10405 Best Sights in USA

South Pass City, 2 miles west of Atlantic City, was established in 1867 after gold was discovered in a creek called Sweetwater in 1842. In its heyday, by various accounts, before the gold thinned out in the 1870s, there were between 1,500 and 4,000 residents. Despite Sioux and Cheyenne raids (over settlers hunting indigenous game herds and miners poisoning their drinking water), the town still boomed until going bust and dropping to double digits by 1872. Its well-preserved remains are now the South Pass City State Historic Site. You can tour many of the original surviving buildings that have been restored, and you can even try your hand at gold panning. With artifacts and photographs of the town at its peak, the small museum here gives an overview of the South Pass gold district.

South Pass City has another claim to fame. Julia Bright and Esther Hobart Morris are two of the women from the community who firmly believed that women should have the right to vote. It is suspected that they encouraged Bright's husband, Representative William Bright, to introduce a bill for women's suffrage in the Wyoming Territorial Legislature. He did so, the bill was ratified, and South Pass went down in history as the birthplace of women's suffrage in Wyoming. In 1870 Morris became the first female justice of the peace in the nation, serving South Pass City.

At the southern tip of Miami Beach is a beautifully manicured park where locals and visitors alike stroll along a palm-fringed waterfront promenade. Sunbathers lounge in hammocks, runners zoom through trails, kids enjoy a small water playground, and socialites dine al fresco at Smith & Wollensky. At the end of the promenade is access to South Beach as well as the South Pointe Park Pier, an observation deck that gives a wide angle view of the beach.

Partly paved and fairly flat, this 1¾-mile trail along the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone affords impressive views and photo opportunities of the canyon and falls of the Yellowstone River. It starts at Chittenden Bridge, passes by magnificent Upper Falls View, and ends at Artist Point. Beyond Artist Point, you can continue your adventures for another 1.3 miles along a less-traveled and stunning trail to Point Sublime, or cut inland through high mountain meadows along the Clear Lake–Ribbon Lake Loop. You'll see fewer humans and possibly more wildlife in this more rugged backcountry, so carry bear spray. Moderate. 

At the end of a long, winding driveway, this center has a permanent collection of more than 1,000 19th- and 20th-century American artworks and presents temporary exhibitions. The original building, a Georgian mansion set on 100 acres, contains 10 galleries with works by more than 600 artists, many from Vermont. The center also hosts concerts, performances, and film screenings. In summer and fall, the views from the café at lunchtime are magnificent.

Reagan Meador began making wine in Long Island but decided to return to his native Texas to put down roots (literally). At Southold Farm + Cellar, he crafts unique, limited-release wines using very little intervention with the Texas grapes he currently sources as he waits for his estate-grown grapes to be ready for production. Visits to the tasting room are by reservation only, and guests can choose from several different options: an “Introduction” tasting of four wines, a “Prologue” featuring four wines plus a spread of dishes made with local ingredients, or an eight-course “Sunset Supper” set in the gorgeous, western-facing restaurant overlooking the vineyard. No matter which tasting you choose, be sure to get in some time on their cozy wooden porch swings that look out across the rolling hills.

Remember Apollo 13's "Houston, we have a problem?" This is the "Houston" that Jim Lovell and his crew were talking to—and the home of the Mission Control that NASA astronauts communicate with today when they're in space. Visitors to the center can learn about the history and science of space exploration at the Living in Space exhibit, which simulates what life is like aboard the space station—and how even "simple" tasks like showering and eating get complicated in zero-gravity. In the Kids Space Place, children can ride on a lunar rover and try out tasks in an Apollo command module. Want to know exactly how it feels to be launched into space? Then check out the Blast Off Theater, where you'll experience the rocket boosters and billowing exhaust of liftoff. You'll then dock at the International Space Station to get started on your mission. The adjacent Johnson Space Center tour includes a visit to (the real) Mission Control and laboratories that simulate weightlessness and other space-related concepts. You can also see a real Saturn V, the launch vehicle for the Apollo moon missions, in Rocket Park. Be sure to allow several hours for your visit.

Seattle’s iconic tower, built for the 1962 world’s fair, wears its age beautifully—especially after a major 2018 renovation. Your visit begins with a ground-floor exhibit about the Needle’s history before an elevator zips you up to the two-level observation area. The lower level features a revolving glass floor and floor-to-ceiling windows; above it, an open-air deck offers unobstructed views. The 360-degree panorama is the real payoff—a breathtaking geography lesson where neighborhoods sprawl below, waterways wind toward the Pacific, and mountains crown every horizon. (Scan the QR-coded signs for an easy guide to the landmarks.)

Expect crowds, particularly in summer. Buying timed-entry tickets online helps streamline your visit and guarantees admission. The Needle stays open after dark, and the glittering city views are just as mesmerizing as the daytime ones. Can’t decide between the two? A dual-entry ticket lets you go up twice in a day. You can also save with a combo ticket that includes admission to the neighboring Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Otherwise known as the Witch’s House in Beverly Hills, the Spadena House has an interesting history. First built on the Willat Studios lot in 1920, the house was physically moved to its current ritzy location in 1924. The house is not open for tourists, but the fairy-tale-like appearance is viewable from the street for onlookers to snap pics. Movie buffs will also recognize it from a background shot in the film Clueless.

This 1,500-foot-long, 15-foot-wide earthen creation that juts in a spiral out into Great Salt Lake was created by artist Robert Smithson in 1970 and is often photographed by passengers in planes flying overhead. The jetty, 16 miles from the Golden Spike site via a dirt road, was submerged for much of the subsequent 30 years, before the lake level fell precipitously in 2002 revealing the structure again. The snail shell–shape land art structure is considered one of the most remote sculptures in modern American art history, and it is Utah's state work of art.

Officially known as Highway 504, this winding road rises 4,000 feet from the town of Castle Rock (just off I–5, Exit 49) to within about 5 miles of the Mt. St. Helens summit. Visitor centers along the way explain the region's geology and geography, and several turnouts afford views of the destruction wrought upon the Toutle and Cowlitz river valleys.

A historic winery with a forward-looking agricultural perspective, Spottswoode makes a flagship estate Cabernet Sauvignon that critics and collectors champion for its structure, grace, and purity of fruit. Tastings also include another Cabernet and a delectably suave Sauvignon Blanc. The estate vineyard, certified organic and biodynamic, sits at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains on a site where wine grapes have been cultivated since the 1880s. Three structures remain from that era, but the winery's current cachet dates to 1972, when the Novak family purchased adjoining parcels totaling 46 acres. Appointment-only Spottswoode allows only a few dozen visitors a week (book well ahead in summer).

When conditions are right, a natural blowhole in the rocky shoreline behaves like Old Faithful, shooting salt water high into the air and making a hollow echoing sound. It's most dramatic during big summer swells, which jam large quantities of water through the ancient lava tube with great force. Most sidewalk vendors hawk inexpensive souvenirs, but a few carry locally set South Sea pearls or rare Niihau-shell creations, with prices ranging from affordable to several thousand dollars. Look for green sea turtles bobbing in the adjacent cove.

The 2,400-bench-seat pavilion, dedicated in 1915 by sugar magnates John D. and Adolph B. Spreckels, holds the more than 5,000-pipe Spreckels Organ, the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. You can hear this impressive instrument at one of the year-round, free, 2 pm Sunday concerts, regularly performed by the city's civic organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez and guest artists—a highlight of a visit to Balboa Park. On Monday evening from late June to mid-August, internationally renowned organists play evening concerts. At Christmastime, the park's Christmas tree and life-size Nativity display turn the pavilion into a seasonal wonderland.

A 1½-mi boardwalk lines the town's Atlantic Ocean beach. Two large beach houses stand, one on each end, with 100-foot-long by 33-foot-wide saltwater pools inside. From June through August, you need a badge to access the beach and beach houses—but use of the saltwater pools themselves is limited to residents and their guests. A beach badge is usually provided by your lodging, or you can buy one at either beach house. Much of the boardwalk had to be rebuilt in 2011 after extensive damage caused by Hurricane Irene. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the off-season, but are never allowed on the boardwalk.

Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted on this estate in 1873, kick-starting an illustrious century and a half whose notable moments include the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting (a white placed in the top half), a cameo in the sudsy 1980s TV drama Falcon Crest, and a heroic vineyard manager's efforts to save vines and structures during the 2020 Glass Fire. With so many tales for hosts to relate—not to mention the craftsmanship of the 1885 Miravalle mansion where tastings unfold—the Bordeaux-style reds, bold and robust, reflecting their mountain origins, might get lost in the conversation were they not so stunningly well put together. Tastings showcase vintages slightly older than at most Napa Valley venues, allowing guests to sense how the newer wines, though drinkable now, will age.

In a beautiful setting overlooking the San Juan River, the Springs Resort draws from the Guinness World Record–verified deepest geothermal hot spring to heat its 24 outdoor pools, ranging in temperature from 89ºF to 114ºF. The multitiered layout includes several waterfalls; a large, cooler-water swimming pool; a jetted tub; a goldfish pond; and plenty of lounge chairs and shaded tables for taking breaks from the steamy pools. There is also a full-service spa on-site.

This 230-acre property includes a ¾-mile nature trail that passes by trailside live-animal exhibits of black bears, bobcats, otters, fishers, mountain lions, red foxes, and raptors. A pontoon boat cruise offers the best way to tour the waterfront—naturalists talk about native fauna, from bald eagles to loons; dinner and sunset options are available. Kids' programs teach about insects and wilderness survival skills. The center also operates nearby 1-acre Kirkwood Gardens and maintains three short hiking trails, all of which you can access for free.

At the southeastern tip of Panama City Beach, the hotels, condos, and traffic taper off, and a pristine, 1,260-acre park appears, offering a peek at what the entire beach area was like before development arrived. Although swimming is a very popular activity here, the waters around the park also are ideal for fishing, snorkeling, paddling, and surfing. A rock jetty creates a calm, shallow play area that's perfect for young children, and you can hike clearly marked nature trails. You'll also find camping facilities (including glamping tents), a snack bar, and rental concessions. In high season, board a ferry to Shell Island, a 700-acre barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico with still more stretches of pristine beach, as well as piney woods that attract butterflies and migrating birds. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; sunset; walking.

Between Beaufort and Fripp Island lies St. Helena Island, a sizable sea island that is less commercial than the other islands in the area and home to a tight-knit Gullah community. The highlight here is Penn Center, a historic school and museum that was the first school for formerly enslaved people in 1862. Visitors can also see the Chapel of Ease ruins, go to Lands End and discover Fort Fremont Historical Park, or stop by roadside farms and local restaurants.

The oldest active Catholic cathedral in the United States, this beautiful church and basilica at the heart of the Old City is named for the 13th-century French king who led two crusades. The current building, which replaced two structures destroyed by fire, dates from 1794 (although it was remodeled and enlarged in 1851). The austere interior is brightened by murals covering the ceiling and stained-glass windows along the first floor. Pope John Paul II held a prayer service for clergy here during his New Orleans visit in 1987; to honor the occasion, the pedestrian mall in front of the cathedral was renamed Place Jean Paul Deux. Of special interest is his portrait in a Jackson Square setting, which hangs on the cathedral's inner side wall. Docents often give free tours. You can also pick up a brochure ($1) for a self-guided tour. Books about the cathedral are available in the gift shop. A mass occurs daily at 12 pm. The cathedral holds a free concert nearly every evening in December.

The statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus dominates St. Anthony's Garden, which extends behind the cathedral to Royal Street. The garden is also the site of a monument to 30 crew members of a French ship, who died in a yellow fever epidemic in 1857. The garden has been redesigned by famed French landscape architect Louis Benech, who also redesigned the Tuileries gardens in Paris.

The oldest and most famous of New Orleans's cities of the dead, founded in the late 1700s, is just one block from the French Quarter. Stately rows of crypts are home to many of the city's most legendary figures, including Homer Plessy of the Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing the "Jim Crow" laws ("separate but equal"), and voodoo queen Marie Laveau, whose grave is still a popular pilgrimage among the spiritual, the superstitious, and the curious. Visitors are required to be part of a tour group in order to enter the cemetery (all tours leave from  501 Basin St.); tours are frequent—every 15 minutes—but since group sizes are limited, advance reservations are recommended.

Natural salt marshes, tidal flats, and freshwater pools used by early Indigenous peoples set the stage for the once-powerful Ft. San Marcos de Apalache, which was built nearby in 1639. Stones salvaged from it were used to construct the lighthouse. In winter, the refuge on the shores of Apalachee Bay is the resting place for thousands of migratory birds of more than 270 species, but the alligators seem to like it year-round (keep your eyes open and your camera ready). Fishing is allowed, and the visitor center has information on more than 75 miles of marked trails. One of the most popular times to visit is in October, when Monarch butterflies flock to the refuge for a little R&R during their winter migration to Mexico. The refuge is 25 miles south of Tallahassee via Route 363.