The USA, as one of the world’s largest and most diversified countries, has an incredible number of tourist places, ranging from the skyscrapers of New York and Chicago to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska, as well as the sunny beaches of California, Florida, and Hawaii.
It’s tempting to highlight entire towns or even states because the United States has so many tourist sites, but in this top 15, I’ve tried to focus on specific sights.
1: Grand Canyon
View this post on Instagram
The Grand Canyon is the most famous tourist place in the USA, and it is in northern Arizona. The Colorado River carved the canyon for more than millions of years, reaching a depth of more than 1.6 km and a length of 446 km.
This is not the world’s deepest or longest canyon, but its massive size and intricate and colorful scenery provide visitors with breathtaking views that are unrivaled anywhere else.
2: Yellowstone
View this post on Instagram
Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park, established in 1872 to safeguard the area’s incredible biodiversity and rugged scenery, as well as its large quantity of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal zones. Yellowstone is on the top of a massive hotspot, where molten mantle rock erupts to the surface.
As a result, the park today comprises half of the world’s known geothermal phenomena, including over 10,000 geysers and hot springs. Within the park’s boundaries, black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison, and wolves can all be found.
3: Manhattan
View this post on Instagram
Manhattan is included in the five boroughs of NYC, and it is what most people think of when they think of the city. Its skyline and views have been seen a thousand times on television. Climb the Empire State Building, wander Central Park, window shop on Fifth Avenue, or wobble about a museum in the shadow of the towers.
4: Golden Gate Bridge
View this post on Instagram
This is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait, which separates San Francisco from Marin County to the north.
When it was finished in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge span, and it has since become an internationally recognized emblem of San Francisco and California. The bridge’s famous red-orange hue was chosen particularly to make it more apparent through the dense fog that frequently shrouds the bridge.
5: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
View this post on Instagram
It is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is the most frequented in the entire country, owing to its massive size and breathtaking landscape.
Hiking through old-growth forests, spotting hundreds of species of birds, and visiting the two visitor centers are all options for visitors. Hikes can also take you along pathways that lead to Laurel Falls’ waterfalls and Clingman’s Dome’s panoramas.
6: Carlsbad Caverns
View this post on Instagram
Carlsbad Caverns has more than 115 caves, as the name suggests. These limestone caves are located in southern New Mexico, and tourists can take a guided tour that takes them more than 900 feet (275 meters) below the earth’s surface.
The Big Room, which is the largest single cave chamber in all of North America, is located here. Visitors can take a 90-minute tour around the area, discovering the magnificent underground environment.
7: Niagara Falls
View this post on Instagram
It is one of the most stunning natural wonders on the North American continent, located between the states of New York and Ontario. The American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls are actually three separate waterfalls.
Horseshoe Falls is on the border of the Canadian side, while the others are in New York. It is known as the most frequented tourist attraction in the world, with over 14 million people per year.
8: Yosemite National Park
View this post on Instagram
It is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. This amazing resort is known all around the world for its breathtaking beauty. Visitors can stare down beautiful granite cliffs, appreciate clear waterfalls, and view hundreds-year-old sequoia trees all within this single park.
Yosemite Valley is a popular place to visit in the park since it is home to the massive Yosemite Falls and the granite monolith known as Half Dome.
9: Denali National Park
View this post on Instagram
It is located in Alaska and is home to Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. Denali refers to Mount McKinley and means “the high one” in the native Athabaskan language. Furthermore, the park protects a vast wilderness area that is home to grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and a variety of other animals.
10: White House
View this post on Instagram
It is the President of the United States’ official residence and office in Washington, DC. President John Adams was the first to use it, which was built between 1792 and 1800.
After the 9/11 attacks, visiting the White House became more difficult, and tours are now only accessible for groups of ten or more and must be requested up to six months in advance by your member of Congress or the US Ambassador to your country.
11: Walt Disney World, Orlando
View this post on Instagram
Orlando, Florida is home to a slew of theme parks, but none are as well-known as Walt Disney World. Many visitors are unaware that Walt Disney World consists of numerous theme parks, including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Here visitors will be able to ride thrill attractions, see Broadway-quality musicals, and enjoy the nightlife, gastronomy, shopping, and entertainment.
12: Bryce Canyon National Park
View this post on Instagram
It is in southern Utah, is a spectacular display of rock formations. Bryce Canyon has a number of natural amphitheaters rather than a canyon. The canyon was previously home to Mormon settlers, but now most visitors come for the breathtaking views and fantastic hiking opportunities.
One of the most popular sites is Sunset Point, which offers panoramic views of the red, yellow, and orange rock formations. Another favorite is the Queen’s Garden Trail, which features green trees among the red rocks for a striking contrast.
13: Kennedy Space Center
View this post on Instagram
Cape Canaveral, on Florida’s coast, has a plethora of space-related activities. The Kennedy Space Center, which has hosted every US human space trip since 1968 and also serves as a launch location for unmanned rockets, is one of the best.
Visitors can learn more about the early space pioneers and experience the anxiety and excitement that accompanied the race to the moon. There’s also an opportunity to take part in the Shuttle Launch Experience, which simulates space travel.
14: Mesa Verde
View this post on Instagram
The restored houses of the Ancestral Pueblo people can be found at Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park. Many of these dwellings date from the early 13th century and are fashioned out of caverns and rock sides.
These ancient abodes can now be toured by walking beneath the overhanging rocks. The Balcony House is particularly beautifully kept, with 40 rooms that can only be accessed by a ladder. The neighboring Cliff Palace is significantly larger, with 150 original rooms that are said to have hosted more than 100 people.
15: Mount Rushmore
View this post on Instagram
Mount Rushmore, a national memorial in South Dakota, is perhaps the most distinctively American landmark. Mount Rushmore, which was built in the early twentieth century, shows the faces of four previous American presidents, each carved and blasted from the side of a rock face.
The faces of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt are larger-than-life. The short Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore’s base offers excellent vistas and a unique viewpoint on the monument.