10457 Best Sights in USA

This 3-mile round-trip, 1½-hour trail begins near the Grand Canyon Lodge at 8,255 feet. Well maintained and well marked, it has little elevation change, sticking near the rim before reaching a dramatic view of a large stream through Bright Angel Canyon. The trail leads to Transept Canyon, which geologist Clarence Dutton named in 1882, declaring it "far grander than Yosemite." Check the posted schedule to find a ranger talk along this trail; it's also a great place to view fall foliage. Flash floods can occur any time of the year, especially June through September when thunderstorms develop rapidly. Easy.

Based on the toy-turned-film franchise that's generated billions of dollars, this high-intensity attraction has the ability to generate a lot of thrills and screams. You board your transport inside the stark industrial building that’s the headquarters of NEST (Nonbiological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty). In a flash, you're in an illusory world where 60-foot screens, fast-paced action, and plenty of 3-D effects ratchet up the excitement in a battle to save the planet as the heroic Autobots (including Optimus Prime and Bumblebee) try to keep the Allspark from falling into the hands of the evil Decepticons. (Confused? Ask your kids).

The attraction spins, twirls, splashes, and drops you. You'll also have some tremendously realistic intergalactic encounters that rock and roll you through the Transformers' world. Like the movies, this ride is very loud and very wild. Unlike the movies, this isn't suitable for expectant mothers; anyone with neck, back, or heart problems; or people with a fear of heights. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to a ride vehicle.

The tectonic shifts that created the Dry Creek Valley reveal themselves at this winery atop one of several abruptly rolling hills tamed only partially by grapevines and olive trees. The mostly Rhône-style wines served at tastings are paired with small bites made on-site. The whites include Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier separately and in blends. Reds range from Grenache and Proprietor’s Reserve GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) to the Zin-heavy Stone Soup blend of all the estate vineyard’s red grapes. The Get Your Boots Dirty vineyard, olive orchard, and mill tour aboard a Bobcat UTV provides a thrilling sense of the rollicking terrain here.  To fully enjoy those valley views, book a seated outdoor tasting.

Plan your visit to the Canadian side of the International Peace Park with the help of travel experts at this visitor center in West Glacier. You'll find maps, pamphlets, displays, and bathroom facilities here.

This park includes a Lewis and Clark camp on a floodplain overlooking Lolo Creek. The explorers stayed here from September 9 to 11, 1805, and again from June 30 to July 3, 1806. Archaeologists in 2002 found evidence of a latrine and a fire hearth, making this one of only a few locations with a physical record of the expedition's camp. Tepee rings suggest that Native Americans used the riverside location, too. Self-guided tours meander through cottonwoods and the historic campsite. Daily interpretive presentations and guided tours run during the summer.

Since 1870, the award-winning Travis Park has welcomed the community for gatherings, celebrations, concerts, holidays, Movies by Moonlight, and other special events. As one of the oldest municipal parks in the United States, this 2.6-acre green space is a destination all its own, especially for such popular events as the H-E-B Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving. Other activities throughout the year include an ice rink, free movies, food trucks, fitness classes, and live music.

In a restored Queen Anne–style house, the Tread of Pioneers Museum is an excellent spot to bone up on local history. It includes ski memorabilia dating to the turn of the 20th century, when Carl Howelsen opened Howelsen Hill, still the country's preeminent ski-jumping facility.

Large, wide swaths of uncrowded sands abound, but some areas can be busy, especially on weekends. The Sunday-evening drum circle, which happens around sunset just southwest of the Bilmar, makes for some interesting people-watching, as do the many festivals occurring here each month. It's also the only beach that allows alcohol, as long as it's not contained in glass. Plus, getting here is super easy—just head west on St. Petersburg's Central Avenue, which dead-ends smack-dab in the middle of T.I. (that's what the locals call it), where the iconic Thunderbird Beach Resort sign towers over the boulevard. Hang a left at the light. There's a Publix right across the street if you're up for an impromptu picnic or don't want to pay beach-bar prices for a beer. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; solitude; sunsets.

Beautiful sand dunes and verdant grounds await at this quiet turf immediately north of the last swath of development before the drive to the Sebastian Inlet. It's a perfect place to commune with nature, or it's a good spot if you want to feel like you own the beach, as sometimes there's no one except you. Children will delight in the pirate-ship-theme playground on site, and there are plenty of picnic tables (but no grills) plus lots of shade throughout the landscaped section beside the beach. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets; showers. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Many local legends attach themselves to Austin's most famous tree. At least 500 years old, this historic live oak (between 5th and 6th Streets) is the last survivor of a sacred group of trees known as the Council Oaks, used in ceremonies and meetings by Native American tribes. The tree's name derives from a legend that Stephen F. Austin negotiated the first boundary agreement between local tribes and settlers underneath its branches. In 1989, a disturbed individual attempted to poison the tree with a powerful herbicide and was later apprehended. Intensive efforts to save the tree were successful, although nearly two-thirds of the Treaty Oak died and it is now a shadow of its former self. Still, it's well worth a visit to pay your respects to this venerable survivor.

A monument to all of Earth's creatures, the park's centerpiece is an imposing 14 stories high and 50 feet wide at its base. Its 100,000-plus leaves are several shades of green fabric, each carefully placed for a realistic effect. Carved into its thick trunk, gnarled roots, and soaring branches—some of which are supported by joints that allow them to sway in a strong wind—are nearly 350 intricate animal forms that include a baboon, a whale, a horse, the mighty lion, and even an ankylosaurus. At night, the tree is lit up by projections onto the vast trunk and leaves. Outside, paths tunnel underneath the roots as the fauna-encrusted trunk towers overhead.

To give you a bug's-eye view of the world, the path leads you inside the tree trunk, where you'll view the witty 3-D film adventure It's Tough to Be a Bug! Special effects spray you with "poison," zap you with a swatter, and even poke you with a stinger—all in good fun. Although the show has something for all ages, it's very loud, and some effects frighten young children (during the hornet attack, have children lean forward to avoid a "sting"). Note, too, that Disney has announced plans for this film to be replaced with a Zootopia inspired 3-D film, so check to see if this attraction is open before you go. Even if it's closed, you can spend a bit of time enjoying the carvings of the tree. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible, but, to fully experience all the special effects, guests using wheelchairs should transfer to a seat. Equipped with reflective captioning and for audio-description and assisted-listening devices. If you have a service animal, check with a host before entering the theater. Short lines make this a good choice for the afternoon.

Built in 1894 with a courtyard and annexes constructed in 1911 and 1912, the nation's oldest surviving artist studios have been restored and designated a Chicago landmark. Shops, galleries, and event spaces now fill the studios.

Off Route 50 as you head from Lihue to the South Shore, Route 520 (Maluhia Road) is known locally as "Tree Tunnel Road," due to the avenue of tall eucalyptus trees lining both sides. A drive here is a lovely introduction to the area. The trees were planted at the turn of the 20th century by Walter Duncan McBryde, a Scotsman who began cattle ranching on Kauai's South Shore. The canopy of trees was ripped to literal shreds twice—in 1982 during Hurricane Iwa, and then again in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki. And, true to Kauai's resilience, both times the trees grew back into an impressive tunnel.

Interactive, age-appropriate play areas for young children and a full menu of activities for older children and teens make the Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center in the Snowmass Base Village a good headquarters for family fun. Summer camp activities include mountain biking, skateboarding, and mountain boarding. When winter comes, the center serves as an upbeat base camp for ski lessons.

Offering a hands-on learning experience where children literally can step into a story, this downtown museum is filled with imaginative interactive exhibits geared generally to those under 12. Visit Jack's Fairy Tale Diner, a Japanese House, the Jupiter Train Locomotive, or the German House Puppet Theater. Other fun activities include songs, theater, and art workshops. Admission is actually slightly higher ($8) for kids than adults.

Since opening in 1946, this goofy but endearing roadside attraction has been doling out family fun. The kitschy thrills begin the moment you pull your car up to the 49-foot-tall talking statue of Paul Bunyan alongside Babe the Blue Ox. You can then explore a genuinely informative museum of Native American artifacts, admire intricately carved redwood figures, and browse tacky souvenirs. A six-passenger gondola glides over the redwood treetops for a majestic view of the forest canopy, which you can also experience 50–100 feet high on the Redwood Canopy Trail. At ground level, several mostly easy trails wind through the adjacent forest.

This small, home-grown museum is among many spots in Tremé where you'll get a chance to really dig into fascinating local history. Owner and enthusiastic jazz historian Al Jackson will lead you through his one-room, colorful collection of art, photographs, and memorabilia, providing insight on the origins of jazz and its place in the neighborhood. Located close to the New Orleans African American Museum and the Backstreet Cultural Museum, the location makes it easy to visit a couple Tremé museums in the same afternoon.

Named for a triad of massive dunes, Tremont is the site of a ghost town (little remains today) and is also a premier birding area. There is a picnic area here with summer-only restrooms.

Wallabies, chinchillas, emus, otters, parrots, snakes, and lemurs are among the more than 100 exotic and indigenous small mammals and birds that reside at this zoo on the grounds of the Millbrook School. Students, along with full-time and consulting staff, run the zoo and care for the animals as part of their curriculum at the college-preparatory school; their enthusiasm for their charges is infectious.

In a landmark Kaiser-Frazer building on the north fringe of town, the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts hosts rotating exhibits, live music, and theater. Classes and workshops are offered, and several resident artists work from studios on-site.

Artifacts of regional ranchers and pioneer families are showcased in this museum's interpretive exhibits. You can see historical photos and items from the everyday life of 19th-century homesteaders, such as saddles, branding equipment, dolls, clothing, and dinnerware. The museum occupies a spacious building near the bank of the Belle Fourche River. The grounds include a relocated gold-rush cabin and a monument celebrating the Belle Fourche area's distinction as the geographic center of the United States (when Hawaii is included).

The appeal of this hour-long performance is twofold. It provides an introduction to some of the more formal elements of Tlingit culture, such as traditional dancing, regalia (ceremonial clothing), and storytelling, and at the same time offers the audience a vibrant and entertaining performance. The show also highlights the important fact that Tlingit culture is still thriving in Southeast Alaska, in part through the revitalization of traditions such as the ones on view in this theater. Performers share a story from Tlingit oral tradition, such as "How Raven Stole the Sun," and at the end, members of the audience are invited up on stage to try a few dance steps.

There's nothing like a cold brew on a hot summer's day—or, come to think of it, any day of the year. Here you can enjoy your suds in the cool, navy-blue, industrial-style tasting room or, from April to October, out on the patio. The knowledgeable staff can guide you through the selection of the offerings brewed on-site, whether you want to sample several 4-ounce servings in a flight, enjoy one full pour at a time, or buy your beer to go. You can also choose from a selection of locally made snacks, or bring your own food.

This 25-acre complex is home to the Savannah History Museum, the Georgia State Railroad Museum, and the Savannah Children's Museum, as well as Battlefield Memorial Park. This site offers an unbeatable introduction to the city and a full day of fun for the whole family. The battlefield was the site of the second-bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War, where on October 9, 1779, 800 of the 8,000 troops who fought lost their lives.

Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the park that you can walk behind. The Trillium Gap Trail, off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, takes you there through a hemlock forest. Only 1.3 miles long with an easy slope, this trail is suitable for novice hikers and is one of the most popular in the park. The total round-trip distance to Grotto Falls is 2.6 miles. Trillium Gap Trail continues on to LeConte Lodge. It is a horse trail, and llamas resupplying the lodge also use it. Easy.

At the south end of the boardwalk, this thrill center has a "boomerang" roller coaster; the rickety and terrifying "Zipper" wood coaster; and the Hirschell Spellman Carousel, from 1902. The park has been owned by the Trimper family since it opened in 1890.

The family responsible for last century’s Sutter Home White Zinfandel craze makes luxury Bordeaux-style wines under its own name that truly live up to the term "terroir-driven." The wowsers include a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Cabernet-dominant red blend, and two Cabernet Sauvignons from estate vineyards in the Atlas Peak, Calistoga, Los Carneros, Mt. Veeder, and St. Helena subappellations. All are served in an elegant, exuberant tasting room designed by St. Helena's internationally acclaimed Erin Martin or in several outdoor spaces. Tastings require a reservation.

This complex with two historic houses (only accessible through tours at an additional charge), a museum, and a garden is a place to learn about the town's history. The first is Baca House, the 1870s residence of Felipe Baca, a prominent Hispanic farmer and businessman. Displays convey a mix of Anglo (clothes, furniture) and Hispanic (santos, textiles) influences. Next door, the 1882 Bloom Mansion was built by Frank Bloom, who made his money through ranching and banking. He filled his ornate Second Empire–style Victorian with fine furnishings and fabrics brought from the East Coast and abroad. The adjacent Santa Fe Trail Museum is dedicated to the effects of the trail and railroad on the community. Inside are exhibits covering Trinidad's heyday as a commercial and cultural center. The Historic Gardens are filled with native plants and grapevines similar to those tended by the pioneers.