TOP 100 ATTRACTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Welcome to the Bigroads.com guide to the top 100 attractions in the USA!
There are literally thousands of amazing attractions in the United States, and so perhaps it's a bit silly to narrow them down into a top 100 list. After all, the concept of 'top' or 'best' is very subjective from person to person. That being said, some attractions are just so over-the-top magnificent that they deserve at least some special recognition. The purpose of this list is to highlight those extra special attractions that are found across our amazing country.
This top 100 list is sorted alphabetically by state and not by scenic rank or quality.
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ALASKA
✮ Denali National Park - a huge wilderness that is home to the tallest mountain in North America; don't miss the guided bus tours
✮ Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve - full of beautiful glaciers, rocky coastlines, and fjords
✮ Kenai Fjords National Park - see massive glaciers plus coastal fjords; includes the Harding Icefield
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ARIZONA
✮ Glen Canyon Nat. Recreation Area - features boating on scenic Lake Powell and stunning Colorado River views at Horseshoe Bend
✮ Grand Canyon National Park - the most famous canyon in the world, with many historic lodges, trailheads, views, & visitor services
✮ Havasupai / Havasu Falls - take a challenging backpacking trip to visit the water wonderland of Havasu Canyon; permits are tough to obtain
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| Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ |
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Havasu Falls, Havasupai |
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South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon |
ARKANSAS
✮ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville - one of the best art museums in the U.S.; encircled by lovely walking & biking trails
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CALIFORNIA
✮ Alcatraz Island, San Francisco - take a ferry to visit America's most famous prison; book reservations months in advance (they will sell out)
✮ Death Valley National Park - a large and notoriously hot desert park with barren and inhospitable landscapes; outstanding 4x4 driving trails
✮ Getty Center, Los Angeles - a "miraculous arts center compound" known for its art, architecture, gardens, and L.A. views
✮ Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Bay - this aquarium is consistently rated as one of the very best aquariums in the U.S.
✮ Napa Valley - a world-famous wine-producing region with beautiful rolling hills and more than 400 wineries
✮ Pacific Coast Highway / Big Sur Hwy (US-1) - many would say this is the best coastal drive in the U.S. (although the Oregon Coast competes)
✮ Redwood National and State Parks - known for its huge old-growth coast redwood trees, dense forests, scenic drives, and rugged coastline
✮ San Diego Zoo - easily the finest zoo in America (no other zoo even comes close); a sister safari park is about 1 hour northeast of this zoo
✮ Sequoia National Park - features the world's largest trees, including General Sherman; outstanding hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Yosemite National Park - one of the premier national parks of the U.S.; features granite monoliths, sequoia trees, and towering waterfalls
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| Death Valley National Park |
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Yosemite National Park |
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McWay Falls, Pacific Coast Highway |
COLORADO
✮ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango - one of the best scenic railroads in the contiguous U.S. (if not the #1 best)
✮ Great Sand Dunes National Park - Colorado's most impressive sand dunes; the climbable dunes are framed by large mountains
✮ Mesa Verde National Park - guided tours of what are arguably the most impressive ancient ruins in the U.S.
✮ Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison - one of the very best outdoor amphitheaters in the U.S; a truly special place to experience a concert
✮ Rocky Mountain National Park - one of the premier national parks in the U.S. features scenic drives, awesome hiking, and tons of wildlife
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| Great Sand Dunes National Park |
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Rocky Mountain National Park |
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Mesa Verde National Park |
FLORIDA
✮ Everglades National Park - an enormous subtropical wilderness area that offers outstanding paddling and wildlife/birdwatching opportunities
✮ Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island - one of the best space/NASA museums in the U.S.
✮ National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola - a top-rated military museum with 150+ aircraft on display (Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard)
✮ Universal Studios Florida, Orlando - a major theme park with many movie/TV attractions and thrill rides; Harry Potter World is also here
✮ Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando - a major amusement park with many thrill rides
✮ Walt Disney World, Orlando - spend a week (or more) exploring 4 world-famous theme parks and other Disney attractions in the area
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| Walt Disney World survey marker |
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Shark Valley, Everglades National Park |
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EPCOT, Walt Disney World |
GEORGIA
✮ Savannah's Historic District, Savannah - walk around the finest part of "America's best walking city"
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| Georgia Queen, Savannah |
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Savannah Historic District |
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Savannah Historic District |
HAWAII
✮ Haleakala National Park, Maui - home of cinder cones, lava flows, freshwater pools, and waterfalls
✮ Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island - features two of the world's most active volcanoes (Kilauea and Mauna Loa)
✮ Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Oahu - commemorates the tragic events of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
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ILLINOIS
✮ Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield - offers "the most complete Lincoln experience in the U.S."
✮ Art Institute of Chicago - the most visited museum in Chicago and one of the world's best art museums
✮ Millennium Park, Chicago - a public park renown for its two art sculptures (Cloud Bean / Crown Fountain); close to other green spaces
✮ Wrigley Field, Chicago - old-time ballpark and home of the Chicago Cubs MLB team; 90-minute guided tours of the park are available
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| The Bean, Millennium Park |
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Crown Fountain, Millennium Park |
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Chicago skyscrapers |
INDIANA
✮ Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis - arguably the #1 children's museum in the U.S.
✮ Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus - Indiana's best amusement park; features many great rollercoasters and a large water park
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| Children's Museum of Indianapolis |
KENTUCKY
✮ Mammoth Cave National Park - the longest cave in the U.S. offers several different types of guided tours
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LOUISIANA
✮ French Quarter, New Orleans - a 13-block historic district in the "heart of New Orleans"
✮ National World War II Museum, New Orleans - the premier World War II museum in the U.S.; one of the finest military museums in the country
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| Bourbon Street, New Orleans |
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New Orleans mural |
MAINE
✮ Acadia National Park - a beautiful coastal park with excellent hiking & biking; adjustment to the attractive town Bar Harbor
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| Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park |
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Sand Beach, Acadia National Park |
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Champlain Mountain, Acadia National Park |
MASSACHUSETTS
✮ Fenway Park, Boston - one of the most cherished baseball parks in the country; home of the Boston Red Sox
✮ Freedom Trail, Boston - a 2.5-mile long walking path that visits more than a dozen historic sites and museums; an absolute Boston "must do"
✮ Nantucket - this small and upscale town on Nantucket Island has boutique shops, cobblestone streets, beaches, and strong whaling history
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| North End, Boston |
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Freedom Trail, Boston |
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U.S.S. Constitution Museum, Boston |
MICHIGAN
✮ Detroit Institute of the Arts, Detroit - features one of the best art collections in the U.S.
✮ Henry Ford Museum Dearborn - one of the finest museum complexes in the U.S.; see many historic signs, vehicles, railroads, etc.
✮ Mackinac Island - a lovable island town with a lively downtown area; rent a bike and cycle around the island
✮ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - offers rugged beauty along the Lake Superior shoreline; outstanding hiking, boating, and paddling
✮ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - features beaches and towering sand dunes along 35 miles of Lake Michigan's shoreline
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| Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island |
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
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Miners Falls, Pictured Rocks |
MINNESOTA
✮ Mall of America, Bloomington - still the largest (and arguably best) mall in the U.S.; there's a medium-sized theme park and over 500 stores
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| Mall of America |
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Nickelodeon Universe, Mall of America |
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Mall of America |
MISSOURI
✮ City Museum, St. Louis - the most insane children's playground on the planet; don't believe me? look it up on Google Images website
✮ Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis - visit the 630-foot arch dubbed the "Eiffel Tower of the Great Plains"
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| Gateway Arch National Park |
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top of the City Museum, St. Louis |
MONTANA
✮ Glacier National Park - a premier national park with stunning mountain scenery, beautiful lodges, scenic drives, and world-class hiking
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| red Ford truck, Glacier National Park |
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Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park |
NEVADA
✮ Las Vegas Strip - a world-famous hotel, shopping & dining destination; miles of casinos, restaurants, and attractions
✮ Valley of Fire State Park - NV's most beautiful natural landscapes; one of the finest state parks in the U.S.; outstanding hiking and scenic views
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| Las Vegas welcome sign |
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Valley of Fire State Park |
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Neon Museum, Las Vegas |
NEW HAMPSHIRE
✮ White Mountain National Forest - one of the U.S.'s finest national forests; 100s of things to see and 1,000+ miles of well-marked hiking trails
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| Bretton Woods |
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Mt. Washington Cog Railway |
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View from Artist's Bluff |
NEW JERSEY
✮ Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton - one of the best outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.; this is one of my all-time favorite attractions in the U.S.
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| Grounds for Sculpture |
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Grounds for Sculpture |
NEW MEXICO
✮ Carlsbad Caverns National Park - walk a paved path into an impressive cave; one of the few caves in the U.S. where you don't need a guide
✮ White Sands National Park - absolutely beautiful white dunes (made of gypsum); several short hiking trails and one long one; bring a sled!
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| entrance to Carlsbad Caverns |
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White Sands National Park |
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Big Room, Carlsbad Caverns |
NEW YORK
✮ Adirondack Park - a massive wilderness park with 46 peaks over 4,000 feet tall; one of America's best non-national-park nature parks
✮ Manhattan/NYC - one of the world's greatest cities; Lower and Central Manhattan are packed with dozens of world-class attractions
✮ Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met"), NYC - one of the world's greatest art museums; many would say this is NYC's #1 attraction
✮ National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, Cooperstown - one of the very best sports museums in the U.S.
✮ Niagara Falls State Park - walking trails with various viewpoints of the world-famous Niagara Falls; cross over to Canada for more fun
✮ Statue of Liberty National Monument - take a ferry to visit this iconic green statue; try to get reservations to climb partway up the sculpture
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| Bryant Park, NYC |
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NYC Bean |
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Central Park, NYC |
NORTH CAROLINA
✮ Biltmore Estate, Asheville - offers guided tours of the largest private home in the U.S.; also has a beautiful garden, trails, and a winery
✮ Blue Ridge Parkway - a 469-mile scenic drive from central VA to southwestern NC that offers many beautiful scenic views and diversions
✮ Outer Banks - a series of towns and beaches in northern North Carolina known for their pristine shorelines and sand dunes
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| Biltmore Estate, Asheville |
OHIO
✮ Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky - arguably the world's best rollercoaster park; they have 18 rollercoasters the last time I counted
✮ Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland - one of the best art museums in the U.S.
✮ National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton - one of the oldest, largest, and best aviation museums in the U.S.; entry + parking are FREE!
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| Air Force One, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force |
OREGON
✮ Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area - an area just east of Portland that is world-famous for its dozens of spectacular waterfalls
✮ Crater Lake National Park - visit the deepest lake in the U.S and one of the most pristine bodies of water on Earth; gorgeous in all seasons
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| Crater Lake National Park |
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Latourell Falls, Oregon |
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Crater Lake Lodge, Oregon |
PENNSYLVANIA
✮ Gettysburg National Military Park - visit the site of one of the Civil War's most important and bloody battles
✮ Hersheypark, Hershey - a world-class, chocolate-themed, family-friendly theme park with more than a dozen thrilling roller coasters
✮ Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square - one of the largest and best gardens in the U.S.
✮ PNC Park, Pittsburgh - one of the finest MLB baseball stadiums in the U.S.; home of the Pittsburgh Pirates
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| Hershey's Chocolate World, Hershey |
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Hersheypark |
SOUTH CAROLINA
✮ Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet - one of the very best gardens and outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.; more than 1,000 sculptures!
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SOUTH DAKOTA
✮ Badlands National Park - features outstanding prairie and badlands scenery; one of my personal favorite national parks
✮ Custer State Park - one of the top 10 state parks in the U.S.: outstanding wildlife viewing (e.g. bison); great hiking; Sylvan Lake is very pretty
✮ Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone - this famous memorial is in the heart of the Black Hills; illuminated in early evening hours
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| Badlands National Park |
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Mount Rushmore |
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Needles Highway, Black Hills |
TENNESSEE
✮ Broadway Street, Nashville - a famous street with 30-plus bars and legendary nightlife (e.g. live country and rock'n'roll music)
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park - this extremely popular national park has awesome trails, scenery, waterfalls, and scenic drives
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| Broadway Street, downtown Nashville |
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historic cabin in Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
UTAH
✮ Arches National Park - the largest concentration of natural arches in the U.S.; you can expect world-class scenery and many easy trails
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - see and walk amongst the most famous hoodoos in the world; don't miss 'Wall Street'
✮ Canyonlands National Park - the three districts (Needles, Islands in the Sky, Maze) hold a lifetime of on- and off-the-beaten-path adventures
✮ Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat. Monument - holds a lifetime of off-the-beaten-path adventures (on and off-trail)
✮ Zion National Park - one of the premier U.S. national parks; boasts world-class desert scenery, hiking, backpacking, and canyoneering
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| Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase |
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Zion National Park |
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Sand Dune Arch, Arches National Park |
VIRGINIA
✮ Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington - the most famous military cemetery in the U.S.; the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
✮ Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg - the largest living history museum in the U.S. has historic sites, costumed interpreters, and art museums
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WASHINGTON
✮ Mount Rainier National Park - famous for its gorgeous mountain scenery, waterfalls, historic lodge, world-class hiking, and wildflowers
✮ Olympic National Park - one of the most diverse national parks in the U.S, with beautiful mountains, beaches, rainforests and more
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| Mount Rainier |
WASHINGTON D.C.
✮ National Mall - the heart of Washington D.C. attractions holds more than 100 monuments and memorials
✮ Smithsonian Museums - a collection of more than 10 world-class museums and galleries
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WYOMING
✮ Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody - an outstanding western history museum; one of the finest history museums in the U.S.
✮ Devils Tower National Monument - an impressive 1,267ft-tall mass of igneous rock; make sure to hike the trail that encircles it
✮ Grand Teton National Park - amazing hiking, backpacking, cycling, and scenic views; arguably the prettiest mountain range in the lower 48
✮ Wind River Mountain Range - offers some of the most outstanding backpacking and horseback riding in the U.S.; world-class scenery
✮ Yellowstone National Park - see world-famous geothermal attractions; in my opinion, this the #1 national park in the U.S. in my opinion
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| Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone |
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Grand Teton National Park |
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Yellowstone National Park |
Here are more top-rated attractions in the United States. Each of these attractions almost made the top 100 list above. Please email me if you see any glaring omissions from this list.
✮ Alabama - Talladega Superspeedway
✮ Alaska - Chugach State Park
✮ Alabama - U.S. Space & Rocket Center
✮ Arizona - Antelope Canyon
✮ Arizona - Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
✮ Arizona - Chiricahua National monument
✮ Arizona - Coyotte Buttes North / The Wave)
✮ Arizona - Monument Valley
✮ Arizona - Sedona
✮ Arkansas - Buffalo National River
✮ California - Alabama Hills
✮ California - Devil's Postpile National Monument
✮ California - Disneyland Park
✮ California - Golden Gate Bridge
✮ California - Joshua Tree National Park
✮ California - Lake Tahoe
✮ California - Point Lobos State Reserve
✮ California - Point Reyes National Seashore
✮ California - Sonoma Valley
✮ California - Universal Studios Hollywood
✮ Colorado - Maroon Bells
✮ Florida - John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
✮ Florida - Key West
✮ Florida - SeaWorld Orlando
✮ Georgia - Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
✮ Georgia - Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
✮ Hawaii - Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park
✮ Hawaii - Road to Hana, Maui
✮ Illinois - Field Museum, Chicago
✮ Illinois - Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
✮ Illinois - Starved Rock State Park
✮ Illinois - town of Casey (roadside attractions)
✮ Illinois - Wrigley Field, Chicago
✮ Indiana - Indiana Dunes National Park
✮ Indiana - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
✮ Kentucky - Red River George Geological Area
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park
✮ Massachusetts - Cape Cod National Seashore
✮ Massachusetts - Museum of Fine Arts
✮ Massachusetts - Martha's Vineyard
✮ Michigan - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
✮ Missouri - Silver Dollar City
✮ Montana - Beartooth National Scenic Byway (US-212)
✮ Nebraska - Henry Doorly Zoo
✮ New Jersey - Ocean City Beach and Boardwalk
✮ New Jersey - Six Flags Great Adventure
✮ New Mexico - Bandelier National Monument
✮ New York - American Museum of Natural History
✮ New York - Broadway performances
✮ New York - Finger Lakes wine region
✮ New York - Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
✮ New York - National September 11 Memorial & Museum
✮ Nevada - Hoover Dam
✮ Nevada - The Sphere
✮ North Carolina - Pisgah National Forest
✮ North Dakota - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
✮ Ohio - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
✮ Ohio - Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Ohio - Pro Football Hall of Fame
✮ Oklahoma - Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
✮ Oregon - Oregon coastline
✮ Oregon - John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
✮ Pennsylvania - Amish Country (e.g. Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand)
✮ Pennsylvania - Eastern State Penitentiary
✮ Pennsylvania - Independence National Historical Park
✮ Pennsylvania - Ricketts Glen State Park
✮ Tennessee - Dollywood
✮ Tennessee - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
✮ Tennessee - towns of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville
✮ Texas - Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
✮ Texas - Museum of Natural Science, Houston
✮ Texas - San Antonio River Walk
✮ Texas - Space Center Houston
✮ Utah - Capitol Reef National Park
✮ Utah - Goblin Valley State Park
✮ Vermont - Shelburne Museum
✮ Virginia - Busch Gardens
✮ Virginia - Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Virginia - Shenandoah National Park
✮ Virginia - Water Country USA
✮ Washington - Gorge Amphitheater
✮ Washington - Chihuly Garden and Glass
✮ Washington - Mount St. Helens Nat. Volcanic Monument
✮ West Virginia - Monongahela National Forest
✮ Wisconsin - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
✮ Wisconsin - Door County
✮ Wisconsin - House on the Rock
✮ Wisconsin - Taliesin
✮ Wisconsin - Wisconsin Dells (e.g. Noah's Ark water park)
✮ Wyoming - Dinosaur National Monument
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