congregate for three days at Sul Ross State University to regale audiences with original poetry and washtub-bass tributes to singers like Bob Wills. The idea is to preserve the traditions of the West in words and song.

The world's largest medical center is just a few blocks south of the Museum District. As you drive down Main Street, the soaring glass towers and sprawling campuses of the 1,000-acre complex begin to take shape. About 5.5 million patients are treated in the center each year, and its 46 member institutions include two medical schools, 13 renowned hospitals, 4 nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, and pharmacy.

Here you’ll find exhibits dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of the military in Texas, from the inception of the Lone Star State's first militias to the modern war on terror. Heavy artillery, helicopters, uniforms, and tanks are on permanent display in the 45,000-square-foot museum that encourages a hands-on approach. Outdoor exhibits are on display throughout the Camp Mabry grounds and they host living history events, including exciting battle and World War II reenactments, on certain weekends throughout the year. Remember to bring your valid photo ID—you'll need it to get on the Camp Mabry grounds.

This is the official museum and hall of fame of the Texas Rangers, the state's storied law-enforcement agency. Exhibits focus on the history of and equipment used by the Rangers throughout the years. Shotguns belonging to Bonnie and Clyde are here as well.