205 Best Sights in USA

The best view at Port Canaveral is no longer from the top of a cruise ship. In fact, the view from atop this towering seven-story structure makes the cruise ships look—well, not so massive after all. The tower, a short walk from the cruise port, is equal parts museum and scenic overlook. From the seventh-floor deck you can see the cruise port, the Atlantic Ocean, the Banana River, and even the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. Displays on others floors highlight everything from space flight to surfing and marine life to maritime history. Don't miss the interactive exhibits, including a virtual ship's bridge that lets you pilot a boat through the Canaveral Channel and into the Atlantic. A theater shows a 20-minute film on the history of Brevard County, and a small café sells refreshments and baked goods. The ground floor houses a visitor information center.

The viewpoint nearest to the park entrance, this scenic overlook adjacent to Boat Mesa, ½ mile north of the visitor center and a mile off the main park road, has splendid views of Fairyland Canyon and its delicate, fanciful forms. The Sinking Ship and other formations stand before the grand backdrop of the Aquarius Plateau and distant Navajo Mountain. Nearby is the Fairyland Loop trailhead—it's a stunning five-hour hike, and in winter it's a favorite trail for snowshoeing.

At an elevation of 10,120 feet, this lookout affords a panoramic view of the Colorado River near its origin and the Grand Ditch, a water diversion project dating from 1890 that's still in use today. You can also see the once-volcanic peaks of Never Summer Range along the park's western boundary.

The tower of this church provides the best view of Nantucket—for those willing to climb its 92 steps. Rising 120 feet, the tower is capped by a weather vane depicting a whale catch. Tours are offered Thursday through Saturday from Memorial Day to mid-October.

Park at a dedicated lot to disembark on a wildflower-rich, 0.2-mile trail. Easy to access for all skill levels, this glacial valley overlook offers views of ice-blue pools (the Gorge Lakes) framed by ragged peaks.

Along with a picnic area and wonderful views of Frenchman Bay, Acadia National Park's only boating and fishing pier is here. It's used by kayakers and canoeists to get on Frenchman Bay.

This 4-mile roadway runs just north of Gatlinburg toward Pigeon Forge. It tracks around the side of Mt. Harrison. Take this route to avoid the stop-and-go traffic of downtown Gatlinburg when leaving or entering the park. The second overlook when headed out of the park toward Pigeon Forge has the best views of Gatlinburg and Mt. LeConte.

Mountain goats frequent this natural salt lick on a cliff above the middle fork of the Flathead River. Watch the wildlife from an observation stand.

Located halfway along the Green River Bluffs Trail, this overlook has an excellent view up the river valley, along with an outdoor exhibit panel explaining the extent of the Green River and its tributaries, and its importance to the region.

From the road it's just 100 yards to this stunning view of the Green River to the south and west. It's not far from the Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground; there are restrooms at the parking lot.

Named for the nitrogen-rich bat droppings (guano) that were mined from a cave across the canyon, Guano Point boasts the most spectacular landscapes at the West Rim. You'll have to make a short hike from the shuttle drop-off to get to the no-longer-functioning aerial tramway at the point, but once there, you'll be rewarded with nearly 360-degree views of the canyon and the river below. Guano Point Cafe serves BBQ and curried vegetables.

From this roadside lookout, you can take in the farms on the valley floor with the majestic mountains and misty valley as a backdrop. The dramatic canyon-like divide and fertile river valley once housed a thriving Hawaiian community of taro farmers, with some of the ancient fields still in cultivation.

Remote even for Eastern Arizona standards, Hannagan Meadow is located along the picturesque Coronado Trail. Stop and have a bite to eat at the lodge, fill up your gas tank (bring cash), or linger a bit and rest your head for the night. The lush, isolated, and mesmerizing spot at 9,500 feet is home to elk, deer, and range cattle, as well as blue grouse, wild turkeys, and the occasional eagle. Adjacent to the meadow is the Blue Range Primitive Area, which provides access to miles of untouched wilderness and some stunning rugged terrain. It's a designated recovery area for the endangered Mexican gray wolf. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his party may have come through the meadow on their famed expedition in 1540 to find the Seven Cities of Cibola.

During World War II the U.S. Army constructed a road to the 2,000-foot level of Harbor Mountain, a perfect spot from which to watch for invading Japanese subs or ships (none were seen). This road has been improved over the years, and it is possible to drive 5 miles to a spectacular summit viewpoint across Sitka Sound. A trail climbs uphill from the parking lot, then follows the ridge 2½ miles to a Forest Service shelter. From there, ambitious hikers can continue downhill another 3½ miles to Sitka via the Gavan Hill Trail.

A sizeable granodiorite rock formation provides a first-rate vantage point to savor views of Hazel Mountain and Buck Ridge in the distance. With southeast-facing views, it's also tops for a vibrant sunrise.

One of the best spots to watch the sunset, Heintooga Overlook has sweeping views westward of the crest of the Great Smokies.

This westernmost viewpoint and Hermit Trail, which descends from it, were named for "hermit" Louis Boucher, a 19th-century French-Canadian prospector who had a number of mining claims and a roughly built home down in the canyon. The trail served as the original mule ride down to Hermit Camp beginning in 1914. Views from here include Hermit Rapids and the towering cliffs of the Supai and Redwall formations. You can buy curios and snacks in the stone building at Hermits Rest.

Overlooking some 140 square miles, this 216-foot tall, elevator-accessible tower at the summit of its namesake mountain provides sweeping views of the park and the Ouachita Mountains. The tower is open daily and has an open-air observation deck; an enclosed, lower-level deck with exhibits on area history; and a ground-level gift shop.

On the eastern side of the Continental Divide, you come into view of Jackson Glacier looming in a rocky pass across the upper St. Mary River valley. If it isn't covered with snow, you'll see sharp peaks of ice. The glacier is shrinking and may disappear in another 100 years.

As it travels more than 4,100 feet to the summit station of Rendezvous Mountain, the Aerial Tram has always afforded spectacular panoramas of Jackson Hole. After 12 minutes, arrive at the top where you'll find a café, hiking trails, Via Ferrata tours, and the Grand Teton Skywalk (admission included with the tram ticket), which opened in 2023. Trams depart approximately every 15 minutes, weather permitting. Book your ticket online in advance to save money.

More of an overlook than a forest, this spot has a large concentration of petrified trees in jasper or red.

More of an overlook than a forest, this spot has a large concentration of petrified trees in jasper or red.

This ocean overlook is perfect for spotting whales during their winter migration. In fact, during their annual whale count in 2023, volunteers with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary spotted 64 whales here in one day. It's easy to hop on the cement bike-and-walking path just below for a coastal stroll or ride. Most days you can see clear to Lihue and beyond, and it's a great spot to watch the moon rise.

A natural harbor used by small cargo ships during the 19th century and a favorite fishing spot for locals, Kamalo Harbor is a quick stop worth making to take in the quiet calm and hang out with shorebirds; look for the "Drive Slow" signs just before the highway bends. This area is also the location of St. Joseph's Church, a tiny white church built by Saint Damien of the Kalaupapa colony in the 1880s.

In one direction from this observation point near mile marker 17, you can take in the patchwork effect the taro patches create against the dramatic backdrop of the ocean. In the other direction, there are awesome views of Haleakala through the foliage. This is a great spot for photos, but it is not recommended that you fly your drones over the inhabited areas.

Get an impressive view into the 60-room Kodak House and its several small kivas from here. The house, closed to the public, was named for a Swedish researcher who absentmindedly left his Kodak camera behind here in 1891.

The road between North Kohala and Waimea is one of the most scenic drives in Hawaii, passing Parker Ranch, open pastures, rolling hills, quaint homesteads, and tree-lined mountains. There are a few places to pull over and take in the view; the lookout at mile marker 8 provides a splendid vista of the Kohala Coast and Kawaihae Harbor far below. On clear days, you can see well beyond the resorts to Maui, while at other times an eerie mist drifts over the view.

The rock gardens overlooking Ladder Creek Falls, 7 miles west of Diablo, are beautiful and inspiring. Skagit Information Center in Newhalem has maps for a self-guided walk to the falls and gardens via a suspension bridge and short loop trail. Evening visitors are treated to a light show over the water from dusk until 11 pm.