The USA
The great American experience is about so many things: bluegrass and beaches, snow-covered peaks and redwood forests, restaurant-loving cities and big open skies, and that's just for starters.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Southern USA
The story of the Smoky Mountains began in primordial times when clashing supersized continents created a chain of mountains that are today among the…
Montana
The rival of any of the United States' most spectacular national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park is…
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Yosemite means "killer" in the Indigenous Miwok language, and in today's parlance it's indeed an impressive, awesome site. Everywhere you look in Yosemite…
Upper East Side
What started with a handful of paintings brought over from Europe or donated by a coterie of philanthropically minded robber barons in the 19th century…
Downtown, Pike Place & Waterfront
A cavalcade of noise, smells, personalities, banter and urban theater sprinkled liberally around a spatially challenged waterside strip, Pike Place Market…
San Francisco
When Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York's Central Park, gazed in 1865 upon the plot of land San Francisco Mayor Frank McCoppin wanted to turn…
Upper West Side & Central Park
One of the world’s most renowned green spaces, Central Park comprises 843 acres of rolling meadows, boulder-studded outcroppings, elm-lined walkways,…
Financial District & Lower Manhattan
Located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island is the US's most famous and historically important gateway and is home to one of the country’s most moving…
Attractions
Top picks from our travel experts
Gettysburg National Military Park
Pennsylvania
Gettysburg National Military Park covers 8 sq miles of land marked with monuments and trails. The museum at the visitor center is a must-see, particularly…
National Museum of the American Indian
Washington, DC
Ensconced in an architecturally notable building clad in honey-colored limestone, this museum offers cultural artifacts, videos and audio recordings…
San Diego
A quick stroll southeast of the Gaslamp is the home of the San Diego Padres baseball team. The stadium has beautiful brick construction and skyscraper…
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Washington, DC
Located in Washington, DC, the sensational National Museum of African American History & Culture is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African…
Detroit
In this row of modest houses Berry Gordy launched Motown Records – and the careers of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson – with an…
The Deserts
You can spend an entire day or just a few hours driving around the free Mojave National Preserve, taking in natural sights such as giant 'singing' dunes,…
Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia
This impressive, multimedia-rich museum will have you virtually participating in the American Revolution; interactive dioramas and 3-D experiences take…
Kansas City
Learn about different jazz styles, rhythms, instruments and musicians – including Kansas City native Charlie Parker – at this interactive museum, at the…
Southeastern New Mexico
Undulating through the Tularosa Basin like something out of a dream, these ethereal dunes are a highlight of any trip to New Mexico, and a must on every…
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
Cleveland
Cleveland's top attraction is like an overstuffed attic bursting with groovy finds: Jimi Hendrix's Stratocaster, Keith Moon's platform shoes, John Lennon…
Southwest Colorado
A fascinating, if slightly eerie, national park. Anthropologists will love it here; Mesa Verde is unique among American national parks in its focus on…
Kenmore Square & Fenway
Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…
Philadelphia
The 'birthplace of American government', this modest, early 18th-century Georgian building is where delegates from the 13 colonies met to approve the…
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Downtown & the Gulch
This monumental museum, reflecting the near-biblical importance of country music to Nashville's soul, is a must-see whether you're a country music fan or…
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
South Georgia
Nearly a half-million acres in size, Okefenokee Swamp is a magnificent environment to explore, with something for travelers of all abilities. Choose from…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
LA loves its Dodgers, and the team's ballpark (circa 1962) is one of Major League Baseball’s most classic and most beautiful. It's best experienced at a…
Chicago
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field – aka the Friendly Confines – is the second-oldest baseball park in the major leagues. It’s home to the Chicago Cubs and…
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
‘On top of Old Smoky’ is Clingmans Dome (elevation 6643ft), the park’s highest peak. At the summit, a steep, half-mile paved trail leads to an observation…
White Mountains
The crescent-shaped Sherman Adams Summit Building is the nerve center for this 60-plus-acre park atop Mt Washington. Inside you'll find the private,…
Western Maryland
The site of the bloodiest day in American history is now, ironically, supremely peaceful, quiet and haunting – and uncluttered, save for plaques and…
Washington Cascades
The USA's fifth-highest peak outside Alaska, majestic Mt Rainier is also one of the country's most beguiling mountains. Part of a 368-sq-mile national…
Acadia National Park
Don't leave the park without driving – or hiking – to the 1530ft summit of Cadillac Mountain. For panoramic views of Frenchman Bay, walk the paved 0.5…
Grand Teton National Park
Crowning glory of the park, the dagger-edged Grand Teton (13,775ft/4199m) has taunted many a would-be mountaineer. The first white men to claim to have…
Southeastern Utah
One of the Southwest's most gorgeous parks, Arches boasts the world's greatest concentration of sandstone arches. Just 5 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191,…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Welcome to San Francisco's sunny side, the land of street ball and Mayan-pyramid playgrounds, semiprofessional tanning and taco picnics. Although the…
San Francisco
The sun sets over the Pacific just beyond the fog at this blustery beach. Most days are too chilly for bikini-clad clambakes but fine for hardy…
San Francisco
When Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York's Central Park, gazed in 1865 upon the plot of land San Francisco Mayor Frank McCoppin wanted to turn…
San Francisco
Looking out from Lands End feels like surveying the edge of the world. Nestled on the point of land between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, the park's…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Best Things to Do
From national parks to road trips to beaches to vibrant cities, these are a few of the best things to do in the vast USA.
Read articleThings to Know
The US is supersized, from sprawling cities to natural splendors. This first-timer's guide to the USA lays out everything you need to know before you go.
Read articleTransportation
Plan your travels across the USA with this guide to everything from car hire and bus services to cycle routes and domestic flights.
Read articleVisa Requirements
US visa requirements can be complicated and changeable. We've got all the key info you need about whether you need one and how to get it.
Read articleMoney and Costs
Major cities may be getting more expensive but it's still possible to visit the USA on a budget. Our 10 top tips will help you stretch those dollars.
Read articleBest Road Trips
Connecting to top national parks, historic routes and striking landscapes, Arizona's road trips are some of the best in the US. Here are our favorites.
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from The USA
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National ParksThese 12 unique lodges let you stay within US national parksApr 22, 2024 • 13 min read
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