25 Top Tourist Attractions in the USA

USA

The USA is considered one of the largest countries in the world, thus having a number of tourist destinations.

These sights range from the skyscrapers in New York and Chicago to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska up to the amazing beaches of California, Florida, and Hawaii.

Yes, it has so many tourist attractions, but we have gathered a list of the top 25 destinations to visit when in the USA.

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Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is a national memorial located in South Dakota.

It has been created in the early 20th century, and Mount Rushmore actually depicts the faces of four former American presidents.

You can see the faces of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt there.

Also, you can go along the short Presidential Trail if you wish a better view of the landmark.

Pike Place Market in Seattle

Pike Place Market in Seattle near the Elliott Bay in Seattle, Washington was opened in 1907.

This is nowadays considered a historic, iconic part of the city which is full of the oldest establishments in the region.

Markets are frequently visited sites, as you can buy fresh fish straight from Puget Sound.

There are also cheesemongers who will offer you to try local brie and camembert, as well as the original Starbucks coffee shop.

Venice Beach in Los Angeles

You cannot leave Los Angeles without going to Venice Beach.

Besides the canals and beaches, what makes it so attractive is the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

This is the place where street performers juggle, dance, sculpt and sing for passersby, and should not be missed.

Besides shopping for souvenirs and stopping to admire a live performer, tourists frequently tip those performers so as to show appreciation.

Mesa Verde

The Mesa Verde National Park located in Colorado boasts the preserved homes of the Ancestral Pueblo people.

Actually, these homes date back to the early 13th century and are preserved till today, so that people can walk beneath the overhanging cliffs and visit these ancient dwellings.

The Balcony House has 40 rooms that can only be reached by ladder.

The Cliff Palace is bigger than the Balcony House and it is supposed that it used to house more than 100 people as it has 150 original rooms.

Faneuil Hall in Boston

Faneuil Hall in Boston belongs to some of the historic destinations in Boston.

Actually, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is also known as the Cradle of Liberty.

This nickname is due to the fact that certain leaders gathered there to fight against oppression.

These gatherings took place before and during the American Revolutionary War.

However, nowadays Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a location where you can shop for local products and desserts.

It is both an indoor and outdoor marketplace.

Kennedy Space Center

Inside Cape Canaveral, which is located on the coast of Florida, there is the Kennedy Space Center.

It is known as the launch site for each and every US human space flight since 1968.

Furthermore, it operates as a launch site for unmanned rockets.

Once there, you will find out many things about the early pioneers in space.

If you wish to experience the tension and excitement of these people, you can participate in the Shuttle Launch Experience, which actually replicates space travel.

Navy Pier in Chicago

Navy Pier in Chicago is located on the waters of Lake Michigan.

This is an enormous pier in the heart of Chicago which boasts numerous attractions which are created to suit the whole family.

Besides some of the most beautiful gardens and souvenir shops, the pier is also well known as a home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, two theaters, and various outstanding restaurants.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be found between Tennessee and North Carolina.

It is worth mentioning that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts enormous size and incredible scenery which includes forests full of different species of birds.

A must-see once there are the waterfalls of Laurel Falls and the vistas of Clingman’s Dome.

River Walk in San Antonio

Once you find yourself in the city of San Antonio, Texas, you should not miss the River Walk.

It is also known as the Paseo del Rio, and it represents a network of walkways lining the San Antonio River.

What makes it even more attractive is that it is only for pedestrians who can admire the fascinating architecture and greenery.

The River Walk is also a place where you can dine and explore Texas cuisine.

Carlsbad Caverns

As you could suppose from the name itself, Carlsbad Caverns consists of 115 caves, and this tourist attraction is located in southern New Mexico.

The caverns are so popular due to the fact that they were carved from limestone.

Nowadays, they are available to visors who will be able to descend more than 900 feet (275 meters) below the surface of the earth but only on a guided tour.

The most popular part of this cave is certainly the Big Room as this is the largest cave chamber in all of North America.

When in this room, visitors will go on a 90-minute walk during which they can explore the unbelievable underground surroundings.

Bryce Canyon National Park

The Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Southern Utah.

It is famous among travelers as a display of rock formations that are actually a series of natural amphitheaters.

In the past, Mormon settlers settled this canyon home, but nowadays it is visited for stunning views and superb hiking opportunities.

At Sunset Point you will be able to see the panoramic views of the red, yellow, and orange rock formations.

Also, there is the Queen’s Garden Trail during which visitors are offered a fantastic view of green trees among the red rocks.

French Quarter in New Orleans

Once in New Orleans, Louisiana, you cannot but visit the French Quarter.

It has the nickname the Vieux Carre, as it definitely represents the huge French colonial influences on the city of New Orleans.

Besides awe-inspiring architecture, with the St. Louis Cathedral as the main attraction, the French Quarter visitors often go to the Moon Walk, which is a paved walkway next to the Mississippi River.

Bourbon Street is famous for its nightlife, drinking, and entertainment.

Sedona Red Rock Country

The Sedona Red Rock Country is situated north of Phoenix, Arizona.

Even though it is not such a big city, this place is one of the major tourist attractions in the USA due to its red rock landscape.

Its nickname is Red Rock Country, and it is ideal for outdoor activities.

There are canyons, creeks, and paths and the Cathedral Rock Trail is definitely the local favorite hiking spot.

Sedona boasts the contemporary Chapel of the Holy Cross which was built right into the side of the red rocks, representing a mixture of old and modern.

Walt Disney World in Orlando

Orlando, Florida boasts various amusement parks, but the most popular of all is Walt Disney World.

Actually, Walt Disney World consists of several distinct theme parks, and those are the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and the Blizzard Beach Water Park.

This is a perfect place for people eager to enjoy thrill rides.

Plus, the nightlife, cuisine, shopping, and entertainment at Disney Springs are something that should not be missed once there.

Yosemite National Park

The Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

This is a tourist attraction well known all around the world due to its amazing scenery.

Inside this park, you can enjoy spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls and see sequoia trees that have been there more than hundreds of years ago.

Yosemite Valley is popular for its enormous Yosemite Falls and the granite monolith called Half Dome.

White House in Washington D.C.

The White House which is located in Washington DC is known all over the world as the official residence and office of the President of the United States.

It has been existing since 1800 and it was first used by President John Adams.

Due to the attacks in 2011, it is difficult to visit the White House and tourists can come in groups of 10.

However, this visit has to be requested up to six months in advance and this is done through the member of Congress or the country’s US Ambassador.

Denali National Park

The Denali National Park and Preserve in Interior Alaska is a part of Mount McKinley, which is the highest mountain in North America.

The word “Denali” in the name of the park means “the high one” in the native Athabaskan language.

Besides being the highest, this mountain protects a hard to believe wilderness that contains grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, among many other animals.

Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas is known as the home of gambling.

However, it is worth mentioning that Las Vegas is located in the middle of the southern Nevada desert.

As you probably already know, casinos are everywhere around Las Vegas, but the Vegas Boulevard South boasts the most of them.

There are giant mega-casino hotels that were exclusively decorated so as to create a fantasy-like atmosphere.

Some of the casinos have the names of far-away destinations.

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a chain of tropical islands which is 120 miles long.

It is near the base of the Florida peninsula, linked to the mainland by a series of bridges.

One of the most famous bridges is the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys.

True Lies and Fast 2 Furious movies have been filmed right there.

US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” stretches from Key Largo, Islamadora, Marathon, Lower Keys, and finally to Key West, which is the most distant and most famous island.

Kilauea

Kilauea is actually a series of volcanoes that have made the Hawaiian Archipelago.

What makes it special is that it is a flat shield volcano, which differs a lot from the sharply sloping peaks of other volcanoes.

This is the most active volcano on the Earth, as thirty-three eruptions have taken place there since 1952.

Not to mention the current eruption which started on January 3, 1983, and is still going on.

Niagara Falls

One of the most popular tourist attractions of the USA is definitely Niagara Falls.

They are situated between the state of New York and the province of Ontario.

It has to be mentioned that they are the most spectacular natural wonders on the North American continent.

The site consists of three different falls, the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls.

Horseshoe Falls is situated on the Canadian side and the other two are located in New York.

Being that around 14 million visitors come here each year, this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world for sure.

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that extends from the strait between San Francisco and Marin County to the north.

The Golden Gate Bridge became so famous due to the fact that it was the longest suspension bridge in the world in 1937.

Nowadays, it is an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.

It is red-orange color, which was selected so as to make the bridge more easily visible when the thick fog surrounds it.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park, as it has been existing since 1872.

It was created so as to protect various geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas within.

Plus, it was important to protect the incredible wildlife and rocky beauty of the area.

Yellowstone park includes half of all the world’s known geothermal features, around 10,000 examples of geysers, and hot springs.

When it comes to wildlife, black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison, and wolves can all be found there.

Manhattan

Manhattan is just one of New York’s five boroughs.

When people think of coming to New York, the first thing that comes to their mind is  Manhattan.

There is an amazing skyline and all the sights that you have probably already seen on TV screens.

Once there, you should try walking in the shadow of the skyscrapers, picturing the Statue of Liberty, or seeing a Broadway show.

Furthermore, for those more adventurous climbing, the Empire State building can be quite an experience.

Grand Canyon

The number one on our list and certainly many people’s desired destination is the Grand Canyon.

It is located in northern Arizona and was carved over several million years by the Colorado River.

The canyon is 1.6 km (1 mile) deep and 446 km (277 miles) long.

It is neither the deepest nor the longest canyon in the world but the size and its colorful landscape offer tourists unforgettable views.

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