311 Best Sights in USA

This 24-acre park stretches along the western side of the Schuylkill River and is managed by the University of Pennsylvania. The park has natural grass and turf playing fields, 12 tennis courts for public use, and bike and walking trails; its most striking feature is an elevated walk offering pedestrians panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline. A friendly culture of pickup soccer exists here on the weekends, with small nets to accommodate games.

Framing nearly 4 acres of landscaped desert gardens and bird-watching areas, this lovely waterfront spot stretches along a 1-mile boardwalk through a beachy section of the West Bay shoreline. The park overlooks yachts bobbing in the water at several marinas, and its amenities include beach pavilions and a playground. You can see it all from three stories up by climbing the winding steps of the viewing tower at the north end of the complex, in Port Plaza, where open benches invite visitors to relax and enjoy the outlook.

Sandwiched between Marginal Street and Boston Harbor, the gorgeous, 6½-acre waterfront Piers Park features a grassy, green retreat from urban life and sweeping views of downtown Boston to the southwest. It is so named because of its many long piers that jut into the inner harbor. For a bit of historical knowledge: it's also in close proximity to the site where naval architect Donald McKay built his reputedly fast clipper ships. Take a stroll down the promenade and let the kiddos enjoy the large playground.

The first permanent lighthouse constructed on the Potomac River is now the center of a small, 6-acre park. The grounds, which are free, have a boardwalk, pier, and picnic tables. The 1990 lighthouse is a replica of the 1861 original.

Four pillars carved with dragon designs adorn the entrance of this beautifully landscaped park, which is named for Chinatown's most renowned civic leader. Wedged within the shadows of railroad tracks and highways, its 17 serene riverside acres include a children's playground, winding walking trails, a fieldhouse, and a boathouse (kayak rentals are available at the last of these in summer). A large yellow-and-red pagoda provides good views of the looming Chicago skyline to the north; March through December, you can also board a water taxi here for a scenic—and cost-effective—ride to the Loop.

This park has not one but two playgrounds for little ones to explore. For older kids, there are ping-pong tables, plenty of green space, and a paved 1-mile walking trail around the park’s perimeter. There are also picnic tables, pavilions, and grills if the weather calls for barbecue.

Named after Thomas "Pinky" Sekanoff, who walked across the Bering Strait to escape the Russian Revolution in the early 1900s, the 22-acre Pinky's Park remembers his life in Bethel and constant goodwill toward the kids in the community. Take a stroll on the park's nearly 2 miles of wooden boardwalks, decks, and trails. These structures are engineered to hold up to the often harsh climate while not damaging the tundra underneath. There's also a nice community garden, along with a playground and multiuse sports field that acts as a hub for all of Bethel's July 4 festivities.

Planted with native and exotic flowers and trees, this turn-of-the-20th-century park (Walla Walla's first) has a fine aviary. There are pickleball courts, outdoor ping pong tables, a playground, and a pretty rose garden. It was originally landscaped by sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York City's Central Park.

The 44-acre park is along the Chena River near downtown Fairbanks and has several museums, an art gallery, theater, civic center, children's playground, antique merry-go-round, minigolf course, and multiple restaurants. Owned and operated by the borough, the park also has a re-created gold-rush town with historic buildings saved from urban renewal, log-cabin gift shops, and a narrow-gauge train that circles the park. No-frills (dry) RV camping is available in the parking lot for $12 a night. No reservation is necessary.

Just behind the REI flagship store, this serene park is at the center of the South Platte River valley path. Its rocks and rapids are especially attractive in summer to kayakers, bicyclists, and hikers. Sidewalks extend down the South Platte to the east toward the suburbs and west toward the Broncos' home, Empower Field at Mile High. A pathway in yet another direction leads to LoDo. From the park, it's about a 20-minute walk to the 16th Street Mall and Coors Field, which makes it a healthy way to sightsee when the weather is good.

Picnicking is popular at this 3½-acre waterfront park near Strawbery Banke, whose spectacular garden with fountains is perfect for whiling away an afternoon. The park contains Point of Graves, Portsmouth's oldest burial ground, and two 17th-century warehouses. The summerlong Prescott Park Arts Festival features concerts, outdoor movies, and food-related events.

The hillsides of the 40-acre green space overlooking Old Town from the north end of Taylor Street are popular with picnickers, and many couples have taken their wedding vows on the park's long stretches of lawn, some of the greenest in San Diego. The park offers a great ocean view from the top, and more than 2 miles of hiking trails below. It's a nice walk from Old Town to the summit if you're in good shape and wearing the right shoes—the uphill climb takes about half an hour. You can also drive to the top of the park via Presidio Drive, off Taylor Street.

If you walk, look in at the Presidio Hills Golf Course on Wallace Street. It has an unusual clubhouse that incorporates the ruins of Casa de Carrillo, the town's oldest adobe, constructed in 1820. At the end of Mason Street, veer left on Jackson Street to reach the presidio ruins, where adobe walls and a bastion have been built above the foundations of the original fortress and chapel. Also on-site is the 28-foot-high Serra Cross, built in 1913 out of brick tiles found in the ruins. Continue up the hill to find the Junípero Serra Museum, built at the sight of the original Mission San Diego de Alcalá and often mistaken for the mission. Open weekends, the Serra Museum commemorates the history of the site from the time it was occupied by the Kumeyaay Indians through its Spanish, Mexican, and American periods. Then take Presidio Drive southeast to reach the site of Fort Stockton, built to protect Old Town and abandoned by the United States in 1848. Plaques and statues also commemorate the Mormon Battalion, which enlisted here to fight in the battle against Mexico.

Due to its proximity to transportation hubs and the vast array of green spaces, visitors may notice a number of homeless people in the area. Thanks to its high-traffic location, however, Presidio Park and the greater Old Town area are considered generally safe.

Known for formerly hosting festivals like Live on the Green or Nashville Pride, Public Square is located in front of the courthouse. Featuring an expansive green space perfect for having a picnic or playing ball, statuesque elevator towers that can be climbed for an expansive view, and fountains that children play in during warmer months, it’s a lovely place to take a break from the hubbub of Downtown.

The state's first public park includes train rides, paddleboat rentals, and a 1911 Dentzel carousel. You can also swim in a large indoor aquatic center, play tennis, or, if the timing is right, see a summer play at the Theatre in the Park.

Falconers Troy Morris and Ron Brown purchased this former Flintstones-themed attraction in 2019 and today offer raptor encounters, flight demonstrations, and educational programs, including falconry classes. Visitors can interact with the more than 50 birds here, walk through Bedrock City, and pose with concrete Flintstone characters. The property is still being renovated—it recently added a pizza and chicken joint, Fred's Diner—but it is definitely worth the $8 to stretch your legs and let the kids blow off steam.

If you enjoy music under the stars, the outdoor concerts at Ravinia are a stellar treat. Ravinia Festival, a summer-long series of performances, is the hot-months' home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but the festival also features popular jazz, chamber music, rock, pop, and dance acts. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or chairs, and sit on the lawn, often for little more than the cost of a movie. Large screens are placed on the lawn at some concerts so you won't miss anything. Seats are also available in the pavilion for a significantly higher price. There are restaurants and snack bars on the park grounds, so if you forget your goodies you still won't go hungry. Concerts usually start at 7 or 8 pm; the park usually opens two to three hours ahead to let everyone score spots and get settled. Weekend-morning concerts are aimed at kids. They feature a "KidsLawn" with an interactive music experience, and on select dates an "instrument petting zoo," arts and crafts, and live performances. During the off-season, check out the Fall and Spring Series of indoor concerts at Bennett Gordon Hall.

This tiny park has a viewing platform dominated by a monument to Captain Cook, whose explorations in 1778 led to the naming of Cook Inlet and many other geographic features in Alaska. Mt. Susitna, known as the Sleeping Lady, is the prominent low mountain to the northwest, and Mts. Spurr and Redoubt, active volcanoes, are just south of Mt. Susitna. Denali, Mt. Foraker, and other peaks of the Alaska Range are often visible from more than 100 miles away.

The spacious greenery of Richland Park is situated opposite several of Charlotte Avenue’s walkable independent shops and eateries. Covered picnic tables and a small playground share an easily accessible parking lot with a quaint public library branch and tennis courts. The Richland Park Farmer's Market operates every Saturday morning beside the playground.

Though considerably smaller than the Mississippi, the Cumberland River has been as important to Nashville as the Mississippi has been to Memphis. This welcoming green enclave on its banks has an expansive view of the river and Nissan Stadium, where the Tennessee Titans play. The park serves as a popular venue for free summer concerts, block parties, and the annual New Year's Eve and 4th of July celebrations (Nashville boasts the largest fireworks display in the South). It's also home to Fort Nashborough Interpretive Center, which was home to the city's first European settlers in the later 1700s.

Where the Broad and Saluda Rivers form the Congaree River is the site of the city's original waterworks and hydroelectric plant. Interpretive markers describe the area's plant and animal life and tell the history of the buildings. A 2½-mile paved trail weaves between the river and the canal and is filled with runners and walkers.

On any given day, runners, cyclists, walkers, dog walkers, and loungers can be found at the expansive Schuylkill River Park. The park runs along the river from Lombard Street to Manning Street, spanning more than three city blocks on the edge of Center City before University City. Even during the coldest months, the park is packed with people and their dogs in the on-site dog parks, children on the playground, athletes shooting hoops at the basketball courts, and people enjoying the skyline vantage points.

This tiny village 4 mi north of Roslyn is filled with turn-of-the-20th-century homes, most lovingly restored to their original grandeur. Shops and restaurants in the village make it a pleasant destination for an afternoon visit.

Picnics, a playground, and weddings make this coastal park popular on weekends. For free summer evening concerts (Tuesday 6–9 pm) and beach access, head to Powerhouse Park at the north end of this small stretch of grass overlooking the ocean.

Take advantage of SoCal's legendary weather by spending a day in L.A.'s second biggest city park, which includes a Japanese Garden, soccer and baseball fields, a wildlife reserve, three golf courses, a model airplane fly zone, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and bike/running paths. Swan boats and bikes can be rented to paddle or circumnavigate Lake Balboa, especially pretty when the plum trees are in bloom. In summer, there are kayak excursions along the re-wilded section of the L.A. River that cuts through it. The recreation area will host skateboarding, archery, and BMX racing and freestyle (basically invented in The Valley) events at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Seward Park, about 15 minutes from the C.D., is a relatively undiscovered gem on the shores of Lake Washington. The 300-acre park includes trails through old-growth forest, mountain views, eagles' nests, a 2½-mile biking and walking path, a native plant garden, art studio, and a small swimming beach. For an informative self-guided tour of the park, available as a printable PDF, visit  www.seattleolmsted.org/self-guided-tours. Turn your park visit into a bike tour on select summer weekends for Bicycle Weekends, when Lake Washington Boulevard (south of Mount Baker Beach to the entrance of Seward Park) is closed to motorized traffic from Friday evening to Monday morning. Check www.parkways.seattle.gov.

Shelby Park (as well as the connecting Shelby Bottoms and Cornelia Fort Airpark) is an East Nashville gem. With more than 336 acres of park land, hiking trails, public recreational facilities, and bike/pedestrian paths, Shelby offers a wide variety of free outdoor activities to locals and visitors alike. There's a public 18-hole golf course, too, so bring your clubs.

This 8-acre nature preserve on the edge of Miami's busiest urban neighborhood is one of the last remnants of Brickell's natural tropical hardwood hammock. It conserves 162 plant species, most of which are native to the area, such as the strangler fig and gumbo-limbo tree. The park features lovely bike and walking trails, as well as a recreation center and plenty of intriguing historical plaques along the way.