10457 Best Sights in USA

In the shadow of a 400-foot observation wheel and within the ICON Park entertainment complex stands a kaleidoscope of underwater colors, where you can see some 3,000 sea creatures and experience various habitats. Plan to spend the better part of an afternoon exploring, as all ages delight at the close encounters with the aquarium’s sharks, green sea turtles, and jellyfish. With an emphasis on education and conservation, exhibits are playful and informative, with fun features that include a 360-degree ocean tunnel and a virtual shark dive. Combo tickets are available for the aquarium, The Wheel at ICON Park, and Madame Tussauds.

Located within the gates of the Sea Pines Resort, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve is made up of 605 acres of protected wilderness. There are two entrances: one off Greenwood Drive, about a mile past the resort’s main gate, has a parking area; the other is located off Lawton Drive. Walking, biking, and horse-riding paths take you past a stocked fishing pond, a waterfowl pond, a 4,000-year-old Native American shell ring, a wildflower field, wetland boardwalks, picnic areas, and boat docks. Nature tours, boat tours, fishing expeditions, and wagon tours are available through Sea Pines and can be booked in advance. Nearby Lawton Stables offers a unique experience to explore the forest via a guided horseback tour.

Sandstone bluffs tower above this popular beach, whose long fishing pier was, unfortunately, demolished in 2023 following devastating winter storm damage. The 1.5-mile walk north to adjacent New Brighton State Beach in Capitola is one of the nicest on the bay. Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Some 65 immaculately maintained vehicles from the “Brass Era”—the beginning of auto production until about 1915—are displayed in this large warehouse-type space. There are gasoline, steam, and electric vehicles, each with a sign detailing its history. The big red 1914 Stanley Mountain Wagon ferried passengers between hotel and train station, and hence the term "station wagon." Enticing not only car buffs, changing exhibits show the impact of early automobiles on society and culture (for example, "Engines of Change" explores how autos helped drive the suffragette movement). The museum also displays several vintage motorcycles. On Tuesdays, you can watch car mechanics at work. For Cars & Coffee (10 am–1 pm on select Saturdays), folks head over in historic and unique vehicles; admission is free during the event (and always for kids under age 18). Check the website for information on special events this family-welcoming museum holds throughout the season.

This center devoted to Alaska Native art, culture, and language is operated by Sealaska Heritage Institute and named for a local Tlingit elder who died at age 102 in 2011. It includes an exhibits gallery, a traditional clan house, research areas, and a shop selling work by Northwest Coast artists. The building's three major public art pieces—exterior red metal panels, a carved cedar house front in the lobby, and a modern glass screen in the clan house—were created by three of the top Northwest Coast artists in the world (Robert Davidson, David A. Boxley, and Preston Singletary), and represent the three Indigenous tribes of Southeast Alaska—Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit, respectively. The art pieces also highlight the center's dual role in honoring tradition while remaining forward-facing and contemporary. Across the street, also clad in Davidson's red formline design, is a second building that hosts classes, apprenticeships, and work spaces for artists. One of the first projects completed at the site—the state's only 360-degree totem pole, representing Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian core cultural values and carved by Haida artist TJ Young—stands in the plaza out front.

Sculptor Jonathan Borofsky's several-stories-high “Hammering Man” greets visitors to SAM, as locals call this pride of the city’s art scene. SAM's permanent collection surveys American, Asian, Native American, African, Oceanic, and pre-Columbian art. Collections of African dance masks and Native American carvings are particularly strong. SAM's free floors have the best attractions for kids, including an installation of a massive tree-like sculpture hanging from the ceiling and the Chase Open Studio. If you're interested in checking a special exhibition, consider buying tickets in advance as they can sell out.  The listed admission price to see the museum's general collections and installations is suggested pricing, though the museum charges fixed pricing for tickets that include special exhibitions.

Flashy Napa recedes at this family-owned winery on land once farmed by the 19th-century Franco-Swiss Winery. Founded by William and Mary Seavey in 1979 and now run by their children, the operation prides itself on sustainable and fish-friendly farming practices and tastings incorporating Cabernet Sauvignons from the extensive library of older vintages. French-born Philippe Melka, who established the lush yet powerful house style, still consults with current winemaker Jim Duane. Visits begin with a short walk to see the goats, cows, and other animals in residence, after which guests proceed into a stone former dairy barn William Seavey converted into a production facility. Sessions often start with a Chardonnay and a Merlot before moving on to the Cabernets.  A stop here feels at once elevated and country-casual.

Constructed as part of a long-range waterfront improvement plan, Juneau's Seawalk currently exists in two unconnected segments, both of which offer opportunities to explore local art, culture, and history. The southern portion, which includes the Juneau Visitor Center and a colorful mural of Tlingit civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich, runs from the end of South Franklin Street to Marine Park. Keep an eye out for the statue of Patsy Ann, a beloved local dog known for greeting ships in the 1930s. Once you hit Marine Park, continue down Egan Drive to reach the northern section of the Seawalk, an elevated walkway along the shore offering beautiful views of Gastineau Channel and Douglas Island. All along both sections of the Seawalk is the impressive Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), a series of totem poles carved by regional Indigenous artists and erected in 2023 by Sealaska Heritage. The 12 unique poles honor and recognize local tribes and clans; read the detailed signage at the base of each pole to learn about the significance of the figures represented. At the end of the Seawalk, in Overstreet Park near the Juneau-Douglas Bridge, Juneau's iconic bronze sculpture of a life-size, breaching humpback whale rises above a fountain, providing the perfect backdrop for photos and an opportunity to rest up for the walk back.

The largest marine park in the United States, SeaWorld San Antonio consists of more than 250 acres where you can see shows and animal habitats and experience thrilling coasters and family-friendly rides. Shows include orcas, belugas, sea lions, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. There are also immersive educational experiences where you can get up close to belugas, dolphins, sea lions, and penguins. Aldabra Island is a 5,000-square-foot habitat housing the Aldabra tortoise, one of the largest tortoises in the world. The new habitat allows guests to interact and feed them on a guided tour. Aquatica water park (admission is separate from SeaWorld) offers a range of water rides, slides, and pools and is open on select days from March through October. The free SeaWorld app helps plan your day, reserve seats at shows or book an animal encounter tour. There is also a free Aquatica app. The pricing structures for both parks vary seasonally and depend on whether you purchase tickets in advance or at the entrance. Check the website or call for the latest prices.

The 1,000-acre park, which runs from the tip of Orchid Island across the passage to the barrier island just north, is one of the Florida park system's biggest draws, especially because of the inlet's highly productive fishing waters. Views from either side of the tall bridge are spectacular, and a unique hallmark is that the gates never close—an amazing feature for die-hard anglers who know snook bite better at night. Two jetties are usually packed with fishers and spectators alike. The park has two entrances, the entrance in Vero Beach and the main entrance in Melbourne ( 9700 Rte. A1A).

Within the park's grounds, you'll discover a wonderful two-story restaurant that overlooks the ocean, a fish and surfing shop, two museums, guided sea turtle walks in season, 51 campsites with water and electricity, and a marina with powerboat, kayak, and canoe rentals. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; sunset; surfing; walking.

On the northern end of this volcanic beach, look carefully for the large rock slabs pushed out of the lake bottom. Nearby trees offer shade and a table, or you can hop onto the level rocks for an ideal lakeside picnic. You may see bubbles rising from the clear water around the rocks—these indicate an active underwater thermal feature. The only company you may have here could be crickets, birds, and bison.

Perched at the top of a small island off the mouth of the Kennebec River, this cylindrical stone tower is one of the state’s prettiest and most imposing—it rises 52 feet above an already high headland. There's a small museum in the keeper's house, and the guest quarters can be rented. Camping is also permitted at the base of the lighthouse, and there are hiking trails. Access is by a short ferry ride from Fort Popham in Phippsburg. 

This multi-acre outdoor adventure honors the natural topography and engages the senses with amusing, mystical, and kinetic experiences. Here you can walk through internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro's installation, Field of Light, a huge array of stemmed spheres with solar-powered fiber-optic lights that morph into different hues. More than 17,000 wine bottles were used to create the 69 colorful structures of Light Towers, an installation whose fiber-optic illumination ripples to a musical score. Nearby the towers are two new-in-2023 attractions: the magical Fireflies display with more than 10,000 flickering points of light and the reflective Gone Fishing exhibit, which offers a playful interpretation of a contemplative pastime.

A visit begins in the predusk hours to capture the changing light of the landscape and the installations as darkness descends. A hospitality area offers live entertainment by local musicians, as well as wine, beer, and meals or snacks in the casual, indoor–outdoor Mercado Sensorio dining space. Sign up for the Terrace Experience to gain exclusive access to an Airstream bar, private tables, and firepits on a terrace overlooking Field of Light. Reserve tickets well in advance: Sensorio is phenomenally popular.

Sequoias shade the outdoor areas and century-old barn of this winery acclaimed for single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. The winemaker supplements fruit grown on this and another Rutherford property with grapes from other valley-floor and mountain vineyards. A current-release tasting—Sequoia Grove also makes Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and a few other wines—usually includes the flagship Rutherford Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. For a greater sense of how variations in terrain and microclimate influence Cabernet, consider booking one of the elevated experiences.  For the insightful A Taste of Cabernet, the executive chef prepares small bites to illustrate Cabernet Sauvignon’s versatility in pairings.

You'll always meet a family member at this approximately 200-acre Sonoma Valley ranch established in 1924. The land's history stretches back further, to at least the 1850s, when General Joseph Hooker, later of Civil War fame, planted vines. The Serres family has grown and sold wine grapes for decades; the fifth generation—a sister and her two brothers—began producing wine in 2017. A Merlot, a Bordeaux-style red blend, and a Cabernet Sauvignon have all received good notices, as has a more recent Malbec. When the weather's fine, tastings, accompanied by a charcuterie and cheese pairing, include a UTV ranch tour with a stop at a grove of thick-branched valley oaks. Book at least two days ahead here.

Quick! Can you name all Seven Dwarfs in seven seconds? Sleepy, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, Happy, and Dopey. Snow White's hardworking pals display impressive Audio-Animatronics flair as they mine a mountain full of glittering gems and "heigh-ho" their way into theme-park fans' hearts at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Set amid a steep Enchanted Forest landscaped with red poppies, cedars, and birch trees, the attraction is a visual feast of LED-illuminated gems, playful woodland creatures, and beloved characters from Walt Disney's 1937 animated film classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A rough-hewn entrance to the mine leads to a covered queue designed to keep you occupied as you wend your way toward the train load area. Fun interactive diversions include animated "floating" gems that you can catch and match in a touch-screen jewel-washing trough.

The musical family coaster serves up thrills, but no stomach-churning plunges, with cars that twist, climb, drop rapidly, and rock gently when slowing down for you to enjoy the artfully crafted scene of the dwarfs at work in the mine. As the train rounds its final curve, you'll see Snow White dancing with her diminutive pals in the storybook cottage as the Wicked Queen, disguised as an old hag, lurks outside. The ride is not appropriate if you're pregnant or have heart, back, or neck problems, and although it's billed as a family coaster, there's a 38-inch height requirement. For people with disabilities: You must transfer from wheelchair to ride vehicle. This is one of the two Magic Kingdom attractions that uses the individual Lightning Lane instead of Genie+. Use the My Disney Experience app to purchase a time slot to return and ride without waiting in line. The waiting area for this is outdoors, so the purchase could be well worth it on a crowded day.

The \"mountains\" of Seven Magic Mountains aren't actually mountains at all; instead they're towers of multicolored stacked boulders standing more than 30 feet high. The art installation from renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone is a commentary about human presence in the desert, and it stands tall about 10 miles south of the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard South and St. Rose Parkway, near Jean. Visitors to the site can walk right up and pose with the towers, making it a popular place for selfies. The exhibit opened in 2016 and was only scheduled to run until 2018, but due to public demand, it's been extended. Watch for signs on I–15 directing you to the parking area. 

This is one of the most photographed images in the Keys. Actually measuring slightly less than 7 miles, it connects the Middle and Lower Keys and is believed to be the world's longest segmental bridge, with 39 expansion joints separating its various concrete sections. Each April, runners gather in Marathon for the annual Seven Mile Bridge Run.

The expanse running parallel to the Seven Mile Bridge is what remains of the Old Seven Mile Bridge, an engineering and architectural marvel in its day that's now on the National Register of Historic Places. Once proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, it rested on a record 546 concrete piers. A $44 million renovation, begun in 2017, is part of a 30-year, $77-million restoration and maintenance agreement between the Keys' Monroe County, Marathon municipal officials, and the Florida Department of Transportation. No cars are allowed on the old bridge, but the oft-photographed, 2.2-mile span is open to pedestrians and serves as the gateway to historic Pigeon Key, an islet nestled beneath the “Old Seven” that was once home to about 400 workers constructing the railroad. 

A much-loved 20-acre site at one end of the 12South neighborhood, Sevier Park is the site of festivals and a weekly farmers' market on Tuesdays from May through late October. The park opened in 1948 and features trails, a creek, two playgrounds, a shelter, picnic tables, and a historic mansion (currently undergoing renovation). The updated community center was opened in 2014 and offers $3 drop-in fitness classes, including yoga. There are also tennis and basketball courts, as well as bike rentals. It's open from 6 am until dark.

Its Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon long one of the Napa Valley's most sought-after bottlings, Shafer conducts appointment-only tastings at a hospitality space with views of the rugged Stags Leap District incline where the prized wine's grapes grow. A Terrace View Tasting usually starts with the Red Shoulder Ranch Carneros Chardonnay, followed by TD-9 (a Cabernet Sauvignon–based Bordeaux blend), the One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon, and Relentless (a Syrah–Petite Sirah blend), concluding with the 100% Cabernet Hillside Select. The Private Collectors Experience includes an older Hillside Select vintage. Expertly farmed and masterfully balanced, Shafer's collector-quality wines deserve the high praise they receive.  The deluxe experience here consists of a Champagne and caviar greeting, a UTV spin through the vineyard, and tastes of current and older Hillside Select wines.

In 1936, heiress Doris Duke bought 5 acres at Black Point, down the coast from Waikiki, and began to build and furnish the first home that would be all her own. She called it Shangri La. For more than 50 years, the home was a work in progress as Duke traveled the world, buying art and furnishings, picking up ideas for her Mughal Garden, for the Playhouse in the style of a 17th-century Irani pavilion, and for the water terraces and tropical gardens. When she died in 1993, Duke left instructions that her home was to become a public center for the study of Islamic art.

Outside of minor conservation-oriented changes and 2017 renovations to the courtyard and pool, the house and gardens have remained much as Duke left them. To walk through them is to experience the personal style of someone who saw everything as raw material for her art. With her trusted houseman, Jin de Silva, she helped build the elaborate Turkish Room, trimming tiles and painting panels to retrofit the existing space (including raising the ceiling and lowering the floor) and building a fountain of her own design.

Among many aspects of the home inspired by the Muslim tradition is the entry: an anonymous gate, a blank white wall, and a wooden door that bids you, "Enter herein in peace and security" in Arabic script. Inside, tiles glow, fountains tinkle, and shafts of light illuminate artwork through arches and high windows. In 2014, after years of renovation, Duke's bedroom (the Mughal Suite) opened to the public. This was her private world, entered only by trusted friends. The house is open only via the guided tours that depart from downtown's Honolulu Museum of Art. Tours take about 2½ hours including transit time, and reservations are required. Book your spot as early as possible, and note that children under eight are not permitted.

This foray into the undersea world is tropical and humid for us bipeds but quite comfy for the golden crocodiles, endangered green sea turtles, water monitors, and the other 2,000-some creatures in residence. Descend through two glass tunnels, which lead you deeper and deeper under the sea (actually about 1.6 million gallons of water), where exotic tropical fish and other sea creatures swim all around you. The tour saves the best for last—from the recesses of a sunken galleon, sharks swim below, above, and around a skeleton ship. The Undersea Explorer VR Theater lets you swim with whales or dive with sharks. Elsewhere you'll find a petting zoo for marine life, a Komodo dragon exhibit, and a special jellyfish habitat. Animal-feeding add-ons are available.

A quiet forest trail along beautiful Shark Reef leads to an isolated headland jutting out above the bay. The sounds of raucous barks and squeals mean you're nearly there, and eventually you may see throngs of seals and seagulls on the rocky islets across from the point. Bring binoculars to spot bald eagles in the trees as you walk and to view sea otters frolicking in the waves near the shore. The trail starts at the Shark Reef Road parking lot south of the airport, and it's a 15-minute walk to the headland.

The success of Alice Waters's Chez Panisse defined California cuisine and attracted countless food-related enterprises to a stretch of Shattuck Avenue. Foodies will do well here poking around the shops, grabbing a quick bite, or indulging in a feast. Tigerlily ( 1513 Shattuck Ave.) dishes up modern Indian cuisine along with signature cocktails.

Nearby on Vine Street, the Vintage Berkeley ( 2113 Vine St.) wineshop offers tastings and reasonably priced bottles within a historic former pump house. The pint-sized Fava ( 2114 Vine St.) is a beloved lunch spot for the freshest of salads and excellent falafel sandwiches. Coffee lovers can head to the original Peet's Coffee & Tea at the corner of Walnut and Vine ( 2124 Vine St.).

South of Cedar Street, The Local Butcher Shop ( 1600 Cedar St.) sells locally sourced meat and a hearty sandwich of the day. For high-end food at takeout prices, try the salads, sandwiches, and signature potato puffs at Grégoire ( 2109 Cedar St.). Masse's Pastries ( 1469 Shattuck Ave.) is a museum of edible artwork. We could go on, but you get the idea.

This arts facility houses the Louisiana State University (LSU) Museum of Art, the LSU Museum Store, the Manship Theatre, LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery, two sculpture gardens, and a rooftop terrace with great views of the Mississippi River. On-site restaurants include Tsunami Sushi, Capital City Grill, PJ's Coffee, and Stroubes Seafood and Steaks.

Founded in the 1880s as a private estate for two very rich New Yorkers, this 1,400-acre farm is much more than an exquisite landscape: it's an educational and cultural resource center with a working dairy farm, an award-winning cheese producer, an organic market garden, and a bakery whose aroma of fresh bread and pastries is an olfactory treat. It's a brilliant place for parents to expose their kids to the dignity of farmwork and the joys of compassionate animal husbandry—indeed, children and adults alike will get a kick out of hunting for eggs in the oversize coop, milking a cow, and watching the chicken parade. There are several activities and tours daily, and a lunch cart serves up fresh-from-the-farm soups, salads, and sandwiches. Frederick Law Olmsted, the co-creator of New York City's Central Park, designed the magnificent grounds overlooking Lake Champlain; walk to Lone Tree Hill for a splendid view. If you fall in love with the scenery, arrange a romantic dinner at the lakefront mansion, or spend the night.

Though Shenandoah National Park is only a narrow ribbon on the map, stretching 70 miles along the Blue Ridge but rarely more than 5 miles wide, it is easy to imagine being much deeper in the wilderness as you travel through it or spend a night camping here. Steep wooded ridges with rocky slopes stand out in the foreground of vistas taking in the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east. Skyline Drive traverses the park end to end, from Waynesboro to Front Royal, and is the most common way to see the park. But hikers can find beautiful terrain just yards from the drive on some of the park's 500 miles of trails; trout fishers may wade into more than 25 streams, and riders can rent horses for wilderness trail rides. Those who want to know more about the area's flora and fauna may want to take a guided hike, which naturalists lead daily throughout the season. The seasonal activities of the park are outlined in the Shenandoah Overlook, a free newspaper you can pick up on entering the park or on the park's website.

Evidence of the area's old-world ties can be found at the Sheridan Inn, just a few blocks from downtown near the old railroad depot. Modeled after a hunting lodge in Scotland, the 1893 building sports 69 gables in a show of architectural splendor not often seen around these parts. On the National Register of Historic Places, the inn once lured the likes of Herbert Hoover, Will Rogers, and Ernest Hemingway, and Buffalo Bill auditioned performers here for his Wild West Show. The Inn underwent a $4.8 million restoration from 2006 to 2009, employing "green" technologies, and an additional $2.8 million was spent in 2010 to refurbish the 22 guest rooms. The original Buffalo Bill Bar, an oak-and-mahogany monstrosity on the main floor, is purported to be a gift sent from England by Queen Victoria.

Summer visitors congregate at this state park, Connecticut's first, which has a 1½-mile sweep of sandy beach, two picnic areas at the water's edge, sports fields, and several food stands (open seasonally). The on-site nature center offers various programs from bird-watching to nature walks.

Although it takes some effort to get to, and it can get quite crowded during the peak summer months, this spectacular crescent of beach strewn with massive boulders and otherworldly rock formations is well worth the trek, so allow yourself a full day to experience it. The trailhead and northern section of the beach are on the Makah Reservation, and the hike in is via a scenic 2-mile rainforest trail. Once you're at the beach, it's another 2½-mile trek along the sand to reach Shi Shi's most alluring feature, the Point of Arches—a mile-long wonderland of dramatic sea stacks that look especially cool against the backdrop of the crashing surf and setting sun. The lower end of the beach and Point of Arches are within Olympic National Park. A Makah Recreation Pass (good for one year) is required for parking. To camp on the beach, you need a permit, and reservations must be obtained from the national park's Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles ( 360/565–3100  www.nps.gov/olym). Amenities: parking (fee). Best for: sunset, walking.