10405 Best Sights in USA

Formerly known as the Texas Memorial Museum (a name still etched in the historic building's limestone facade), this UT campus museum had a major revamp in 2023 that included a name change that reflects its true mission—to serve as the only science and natural history museum in the Austin area. Visitors can explore the natural world of Texas, from prehistoric to modern times, with fossils from millions of years ago, life-sized dinosaur models (including a 40-foot-long pterosaur), and dioramas of Texas wildlife, from buffalo and roadrunners to cougars and flying squirrels. Excellent permanent and rotating exhibits are now on view throughout the four-story space, and a partnership with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plans to provide for native pollinator gardens around the museum exterior.

Aboard the restored 1877 tall ship Elissa, detailed interpretive signs provide information about the shipping trade in the 1800s, including the routes and cargoes this ship carried into Galveston. Inside the museum building is a replica of the historic wharf and a one-of-a-kind computer database containing the names of more than 133,000 immigrants who entered the United States through Galveston after 1837.

Paying homage to many legendary Texas sports figures, this museum also has areas devoted to tennis, high-school basketball, and high school football. Interactivity abounds as guests can watch clips of important Texas sports moments in the Tom Landry Theater, compare hand and shoe sizes to larger-than-life NBA players, and sing along to college fight songs.

Underwater adventure comes to life for all ages in an intimate educational environment that allows you to touch, watch, feed, and interact with hundreds of aquatic species. Interactive exhibits will introduce you to water-based tales from the Texas shore to the the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. If the weather is good be sure to pack the kids' swimsuits—they may get wet if the dophins get happy during their performance; even if they don't, the splash park will be waiting when the show is over.

There is a thriving hog culture in the Hill Country, and it’s not just feral hogs, either. People love to ride motorcycles here, and the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum showcases one man's collection of vintage bikes from the 1950s to 1970s, and beyond. Owner Gordon Massie has been riding and restoring bikes for decades, and he exhibits around 100 here.

A Polish general who later became a national hero in his homeland, Kosciuszko came to the United States in 1776 to fight in the Revolution, one of the first foreign volunteers in the war. The plain three-story brick house, built around 1776, features a series of exhibits that display artifacts from six Polish museums, depicting Kosciuszko's life in his homeland as well as some of his original possessions. An eight-minute film (in English and Polish) portrays the general's activities during the Revolution.

A few blocks east of 18th Street's hustle and bustle, this neighborhood landmark was built in 1892 but shuttered for decades, and reopened as a stunning multipurpose space in 2013. The focal point is a concert hall, elegantly fashioned after a Prague opera house, which hosts a broad range of musical performances and artsy events. Punch House, a hip and moodily lit lounge for the cocktail crowd, and Tack Room, a cocktail bar featuring live music in the former carriage house, are also on the premises.

This small triangular plaza designed by Philip Johnson contains quiet gardens and an interfaith chapel with stained glass by Gabriel Loire.

Founded by the Ashton family (Alan Ashton founded WordPerfect computer software, which is now Orem-based Novell), Thanksgiving Point is an ever-evolving destination with a wealth of attractions. Wander among 60 dinosaur skeletons in the Museum of Ancient Life; explore a slew of oddities in the Museum of Natural Curiosity; play golf on an 18-hole Johnny Miller–designed course; or meditate in 55 acres of carefully landscaped and eminently Instagrammable gardens. There are also a petting zoo with cute farm animals, a butterfly biosphere, shops, restaurants, and a megaplex theater, and there are several hotels nearby. The museums are open year-round, but gardens and some other attractions are seasonal.

Bustling Thayer Street bears a proud old New England name and is very much a part of campus life at Brown, RISD, and other local colleges. Gentrification has resulted in an influx of chain stores. In the blocks between Waterman and Bowen Streets, though, you'll still find fashion boutiques, shops selling funky gifts, the art deco--style Avon Cinema, and restaurants serving every kind of cuisine from Greek to Korean.

The second-oldest marine-mammal center in the world doesn't attempt to compete with more modern, more expensive parks. Even so, it's among the better attractions north of Key West, especially if you have kids in tow. In addition to seeing marine-life exhibits and shows, you can make reservations for up-close-and-personal encounters like a swim with a dolphin or sea lion or stingray and turtle feedings (which include general admission). Stop for lunch at the grill, shop in the extensive gift shop, or sunbathe and swim at the private beach.

If it weren't for a small sign on the sidewalk and the faint whiff of cocoa in the air, you'd never know that Fremont has its own artisanal chocolate factory with daily tours. Since it opened in 2005, Theo has become one of the Northwest's most familiar chocolate brands, and is sold in shops across the city. Theo uses only organic, fair-trade cocoa beans, usually in high percentages—yielding darker, less sweet, and more complex flavors than some of their competitors. Stop by the factory to buy exquisite "confection" truffles—made daily in small batches—with unusual flavors like basil-ganache, lemon, fig-fennel, and burnt sugar. The friendly staff is generous with samples. You can go behind the scenes as well, with informative, hour-long tours; reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends and during peak tourist season.

Flanked by the desolate Mazatzal and Sierra Anchas mountain ranges, Theodore Roosevelt Lake Reservoir and Dam is an aquatic recreational area—a favorite with bass anglers, water-skiers, and boaters. This is the largest masonry dam on the planet, and the massive bridge is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in the nation.

Down the road from Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's family home, is this 12-acre bird sanctuary—the perfect legacy of the environmentally active president. More than 125 species of birds live here. Roosevelt is buried in a cemetery on the grounds.

This 40,000-square-foot children's museum offers a mesmerizing variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits that blend education and play for "learners" of all ages. Explore the STEAM-based programs and themed rooms, like the Light Lab, where you can play architect with fascinating light structures, and an Innovators' Workshop that puts curious minds to work on creative problem-solving. There's a superb playground in the backyard, with climbing structures and water features.

Located near the mouth of the Sakonnet River in Middletown, Third Beach is more peaceful than other nearby ocean beaches and a great spot for families and windsurfers. It has grills, picnic tables, and a shade structure near the boat ramp. You'll find gear rentals near the south end. Amenities: parking (fee); lifeguards. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Third Mesa is known for its strong agricultural traditions as well as its crafts—textile weaving, wicker baskets, silver overlay jewelry, and plaques. Along AZ 264, you’ll come across a mix of small shops, galleries, and the occasional roadside vendor selling locally made work.

At the eastern base of the mesa, Kykotsmovi, “ruins on the hills,” takes its name from the archaeological sites scattered across the surrounding landscape. The present-day village was founded by Hopi from nearby Oraibi who had converted to Christianity or wanted access to formal education. It now serves as the seat of the Hopi Tribal Government.

A few miles west, perched atop Third Mesa at about 7,200 feet, Old Oraibi is often cited as the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States, dating to around AD 1150. It was also the site of an unusual internal conflict in 1906, resolved through a “push of war”—essentially a pushing contest—that led the losing group to leave and establish Hotevilla. Visitors are asked to park outside the village and walk in as a sign of respect.

Hotevilla and nearby Bacavi, about 4 miles west of Oraibi, were settled by those who left after that dispute. In Hotevilla, farming remains central, with crops and carefully tended gardens still worked along the mesa slopes.

Stretch your legs along this pedestrian-only, three-block stretch of 3rd Street, close to the Pacific, lined with jacaranda trees, ivy-topiary dinosaur fountains, strings of lights, and branches of many major U.S. retail chains; indeed, it always seems to house the most-coveted brands for each generation of teens. Pickleball enthusiasts (or newbies) will love Pickle Pop, where you can play and equip yourself to your heart's content. Outdoor cafés, street vendors, movie theaters, and a rich nightlife make this a main gathering spot for locals, visitors, street artists and musicians, and performance artists, though it has yet to return to its pre-2020 level of bustle. Plan a night just to take it all in or take an afternoon for a long people-watching stroll. There's plenty of parking in city structures on the streets flanking the promenade. Santa Monica Place, at the south end of the promenade, is a sleek outdoor mall and foodie haven. Its three stories are home to Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Coach, and other upscale retailers. Don't miss the ocean views from the rooftop food court.

Brigham Young and his band of Mormon followers descended into the Salt Lake Valley here. On July 24, 1847 (now a statewide holiday that is bigger than July 4 in many communities), he famously declared that this was the place for the Latter-day Saints to end their cross-country trek. A 60-foot-tall statue of Young, Heber Kimball, and Wilford Woodruff stands prominently in the park, which includes Heritage Village, a re-created 19th-century community and visitor center. In summer, volunteers dressed in period clothing demonstrate what Mormon pioneer life was like. You can watch artisans at work in historic buildings and take wagon or train rides around the compound. A 20-minute movie at the visitor center depicts the pioneers' trek across America.

Watch the ponies run between April and November. The Ohio Derby, the largest-stakes race here, is held in early June.

You may feel the urge to pick up a paintbrush as you take in the Catskill Mountain views from the front porch of the yellow-brick Federal house of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Well, at least you can understand what inspired Thomas Cole (1801–48), the painter credited with starting the Hudson River School of Art. Cole came to know the 1815 house, called Cedar Grove, when he set up a studio in an outbuilding he rented on the property; he settled down here after marrying a niece of the owner. James Fenimore Cooper and Asher B. Durand are among the 19th-century luminaries who visited Cedar Grove, 13 miles north of Saugerties.

The center serves as the area's primary visitor center, with a museum dedicated to the fossil beds, fossils on display, in-depth informational panels, handouts, and an orientation movie. Two miles north of the visitor center on Highway 19 is the impressive Blue Basin, a badlands canyon with sinuous blue-green spires. Winding through this basin is the ½-mile Island in Time Trail, where trailside exhibits explain the area's 28-million-year-old fossils. The 3-mile Blue Basin Overlook Trail loops around the rim of the canyon, yielding some splendid views. Blue Basin is a hike with a high effort-to-reward ratio, and in summer rangers lead interpretive jaunts—check for an updated schedule at visitor center.

Consider a sail along the harbor and coast aboard the meticulously maintained 65-foot schooner Thomas E. Lannon, crafted in Essex in 1997 and modeled after the great vessels built a century before. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase. From mid-May through mid-October, the Ellis family offers two-hour sails, including trips that let you enjoy the sunset or music.

Located 2,000 feet high above the Peninsula in the northern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this prominent winery is named after its founder, a legendary heart surgeon. Pinot Noir is the specialty here, but tastings often include a few wild cards like Nebbiolo. The tasting room is surrounded by rolling vineyards, yet the real postcard views are in the adjacent area, where weddings are held with a panoramic backdrop of what must be close to half of the Bay Area.

Set in a lovely rural setting and built in the 1770s, this site marks the Charles County home of Thomas Stone, one of four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. It has been painstakingly rebuilt after a devastating fire left it a shell in the late 1970s. The restoration re-created the distinctive five-part Georgian house inside and out. The two-story main plantation house is linked to the two wings and adjoining hallways in an arc rather than a straight line. All the rooms have exquisite details, such as built-in cabinets, elaborate moldings, a table set in fine china, gilded mirrors, and a harpsichord. The house and family grave site are just a short stroll from the parking lot and visitor center, where you can examine a model of the house or watch a video about Stone. This is one of the least-visited National Park Service sites.

Located in the historic 1923 Flowers-Roberts House, this museum and history center contains exhibits about the history of Thomas County along with seven historical buildings you can tour. The buildings, carefully preserved and moved to the museum grounds, include an 1870 "dogtrot" log cabin and an 1893 bowling alley believed to be the second-oldest bowling alley still standing in the United States. To get the full picture of Thomasville's history, purchase the combination tour which includes the nearby Lapham-Patterson House (offered on Fridays and Saturdays).

Need a break as you begin or end your Acadia National Park adventure? This 46-acre waterside picnic site (seasonal, bathroom) is on parkland just before the causeway to and from Mount Desert Island.

An eclectic assortment of items dating from 1860 to 1900 includes a petrified wedding cake, the eponymous limb of "Club Foot" George Lane, rifles, and numerous photographs. The collection is made up of the heirlooms of three local families. The local library is upstairs.

Named third runner-up in Top Buildings for the 20th Century by the American Institute of Architects, this stunning wood-and-glass chapel is 46 feet high, and has 425 windows comprising more than 6,000 square feet of glass revealing the beauty of the surrounding Ozark Mountains. It's open for quiet meditation, architectural observation, and private weddings.

This overlook enjoys an elevation of nearly 2,500 feet. Peer out into Thornton Hollow, then refocus for expansive views of rolling mountains, including Fork Mountain, Mt. Marshall, and Oventop Mountain. Captivating panoramas make this a crowd-pleasing destination for sunrise-seekers.