The 20 Best Places to Visit in the US

Bright lights in big cities, beaches, bourbon trails, magnificent parks, monuments and more are calling. Plan a trip to these don't-miss destinations.

By: Lynn Coulter

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Photo By: Neal Herbert/Yellowstone National Park

Photo By: Los Angeles Tourism

Photo By: Brittany Petronella/NYC & Co.

Photo By: VisitNC.com

Photo By: VisitMississippi.com

Photo By: Jane Gamble/National Park Service

Photo By: Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau/miamiandbeaches.com

Photo By: Carol M. Highsmith/ Visit California

Photo By: NPS/Victoria Stauffenberg

Photo By: NPS / Victoria Stauffenberg

Photo By: Brad Styron/Crystal Coast

Photo By: Damon Joyce/National Park Service

Photo By: Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort/Magic Kingdom Park

Photo By: Lizz Eberhardt/Zion National Park

Photo By: Spycoast Farm/Kentucky Tourism

Photo By: National Park Service

Photo By: Zack Smith Photography/NewOrleans.com

Photo By: Xanterra Travel Collection

Photo By: Abel Arciniega

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See the Best Places to Visit in the US

From big cities to natural wonders and national parks, America is a land of fascinating contrasts. Some destinations, like parks, take you off-road to see an incredible diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems. Glaciers in Montana and the Grand Canyon cliffs reveal America’s geology and history. In Beverly Hills, you'll see how “the other half” lives, while Little Havana welcomes you to experience Latino culture.

Yellowstone National Park, shown here, turns 150 years old in 2022. Visitors come to see the geysers, hot springs, mud pots, steam vents and other natural wonders of its 2.2-million acres. It’s also home to a variety of plants, animals (think grizzly bears and bison) and aquatic life. This wilderness area is located mostly in Wyoming and spills over into Montana and Idaho. After you visit, head south to Grand Teton National Park to see one of the most magnificent mountain ranges in the world.

Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills

Los Angeles may be the entertainment capital of the world, but it offers more than sunshine and movie studios. Beyond the beaches, multicultural neighborhoods and clubs, you’ll find upscale Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive , a shopper’s paradise for designer brands from all over the world (think Jimmy Choo and Cartier). Can't afford Prada? Window-shop and then see where films like Pretty Woman were made. Don't skip the Walk of Style or the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later, enjoy fine dining at Wolfgang Puck's see-and-be-seen hot spot Spago or grab a sandwich at a classic Beverly Hills deli. You don’t have to be a swanky celebrity to see how the other half lives.

New York's West Side

Pin on your “I Love NY” button and explore the west side of Manhattan. Start on The High Line, a free, public park built on an old rail line that overlooks the streets below. This 1.5-mile walkway is filled with public art, gardens (inspired by wild, self-seeding plants and created by superstar garden designer Piet Oudolf), and free programs for all ages and interests. Walk to Chelsea, an art district known for its diverse neighborhood, high-end and indie galleries, shopping and for the eclectic eats at Chelsea Market. Plans call for extending The High Line to the Hudson River Park, a free, 550-acre riverfront park. Inside that park, you’ll find Little Island, yet another free park located offshore and accessible from Pier 51. It’s a great place to play, hike, catch a performance at the Amp, an amphitheater facing the Hudson River (paid tickets are required and schedules are online), or simply marvel at the Manhattan skyline.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Take your time driving the Blue Ridge Parkway (if you go in fall, crowds of leaf peepers will slow you down, anyway). This 469-mile-long road from Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to Cherokee, North Carolina, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has more than 200 outlooks with breathtaking views of the Appalachian Highlands. Pull off to hike a trail and watch for elk, wild turkeys and black bears (stay safely away from the wildlife), or look for pioneer cabins and other remnants of early life here. In the spring, rhododendrons, tulip trees and mountain laurels burst into bloom. In autumn, the leaves steal the show. Stay to bike, fish and camp or catch a concert of traditional Appalachian music but check the road status before you go. Weather and road projects can cause closures and detours. Shown here: The Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering marvel on Grandfather Mountain.

Mississippi Blues Trail

The blues — the only musical genre said to be completely American — were born in the 1860s in the Mississippi Delta. Greats like Muddy Waters, Ike Turner and Sam Cooke are memorialized along the Blues Highway, or Route 61, which runs from New Orleans to Wyoming, Minnesota. Part of it coincides with the Mississippi Blues Trail, where numerous markers and historic sites tell the story of the blues. Some are outside the state, but within Mississippi, the trail runs north from the Gulf Coast to Clarksdale, Columbus, Meridian and other cities. Must-see stops: in Tunica, the Gateway to the Blues Museum; in Memphis, Graceland, once home to Elvis Presley and Sun Studio, where B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf and others recorded. In Cleveland, tour the GRAMMY Museum, see the guitar collection in the Delta Blues Museum and pop into Red’s Lounge, shown here, a juke joint with live music.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a subtropical wetland in south Florida. Its 1.5 million acres are famous for their wildlife and ecosystems. Nicknamed "the river of grass," the Everglades is fed by water from the Kissimmee River that slowly flows into sawgrass marshes, piney flatwoods and mangrove forests. Alligators and crocodiles coexist here; it’s also home to manatees, the endangered Florida panther, more than 360 bird species and more. The dry season, from December through April, is the best time to visit. Get out on the water to see most of the park; charter an airboat tour or go boating, canoeing, kayaking or slough slogging (that’s wet, off-trail hiking). At night, look for alligators’ eyes shining above the surface of the dark water. Camp out to truly experience this extraordinary wilderness.

South Beach, Miami

If you see roller skaters whizzing by, you're probably in Miami’s trendy, sun-drenched South Beach neighborhood. Beautiful people from everywhere come to see and be seen along these 15 city blocks with their ocean views, hip vibes and various art exhibits. Head to famous Ocean Drive to see amazing art-deco architecture or admire modern and contemporary art at the Perez Museum. At Wynwood Walls, stroll past graffiti and street art from local, national and international artists; murals cover more than 80,000 square feet of the area's exterior warehouse walls. Take in the culture, art and food in Little Havana, a vibrant Cuban neighborhood. Watch the locals play dominos in Maximo Gomez Park (also called Domino Park), and buy a box of hand-rolled cigars or a cup of strong Cuban coffee and a guava pastry.

Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway, State Route 1, runs more than 600 miles along the Pacific coastline. Take your time and absorb some of the most scenic views in the US. You could drive straight through in about 10 hours, but it’s better to stay overnight along the way so you can explore. Stop at opulent Hearst Castle in San Simeon, walk the waterfall trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, see iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, visit a roadside market or dine at a cliff-top restaurant like Nepenthe. You’ll pass redwoods, rugged mountains, beaches, vineyards, farms and urban areas. Pull over to dip your hand in a tide pool, watch surfers and passing whales, and visit places like Santa Barbara and Carmel-by-the-Sea. The road begins on Interstate 5, south of San Juan Capistrano in southern California and ends with US 101 in Mendocino County.

Acadia National Park

Moose, bears and seabirds make their home in Acadia National Park, most of which lies on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. This 50,000-acre playground on the North Atlantic coast is a great place to hike, explore tide pools, take a scenic drive, stargaze, boat, swim or camp (check the website for seasonal closures). Many visitors take the 27-mile loop road on the east side of the island for the scenery but you can enjoy the natural beauty from Schoodic Peninsula or catch the ferry to remote Isle au Haut. Park programs discuss the native peoples and African Americans, women and laborers who are part of the park’s cultural heritage. Acadia is unique because many trails have narrow ledges with ladders you can use to climb the sheer rock faces. Wake up early to see the glorious sunrise from 1,530-foot-tall Cadillac Mountain; head to Thunder Hole, an inlet known for its crashing waves or go fishing or sightseeing to spot puffins. Visit in July and August when the weather is typically nice or go in fall for the eye-catching autumnal colors.

National Mall & Memorial Parks

The National Mall, a symbol of American democracy for more than 200 years, is a 1,000-acre greenspace in Washington, D.C., that runs from the US Capitol to the Potomac River. It’s home to memorials and monuments honoring individuals like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr., and events like World War II. Just off the mall, look for The National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, and many other notable and historic sites. Entry is free to the National Mall and Memorial Parks, along with many other sites around town (see "100 free things to do") and the Smithsonian museums.

Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, South Carolina, calls itself a “hidden Lowcountry gem,” and it is, often described as one of the best small towns on the East Coast. It's located on Port Royal Island, one of the largest sea islands on the southeastern Atlantic coast. Some of the homes occupied by Northern forces during the Civil War still survive here, and history and architecture buffs come to explore the downtown area, designated a historic district. Book a summertime tour of old homes or catch the Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens. Kayak in the beautiful rivers, marshes and creeks. Fish or boat, attend a Gullah festival, stroll or bike the Spanish Moss Trail, browse galleries and boutiques, take a carriage ride, or tour the sites where movies like Forest Gump and The Big Chill were filmed. The Pat Conroy Literary Center is also here.

Yosemite National Park

Glaciers and granite cliffs, peaceful meadows and valleys, ancient sequoias and wild animals. The vast wilderness we call Yosemite National Park covers almost 1,200 square miles on the western slope of California’s central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit. Choose from guided tours, fishing, water sports, cultural history events, horseback riding and more, or explore on your own. Escape the crowds (some of them, anyway) in Tuolumne Meadows, an alpine landscape where you can picnic near stunning waterfalls on the Tuolumne River. If you’re a strong hiker — it’s 7.2 miles to the top — take the Yosemite Falls Trail for spectacular views. You might even feel the spray from the falls as they tumble and roar. Upper Yosemite Falls is North America’s tallest waterfall at 2,425 feet above the valley floor.

Shown here: Yosemite’s Upper and Lower Falls.

Walt Disney World Resort

Come with kids or without them and you'll still have a blast at Walt Disney World Resort. This enormous entertainment complex in Orlando, Florida, has plenty of magic to experience: theme park rides, encounters with costumed characters, water parks, concerts, shows and other attractions. Make reservations to enter any of the four main parks (The Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios) and book the popular restaurants way ahead of time. WDW is celebrating its 50th anniversary through March 31, 2023. For new, don't-miss thrills, hop on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a roller coaster. This reverse-launch coaster rotates 360 degrees as you rocket through space.

Shown here: US Air Force Thunderbirds flying over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Zion National Park

Native people and American pioneers once inhabited the land now known as Utah’s Zion National Park. Carved from sandstone by the Virgin River, Zion Canyon, which averages 2,000 feet deep, is its most dramatic and beautiful feature. Experienced hikers can follow the canyon floor to a 20- to 30-foot-wide passage known as The Narrows. Hardier souls can hike, rappel and swim through deep pools of cold, debris-filled water in an area known as The Subway. But take note: These are strenuous hikes, group sizes are limited, and wilderness permits are required in some areas. Angel's Landing, shown here, is popular and also difficult to hike, but the views are fantastic. Head to Zion’s spectacular, natural rock arches to snap selfies.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Plan a road trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to visit any of about 42 distilleries in northeastern Kentucky that produce 95% of the world’s whisky. Pick up a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport and Field Guide at any distillery and learn more about it here. Along with tastings of the state’s signature spirit, the cities and towns on the trail offer distillery tours, fine dining and bourbon-themed events, hotels and bed-and-breakfast lodgings. Some, like Louisville, even boast a downtown area with speakeasies like Gertie's, in Roaring Twenties style. Use this interactive map to customize your trip. You’ll see some gorgeous scenery along the way, like lush, gently rolling fields of bluegrass, white-fenced horse farms (the fences are being painted black, by state ordinance, to save on maintenance costs), and historic homes and buildings.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Some of the glaciers in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park formed about seven million years ago, and they’ve been sliding down the mountains ever since. Geologists think the glaciers we see now are leftovers from a "Little Ice Age" that started 4,000 years ago, and climate change continues to make them melt. But you can still marvel at spectacular tidewater glaciers when you venture 65 miles into the bay or book a tour. The park also includes 3.3-million acres of southeastern Alaskan wilderness, complete with mountains, a temperate rainforest and deep fjords. There are no roads into the park, so most people arrive by small plane, cruise ship or boat. Glacier National Park is a smaller wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains. Visit before 2030, when scientists say all the glaciers will have melted.

Shown here: sea lions lounging in the sun.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Jazz was born in New Orleans and every night the city buzzes as visitors spill out of clubs and bars, sipping from plastic “go cups” and swaying to live music. The action’s always hot on Bourbon Street, known for its party atmosphere. It's in the heart of the French Quarter, a historic neighborhood where trendy boutiques sit near antique stores and fine restaurants like Brennan’s and Arnaud’s serving Creole cuisine. While you're in town, pay tribute to the city's romantic, historic and sometimes eerie vibes when you buy a souvenir spell candle or tour an old cemetery. Ride a street car past flickering gaslights at Jackson Square or savor a gin fizz in the Garden District. Explore the National WWII Museum in the Warehouse Arts District and brush up on African American history in the Treme neighborhood. Time your trip to see one of the city's many parades, festivals, or LGBTQ and holiday events

Grand Canyon National Park

It’s one of the toughest reservations in the world to snag, but a stay at the legendary Phantom Ranch, on the floor of Grand Canyon National Park, is worth the effort. Accessible only by foot, river raft or sure-footed mule, the lodge turns 100 in 2022 and will close temporarily in 2023 for renovations (see the website for dates). The park, located in northwestern Arizona, is a natural wonder with spectacular vistas, wildlife, rivers and backcountry trails. One unforgettable experience: taking the scenic Bright Angel Trail , where mules have the right of way. Ride the Grand Canyon Railway, retrofitted to run on recycled vegetable oil, between Williams, Arizona, one of three gated entrances to the park, and Grand Canyon Historic Village. The South Rim's crown jewel, the El Tovar Hotel, has welcomed past presidents and celebs like Paul McCartney. The park’s first new hotel in 50 years, the contemporary Maswik Lodge, is now open. Check the park's website before you go for possible closures due to weather and road conditions.

Chicago's Magnificent Mile

Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue is considered the best place in the city for shopping — and people-watching as all ages and types stroll this famous promenade. Known as the Magnificent Mile, this mixed-use district stretches 13 blocks from the Chicago River on the south to Oak Street on the north and covers an entire square mile. Browse its 450 retailers, including department, luxury and designer stores, and choose from more than 275 restaurants serving locally sourced and international foods. Explore notable architecture, like the Wrigley Building; admire the Gothic design of Tribune Tower Residences, or see the John Hancock Center, now called 875 North Michigan Avenue and known for its x-shaped external design. Stroll through a museum including the exceptional Art Institute of Chicago, ride the 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, catch a Cubs game, treat yourself to a spa, or stay at one of more than 70 boutique and luxury hotels (like The Drake, whose guests have included Winston Churchill and Princess Diana).

Shown here: ice skaters at Millenium Park on the Magnificent Mile.

Palm Springs

Known for its midcentury-modern architecture and aesthetic, California's Palm Springs is a glamorous glimpse into America’s architectural past — and vibrant contemporary life. Once a desert escape for Hollywood stars, it’s home to tour-worthy residences and buildings designed by acclaimed architects like Donald Wexler and John Lautner. There's great vintage shopping here (you might find that perfect stereo cabinet). At night, clubs come alive with music and dancing. Save time for a desert Jeep tour, a ride on the aerial tramway or a bike adventure. Check out the Modernism Museum, a showcase for items from the late '50s to early '70s, the Agua Caliente Casino, a luxe spa or romp with your pup in a grassy dog park. Palm Springs is a popular getaway destination for girlfriends, LGBTQ+ and anyone who loves sun and fun.