37 Must-Visit Attractions in the United States

The most visited vacation resort in the world, Walt Disney World opened in 1971 and is located near Orlando, Florida. The attraction is part of Walt Disney World Resort, which has 27 themed hotels, four theme parks and two water parks. The first theme park to open at the resort was Magic Kingdom, followed by Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each park offers plenty of family-friendly entertainment, including rides, live shows, tours and special events.

How apt that our guide to the greatest landmarks in the USA begins with the park commemorating the country’s founding. The home of the Liberty Bell, Pennsylvania’s Independence Park takes you right back to the time of the Founding Fathers. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the copper Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The female figure represents the Roman goddess Libertas and has become both a symbol of freedom and a way to welcome immigrants from abroad. The statue is located on Liberty Island in New York City. Due to safety reasons, public access to the balcony surrounding the torch has been banned since 1916. A new Statue of Liberty Museum opened in 2019, featuring the original torch.

Starting with president John Adams in 1800, The White House has been the official residence of every US president. It includes an Executive Residence, a West Wing and East Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The property is owned by the National Park Service and offers free self-guided tours Tuesday through Thursday. However, all public tour requests must be submitted through a member of Congress. Those wishing to visit the White House who are from another country must contact their country’s embassy in Washington, DC.

Located in West Potomac park in D.C., this memorial is a haunting reminder of a bloody conflict with its 19 large stainless steel soldiers surrounded by a wall full of images and memories and a single statement in silver chosen to sum up the conflict: ‘Freedom is Not Free’. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

This small island offshore from San Francisco is where notorious criminal Al Capone was imprisoned – in cell 181. Alcatraz served as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. The Island has several landmarks, including the Warden’s House, Main Cellhouse and the Lighthouse, which was the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. While the prison claimed that no prisoner escaped during its 29 years in operation, 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts. In 1946, six prisoners tried to escape and failed, leading to the Battle of Alcatraz.

A visit to California’s Yosemite National Park is an encounter with nature at its most mighty and awe-inspiring. Huge cascading waterfalls meet giant sequoia trees thousands of years old and vast expanses of wilderness across the park’s 1,200 stunning square miles. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Named after New York, the Empire State, this 102-story building has a roof height of 1,250ft (381m). It was the world’s tallest building for 40 years, until the original World Trade Center’s North Tower stood over it. It’s currently the ninth tallest skyscraper in the United States and the 48th tallest in the world. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Truly a wonder of the natural world, the Delaware Water Gap was created over millennia as the Delaware River carved its way through the Kittatinny Mountains, creating a stunning 70,000-acre landscape perfect for a rural retreat with its vast array of lakes, waterfalls and forests. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Founded in 1925 as a one-hour radio “barn dance,” the Grand Ole Opry is the longest running radio broadcast in US history. The weekly country music stage concert is held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, except during the winter months when it moves to the Ryman Auditorium. The Opry is dedicated to honoring country music and musicians, from historical legends to contemporary artists.

Little over a decade old, Washington D.C.’s World War II Memorial has quickly become a must-visit spot for anyone visiting the nation’s capital. Made up of 56 pillars, a fountain and two arches, it is a simple but striking tribute to the sacrifices made during WW2. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

It was originally known as “The Six Grandfathers”, and was renamed in 1885 after prominent New York lawyer Charles E Rushmore. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in Keystone, South Dakota and features 60-foot (18m) sculptures of the heads of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Construction on the memorial began in 1927 and was completed in 1939. Each president was originally going to be depicted from head to waist, but lack of funds forced construction to end prior to completion.

With its vast collection of historical boats, the San Fran Maritime Park is a wonderful celebration of the USA’s often-forgotten early maritime history, featuring six major 19th- and early 20th-century boats alongside 100 other smaller vessels and some great locations for some open-air swimming. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is a steep canyon located in Arizona. It is 277 miles (365km) long and nearly 18 miles (29km) wide. It was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years, who considered it a holy site. Because of its steep formation, extreme weather components and often foggy views, there have been more than 600 deaths at the Grand Canyon since the 1870s. The cause of these deaths range from falls to heat stroke to drownings in the Colorado River. In 2016, the first Grand Canyon Skydiving operation opened on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport.

Initially a hugely controversial monument due to an extreme minimalism that some saw not being adequately commemorating the casualties of the Vietnam War, Maya Lin’s v-shaped wall, with one side pointing to Lincoln and the other to the Washington Monument, has now been embraced as the perfect monument to that most controversial of conflicts. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Originally designed to advertise the name of a segregated housing development, The Hollywood Sign is situated on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills and overlooks Hollywood. It was left up after the rise of American cinema in Los Angeles started earning the sign recognition. The word “Hollywood” is spelled out in 45ft (14m) tall white letters. While you can get close to the sign for great photo opportunities, it is illegal to climb on, and there is security on the property to ensure that nobody gets too close.

With 40 miles of uninterrupted beaches on the Atlantic, it is no wonder that Massachusetts’ Cape Cod is so popular. Ample space to swim, surf or just sit on the beach for those looking to relax, all surrounded by ample wildlife for those wishing to explore make Cape Cod an ideal vacation destination. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean is the Golden Gate Bridge, which spans the Golden Gate strait at 4,200ft (1,280m). The official color of the bridge is called international orange, and was selected by architect Irving Morrow, who chose it because it complements the surroundings of the area and makes the bridge more visible in foggy conditions. Today, nearly 40 painters touch up the work when it gets eroded.

As well as that world famous red suspension bridge, the Golden Gate area offers a world of natural delights, with over a thousand animal species and centuries of history spanning from the Native American settlement of California to the bustling metropolis of modern day San Francisco. No wonder 13 million visit its 80,000 acres every year. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Found in the Gulf of Mexico underneath Mississippi and Florida, the Gulf Island draw millions each year looking for an idyllic spot to for fishing, boating or just a little relaxed fun in the sun. Aside from that, however, it also features fascinating historical forts to explore. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

The second most visited house in the US, only beaten by the White House, is Elvis Presley’s former estate, Graceland. Located in Memphis, it is now a museum that attracts more than 650,000 visitors a year. Elvis Presley purchased Graceland in 1957 and lived there until his death in 1977. Today, the museum offers tours that take visitors through all 23 rooms in the house, including the Jungle Room, which Presley converted to a recording studio that he used for his two final albums. You’ll also see the painting that was Elvis’s last Christmas gift from his father hanging in the Music Room.

Originally built in 1812 to stop a British Invasion, Castle Clinton marks the beginning of the development of New York City. It has been a fort, a theatre, an immigration station, and now it is an essential tourist attraction for all Manhattan visitors. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

With more than 50-acres (20 hectares) of parks, shops, restaurants and a large Ferris wheel, Navy Pier is a popular tourist spot in Chicago. The 3,300ft (1005m) long pier was named Navy Pier in 1927 to honor naval veterans who served in World War I. It was opened to the public in 1916 and was built by nationally-acclaimed architect Charles Sumner Frost. In May 2016, a new ferris wheel was opened, with brighter lights and ride times extended from seven to 12 minutes.

For over a century the Ohio Canal was a vital trade route through the country. Now it is a park rich with history and nature, with its 185 miles spanning some of the most beautiful areas of D.C., Maryland and West Virginia. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Along the Tennessee-North Carolina border are the Great Smoky Mountains. Sometimes referred to as just the Smokies, the mountains are part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited national park in the country. The name Smoky comes from the fog that can often be found hovering over the mountain range. With breathtaking views, hiking trails, waterfalls, fishing spots and places to enjoy a picnic, the Great Smoky Mountains are a family-friendly attraction that anyone can enjoy.
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Nothing says exploring America quite like a road trip, and the Natchez Trace Parkway might be the best one there is, with its 444 miles highlighting the stunning scenery of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee as well as the entire history of America as a landmass from Native Americans to automobiles. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Even though it’s not technically located in Las Vegas (it is actually south of the city), the Las Vegas Strip is considered a top spot to visit in Nevada. With resorts, hotels and casinos lining the 4.2 mile (6.7km) stretch, the Strip is a popular destination for adult travelers. Some of the most popular hotels (which have casinos inside) visited by tourists are Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Excalibur and The Bellagio. Many high-profile performers like Elvis Presley, Elton John and Celine Dion have performed at venues in Las Vegas, attracting millions of visitors every year.

The first National Recreation Area designated in an urban area, the Gateway offers the city dwellers of New York and New Jersey more rural experiences like swimming in the ocean, hiking through forests and camping across three sites, a welcome rural retreat visited by 10 million urbanites a year. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans is the French Quarter. The name was derived from the changes that occurred in the city after the Louisiana Purchase. The French Quarter district has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is a prime tourist destination, especially during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. The area features restaurants, shops, local events and art displays up and down the streets.

Amongst the inhospitable deserts of Arizona and Nevada, Lake Mead is an almost literal oasis, full of plants and animals evolved to cope with the often sweltering heats and regular droughts of desert life. As such, it is a recreation spot as unique as the wildlife that makes its home there. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Located on the central coast of California is Hearst Castle. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. The castle features 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, and once was the site of the world’s largest private zoo. There is also the Neptune Pool, which gives visitors a scenic view of the mountains and the ocean.

One of the USA’s so-called ‘All American Roads’, the George Washington Memorial Parkway is a 25-mile road through Virginia (with a small segment in D.C.) full of memorials and reminders of America’s history as a nation, from the Marine Corps War Memorial to the Arlington Bridge into Washington. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

In 1907 Times Square became the location where the New Year’s Eve ball would drop each year. The tradition still lives on. Times Square is the most visited place in the world and the second most visited tourist attraction after the Las Vegas Strip. The entertainment center is located in the Midtown Manhattan area of New York City and is sometimes referred to as “The Crossroads of the World”. There are high-rise buildings, interactive billboards, major retail shops, restaurants, museums and entertainment venues.

Known as ‘America’s Favorite Drive’, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 470 mile wander through the mountains of the Appalachians that spans from North Carolina to Virginia, allowing you to get incredibly close to the majestic scenery right from the comfort of your car, but with plenty of opportunities for those who want to get out of their four doors and into nature. Recommended by Samuel Spencer.

Up and down Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, California are more than 2,600 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. These stars bear the names of prominent figures in the entertainment industry who have achieved a high level of success with their work. The five points on each star represent the categories from which each honoree is selected. These categories are motion pictures, broadcast television, audio recording, broadcast radio and live performance. Each star contains an emblem symbolizing the category, which is located below the entertainer’s name. Approximately 20 new stars are added to the Walk of Fame every year.

It was originally referred to as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the East River Bridge until it was renamed by the city government in 1915. The Brooklyn Bridge is a National Historic Landmark that connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was the first steel-wire suspension bridge constructed and spans 1,595.5ft (486m) across the East River. The bridge has a wide pedestrian walkway in the center, above the lanes used by cars.

Built to honor President Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial is located across from the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. A large seated sculpture of Lincoln was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers and took four years to complete. The building, which models a Greek Doric temple, features inscriptions from two of Lincoln’s speeches, “The Gettysburg Address” and his second inaugural address. The memorial was the site of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave in 1963. The monument is open to the public 24 hours a day and attracts more than six million visitors each year.

The USA has an amazing array of must-see locations, ranging from the energetic streets of New York City to the magnificent scenery of the Grand Canyon. Our carefully planned tours make sure you see the finest of the nation, whether your goal is to see famous national parks, historic sites, or vibrant cityscapes. Discover what makes the USA genuinely remarkable by embarking on your next fantastic American journey right now.