The USA is the land of unlimited possibilities, also when it comes to vacation. The sights of the USA are diverse. Those who love art and architecture will get their money’s worth as well as nature lovers. Sights of the USA are not only in the big cities, spread over the whole country. The national parks make the heart of every nature lover beat faster. They inspire with unique landscapes and a variety of flora and fauna.
Here is our countdown of the 48 Top Tourist Attractions in the USA.
48. Mount Rushmore
Few landmarks are as famous as Mount Rushmore. The four presidential heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hills are America’s “shrine to democracy” carved in stone.
Each of the heads is about 18 meters high and represents the history of the United States of America: George Washington, as the first American president and one of the founding fathers, is representative of the birth of the country. Under Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, the country grew and prospered into one of the leading forces in the new world. Lincoln, the 16th president, was instrumental in the development of the U.S. into a modern industrial state and the abolition of slavery. Roosevelt is considered the patron saint of the grandiose landscapes of the United States. He initiated the establishment of numerous national parks and protected areas that inspire so many people today.
47. Pike Place Market
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers’ and fish markets in the United States. The market is a center for fresh and locally grown food, a cult symbol among residents and an attraction for tourists.
Colorful fruits, succulent vegetables and the smell of fresh bread, as well as handcrafted jewelry and gifts, have attracted thousands of visitors to the year-round market in a historic downtown neighborhood since 1907.
More than a century later, the market is one of Seattle’s most popular visitor destinations, with about 200 stores, 120 market stalls and a number of casual restaurants. From simple eats to gourmet cuisine, everything your heart and stomach desire is offered. The market offers a wide selection of fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, homemade cheeses, baked goods, locally made honey and wine, flowers, crafts, antique stores and souvenirs. Locals, tourists, musicians and street performers make up a colorful mix that adds to the appeal of Pike Place Market.
Overall, Pike Place Market has about 10 million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited destinations in Washington State.
46. Venice Beach
When you think of a beach in Los Angeles, it’s probably Venice Beach, familiar from movies and television. Located in the northwest between Santa Monica and the huge Los Angeles International Airport, however, the neighborhood consists of more than just its beach.
Besides the skate park and Muscle Beach, it’s the canals a few streets off the long boardwalk that are worth a closer look….
Venice Beach owes its enormous fame to Muscle Beach, where bodybuilders lift their weights in an open-air gym and show off their toned bodies. In the summer of 2019, Muscle Beach was completely renovated and has been shining in a new light ever since.
In a way, Venice Beach is a fair, a spectacle that you have to see, even if it only represents the real Los Angeles to a very limited extent, but rather shows a small section of the big picture. An excerpt that is quite authentic in its own way, but of course does not reflect everyday life on American beaches.
45. Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde is a national park like no other in the USA, because here it is not nature but man-made things that are to be admired: cliff dwellings that were built here by the Anasazi Indians about 800 years ago between the rocks of the table mountain of the same name, and which are still well preserved today despite having been discontinued around 1300.
More than 4,000 excavation sites are located in this unusual park, but you need to bring a little time to see it in its entirety.
Since 2019, you can admire five of the dwellings on guided tours and dive directly into history. Among them, the Cliff House is the largest and has over 150 rooms. If you want to be more adventurous, it’s worth visiting the Balcony House. This can only be reached via a 10-meter ladder and narrow tunnels as well as corridors. So only something for the very brave! The Long House, the Spruce Tree House and the Step House also invite you to visit them on the tours.
44. Faneuil Hall
The mighty Faneuil Hall is located near Christopher Columbus Park in Boston and once served as a market hall and meeting place. Together with the later market halls Quincy Market 47 and the South – and North Market, it forms the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
The construction of the magnificent Faneuil Hall was financed by the rich merchant Peter Faneuil and the architectural realization was the responsibility of the architect John Smibert. Goods were offered for sale on the first floor and the upper floors were used for meetings. Designed in the style of an English country market, Faneuil Hall was completed in 1742, burned down in 1761 and was rebuilt a year later.
It is not by chance that Faneuil Hall is also called the cradle of freedom: Many famous speeches against the British crown and slavery were made here. It’s hard to believe, but even today the market is still political: on the second floor there is still a meeting room used for political debates!
43. Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is NASA’s spaceport and is located in the state of Florida on Merritt Island northwest of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is the site where all U.S. manned space flights launched from December 1968 to July 2011. Initially, these were the famous Apollo missions and, from 1981, finally the space shuttles, some of which also landed again at this location in Florida.
Kennedy Space Center encompasses all U.S. space programs and missions such as Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and more. Visitors here have the opportunity to see behind the scenes and, in some cases, enter spaceports that are not normally accessible. Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Center is divided into different Mission Zones, which are chronological and range from the beginnings of American spaceflight to today’s attractions.
Here, among other things, you can marvel at the Apollo 14 lunar mission capsule that returned to Earth from the heavens in 1971. The spacesuit of Alan Shepard, the commander of Apollo, covered in lunar dust is also on display here. And if you want, you can even take a spacewalk in the simulator for your entertainment. Around 1.5 million visitors from all over the world come to the Kennedy Space Center every year to take a look behind the scenes at NASA.
42. Navy Pier
On Lake Michigan near the Chicago River, in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago (Illinois), is Navy Pier. This is a 1,010m long pier, with the most beautiful promenade in Chicago, which extends into Lake Michigan.
Navy Pier is the main attraction of metropolitan Chicago with Ferris Wheel, carousel, miniature golf, tour boats, Chicago Childrens Museum, an IMAX theater, Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Shakespeare Theater and fireworks over the pier. 50 acres of parks, gardens, stores, restaurants and entertainment attract more than 8 million visitors a year to Navy Pier.
Navy Pier in Chicago was developed by architect Daniel Burnham and designed and built as Municipal Pier 2.
When completed, Navy Pier was to be used as a cargo transfer point for large ships, freighters and warehouses. On one side of Navy Pier was the transshipment area for ships and on the other side excursion steamers departed.
An air-conditioned room for passengers, entertainment and exhibitions at the far end of Navy Pier was also provided for visitors.
41. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located in the Appalachian Mountains on the territory of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, the park is home to the largest primeval forest area in the eastern United States and one of the oldest forest stands in the world, which makes the park a breathtaking destination, especially in the fall when the leaves change color.
Around ten million visitors visit the national park each year, and on a weekend day in the fall, as many as 60,000 people can be there at once. By comparison, the Grand Canyon can boast just a little more than half that number. However, the visitors are mostly on the larger roads. Away from the main roads and on the hiking trails, even in summer there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the park, which is named after the Great Smoky Mountains.
The highest point of the 2,114.2 km2 park is Clingmans Dome (2025m), followed by the 2018 meter high Mount Guyot. The border between North Carolina and Tennessee runs through the center line of the national park.
40. River Walk
The River Walk, a downtown riverfront promenade along the San Antonio River that winds through the middle of the city, is not only the centerpiece but also one of San Antonio’s biggest tourist attractions and one of the most visited destinations in Texas.
Restaurants, cafes, galleries and boutiques line the river walk in a subtropical setting, offering strolling and entertainment opportunities away from traffic and street noise. Located directly on the Riverwalk, the Rivercenter Mall offers its visitors a very special flair while strolling due to the integration of the river. Several bridges connect the two sides of the River Walk. Guided boat tours are also offered.
South of downtown, the San Antonio River system has been extended and renaturalized through the rehabilitation of a drainage canal into a restored functioning portion, the Mission Reach. This extends the River Walk into nearly 20 miles of linear parkland and provides walking, biking, and strolling trails. In addition, picnic areas, viewing platforms and water sports such as kayaking, paddling and canoeing are offered. Near the river are also the historic missions of San Antonio.
39. Carlsbad Caverns
It was actually bats that led to the discovery of the Carlsbad Caves. Around 1900, settlers in the U.S. state of New Mexico kept noticing enormous swarms of bats roaming the area. They followed them and came across not only the caves but also huge deposits of guano. Most were content with that; after all, these deposits could be mined and sold as fertilizer. But a cowboy named Jim White wanted to know more. He was the first to venture further and discover the first caves.
It took a long time before his tales were believed. When this was finally the case after almost ten years, it didn’t take too long until the area with a size of just under 200 square meters was declared the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. To date, nearly 90 cave rooms have been found and explored. However, there is still no end in sight.
During the work it turned out that the native inhabitants of the region had already known about the Caverns some ten to fifteen thousand years ago. The Indians even left wall drawings at the natural entrance to the caves, which are still preserved today.
38. Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon in Utah is one of the most beautiful national parks in the Southwest. The centerpiece of the park is a natural amphitheater about 5 km wide.
The fairy-tale landscape of thousands of limestone sculptures, the so-called hoodoos, was created from the relatively soft rock by wind, rain and frost. Depending on the time of day, the turrets, columns and castles glow in ever-changing shades of color. The coloration from white to purple is due to the varying concentration of iron and manganese in the rock.
A panoramic road with parking lots and 14 viewpoints leads into the park, all the way to Rainbow Point at 2,787 meters above sea level. Alternatively, from May to October, you can park your car outside the park and take the free shuttle buses to explore the park.
Directly at the amphitheater are Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point (2,539m). The viewpoints are connected by the Rim Trail.
The most beautiful sunrise can be experienced at Bryce Point and Sunrise Point, whereby Bryce Point offers the better distant view. The best view over the amphitheater is at Inspiration Point.
37. French Quarter
A popular attraction in New Orleans is its oldest part of the city, the French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré or Vieux Carré Historic District. After New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city of New Orleans developed around the central Vieux Carré square.
Because of the many French people who originally lived here, the neighborhood is now known as the French Quarter or simply “The Quarter”. Its French influence after the time of the Louisiana Purchase, had such a great impact on the Quarter, that even today when visiting the Quarter, one has the feeling of being in France.
Large parts of the historic buildings were built either in the late 18th century, during the Spanish rule period, or during the first half of the 19th century, after the French colony of Louisiana became part of the United States.
Meanwhile, the entire district has been included as a National Historic Landmark because of its numerous historic buildings and is especially popular with tourists on a vacation in the United States.
36. Sedona Red Rock Country
Breathtaking is the scenery around Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rock State Park, a collection of mesas, rock pinnacles and walls.
Sedona itself is a pure tourist town with souvenir stores, restaurants and hotels. The surroundings of bright red mountains, rock pinnacles and steep canyon walls are spectacular. The town and surrounding area became a mecca for the New Age movement, even after more and more artists settled here in the 1960s and 1970s.
Foremost among them was the German surrealist Max Ernst, who discovered the area twenty years earlier while fleeing the Nazis. Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon, Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock. are attributed magical powers because of their strong energy currents. Numerous businesses are trying to profit from the New Age boom, offering classes, self-awareness groups and tours to the energetic sites. But the beauty of the landscape is also worth seeing for the normal tourist.
35. Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort is located near Orlando in Florida. The Walt Disney World theme park consists of several theme parks and water parks and over 20 hotels.
It is one of the most visited attractions in America. The theme park is located about 34 km southwest of the city of Orlando in Orange County.
Since Disneyland in Anaheim, California turned out to be too small, Walt Disney wanted to build a park that could be expanded at any time. So he bought a large area of land around Orlando in the early 1960s and built the Walt Disney World Resort amusement park there.
The Disney World in Florida has a size of about 15,000 hectares. This makes the Walt Disney World Resort the largest amusement park in the world in terms of area. It is divided into four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Due to Disneyland in Florida, the metropolis of Orlando has grown so much that it is one of the most visited metropolises in the world.
34. Yosemite National Park
The alpine Yosemite National Park is a popular stopover on round trips through the southwest of the USA. It was declared a national park in 1890 and a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1984.
The central point for the day visitor is the Yosemite Valley, a beautiful mountain valley surrounded by almost vertical rock faces up to 1,000m high. A scenic road leads through the valley, passing all points of interest on a circular route along the Merced River.
Besides the imposing granite rocks El Capitan and Half Dome, several large waterfalls have made Yosemite National Park famous. The three-part Yosemite Fall is the highest waterfall in North America with a total height of 739m.
Get one of the best views of Yosemite at Glacier Point. Look into Yosemite Valley and enjoy the fascinating view of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls as well as Vernal Falls. Several hikes are also possible from here, for example the Taft Trail or the Panorama Trail, on which you have a beautiful view of Sentinel Dome.
In Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park you will find the beautiful redwood trees. The most famous among them is probably the Grizzly Giant with its proud age of about 2500 years. But don’t miss the Fallen Monarch, the Three Graces and the California Tunnel, through which you can walk.
33. White House
The White House is located in the capital city of Washington D.C. of the United States, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, two blocks north of the Mall, near the Washington Monument. The White House is the residence and official residence of the U.S. President.
It was first named the White House in 1901 by Theodore Roosevelt because of its white exterior paint.
The White House has 35 bathrooms, 132 rooms, 147 windows, 412 doors, 8 staircases, 3 elevators, a tennis court, a swimming pool, a movie theater and a bowling alley. A bunker is located under the east wing.
If you take a vacation in Washington D.C., the White House is definitely a sight you will want to visit. Even though you can only view the White House from a distance due to increased security measures. Tours or tickets to the White House are hard to come by, as you have to apply for them well in advance. In order to get a ticket, foreign citizens must apply to the respective embassy in Washington D.C. 6 months to 30 days before the planned visit.
32. Denali National Park
Experience the largest mountain in North America, surrounded by a diverse as well as fascinating flora & fauna.
Denali National Park was established in 1917, covers about 24,000 square kilometers and enchants every visitor with its diverse flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for grizzly bears, caribou, wolves and moose that call this area home. Along the 145-kilometer park road, you’ll experience breathtaking, untouched landscapes where animals roam freely. Denali means the “high one” or the “big one”. Accordingly, the 6,193 meter high Denali, the highest mountain in North America, rises majestically above the park. The view of this fascinating mountain is spectacular!
31. Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas is located in the middle of the Nevada desert. In this lonely environment, the city with its approximately 558,000 inhabitants is a real metropolis, and its reputation is world-class. But when one generally speaks of Las Vegas, one usually means the part of the city devoted to gambling. This takes place mainly along South Las Vegas Boulevard, or “Strip” for short. Here one hotel-casino is lined up next to the other. All of them are huge themed hotel complexes with interesting architecture and some with outdoor shows to attract the attention of visitors. Most tourists who come here because of the Las Vegas myth look for accommodation in one of these casinos in order to be right in the middle of the lively gamblers’ paradise.
30. Florida Keys
The stretch across the Florida Keys to Key West is one of the most picturesque routes in the USA. Only one road connects the 161 km long island chain: The original Flagler’s Railroad later became the legendary Overseas Highway, which today is officially designated as the All-American Road. A drive along this panoramic route combines gorgeous scenery with important history and a wide range of leisure activities, so that the road trip quickly turns into a little vacation.
The Overseas Highway runs between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and passes over hundreds of small islands.
The beginning of the route is Key Largo. Among the biggest attractions are the Everglades National Park and the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is particularly popular with ecotourists for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddling and snorkeling.
Further south is Islamorada, the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World.”
At the end of the Lower Keys, you’ll reach Key West, the southernmost point of the continental United States. Both John Audubon and Ernest Hemingway called Key West home for a time.
29. Kilauea
Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea. It is visited by millions of tourists every year and is considered the most visited attraction in Hawaii and the most visited volcano in the world. Between 1983 and 2020, the volcano erupted repeatedly and the luminous lava flows into the ocean.
Watch an impressive informational film about the park at the Kilauea Visitor Center to learn more about this natural wonder.
The Crater Rim Drive is a 17 km road around the crater area of Kilauea and gives you direct access to all main attractions such as the Jagger Museum and Halemaumau Crater as well as the Devastation Trail or the Thurston Lava Tube.
For a unique experience, we recommend staying directly at Volcano. Since 1846 the hotel “Volcano House” accommodates its guests with a direct view of the Halemaumau Crater and glowing lava. Already Mark Twain stayed here while writing his book.
28. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a rugged beauty, an incredible force of nature and definitely a tourist attraction: the mighty masses of water that tumble from the cliffs with a loud roar and attract around 22 million visitors from all over the world every year.
Incidentally, the impressive natural spectacle in the eastern United States owes its name to the Native Americans, although it is not exactly known whether the Iroquois or the Mohawks are responsible for the name.
Niagara Falls are the falls of the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario and through which runs the border between the U.S. state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. Three gigantic rock cliffs – divided by the two islands Goat and Luna Island – form the substructure of this impressive natural wonder and the basis for a total of three waterfalls over which per second about 6,400 cubic meters of water thunderously plunge up to 57 meters into the depths. The largest and most impressive are the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. Only ten percent of the Niagara River’s water flows over the American Falls, and even less over the Bridal Veil Falls. They owe their formation to a geological peculiarity.
27. Golden Gate Bridge
Absolute landmark of the USA, world record holder for a long time and the only bridge in the world in the color “International Orange”. The Golden Gate Bridge, which connects San Francisco and the Marin Peninsula, is definitely cult and a visit is simply part of a vacation on the west coast of the USA.
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is an absolutely amazing structure that requires the same maintenance work as an oil rig. The suspension bridge is the landmark of San Francisco and, along with the Statue of Liberty, one of the symbols of the USA.
After a little more than 4 years of construction in 1937, the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed and is still one of the longest suspension bridges today. If the approach bridges are also included in the total length of the structure, it amounts to 2.737 kilometers. Moreover, the marvel of engineering, which quickly became a landmark of the city in California after construction and opening, was built in just four years.
26. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is located almost entirely in the state of Wyoming, with 96 percent of its area. It is one of the largest national parks in the U.S., stretching 102 kilometers from north to south and 87 kilometers from east to west. The highest elevation in the park is Eagle Peak at 3,462 meters; the lowest point is at the northern entrance and is about 1,620 meters above sea level. As part of the Rocky Mountains, the entire park averages about 2,440 meters above sea level.
World famous is the park’s unique volcanogenic landscape of geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and hot springs. 62 percent of all the world’s hot springs are in the Yellowstone area. There are about 10,000 in total, including more than 3,000 geysers, of which more than 500 are active. Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third largest on Earth.
The most famous geyser is Old Faithful in the Upper Geyser Basin, which releases its hot water to the earth’s surface at regular intervals of 60 to 90 minutes. Also, the largest active geyser in the world is Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park.
25. Times Square
The heart of New York is Times Square, which is also the place that attracts the most visitors.
No matter what time of year, whether it’s a Sunday or a holiday, Christmas or New Year’s Eve, there’s always something going on in Times Square. Numerous restaurants of all star classes, clubs, chic bars and versatile shopping possibilities make Times Square so attractive. Last but not least, one should not forget the neon signs, which are not only a necessary evil here because they are paid for, but even a legal requirement.
What is unpopular elsewhere and at best tolerated, gives Times Square its unmistakable unique selling point. Another unmistakable feature are the numerous theaters and musicals on Broadway just around the corner.
This world-famous New York landmark is located at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. From a purely geographical point of view, Times Square covers the entire area between West 42nd Street and West 47th Street, also known as the Theatre District. However, the area is probably better known as Broadway.
24. Grand Canyon
The national park owes its existence to U.S. President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. He liked to spend time in the wild landscape of the Grand Canyon and ensured that the canyon was initially recognized as a “National Monument”. In a second step, the Grand Canyon was granted the status of a national park on February 26, 1919. In the USA, this date is still associated with the actual beginning of the conservation movement.
Little by little, the Grand Canyon National Park was extended again and again. Today it covers an area of almost 5000 square meters and thus accommodates almost the entire world-famous canyon. Americans are not the only ones fascinated by the canyon. UNESCO followed in its footsteps and included the canyon in its list of natural world heritage sites in 1979.
Tourists from all over the world had discovered the Grand Canyon much earlier. As early as the end of the 19th century, the desire to visit the canyon was so great that a railroad line was built. The Grand Canyon Railway connects the city of Williams with the Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim of the canyon over a distance of 100 kilometers. The line was inaugurated in 1901; before that, the journey could only be made by stagecoach.
23. The Gateway Arch
Historically, the city on the western bank of the Mississippi River is considered the “Gateway to the West. The defining element of the skyline today is the Gateway Arch.
The Gateway Arch National Park is located in East Downtown. In addition to the landmark of the same name, the monumental Gateway Arch built in 1965 on the banks of the Mississippi River, the memorial also includes the Museum of Westward Expansion located underground and the old courthouse. The monument commemorates the western expansion of the United States, which laid the foundation for its expansion to the Pacific coast in 1803 with the purchase of the French colony of Louisiana. The archway is about 192 meters high and open to visitors. An elevator takes you up to the highest point of the arch.
22. Balboa Park
Most visitors to the city of San Diego rub their eyes in wonder and amazement when they encounter the picturesque and idyllic green space of Balboa Park not far from the gigantic skyline of the city center. Such a picture can be seen in very few large cities in the USA, so the surprise is all the greater when one arrives at the park and finds oneself in the midst of the diversity of plants.
But not only the many, partly very old plants enjoy a high popularity at this place of the extra class. In almost every conceivable way, tourists are offered something here and the selection of activities certainly gives something special and interesting for every character.
Already in 1868, the park was built in the immediate vicinity of today’s city center, but in the first decades it was by far not as built-up and equipped with plenty of leisure activities as in today’s days. In the beginning, there was not much more than a simple green area.
In 1915, the great cornerstone of the park’s current beauty and diversity was laid.
Celebrations were planned in the USA for the completion of the Panama Canal and a suitable venue was subsequently sought. The city of San Diego was chosen for this event, as it was the first U.S. port city north of the Panama Canal. The houses built especially for the celebration, with an unprecedented fantasy design, laid the first real foundation for the look of today.
21. Graceland Mansion
The white mansion “Graceland” is located in Memphis and was the estate of Elvis Presley. The magnificent residence was built in 1939 and occupied by Presley at the end of the 1950s. Presley lived in “Graceland” until his death in 1977. His grave, as well as those of his parents and grandmother, is located on the estate, in the so-called “Meditation Garden.” Graceland has been open to the public since 1982, and since then it has attracted more than 600,000 visitors and fans every year, for whom the “Graceland” estate is a true place of pilgrimage.
One has the possibility to explore the house and the property by means of an audio tour. Here you can see the living rooms, the kitchen and the basement with a bar and a billiard and TV room. Also worth seeing is the “Jungle Room” on the first floor, where Elvis recorded his last two albums. The upper floor is used privately and is therefore not open to the public. In another building, however, Presley’s car collection can be seen, as well as his planes “Hound Dog II” and “Lisa Marie”. In another house, all the trophies and awards, as well as platinum and gold records that he received during his career are exhibited. In addition, you can also see photographs, stage costumes and many other memorabilia from the fascinating life of the “fabulous Elvis”. “Graceland” has been designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
20. Statue of Liberty
Over 130 years old, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and one of the most famous ladies in the world. The Statue of Liberty, also known as Statue of Liberty, Miss Liberty or Lady Liberty is one of New York’s landmarks and definitely one of the most famous landmarks in the United States with enormous recognition value. Every year, about four million tourists come to see the world-famous neoclassical colossal statue on Liberty Island in the harbor of New York City.
Liberty Enlightening the World, as the Statue of Liberty is officially called, is a symbol of freedom, justice, independence and democracy commemorating the alliance of the French and Americans during the American Revolution. It was once a gift from the French people to the United States, although this came ten years too late due to funding problems. This is because Miss Liberty should actually have been inaugurated on the 100th anniversary of American independence, in 1876.
19. Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is completely surrounded by the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood, so it is often mistakenly considered a district. The place of residence is famous for its residents: US actors, directors and other well-known personalities.
The place is repeatedly used for film and television productions, including “Beverly Hills Cops”, “Pretty Woman” and “Beverly Hills, 90210”.
If you want to see the houses of the stars, you should book a guided tour, because the villas of the stars are usually guarded and you are often driven away. Especially if you are on your own and stop too long with the car. But otherwise you can drive through Beverly Hills without any problems.
Another problem with driving by yourself is that you won’t see much except a clean suburb of Los Angeles. The hedges are often so high that you can’t even see over them with a normal car.
18. Waikiki
The most famous beach in Hawaii is Waikiki Beach, which is about 3 kilometers long. Annually, the tourist masses flock to this place and let it go well with a few tasty drinks. It is hardly surprising that the infrastructure has been adapted to tourism and that an almost separate city has been created especially for this purpose.
The white sandy beach is located on the south coast of Oahu, very close to Honolulu. The beach itself was artificially created and thus offers all water lovers enough opportunities to relax and feel the fine sand between their feet.
However, many do not know that the entire beach is divided into about 8 sections, some of which could not be more different. There is something for everyone here.
17. Zion National Park
Experience the enchanting landscape in Zion National Park with its unique rock formations made of sandstone, which glow in numerous colors, from light cream to pink and deep red.
Discover this dreamlike nature in the desert of Utah. Huge cliffs and narrow canyons alternate with lush valleys, waterfalls fill the clear lakes, and you will be surprised to see the green oases along the Virgin River. Idyllic springs spring from the Navajo Sandstone and provide fertile shores.
Zion is famous for its unique Hanging Gardens that form over the banks in the form of trees, ferns, wildflowers and mosses. People have lived in this area for 10,000 years despite the harsh living conditions of the desert. Follow in the footsteps of Native Americans and pioneers, and learn exciting facts about the rich history of this region.
16. Horseshoe Bend
The Colorado River meanders over 2000 km through the USA. But there is one place where you absolutely have to see the father of the Grand Canyon: at Horseshoe Bend. On your round trip through Arizona, you should plan a trip to this magical viewpoint near the town of Page.
The somewhat arduous ten-minute climb is rewarded by a breathtaking view. The mighty river flows sluggishly through a horseshoe-shaped valley and makes a U-turn here. The iridescent blue of the water contrasts strikingly with the reddish rocks that surround it.
Countless photos have already captured this incredible spectacle of color. You, too, will never tire of enjoying the impressive rock formations and the view of the Colorado River valley.
15. Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco itself is an attraction in itself. This is only topped by the fact that a variety of the most famous and popular sights await visitors here at just about every corner. If you’re a visitor strolling through the waterfront, be sure to check out Pier 39, the Cannery Shopping Center, the USS Pampanilo and the ship Balclutha. Those who want to experience more cultural highlights besides the history of the harbor should also check out Ghirardelli Square with its chocolate factory and cute stores, the, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Wax Museum, Ribley s Believe it or Not curiosity exhibit or the Hyde Street Pier.
However, the waterfront should be explored not only culturally, but also culinary. For a rich selection of seafood and fish, check out Forbes Island, Joe’s Crab Shack, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Fishermen’s Grotto, Pompei’s Grotto and Alioto’s restaurants.
Another downright adorable attraction is the sea lion colony next to Pier 39, where sea lions lounge on wooden docks originally used for docking boats.
14. Lake Tahoe
Almost 35 km long and 500 m deep, Lake Tahoe attracts with the clearest water in America and is one of the largest mountain lakes in the USA. Its magnificent location on the ridge of the Sierra Nevada makes it a perfect vacation spot for swimming, biking, rafting or hiking, and in winter for boarding and skiing. An almost 250 km long circular trail winds around the entire lake. Especially on the eastern shore, the granite cliffs of the Sierra often rise right up on the shore and you can see far into the shimmering green depths. As a winter destination, Lake Tahoe gained fame back in 1960, when the Olympics were held in Squaw Valley. Today, the huge Heavenly Mountain Resort with 50 km of slopes is the most popular skiing area – with lake views and views of the desert.
13. Antelope Canyon
Natural wonder, beauty, color spectacle and an incredible photo motif. Antelope Canyon is one of the most impressive sights of the USA and is located in the area of the Navajo Nation Reservation in the Lake Powell region in the state of Arizona. An area that you should definitely have admired live in full splendor once in your life.
The crevices in the ground were formed by the water of Antelope Creek, which dug its way through the ground there over millions of years. The narrow width of the watercourse created an impressive slot canyon. The Navajo Indians, on whose reservation the canyon is located, once called the upper part “Tsé bighánílíní”, which roughly means “place where water flows through the rocks”. The English name “Antelope Canyon” derives from Navajo Indian stories about the antelope that graze in winter along the famous slot canyon with its impressive light shows.
The bizarre landscape with its reddish rock and the rock formations worth seeing is without question a natural wonder and has an incredible beauty in itself even without the light shows and is always worth a visit. But the sight is definitely rounded off by the sun’s rays, called beams, which shine into the gorge especially at midday and thus create a magnificent color spectacle due to the incidence of light.
12. National Mall
The National Mall & Memorial Parks is an elongated park in downtown Washington DC. Like a huge promenade, it stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, along famous Washington museums, monuments and landmarks.
“The Mall” is 4 kilometers long and 91 meters wide. And as a park, it is popular. On sunny days tourists and visitors stroll here, people jog (for example, after your work) and families make trips. And again and again you can see school classes visiting a memorial or museum.
The most important and striking monument is certainly the Washington Monument: At the central point between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial stands the huge obelisk. By the way, the Washington Monument is reflected in the elongated Reflection Pool. Other monuments on the Mall are: The Korean War Vetreans Memorial, the Second World War Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.
9 of the Smithsonian Institution’s 14 museums are located along the Mall. Among them are: The National Gallery of Art with Sculpture Garden, The National Museum of American History, The National Museum of National History, The National Air and Space Museum, and The Hirshhorn Museum.
11. Central Park
Central Park in New York/Manhattan is huge and there is a lot to see. Recreationists, athletes, nature lovers, filmmakers and even people looking to get married meet here. The park is especially beautiful in the spring and summer, but the other seasons are delightful as well.
You can relax in the most visited park in the USA in many places in beautiful nature, such as on the large meadow “The Great Lawn”. Sports competitions are held there regularly, and in the summer there are even concerts. The same applies to Sheep Meadow, where sheep once grazed, and today you have a beautiful view of the houses – in green surroundings. In addition to large meadows, there are also many smaller and larger bodies of water, trees and plants, and many restaurants and individual drink and food vendors provide for the physical well-being.
Joggers can be seen in almost all places of Central Park, especially popular is the route of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Often, various artists also show what they can do in Central Park. And also one or the other movie has been shot here, such as “Harry & Sally”.
In winter you can skate and play ice hockey on the ice rinks “Wollman Rink” in the southeast of the park in front of a great skyscraper backdrop and “Lasker Rink” in the north from November to March. The latter place serves as a large pool in the summer.
10. Hollywood
The name alone makes hearts beat faster. Hollywood is not only the most famous part of Los Angeles, it is also synonymous with an entire industry. Entertainment is made in Hollywood, and on all levels.
In 1911, the first film studio was founded here; by 1915, New York’s monopoly was broken and Los Angeles, with Hollywood, was on its way to becoming the nation’s undisputed dream factory. To this day, no one has ever been able to take this status away from the city.
But Hollywood is not only home to the major film studios. The music industry and the major television stations in the United States are also based here. So much glitz and glamour, so much media presence and so many celebrities have naturally had a lasting effect on this “district,” which with its population of well over 200,000 could easily be a city in its own right.
9. Mall of America
A trip to the Mall of America in Bloomington is an absolute must when visiting the Twin Cities Minneapolis/St. Paul. Just minutes from downtown, shopping dreams come true in the 520 first-class designer stores for clothing, shoes, electronics and much more.
The Mall of America is the destination for more than 42 million visitors from around the world each year. In addition to first-class shopping and modern dining options, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S. offers fun and entertainment for the whole family with its attractions.
Covering more than 45 hectares, the mall is home not only to stores but also to the nation’s largest indoor family theme park Nickelodeon Universe, the EMS Entertainment Exhibit Center, the SEA Life Minnesota Aquarium, a Hard Rock Café, Moose Mountain Adventure Golf, the Theatre at Mall of America, a 14-screen movie theater, and the Radisson Blu Mall of America, a 500-room hotel connected to the Mall of America by a pedestrian bridge.
8. Empire State Building
For a long time it was the tallest building in New York and for a few years even the tallest building on earth: the Empire State Building in New York City. On a clear day, it offers a view of almost 130 kilometers and five states. Its popularity is due in no small part to its great resonance in the media and its diverse portrayal in films. Every year, around four million people visit the 443-meter skyscraper in the Manhattan district. The epitome of a tourist attraction.
The Empire State Building in New York City has an enormous presence in the Manhattan skyline and enjoys international popularity. It owes this, among other things, to its role in numerous internationally known films such as King Kong. In 1995, the Empire State Building was included in the list of architectural wonders of the modern world.
Incidentally, the popular photo motif, which has been on the list of U.S. National Monuments since 1986 and even has its own zip code, owes its name to New York State’s nickname “The Empire State.” It was built between 1930 and 1931 in a record time of 18 months and opened on May 1, 1931.
7. Walk of Fame
It is one of the most famous attractions in the USA and, according to estimates, is visited by around ten million people every year. Since 1978, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been a cultural monument in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is home to the Hollywood Stars in Los Angeles, which honor prominent people who were once, and often still are, of great importance to the American entertainment industry. They include names from bygone eras, such as the timeless beauty Greta Garbo or Clark Gable, who went down in the film history of the world in his role as Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind” and with the famous quote “Frankly, my dear, I Don’t Give a Damn.”
There are names of world-famous musicians such as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, rapper Pitbull and singer Christina Aguilera among the tributes and names of numerous actors from the world’s most successful films. There are now over 2,500 stars with famous and lesser-known names from the categories of film, television, music, radio and theater that you can admire during a visit to the city. And there is no end in sight.
6. Millenium Park
The expansive area of Millennium Park was created in 2004, making it a newer park and event facility in the city. It stretches from Michigan Avenue down to Lake Michigan and offers a large recreational program.
The idea of a new meeting place for cultural events was conceived in the late 1970s, but was not realized due to lack of funds. It was not until 1997 that the Millenium Park was created on the former railroad station grounds, which, in addition to its parkland, also houses numerous works of art.
The centerpiece of the park, however, is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which is one of the most modern open-air stages in the world. In addition to its cultural events, however, the park is also popular with families and the city’s younger generation, who crowd the lawns all the way down to Lake Michigan when the weather is nice.
Since its opening, Millennium Park has been one of the most popular weekend destinations for Chicagoans. Along with the Fountain of Time, Millennium Park is the main attraction in the Park District of the City of Chicago. Millennium Park also regularly hosts events such as movie screenings, family festivals and more.
5. Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln was elected to the office of U.S. president in 1860. Only a short time later – on April 12, 1861 – the War of Secession began, after the slavery issue in particular had divided the country. The American Civil War between the Northern and Southern states was to last until June 23, 1865, and came to an end with the restoration of the Union and the abolition of slavery.
Lincoln did not live to see the end of the war. He was the victim of an assassination attempt on April 14, 1865, and succumbed to his injuries the following day. His successes, his speeches, but also his violent death made Lincoln a hero and, in the eyes of many people, one of the most important presidents in U.S. history. And so it was only a matter of time before a monument was erected in honor of the president of the American Civil War and the liberator of the slaves. Today, with over 7 million visitors a year, it is one of Washington’s most famous monuments.
4. Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is, as you can tell from the name, a dam. It dams the Colorado River, which flows from Page through the Grand Canyon.
It was decided to build the Hoover Dam because the Colorado River rose too much in winter during the snowmelt. The Colorado River flooded parts of the land and residents were threatened. In the summer, however, not much of the flood remained and farmers thus did not have enough water for their crops and livestock. Now they could control the Colorado River through the dam and decided to build a dam.
In 1936 the Hoover Dam was completed. The dam, 220 meters high, 379 meters long and 13-201 meters thick, cost the lives of nearly 100 workers during its construction. It owes its name to the 31st president of the USA – Herbert Clark Hoover.
There is the Hoover Dam Bypass parallel to the dam. This was opened for traffic in 2010 and serves to relieve the Hoover Dam. You can also walk across the bypass bridge. But if you want to go by car you should keep in mind that you are not allowed to stop on the bridge.
3. Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is a national park of superlatives and extremes: it is the hottest, the driest and the lowest national park in the USA. The national park is located in California, southeast of the Sierra Nevada, in the Mojave Desert.
Death Valley National Park is characterized by sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, canyons and multicolored rock layers. It is not for nothing that it has been the setting for numerous western movies. The national park even has a rich fauna. Various plants also thrive there – after all, more than 1,000 different plant species are reported.
Death Valley National Park is one of the youngest national parks in the USA. Death Valley got its name in 1849 from two groups of travelers who drove 100 wagons over the Old Spanish Trail looking for a shortcut. They could not find a way out of the valley for weeks.
The travelers had to slaughter some of their oxen and use the wood from some of the wagons for firewood because they had no food supplies left. They left the valley by Wingate Pass, leaving the rest of their wagons behind. One woman bid them farewell with the words, “Goodbye, Valley of Death.” However, there was only one fatality among the travelers, an elderly, debilitated man.
2. Liberty Bell
Probably the most famous bell in the world, it was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London and sent to Philadelphia in 1752 to adorn the new Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall.
Before it was hung, a crack was discovered in it, whereupon it was recast by two Philadelphia craftsmen, John Stow and John Pass. The bell was rung to summon the citizens of Philadelphia on important occasions, such as the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The last time the bell was to strike was in 1846 for George Washington’s birthday. Although it received a new crack on that occasion and has not rung since, the Liberty Bell has become a symbol of freedom and independence for generations of Americans. Visitors can view it and have Park Rangers tell its story.
1. Glacier National Park
It offers some of the most beautiful mountain views in the world and has what it takes to help mankind better understand and thus better protect climate development in the future: We are talking about Glacier National Park in the high mountains of the Rocky Mountains.
High in northern Montana, where this U.S. state borders Canada, Glacier National Park covers a total of 4,100 square kilometers. Every year, well over two million visitors enjoy the wild beauty of this park, where rugged mountain peaks alternate with glaciers, and where there are crystal-clear lakes and flower-filled meadows. Here, the scenery is literally otherworldly, the air is a gift for the lungs and respiratory system, and the silence almost takes some getting used to. No wonder, then, that many visitors stay longer than a day, and many even spend their entire vacation in Glacier National Park.
