10457 Best Sights in USA

In this handsome building constructed of volcanic rock in 1927, you can view artifacts from the park's 1914 and 1915 eruptions, including dramatic original photographs taken by Benjamin Loomis, who was instrumental in the park's establishment. The museum also has a bookstore, exhibits about the area's Native American heritage, and a helpful staff who can recommend hikes and points of interest on this side of the park.

Set amid cottonwood trees, fertile fields, and lush gardens that back up to the Rio Grande, this beautifully preserved 148-acre ranch just off the Low Road between Española and Dixon is one of the region's underrated gems. After getting oriented and talking with the knowledgeable staff in the Spanish-colonial visitor center, you can pick up a self-guided tour map or use your phone to scan QR codes for a virtual ranger tour and explore the extensive grounds, which include a stately Territorial-style hacienda, a chapel dating back to the 1700s, a farmyard and barn, and short walking trails through the woodlands. There's also an apple orchard and a pond that attracts all kinds of wildlife, from migrating waterfowl to occasional beavers and otters. It's easy to spend at least a couple of hours here without running out of engaging things to explore.

The Pacific Surfliner trains stop at the 1894 depot at the entrance of the oldest residential street in Southern California. Some of the houses date back to the 1790s. Train fans can stay overnight in the historic Los Rios Cottages. Located near Mission San Juan Capistrano, this was the first Californian mission to allow workers to live outside the mission grounds. On the street you'll find quaint shops, the Ramos House Cafe, and a beautiful Tea House in a flower garden.

One of the most-photographed spots in the region, this lake's waters reflect towering Mt. Hood and the thick forests that line its shore. Open May through mid-October, the blissfully quiet 240-acre wilderness resort in Mt. Hood National Forest, 25 miles southwest of Hood River, offers cabins and campsites for overnight stays, but it's also a popular destination for day-use recreation, offering miles of hiking trails, as well as fishing for rainbow trout, kayaking, rowboating, stand-up paddling, swimming, canoeing, and other non-motorized boating. There's also a camp store and a grill offering burgers, ice cream, and other light fare.

Set aside about three hours to explore the nature of the Chisos Mountains along this 4.8-mile round-trip trail. It starts at 5,700 feet and climbs 1,100 feet to an even loftier vantage point that takes in spectacular, soaring peaks and colorful rock formations. There's a breathtaking view at marker 10, about a mile up—a nice photo op if you haven't time for the full hike. Try to get here early, as the parking lot is small and often fills up quickly. The trail is closed due to construction until mid-2027. Moderate–Difficult.

The somewhat strenuous but classic high-country trek from Dog Canyon into a coniferous forest is 6.4 miles round-trip and takes about five to six hours. You can climb the ¼ mile to the peak for an astounding panoramic view of the park and beyond, but there's no marked trail per se, and this does entail a bit of scrambling. It's a manageable adventure if you're making a day trip to Dog Canyon, but try to arrive early in the day so that you your return drive is still while there's daylight. Moderate–Difficult, elevation gain 1,380 feet.

Parents can enjoy the looks of wonder on their kids' faces as they negotiate wooden boardwalks and stairs leading through a granite gorge formed by the roaring waters of the Lost River. One of the 10 caves they can explore is called the Lemon Squeezer (and it's a tight fit). Visitors can also pan for gems and search for fossils and walk through a fascinating giant man-made birdhouse, venture across a suspension bridge, and climb up into a big tree house. The park offers lantern tours on weekend evenings.

The 37-acre estate—with gardens that are often ranked among the world's 10 best—once belonged to the Polish opera singer Ganna Walska, who purchased it in 1941 and lived here until her death in 1984. Many of the exotic trees and other subtropical flora were planted in 1882 by horticulturist R. Kinton Stevens. On the docent-led or self-guided tour—the only options for visiting unless you're a member (reserve well ahead as spots fill fast)—you'll see an outdoor theater, a topiary garden, a lotus pond, and a huge collection of rare cycads, an unusual plant genus that has been around since the time of the dinosaurs.

Fascinating and futuristic, this 2,739-seat hall is the home of the San Francisco Symphony. The glass wraparound lobby and pop-out balcony are visible from outside, as is the Henry Moore bronze sculpture on the sidewalk. The hall's 59 adjustable Plexiglas acoustical disks cascade from the ceiling like hanging windshields. Concerts range from typical symphonic fare to more unusual performances, such as singer Al Green and film screenings with a live orchestra performing the score.

In 1894 Boston businessman, author, and scientist Percival Lowell founded this observatory from which he studied Mars. His theories of the existence of a ninth planet sowed the seeds for the discovery of Pluto at Lowell in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. The 6,500-square-foot Steele Visitor Center hosts exhibits and lectures and has a stellar gift shop. Several interactive exhibits—among them Pluto Walk, a scale model of the solar system—appeal to children. Visitors can peer through several telescopes at the Giovale Open Deck Observatory, including the 24-inch Clark telescope and the McAllister, a 16-inch reflector telescope. The observatory is open and unheated, so dress for the outdoors.

As many as 500 bald eagles make Klamath Basin their rest stop, amounting to the largest wintering concentration of these birds in the contiguous United States. Located along the Pacific Flyway bird migration route, the more than 50,000 acres of freshwater wetlands in this complex of six different refuges serve as a stopover for around 1.8 million waterfowl in the fall. Any time of year is bird-watching season; more than 400 species of birds—including about 30 types of raptors—have been spotted in the Klamath Basin, along with many mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. For a leisurely excursion by car, follow the tour routes in the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges—the latter has a superb bookstore and visitor center and is also a short drive from Lava Beds National Monument.

David Lucas was one of the first local producers to start making serious wine, and today the Zinfandels he and his wife, Heather Pyle-Lucas, make are among Lodi's most sought-after vintages. The Lucases, who previously worked at the Robert Mondavi Winery (she also made wine at Opus One), also craft a Chardonnay with subtle oak flavors and a Zinfandel rosé. Tastings, by appointment, often take place on a patio with a vineyard view.

Fun, relaxing, and pet-friendly Lula is among the Anderson Valley wineries closest to the coast. Lula produces Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, rosé of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and a red blend, but the several Pinot Noirs, each flavorful and with its own personality, are the highlights.

Built in 1839 by missionary couple Sarah and David Lyman from New England, the beautifully restored Lyman Mission House is the Island's oldest wood-frame building. On display are household utensils, artifacts, tools, and furniture used by the family, giving visitors a peek into the day-to-day lives of Hawaii's first missionaries. The Lymans hosted such literary dignitaries as Isabella Bird and Mark Twain here. The home is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and docent-guided tours are offered. An adjacent museum has wonderful exhibits on volcanoes, island formation, island habitats and wildlife, marine shells, and minerals and gemstones; it also showcases Native Hawaiian culture and the culture of immigrant ethnic groups. On permanent exhibit is a full-size replica of a traditional 1930s Korean home. The gift shop sells superb Hawaiian-made items.

Looking for a quintessential New England outing? The Lyman family first settled on a 37-acre plot just south of Middletown in 1741; today, it's an 1,100-acre orchard that's not to be missed. Get lost in the sunflower maze, then pick your own seasonal fruits—berries, peaches, pears, apples, and even pumpkins—from June to October. Or stop by the Apple Barrel Market, open all year long, to shop for farm-fresh pies, fruit baskets, jams and preserves, and gifts.

History buffs will enjoy wandering through the rooms of Lyndon Baines Johnson's boyhood home in Johnson City, where every effort has been made to restore the home to its 1920s appearance. LBJ lived here from the age of five until his 1924 high school graduation, and the house gives an insightful look into the 36th president's childhood and how he grew into the man he became. It's part of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, which also includes the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall.

The elegance and attention to detail in this West County winery's landscaping and contemporary architecture extends to the wine-making. Expect handcrafted Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs with long luxurious finishes, especially on the Pinots. Well-informed pourers in the indoor and outdoor spaces serve patrons enjoying garden and vineyard views of the 100-acre estate. Tastings can include cheese, charcuterie, caviar, or a full lunch. The Quail Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, a blend of some or all of the 15 clones grown in the vineyard just outside, consistently performs well, but all the wines are exceptional. Tastings are by appointment.

With its translucent polycarbonate panels, concrete floor, and metal framing, this winery's high-ceilinged tasting room strikes an iconoclastic, industrial-sleek pose in rural Lodi. The Soucie Vineyard old-vine Zinfandel and the Trio and Duality red blends are three to seek out, but all the wines here are good.

Traversing the full length of the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail is a true multiday wilderness adventure. A popular and well-maintained route, it runs through private and public lands—including the Little Missouri Grasslands and both the North and South units of the national park—with several access points and numerous campgrounds. Maps are available at the park visitor centers and through the U.S. Forest Service and the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association. The 7.1-mile one-way segment that runs through the park's South Unit will take you three or four hours; plan on a full day out and back. Moderate–Difficult.

In spring 2025, more than 50 years after its founding, the Napa Valley Museum unveiled a new flagship location with an expanded reprise of its highly praised exhibition about chef Julia Child that toured nationally for several years. The show (which runs until early March 2026) and another to follow about three generations of Wyeth family artists (through mid-September 2026) are typical of the temporary exhibitions presented in the largest of three galleries totaling 4,000 square feet. The MAC shares a warehouselike space 1½ miles south of Main Street's shops and restaurants with Under-study, a gourmet marketplace with coffee and prepared foods from the team at Press Napa Valley next door. The museum's well-curated shows often surprise with their cultural insights or the artistry involved.

The mission of founder and master brewer Nile Zacherle, who works at a Pritchard Hill winery when he's not at the brewery, isn't merely to make great beers. He and his wife, Whitney Fisher, succeed at that, but they also create what they call "origin specific beers," with each label listing every ingredient's source, from hops to barley to water. The beers' label art and names, among them The Wind and the Sun and The Donkey and the Thistle, derive from a centuries-old Aesop's Fables edition. Tastings take place where the barrel-aged beers are brewed.

Master brewer Nile Zacherle opened this pint-sized tap house to showcase the barrel-aged, unfiltered, naturally carbonated lagers and ales he and his wife, Whitney Fisher, produce. Both winemakers at ultrapremium labels, they apply the same concepts of terroir (how climate, geology, and other factors influence wines) to their hops, barley, and water sources, providing the information about each brew. With more than a dozen beers on tap or in bottle, there’s a style for most tastes. Mad Fritz also sells “origin coffee” and serves espresso on-site. Check the website or call to reserve a tour of Mad Fritz’s St. Helena brewery.

A three-story glass structure, designed by Cesar Pelli, juts out above the intersection of State and Henry streets and is home to this superb art museum. Formerly known as Madison Art Center, the new 51,500-square-foot facility opened in 2006. Its permanent collection of photography, paintings, prints, and glassworks spans the 20th century to the present. Among the most recognized artists are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Deborah Butterfield, and Cindy Sherman. A rooftop sculpture garden is open only during the spring, summer, and fall, but year-round seasonal cuisine is served in an enclosed rooftop restaurant. Be sure to stop by the museum's gift shop and browse studio-made objects crafted by highly accomplished artists.

Located near multiple dining venues, art galleries, and shops, Main Beach Park is the epicenter of Laguna Beach. Walk along this soft-sand beach to Bird Rock and explore nearby tide pools or just sit on one of the benches and watch people bodysurfing, playing beach volleyball, or shooting hoops around two half-basketball courts. The beach also has a children's play area with climbing equipment. Most of Laguna's hotels are within a short (but hilly) walk. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise, sunset; swimming.

Snaking for 18 miles along the canyon's rim, the park's only true thoroughfare accesses more than a dozen scenic overlooks between the entrance and Rainbow Point. Major overlooks are rarely more than a few minutes walk from the parking areas, and from many of these spots, you can see more than 100 miles on clear days. Remember that all overlooks lie east of the road, meaning that you may be looking into the sun early in the day but can enjoy spectacular color and light closer to dusk. Allow two to three hours to travel the entire 36-mile round-trip—more if you set out on any hikes along the way. The road is open year-round but sometimes closes temporarily after heavy snowfalls. Be on the lookout for wildlife crossing the road. Trailers are not allowed at Bryce Point and Paria View, and vehicles longer than 20 feet are prohibited from parking at most of the major stops in and around the Bryce Amphitheater from mid-May through late October; during these months, you can travel throughout the park via the free shuttle and park your larger vehicle at the shuttle station parking lot in Bryce Canyon City.

The boyhood home of the famous American poet was the first brick house in Portland and the oldest building on the peninsula. It's particularly interesting, because most of the furnishings, including the young Longfellow's writing desk, are original. Wallpaper, window coverings, and a vibrant painted carpet are period reproductions. Built in 1785, the large dwelling (a third floor was added in 1815) sits back from the street and has a small portico over its entrance and four chimneys surmounting the roof. It's part of the Maine Historical Society, which includes an adjacent research library and a museum with exhibits about Maine life. After your guided tour, stay for a picnic in the Longfellow Garden; it's open to the public during museum hours.

No trip to Bath is complete without visiting the cluster of preserved 19th- and early 20th-century buildings that were once part of the historic Percy & Small Shipyard. Plan to spend at least half a day exploring them and the adjacent modern museum. Indeed, there's so much to see that admission tickets are good for two days.

During hour-long shipyard tours, you'll learn how massive wooden ships were built, and you might see shipwrights and blacksmiths at work. One of the vintage buildings houses a fascinating, 6,000-square-foot lobstering exhibit. In the main building ship models, paintings, photographs, and artifacts showcase maritime history. The grounds also contain a gift shop and bookstore; a seasonal café; and a huge, modern sculpture representing the 450-foot-long, six-masted schooner Wyoming, built right here and one of the longest wooden vessels ever launched. 

From late May through late October, daily nature and lighthouse cruises, ranging from 30 minutes to three hours, are offered aboard the motor vessel Merrymeeting, which travels along the scenic Kennebec River. The museum also has guided tours of Bath Iron Works (June–mid-October).

Thousands of Makah artworks and artifacts, some dating back to the 16th century, fill a dramatically lighted space that's the perfect backdrop for the intriguing exhibits. The centerpiece is a full-size cedar longhouse, complete with handwoven baskets, fur skins, cattail wool, and grass mats on the bed planks, with tribal music playing in the background. Another section showcases full-size whaling and seal-hunting canoes and weapons. Other areas show games, clothing, crafts, and relics from the ancient Ozette Village mudslide. The small but particularly good museum shop stocks a collection of locally made art crafts.