11 Best Sights in USA

Take a seven-hour narrated tour through the park and surrounding badlands. Tours can easily be customized and are available year-round.

These buses serve permitted backpackers and those staying in campgrounds along the road. Seats in the back of the bus are removed for gear storage and there is room for two bikes (the bike spaces must be reserved ahead of time). While there is no formal narration, bus drivers aren't likely to let you miss anything important. The $40 pass includes transportation anywhere down the road as far as Wonder Lake for the length of the backpacker's stay; kids under 16 are free. Tell the driver ahead of time where you'd like to get out.

There's not much that beats the hushed thrill of a hot air balloon ride. At more than 3,000 feet above it all, you'll feel like you're on top of the world. Though flights are weather-dependant, pilot Andy Williams and his crew typically launch during spring, summer and early fall at sunrise and sunset—when winds are most desirable. Upon landing, a van picks you up for a champagne toast and flying certificate. The bird's-eye views are breathtaking, so don't forget your camera.

Sit back and relax as you roll past historic sites and architectural splendor. Discover how Galena boomed as a lead-mining town, fell into economic depression and turned itself around and into the charming getaway it is now. A 1-hour tour makes the most of your time, while the 2-1/2 tour stops for 30 to 45 minutes at the Belvedere Mansion, the Dowling House and the Ulysses S. Grant Home.

Jump aboard a cruise ship from National Harbor's dock for a water tour of Mount Vernon or Alexandria and Georgetown. The trip to Mount Vernon includes admission to the grounds. The company also operates water taxis across the Potomac to the dock in Alexandria, where National Harbor's visitors can find even more shopping and dining options.

The park's shuttle and transit buses are a more informal, cheaper, and independent way to experience Denali. These buses are green-painted, converted school buses while the formally narrated tour buses are tan. While these trips are not formally narrated, the majority of bus drivers enjoy sharing information with riders, and the buses are equipped with speakers. Transit buses offer the freedom to disembark virtually anywhere along the road system and explore the park for yourself. Catching a ride back is as simple as returning to the road and waiting for the next transit bus to come by. Note that full buses will not stop, so it's possible to wait for an hour or more for your ride back. Like the narrated tours, transit buses are operated by Doyon/Aramark and bookings are made through the concessionaire. Reservations are not required, and about a quarter of the seats are saved for walk-ons. But if you're visiting during peak season, it's best to make reservations ahead of time to ensure availability. Schedules can be found on the National Park Service's Denali website; departure times are relatively reliable although they can fluctuate during the summer.

Guided bus tours offer the most informative introduction to the park. Each trip is led by a trained naturalist who drives the bus and gives a full narration. All tours include rest stops approximately every 90 minutes. Unlike the transit buses, you are not allowed to wander off on your own. The shortest is the five-hour Natural History Tour that travels to Teklanika at Mile 27. Besides moose and the occasional caribou, chances of seeing the park's large mammals are limited on this route, and glimpses of Denali are possible but not probable. The next longest option is the seven to eight-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour that reaches Stony Brook at Mile 62; this is the best choice for wildlife and photography enthusiasts. The longest narrated tour is the Kantishna Experience, a 12-hour extravaganza that runs the full 92 miles of park road to the old mining town of Kantishna. Advance reservations are required for all bus tours, and they can be made starting on December 1, with exact departure times fluctuating depending on demand and time of year. It's best to consult Doyon/Aramark for an exact schedule as departure times are often not set until a few days before.

This outfit offers bus tours from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore, Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse Memorial, as well as other tours tied to special events such as the Mount Rushmore Independence Day festivities and the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup.

A downtown walking tour follows the iconic 1950s-era cruise route portrayed in Modesto native George Lucas's 1973 film American Graffiti. The path's 25 historic kiosk markers provide details about the filmmaker, the people and places that inspired him, and Modesto's history. The tour loops around 10th and 11th streets between K and G streets—start at 10th and K.

Guided walking and site tours depart the Newport Historical Society's information center and museum in the 1762 Brick Market on Washington Square. Designed by Peter Harrison, the building houses a gift shop and a Newport history exhibit. Tour themes include Rogues and Scoundrels, about the history of pirates, criminals, and other unsavory types; and Road to Independence, a look at Newport's role in the American Revolution.

Wondering about that vibrant mosaic mural encircling the Convention Center? The towering aluminum totem at the Old Town entrance to I-40? Or the bedazzled Throne of Nyoka at the BioPark Zoo? Albuquerque's Public Art program, started in 1978, is one of the oldest in the country, and Downtown—and the rest of the city—is strewn with its wonders. Download a growing stock of self-guided brochures and apps for locating the 650-piece collection.