10450 Best Sights in USA

Protected from the periodic fires that sweep through the surrounding areas, this small island of 1,000-year-old trees is one of Mt. Rainier National Park's most memorable features. A 1½-mile loop trail heads through the old-growth forest of Douglas fir, cedar, and hemlock.

Grove of the Patriarchs has experienced a temporary closure due to flooding and a bridge washout in 2021. Although the parking lot is still open, the bridge and trail are not expected to reopen for summer 2023. Inquire at entry if you plan to visit.

An 8.4-mile workout over a steep grade to the top of Texas pays off with a passage through several ecosystems and some great views. The round-trip hike takes six to eight hours, but the trail is clearly defined and doesn't require undue athleticism. The steepest climbs are in the beginning. Fall and spring are the best times to attempt this one. In summer, start this hike in early morning to allow a descent before afternoon thunderstorms—lightning targets high peaks. Be alert to changing weather and head for lower ground if conditions worsen. Also, Guadalupe Peak can be extremely windy, especially in winter, when 40 mph gusts are fairly normal. Difficult, elevation gain 3,000 feet.

This park gives some of the best public access to the shady cypress tree-lined Guadalupe River, a wonderful spot for kayaking, canoeing, swimming, tubing, and fishing. And in the winter, fly-fishing fanatics have a top opportunity to land rainbow trout stocked here by the state each year.

The peace-loving planet Xandar, from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, has opened as the first other-world exhibit at EPCOT. However, in true Guardians fashion, something goes wrong. While demonstrating their advanced technology to you humans, The Searcher (a big baddie) steals it to time travel to the Big Bang to keep humanity from being created. Enter the Guardians—and you.

The presence of the Guardians keeps the laughs coming; Drax in particular will have no problem in hilariously insulting you, and the soundtrack is StarLord worthy. Even the queue area is impressive, featuring interviews with the Guardians and StarLord reminiscing about his own visit to EPCOT in the 1980s. The preshow has its own out-of-this-world moments as well. Marvel fans who aren't up to saving the world can enjoy all of this before asking to exit.

This attraction features the first reverse launch of any Disney ride, and it is intense. The cars can swivel 360 degrees, so your pod will move forwards, backwards, and sideways throughout the coaster. Though there are no flips, the sensations can be overwhelming, and extra trash cans have been added at the exit. If you start to feel queasy, try to concentrate on the track to help with the motion sickness.

For people with disabilities: Guests must be able to transfer from their wheelchair or ECV. Audio description, handheld captioning, and assistive listening are available. As the newest and most popular attraction in EPCOT, only virtual queue (book it promptly at 7 am) and individual Lightning Lane (not Genie+) are offered for this experience.

A roller coaster with a twist and plenty of turns, this ride offers a magical blend of speed with an interesting collection from Hagrid's unusual menagerie. It surpasses expectation despite the potentially hour-plus wait in line. Whether you've got a grip on the handlebars or are tucked into a sidecar, amid Hagrid's commentary and the sound of a motorcycle revving, you rocket into a series of low angle turns that snap around corners and into tight curves. You'll slow down long enough to meet one of Hagrid's friends (one with an unusual defense mechanism), and then it's back to the track with more speedy curves and more surreal creatures before you enter a fog bank and . . . begin the experience backward! One more turnaround, and you're blazing full-speed to the exhilarating end. For people with disabilities: Guests must transfer from wheelchairs to the ride vehicle. Lines can be incredibly long, and Express Pass isn't an option, so check the wait time before lining up.

The breathtaking Haines Highway, a National Scenic Byway, starts at Mile 0 in Haines and continues 152 miles to Haines Junction. You don't have to drive the entire length to experience its beauty, as worthwhile stops are all along the route. At about Mile 6 a delightful picnic spot is near the Chilkat River. At Mile 9.5 the view of Cathedral Peaks, part of the Chilkat Range, is magnificent. At Mile 9 begins the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. In winter the stretch between Mile 19 and Mile 21 harbors the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world. At Mile 33 is a roadside restaurant called, aptly, 33-Mile Roadhouse ( www.33mileroadhouse.com), where you can fill your tank and coffee mug. Grab a burger and, most important, a piece of pie—do not leave without trying the pie. The United States–Canada border lies at Mile 42; stop at Canadian customs and set your clock ahead one hour.

The Solatorio ohana (family) leads hikes through the valley, the oldest recorded habitation on Molokai. It is home to two sacrificial temples and many historic sites. Inhabitants grew taro and fished from 650 until the 1960s when an enormous flood wiped out the taro patches and forced old-timers to abandon their traditional lifestyle. Now, a new generation of Hawaiians has begun the challenging task of restoring the taro fields. Much of this work involves rerouting streams to flow through carefully engineered level ponds called loi. Taro plants, with their big, dancing leaves, grow in the submerged mud of the loi, where the water is always cool and flowing. Hawaiians believe that the taro plant is their ancestor and revere it both as sustenance and as a spiritual necessity. The 3.4-mile round-trip valley hike, which goes to Moaula Falls, a 250-foot cascade, is rated intermediate to advanced and includes two moderate river crossings (so your feet will get wet). A $75 fee per adult supports restoration efforts.

This repository of the largest and best collection of Hawaiian artifacts on Maui includes objects from the sacred island of Kahoolawe. Erected in 1833 on the site of the compound of Kahekili (the last ruling chief of Maui), the building was occupied by the family of missionary teachers Edward and Caroline Bailey until 1888. Edward Bailey was something of a Renaissance man: not only a missionary, but also a surveyor, a naturalist, and an excellent artist. The museum contains missionary-period furniture and displays a number of Bailey's landscape paintings, which provide a snapshot of the island during his time. The grounds include gardens with native Hawaiian plants and a fine example of a traditional canoe. The gift shop is one of the best sources on Maui for items that are actually made in Hawaii. Before visiting, check the website for current hours of operation.

The park's main attraction is this dormant shield volcano's crater, an erosional valley created by water pouring down from the summit. The views from the summit are spectacular, but entering the crater—with its cinder cones, lava flows, and loud silence—is like landing on a different planet. Indeed, in the early 1960s, NASA even brought moon-suited astronauts here to practice what it would be like to "walk on the moon." 

Segments of the Keoneheehee (Sliding Sands) Trail take you out and back from the Haleakala Visitor Center to overlooks at the summit and down into the crater. If you're in good physical condition, you can even make a full day of it, continuing along this trail across the crater floor, finishing at the trailhead for the Halemauu Trail on the other side.

Summer is the best time to enter the crater, as conditions are generally more predictable. Wear layered clothing and bring drinking water, as potable water is available only at the visitor centers. Also, if you plan to head to the park summit before 7 am, remember to make sunrise reservations (up to 60 days in advance) at  recreation.gov.

The winter waves are impressive here, but in summer, the ocean is like a lake, ideal for family swimming. The beach itself is big and tends to be full of locals. Its broad lawn off the highway is often the site of volleyball and Frisbee games, family barbecues, and art festivals and carnivals. Surf contests for amateurs and professionals regularly take place here. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming.

For Native Hawaiians, Halemaumau Crater is the sacred home of Pele, the fire goddess; for scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, this mighty pit crater within the massive Kilauea Caldera is an ever-changing force to be reckoned with. Prior to Kilauea's 2018 eruption, Halemaumau’s visible lava lake awed visitors for 10 consecutive years. Then Puu Oo Vent, which had been erupting farther away in the East Rift Zone for 35 years, collapsed in April 2018. As lava from the vent drained, so did the lava lake at Halemaumau Crater. A relentless series of seismic events at the summit followed, doubling the diameter of Halemaumau Crater and deepening it by 1,300 feet, after which a lake of water began forming, eventually growing to 160 feet deep. On December 20, 2020, an eruption within the crater instantly vaporized the water lake, sending molten lava cascading into the crater from vents within the walls and commencing the return of an active lava lake to Halemaumau, which has erupted intermittently in the years that followed through 2023 and likely beyond. There are many places in the park to view the magnificent crater, including at the Steaming Bluff Overlook and at Volcano House hotel. To get a glimpse of the lava lake during an eruption phase, there is a lookout area between the Steam Vents and the former Jaggar Museum area; another lookout point is on the crater's other side near the Devastation Trail parking lot. For the best lava-viewing experience of Halemaumau Crater during an eruption phase, visit the park after 10 pm when crowds are smaller.

Visitors' eyes are continually drawn to this remarkable granite formation that tops out at more than 4,700 feet above the valley floor. Despite its name, the dome is actually about three-quarters intact. You can hike to the top of it on an 8½-mile (one-way) trail whose last 400 feet must be ascended while holding onto a steel cable. Permits, available only by lottery, are required and are checked on the trail. (Call  877/444–6777 or visit  recreation.gov well in advance of your trip for details.) Back down in the valley, see Half Dome reflected in the Merced River by heading to Sentinel Bridge just before sundown. The brilliant orange light on Half Dome is a stunning sight.

Below a scenic turnout along the Koko Head shoreline, this oft-photographed lava tube sucks the ocean in and spits it out. Don't get too close, as conditions can get dangerous. Look to your right to see the tiny beach below that was used to film the wave-washed love scene in From Here to Eternity. In winter, this is a good spot to watch whales at play. Offshore, the island of Molokai calls like a distant siren, and, every once in a while, Lanai is visible in blue silhouette. Take your valuables with you, and lock your car, because this popular scenic location is a hot spot for petty thieves.

Seasonal shows at this gallery known for progressive, contemporary art have included exhibitions by Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns. Managed by the College of Charleston, the space is known for groundbreaking work, like the Saltworks show featuring Japanese-artist Motoi Yamamoto creating a massive salt sculpture over six weeks. Exhibitions are free and rotate every three months.

Pam and George Hamel Jr. purchased a vineyard mainly for the scenery but quickly got bitten by the wine bug: the family now owns four biodynamic, mostly dry-farmed (no irrigation) vineyards. Collector-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship Isthmus red blend, and a bottling each of Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, and Zinfandel account for the bulk of production. Pam and George's son John, who makes the wines, also supervises the farming, striving for "purity of fruit" that, he says, requires little of him post-harvest. He's too modest. His choices during fermentation and aging beget magnificent wines. Appointment-only tastings take place at the steel-and-glass Estate House, where guests indoors or on the broad stone terrace take in valley and mountain views.

Olive trees ring the outdoor wine garden attracting most of the action at Greg and Lindsay Hamilton's roadside tasting room. The two—he's from Scotland, she's a Californian—started their journey as vintners making garage wine together. These days, Sonoma Valley native Jess Wade crafts a sparkling blanc de noirs, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and two blends—a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre), and The Phoenix (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot). The last wine's name refers to Greg and Lindsay's rise from the ashes of the home they lost in the 2017 Wine Country fires. The Hamiltons credit the calamity with spurring them to achieve their goal of establishing a wine brand more quickly.

About 30 miles southwest of Austin off Route 71 is a small nature preserve that is home to one of the Hill Country's most beautiful natural pools. The continuously flowing Hamilton Creek spills over an enormous limestone outcropping, creating a beautiful 50-foot waterfall that gently spills into the crystal waters of Hamilton Pool. A popular swimming spot for decades, it's a lovely place to explore and walk. Reservations are required in advance. Entry fees are cash-only in person, credit card online.

The largest of the state's public beach parks, Hammonasset Beach State Park has 2 miles of white-sand beach, a top-notch nature center, excellent birding, and a hugely popular campground with more than 550 open sites. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Why did James Michener describe this stretch of salt-and-pepper sand as the most "South Pacific" beach he'd come across, even though it's in the North Pacific? Maybe it was the perfect half-moon shape, speckled with the shade of palm trees. Perhaps he was intrigued by the jutting black coastline, often outlined by rain showers out at sea, or the pervasive lack of hurry he felt here. Whatever it was, many still feel the lure. The beach can be crowded, yet it is nonetheless relaxing. Early mornings and late afternoons are best for swimming. At times the churning surf might intimidate swimmers, but the bodysurfing can be great. Hamoa is ½ mile past Koki Beach on Haneoo Loop Road, 2 miles south of Hana Town. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming.

The jewel of Charleston’s park system, Hampton Park is equally beloved by recreational runners, picnickers, bird-watchers, history buffs, and flower lovers. The 60-acre park, centered on a fetching lagoon, is encircled by a tree-lined road that follows the path of the Washington Race Course, a horse-racing capital in the 1800s.

The true star of Archibald Rutledge's home (he was the poet laureate of South Carolina for 39 years until his death in 1973) may not be his 18th-century plantation house but the centuries-old Washington Oak in the yard, a now-massive tree saved by the first president. The mansion's exterior has been restored; cutaway sections in the finely crafted interior show the changes made through the centuries. There are walking trails and picnic areas on the grounds. You can also learn more about the slaves that toiled on the plantation, as well as freed people who made their homes in the area after emancipation.

Dramatic mountains and a patchwork of neat taro farms bisected by the wide Hanalei River make this one of Hawaii's loveliest views, even with the flood damage it sustained in 2018. The fertile Hanalei Valley has been planted with taro since perhaps AD 700, save for an 80-year-long foray into rice that ended in 1960. (The historic Haraguchi Rice Mill is all that remains of that era.) Many taro farmers lease land within the 900-acre Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, helping to provide wetland habitat for four species of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds.

One of the top children's museums on the West Coast, this handsome, modern building just off Marine Drive overlooks East Bay and contains more than 150 imaginatively designed interactive exhibits—including a train depot, a cargo ship, a fire engine, an art studio, and a tree house—along with a half-acre outdoor play area. There's also a café serving healthy lunch fare. During the city's First Friday art walks, the museum is open late and offers $1 admission after 5 pm.

The Hanson family makes grape-based organic vodkas, one traditional, the rest infused with cucumbers, ginger, mandarin oranges, Meyer lemons, or habanero and other chili peppers. A surprise to many visitors, the Hansons make a blended white wine before distilling it into vodka. The family pours its vodkas and a Japanese-style single-malt whisky in an industrial-looking tasting room heavy on the steel, with wood reclaimed from Deep South smokehouses adding a rustic note. In good weather, some sessions take place on a small pond's landscaped shore.

The private tastings at this hillside winery known for collector-worthy Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs take maximum advantage of the Sonoma Valley views. James Zellerbach, a businessman and later U.S. ambassador to Italy who became smitten with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on trips to Burgundy, founded Hanzell (his wife's name was Hana) in 1953. At the time, neither grape had much of a foothold in California, but his hunch that each would do well here paid off. A few acres of Cabernet Sauvignon planted later provide grapes for the Bordeaux red blend that closes most sessions, led by gracious, well-informed hosts proud of this winery's legacy, organic farming practices, and studiously crafted wines.

A Portland favorite since 1968, this freshest-of-the-fresh seafood market ships lobsters and other Maine delectables almost anywhere in the country. A bright-red facade on a working wharf opens into a bustling space with bubbling lobster tanks and fish, clams, and other shellfish on ice; employees are as skilled with a fillet knife as sushi chefs. There is also a small retail store.

Located within the Sea Pines Resort, Harbour Town is a charming area centered on a lighthouse and marina that's filled with interesting shops and restaurants. White gravel paths and rows of red rocking chairs add to its small-town feel, and families are attracted to the large playground and live entertainment underneath the centuries-old Liberty Oak during the summer. Stroll down the pier for excellent views of Daufuskie Island or catch one of the many vessels docked there and set sail for adventure. Rising above it all is the landmark candy-cane-stripe Harbour Town Lighthouse, which visitors can climb to enjoy a view of Calibogue Sound. (It was built in 1970 as an attraction and beacon for mariners heading to the harbor.) Summer nights are particularly lovely here, with a breeze coming off the water and music in the air; soak in the atmosphere with a drink at one of the welcoming outdoor bars and seating areas.

One of Chelan's several acclaimed operations with female founding winemakers, this upper North Shore winery with a bordello-inspired tasting room has helpful staff and a pretty outdoor picnic area. The winery's playful approach extends to the interesting lineup, including two crisp and bright rosés that feature Gamay Noir grapes grown in the Chelan Lake AVA, the Blanc de Noir sparkling wine called "Good in Bed," and the Shameless Hussy label with its red blend of Syrah and Merlot and its fresh and fruity Viognier. There's also an aromatic vermouth aperitif that pairs perfectly with light tapas. The winery has a tasting room in downtown Leavenworth, too. 

This is the largest glacial ice field located entirely within the United States. Reached from the Exit Glacier area via a rugged 8.2-mile round-trip hike, it began forming during the Pleistocene Epoch, about 23,000 years ago, and now comprises a number of interconnected glaciers. As it's not possible to see through the ice, it's hard to gauge the depth of it, but radio wave studies have indicated that it's at least 1,500 feet deep in a ridge above Exit Glacier. The surface area is relatively easy to study, however, and research shows that over the past 10 years, the ice field's melt has increased, dropping it 10–12 feet in elevation every year, despite 60 feet of annual snowfall that it receives.

This distillery decorated with old tools and other memorabilia from the building's previous life as a hardware store offers informative tastings and, by appointment, entertaining tours. For a small operation, Hardware has developed a big following for its fruit-and-honey Bee's Knees liqueurs (the fig variety is a standout) as well as spicy Cardamom Aquavit and herbal-accented Dutch genever–style small-batch gin. A couple of doors down, the beer garden at Potlach Brewing is a nice place to sample locales ales, including some aged in Hardware Distillery whiskey barrels.