The United States is full of attractions, whether they are historical, natural, or unique, and it can be difficult for you to choose the ones that you want to see more than any of the others. You may not even be aware of some of the attractions that can be found within the fifty states, let alone which ones are the best of the best. However, we can guarantee that there is at least one of the better attractions near where you live.
Here are the top tourist attractions in the USA:
1. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Florida
You will want to take the time to stop at this park that can be found at mile marker one hundred and two along US Route 1, because it contains the only living coral reef in the United States. You’ll want to dive, snorkel, kayak, or simply take a glass bottom boat out to the reef to see the mangroves, coral, and marine life that lives there.
2. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
There is nothing more massive than the Grand Canyon and that is why it is on many people’s must-see lists. You can choose to see this magnificent natural wonder from either the South Rim or the North Rim, and while they both have amazing views, the North Rim is less crowded. You’ll really appreciate the view that you can see as you wander along the Cape Royal Trail to Angels Window, although Bright Angel Point is fascinating as well.
3. The French Quarter in New Orleans
Late nights, parties, food, music, and Mardi Gras seems to sum up the historic French Quarter of New Orleans perfectly. You can wander the streets of this major attraction as you admire the architecture, ironwork, and little gardens in the courtyards. Stopping at the Cabildo and William Faulkner House may feel necessary, but you definitely cannot miss the history inside Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Lafitte’s is inside one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans and it is claimed to be one of the most haunted buildings as well.
4. Statue of Liberty in New York City
The Statue of Liberty stands high in the sky in New York Harbor, but you’ll be able to see her up close if you take a ferry ride out to the island. Once you reach the island, you can walk around the grounds, walk up the steps to the pedestal, or even climb all the way up to the crown. After seeing the Statue of Liberty, you may want to consider a stop at Ellis Island, which is where every immigrant passed through when they arrived in America.
5. The Freedom Trail in Boston
This trail is two and a half miles long and it weaves through the city streets of Boston. As you walk along the red brick path, you can stop at the numerous historical attractions including the Paul Revere House, the Old State House, the Old Granary Burying Ground, and the infamous Faneuil Hall. You can begin your journey on the Freedom Trail from any area, but we recommend starting at Boston Commons, so you do not miss anything.
6. Niagara Falls in New York
There are three waterfalls within Niagara Falls and they are the American, Horseshoe, and Bridal Veil, and you will hear them long before you can see any of them. The water rushes over these falls every day of the year and while you can see them from land, you can get up much closer on a Maid of the Mist boat tour. Most of the best views are seen from the Canadian side, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy this natural wonder from the US.
7. Balboa Park in San Diego
Balboa Park consists of one thousand two hundred acres of land and inside you will find seventeen museums, a zoo, gardens, and numerous water fountains. Out of everything, we recommend that you begin with the San Diego Zoo, where you can visit more than three thousand animals including Giant pandas. The San Diego Air and Space Museum should be your next stop, and this is where you can see artifacts from Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, the Wright Brothers, and more.
8. Independence Hall in Philadelphia
While there are quite a few must-visit historical attractions in the United States, a lot of them happen to be within the city of Philadelphia. One of the most popular of them all is Independence Hall, which is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. We recommend taking a tour, so you can see the Assembly Room, which is where all the action took place.
We could list dozens more of our favorite attractions within the United States, but these are our favorites of them all. We know that you’ll enjoy visiting them all and hope that they give you ideas of where else you can venture during your future vacations.