Best Places to Visit in the USA

Jul 2, 2024

Best Places to Visit in the USA

Overview

The USA, composed of 50 states, offers a vast array of diverse natural landscapes, cityscapes, people, and cultures. From tropical islands to desert landscapes and multicultural cities, the destinations are abundant and varied.

50. Big Sur

  • Location: Between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon, California
  • Attractions: Rocky coastline, redwood trees, beaches, hiking
  • Highway: Famous Highway 1

49. St. Augustine

  • Founded: 1565 by Spanish explorers
  • Claims: Oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US
  • Attractions: Historic Landmark district, walkable downtown, shops, restaurants, Atlantic Ocean access

48. Olympic National Park

  • Location: Washington
  • Diversity: Glacial mountains, rainforests, over 250 glaciers
  • Activities: Hiking through Hurricane Pass and Enchanted Valley

47. Asheville

  • Location: Blue Ridge Foothills, North Carolina
  • Culture: Artsy community, local boutiques, musicians, street performers
  • Nearby: Biltmore Estate (largest privately owned house in USA)

46. Monument Valley

  • Location: Arizona
  • Features: Sandstone buttes, desolate desert
  • Significance: Recognizable from films and commercials
  • Cultural: Dubbed "valley between the rocks" by Navajo

45. Austin

  • Slogan: Keep Austin Weird
  • Attributes: Youthful population, University of Texas, live music
  • Attractions: Pink capital building, Barton Creek, Avenue Bridge with bats

44. Mount Rushmore

  • Location: South Dakota
  • Features: Carved heads of 4 presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln)
  • Significance: Represents nation's birth, growth, development, preservation
  • Visitor Center: Learning about the carvings

43. Aspen

  • Location: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
  • Activities: Skiing, hiking, mountain biking
  • Noteworthy: Roaring Fork River, one of the top winter destinations

42. Cape Cod

  • Location: Eastern Massachusetts
  • Features: Sandy beaches, lighthouses, biking trails
  • Noteworthy: Provincetown (pilgrims landing site), Hyannis (Kennedy family summer home)

41. Niagara Falls

  • Location: Straddles Ontario and New York
  • Falls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls
  • Flow: 6 million cubic feet of water per second
  • Tourism: 30 million visitors annually

40. Pittsburgh

  • Nickname: Steel City
  • Attributes: Convergence of three rivers, Green Hills, old warehouses,
  • Notable Building: US Steel Tower
  • Park: Point State Park

39. Atlanta

  • Location: Georgia
  • Attributes: Rolling hills, pine forests, old oak and magnolia trees
  • Attractions: CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium

38. Santa Fe

  • Founded: 1610 by Spanish explorers
  • Architecture: Santa Fe style (Pueblo architecture)
  • Attractions: Palace of the Governors Museum, New Mexico Museum of Art

37. Mackinac Island

  • Attributes: Car-free, on Lake Huron
  • Activities: Horse-drawn carriages, Victorian architecture, cafes, B&Bs
  • Noteworthy: Grand Hotel

36. Gatlinburg

  • Location: Foot of Great Smoky Mountains
  • Activities: Hiking, Winter sports in Ober Gatlinburg

35. Grand Teton National Park

  • Location: Wyoming
  • Features: Mountains, valleys, Alpine lakes
  • Activities: Hiking, rock climbing, wildlife watching (elk, bears, moose)

34. Lake Tahoe

  • Location: Straddles California and Nevada
  • Features: Alpine Lake, skiing, hiking, water sports
  • Amenities: Casinos, hotels, ski resorts

33. San Diego

  • Attributes: Natural Harbor, Mexican culture, seafood, mild climate
  • Attractions: Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo

32. Cannon Beach

  • Location: Oregon
  • Features: Haystack Rock, restaurants, boutiques

31. Carlsbad Caverns

  • Location: New Mexico
  • Features: Caverns, Big Room, elevator or pathway access

30. Boston

  • Attributes: Historical, American Revolution sites
  • Attractions: Freedom Trail, Boston Pops Orchestra, museums

29. Outer Banks

  • Location: North Carolina
  • Features: Barrier islands, wild horses, Wright Brothers National Memorial

28. Arches National Park

  • Location: Utah
  • Features: Sandstone arches
  • Famous Arches: Landscape Arch, Delicate Arch, Double Arch

27. Charleston

  • Attributes: Historic, antebellum architecture
  • Attractions: Fort Sumter, French Quarter, carriage tours

26. Yosemite National Park

  • Location: California
  • Attractions: El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, wildlife

25. Nashville

  • Attributes: Music City, live music scene
  • Activities: Honky Tonk Highway, city tours
  • Transportation: Free City bikes

24. Bar Harbor

  • Location: Maine's Mount Desert Island
  • Attributes: Shops, restaurants, Acadia National Park nearby

23. San Antonio

  • Attributes: Rich history
  • Attractions: The Alamo, Riverwalk

22. Death Valley

  • Location: Mojave Desert, California
  • Features: Sand dunes, historic sites
  • Notable Sites: Zabriskie Point, Scotty's Castle

21. Orlando

  • Location: Central Florida
  • Attractions: Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios

20. Savannah

  • Attributes: Victorian architecture, cobbled streets, oak trees
  • Attractions: Forsight Park

19. Philadelphia

  • Nickname: Philly
  • Attributes: Historical sites (Liberty Bell)
  • Attractions: Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps)

18. Sedona

  • Location: North-central Arizona
  • Attractions: Red sandstone formations, spiritual retreats

17. Chicago

  • Nickname: Windy City
  • Attributes: Skyscrapers, Lake Michigan, hot dogs and pizzas
  • Attractions: Millennium Park, Sears Tower, Navy Pier

16. Denali National Park

  • Location: Alaska
  • Attractions: Denali mountain, wildlife (caribou, moose, bears, wolves)

15. New Orleans

  • Attributes: French Creole culture, jazz, Mardi Gras
  • Location: Southeastern Louisiana

14. Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Location: Colorado
  • Attractions: Alpine lakes, hiking, wildlife
  • Notable Site: Bear Lake

13. Seattle

  • Attributes: Home to Boeing, Starbucks, Amazon
  • Nickname: Emerald City
  • Attractions: Space Needle, Pike Place Market

12. Miami

  • Attributes: Glamorous, Latin culture, nightlife, Art Deco
  • Location: Southeastern Florida
  • Attractions: Miami Beach

11. Washington D.C.

  • Attributes: Seat of federal government
  • Attractions: White House, Capitol building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial

10. Glacier National Park

  • Location: Montana
  • Features: Mountain ranges, lakes, waterfalls
  • Activities: Hiking, wildlife spotting

9. Los Angeles

  • Location: Southern California
  • Attributes: Entertainment capital, celebrity culture
  • Attractions: Hollywood, Venice Beach

8. Las Vegas

  • Location: Nevada
  • Attributes: Casinos, entertainment
  • Attractions: The Strip, Bellagio's Fountain, Eiffel Tower replica

7. Zion National Park

  • Location: Southern Utah
  • Features: Rock formations, Sandstone Canyons, hiking

6. San Francisco

  • Location: Northern California
  • Attractions: Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz

5. Florida Keys

  • Location: Southern Florida
  • Features: Coral islands, recreational opportunities

4. Yellowstone National Park

  • Established: 1872
  • Features: Geysers (Old Faithful), springs (Grand Prismatic Spring)
  • Wildlife: Diverse fauna

3. Hawaii

  • Attributes: Tropical paradise, pristine beaches

2. New York City

  • Features: Iconic places (Central Park, Empire State Building), cultural diversity

1. Grand Canyon

  • Location: Northern Arizona
  • Features: Carved by Colorado River, vast size and colorful landscape, viewpoints, hikes (Rim-to-Rim Trail)