10457 Best Sights in USA

One of the country's most stupendously scenic drives, the 236-mile San Juan Skyway weaves through an impressive series of Fourteeners (peaks reaching more than 14,000 feet). From Telluride, it heads north on Route 145 to Placerville, where it turns east on Route 62. On U.S. 550 it continues south to historic Ouray and over Red Mountain Pass to Silverton and then on to Durango, Mancos, and Cortez via U.S. 160. From Cortez, Route 145 heads north, passing through Rico and over lovely Lizard Head Pass before heading back into Telluride. In late September and early October, this route has some of the state's most spectacular aspen viewing.

Tremendous geological upheavals pushed through the Earth's surface eons ago, forming a giant oval-shape dome of rock about 80 miles long and 30 miles wide, giving rise to the name "swell." Over the years, the harsh climate beat down the dome, eroding it into a wild array of multicolor sandstone and creating buttes, pinnacles, mesas, and canyons that spread across nearly 1 million acres—an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Swell offers visitors spectacular sights similar to those in Utah's national parks but without the crowds. In the northern Swell, the Wedge Overlook peers into the Little Grand Canyon with the San Rafael River below, for one of the most scenic vistas in the state. The strata at the edges of the southern Swell are angled nearly vertical, creating the San Rafael Reef. Both are known for fantastic hiking, canyoneering, and mountain biking. As recently as 2018, proposals have been made to designate the Swell a national monument; until then, the San Rafael Swell remains one of the little-known natural wonders of the American West.

Interstate 70 bisects the San Rafael Swell and is the only paved road in the region. Although there are many off-road opportunities, the main gravel road and many of the graded dirt roads through the Swell are accessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles. The Swell is about 25 miles south of Price (typically considered the main gateway to the Swell), and the setting is so remote that it's essential you bring whatever supplies you might need, including plenty of water, food, and a spare tire. For directions on how to access the San Rafael Swell viewing area from Green River, turn to the Green River section of the Moab and Southeastern Utah chapter.  Always keep your wits about you, as flash flooding can be deadly, especially in the Swell's narrow slot canyons.

At this 290-yard-long pocket beach, hugged by picturesque rocky outcroppings, the combination of crashing waves and chilly water (normal range is 50–60°F) keeps most people on the beach. You'll find some swimmers at the height of summer (no lifeguards), but the rest of the year this is a place for strolling and snapping photos. When the official swimming season (mid-June to early September) ends, more activities are allowed, from fishing and surfing to dog walking and boat launching/landing. The park's largest sandy beach is also a hot spot for stargazing: check the park website for summertime ranger-led Night Sky Talks. From May to October, parking at Sand Beach requires the purchase of a park entrance pass, but there are no additional parking fees. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

One of the world's longest aerial tramways, here tramway cars climb nearly three miles up the steep western face of the Sandias, giving you a dazzling close-up view (whatever the season) of the imposing rock formations and wind-blown wilderness. From the observation deck at the 10,378-foot summit, you can scan some 11,000 square miles of spectacular scenery, including desert, volcanos, mountains, and more. A graceful hawk or an eagle soaring above or mountain lions roaming the cliffs below may also be spotted. An exhibit room at the top surveys the area's wildlife; a few steps away is Ten 3, where fine dining and a casual eatery and lounge await (reservations required), or you can access the Sandia Peak ski area.

It's much colder and windier at the summit than at the tram's base, so pack a jacket. Tram cars leave from the base at regular intervals for the 15-minute ride to the top. Purchase tickets (all round-trip) up to 24 hours advance online (or in-person on the day of); the parking fee is included.

Of Bahia Honda State Park's three beaches, which also include Calusa and Loggerhead, Sandspur is the largest. It's also regularly declared the best beach in the Florida Keys, and you'll be hard pressed to argue. The sand is baby-powder soft, and the aqua water is warm, clear, and shallow. Mild currents here and at the other beaches make them great for swimming, even with small fry. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Several dozen wineries produce Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from grapes grown by the Sangiacomo family, whose Italian ancestors started farming in Sonoma in 1927. The family didn't establish its own label until 2016, but its cool-climate wines and a Napa Valley Cabernet quickly earned critical plaudits. Chardonnay vines and the Carneros District's western hills form the backdrop for tastings, usually outdoors, at the 110-acre Home Ranch, the first of a dozen-plus vineyards the Sangiacomos have acquired or leased. At appointment-only visits, you're apt to encounter one or more third-generation members, who enjoy meeting guests and sharing the family's legacy.

Hand-painted tiles and a spiral staircase infuse the courthouse, a national historic landmark, with the grandeur of a Moorish palace. This magnificent building was completed in 1929. An elevator rises to an arched observation area in the tower that provides a panoramic view of the city. Before or after you take in the view, you can (if it's open) visit an engaging gallery devoted to the workings of the tower's original, still operational Seth Thomas clock. The murals in the second-floor ceremonial chambers were painted by an artist who did backdrops for some of Cecil B. DeMille's films. Take a self-guided tour, or join a free one-hour docent-led tour, daily at 2 pm and weekdays at 10:30 am.

This boardwalk has entertained beachgoers for more than a century. Its Looff carousel and classic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster, both dating from the early 1900s, are surrounded by high-tech thrill rides and easygoing kiddie rides with ocean views. Video and arcade games, a minigolf course, and a laser-tag arena pack one gigantic building, which is open daily even if the rides aren't running. You have to pay to play, but you can wander the entire boardwalk for free while sampling carnival fare such as corn dogs and garlic fries.

Five miles west of Anacapa, 96-square-mile Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the Channel Islands. The National Park Service manages the easternmost 24% of the island; the rest is owned by the Nature Conservancy, which requires a permit to land. When your boat drops you off on a portion of the 70 miles of craggy coastline, you see two rugged mountain ranges with peaks soaring to 2,500 feet and deep canyons traversed by streams. This landscape is the habitat of a remarkable variety of flora and fauna—more than 600 types of plants, 140 kinds of land birds, 11 mammal species, five varieties of reptiles, and three amphibian species live here. Bird-watchers may want to look for the endemic island scrub jay, which is found nowhere else in the world.

One of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world, Painted Cave lies along the northwest coast of Santa Cruz. Named for the colorful lichen and algae that cover its walls, Painted Cave is nearly ¼ mile long and 100 feet wide. In spring a waterfall cascades over the entrance. Kayakers may encounter seals or sea lions cruising alongside their boats inside the cave. The Channel Islands hold some of the richest archaeological resources in North America; all artifacts are protected within the park. Remnants of a dozen Chumash villages can be seen on the island. The largest of these villages, at the eastern end, occupied the area now called Scorpion Ranch. The Chumash mined extensive chert deposits on the island for tools to produce shell-bead money, which they traded with people on the mainland. You can learn about Chumash history and view artifacts, tools, and exhibits on native plant and wildlife at the interpretive visitor center near the landing dock. Visitors can also explore remnants of the early-1900s ranching era in the restored historic adobe and outbuildings.

A 1.6-mile round-trip crosses marshy Terlingua Creek, scales a rocky staircase, and deposits you on the banks of the Rio Grande for a cathedral-like view of stunning 1,500-foot cliff walls boxing in the river. Try to visit near sunset, when the sun stains the cliffs a rich red-brown chestnut. In clear weather, an overlook on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive affords a panoramic view into the canyon. Summer can feel like a sauna, but you might have this secluded place to yourself, and the trail sometimes closes due to mud and flooding following heavy rains. Easy–Moderate.

To watch opera in this strikingly modern structure—a 2,128-seat, indoor--outdoor amphitheater with excellent acoustics and sight lines—is a memorable visual and auditory experience. Carved into the natural curves of a hillside 7 miles north of the Plaza, the opera overlooks mountains, mesas, and sky. Add some of the most acclaimed operatic talents from Europe and the United States, and you begin to understand the excitement that builds every summer. This world-renowned company presents five works in repertory each year—a blend of seasoned classics, neglected masterpieces, and world premieres. Many evenings sell out far in advance, but less expensive standing-room tickets are often available on the day of the performance. A favorite pre-opera pastime is tailgating in the parking lot before the evening performance—many guests set up elaborate picnics of their own, but you can also preorder picnic meals at the opera website by calling 24 hours in advance or ordering a take-out meal from one of the many local restaurants that offer opera meals. In the off-season, the opera house hosts shows by contemporary artists.

If you'd like to bring the flavors of the Southwest to your own kitchen, consider taking one of the wildly popular and fun cooking classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Regular classes are taught during the day, with some evening classes available. There are also the ever-popular walking tours of Santa Fe's most notable restaurants, which usually include special visits with the chefs. Reservations are advised. The school also has a cookery story and operates an online market where you can purchase all sorts of New Mexico culinary goods and gifts. And check the schedule for Dave's Jazz Bistro pop-up dinners which happen a few times each year.

This stunning 14,000-square-foot facility and 3½-acre cultural park, completed in 2023, has a welcome center; heritage exhibits; an amphitheater; and spaces devoted to the indigenous Samala language, storytelling, basket weaving, and other cultural activities. Landscaping includes 11,000 California native plants, including 140 species used by the Chumash in their daily lives.

Guests at this boutique winery's contemporary, stone-and-glass hospitality center enjoy views of landscaped outdoor picnic and tasting areas and the olive grove and vineyards beyond. The excellent Lolonis Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc's organic grapes come from California's oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines, planted in 1942. Standout reds include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and the Soul of Mendocino blend. Hosts conduct combination cave and vineyard tours on Friday and weekends. 

A wisteria-draped gazebo, the Carnivorous Plant Collection, and a Japanese garden with a lily pond teeming with fat koi fish are a few of the highlights of these 55 acres in Duke University's West Campus. More than 5 miles of pathways meander through formal plantings and woodlands. The Terrace Café serves lunch weekdays and brunch Saturday and Sunday seasonally.

When the weather's nice, drive about a half hour northwest of Downtown to this largely agrarian 33-square-mile piece of paradise in the Columbia River, containing a wildlife refuge, three beaches (including Collins Beach, which is clothing-optional), superb biking and hiking trails, and several farms offering seasonal "u-pick" bounty (and one, Bella Organic, offering wine tastings and an autumn pumpkin patch and corn maze). One excellent hike, and one of the few with free parking, is the Wapato Greenway, which leads through a white oak savannah and around a pond, where you may see green horned owls, nuthatches, and deer. Part of the trail leads to a peaceful dock on the Multnomah Channel, where you can tie up a boat or kayak. To get to the beaches, after crossing the Sauvie Island bridge, turn right; follow N.W. Sauvie Island Road to Reeder Road and follow signs. There's plenty of parking, but a permit is required ($10 for a one-day permit, $30 annual, available at the general store at the base of the bridge).

Celebrated Woodinville winemaker Michael Savage operates this intimate tasting room at the vineyard on which he grows the grapes in several of his most acclaimed bottles, including a vibrant Riesling, a lean and elegant Pinot Noir, and a complex Gewürztraminer orange wine. Enjoy the sweeping Gorge and Mt. Hood views while you sip.

Part music store and part Cajun accordion workshop, proprietor Marc Savoy's factory turns out about five specialty accordions a month for people around the world. On Saturday morning, from 9 am until noon, accordionists and other instrumentalists head here for a Cajun jam session that has been attracting musicians from across the region for 40 years. Chairs are set up as well for those who just want to stop by and enjoy the music. Visitors are encouraged to bring boudin or cracklins to share.

A former lumber-yard building located by the one-time AT&SF Railway line in the city’s old Sawmill district has been turned into a grand food hall that resonates with a sense of history and place. Some two dozen dining, shopping, and drinks vendors offer an eclectic range of high-quality (and, yes, higher priced) wares. A carefully honed selection of mostly independent enterprises, all embrace a definitively fresh and local ethos—some by way of Santa Fe, like Dr. Field Goods (an established spot with food-truck roots), and others talented transplants from afar (Flora and Flora Taco-to-Go). Whether poké, sushi, taters, or tapas, a lush dessert, or a savory cone, the same commitment to in-state growers, makers, and suppliers is apparent. Stroll around a bit and you can’t help but appreciate the original architectural details (just gaze up at the fabulously restored wooden ceiling). Paxton’s Taproom has a seasonal rotation of New Mexico--brewed beers, as well as a steady set of the state’s best craft beers on tap (wines lean local as well as international). The cool Mobile Bar is ready to serve out on their grassy patio, where any food bought inside may be enjoyed as well.

This state-of-the-art museum, sponsored by the Sazerac Company, is all about the city's most famous cocktail and all the people, history, and booze behind it. Exhibits are largely interactive, combining historical artifacts and technology with tastings and real-life experts. Visitors will learn about the Sazerac’s origins and other boozy tales, visit Peychaud’s Apothecary to see how the famous bitters are made, tour an active Sazerac Rye distillery, and spend time with lifelike virtual bartenders in the Sophisticated Spirits room. It’s best to book the complimentary tickets online; a free visit includes several tastings and the option to attend a themed tour. Upgrade your visit ($10--45) to attend a special tasting and cocktail-making class. Minors are free to tour the museum, but not sample (age is verified ahead of time).

This architectural marvel rose from the ruins of the oldest surviving railroad building in the United States. Appropriately, the architect chosen for the lofty design and remodel project was Christian Sottile, the valedictorian of Savannah College of Art and Design's 1997 graduating class and the former dean of the School of Building Arts. Sottile rose to the hearty challenge of merging the past with the present, preserving key architectural details of the original structure while introducing contemporary design elements. SCAD Museum of Art houses two main galleries with rotating exhibits by some of the most acclaimed figures in contemporary art: the Evans Gallery features works of African American arts and culture, while the André Leon Talley Gallery is devoted to fashion and high style.

Robert and Laura Schermeister, the husband and wife behind this winery known for aromatic, densely flavored single-vineyard wines, conduct tastings in a small space within a historic Glen Ellen building or on a nearby patio facing Sonoma Creek. Robert makes vegan-friendly unfiltered wines that include a Viognier white, an intriguing Bordeaux-blend rosé, and Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon reds, intervening as little as possible once fermentation (with native, not commercial, yeasts) begins. Either Robert or Laura, perhaps both, will conduct your tasting. Their romance began after he charmed her over a bottle of his Pinot Noir.   It's best to make an appointment because this highly regarded winery with a small annual output temporarily closes when the wines run out.

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on Black, African-diaspora, and African experiences. Established with the collections of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, this research division of the New York Public Library features diverse programming, including exhibits that draw from a collection of more than 11 million items illuminating the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture. The Photographs and Prints Division houses over 300,000 images that document African culture and history since the 18th century, while the Rare Books Division houses an extraordinary collection of manuscripts and archives available for research purposes. 

Massed granite ledges meet crashing waves at Schoodic Peninsula's tip, off the loop road at the end of Arey Cove Road. Dark basalt rock slices through pink granite, to dramatic effect. Look east for a close view of Little Moose Island; a bit farther away to the west for a sidelong view of Mount Desert Island; and south for an inspiring open ocean view. There are bathrooms and a good-size parking area.

On a Diamond Mountain site the German-born Jacob Schram planted to grapes in the early 1860s, Schramsberg pours its esteemed méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines. Author Robert Louis Stevenson was among Schram's early visitors. After the vintner's death in 1905, the winery closed and fell into disrepair, but in 1965 Jack and Jamie Davies purchased the 200-acre Schramsberg property and began restoring its buildings and caves. Chinese laborers dug some of the latter in the 1870s. In the 1990s, the family set about replanting the vineyard to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals for the Davies Vineyards label's still red wines. Tastings at Schramsberg can include pours of only sparkling wines, only still wines, or a combination of the two. All visits are by appointment.

This very popular bike and pedestrian trail follows the river to Valley Forge National Park (and well beyond) or, in the other direction, to the Philadelphia Art Museum and beyond. It's easy biking, and while you can go for miles, you'll want a hybrid or mountain bike because not all of it is paved.

Trying to sell his wife, Sally, on his late-1970s notion of planting a vineyard on their woodsy Spring Mountain property, contractor Fred Schweiger assured her, "It'll just be a hobby." Over time that hobby evolved into the lifestyle the family now shares with guests to its indoor and outdoor tasting spaces, whose 2,000-foot-elevation views extend across the Napa Valley to Howell Mountain. A mentor advised Fred to plant the "king and queen of grapes," Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The family sold the fruit for a decade before son Andy began making Schweiger wines, eventually adding Sauvignon Blanc, more Bordeaux reds, Pinot Noir, and Port-style dessert offerings. For an exhilarating ATV ride through sometimes steeply terraced vines, book (mid-May–mid-August) the VIP Vineyard Experience.

Across Pershing Road from the Liberty Memorial is the jewel in Kansas City's attractions, Science City, a 55,000-square-foot science museum in the restored train station, was once the second largest train station in the country. The museum contains 50 hands-on learning environments, including a planetarium, "extreme" movie screen, and media lab. Built in 1914, the train station itself houses a vintage rail exhibit and a variety of restaurants, shops, and theaters.

This beautiful area in the Coast Range foothills has a 15-mile-long hiking trail that surrounds the lake. Bird-watching is best in spring. Recreational activities include swimming, fishing, boating, waterskiing, picnicking, and hiking, and a 10½-mile, well-marked bicycle lane parallels the park's perimeter road.