Comprised of 50 states, the USA occupies an area that’s only just marginally smaller than Europe. It’s in this vast country that you will find an unbelievably diverse array of natural landscapes, cityscapes, people and cultures. From the tropical islands of Hawaii to the desert landscape of the Grand Canyon, as well as the multicultural cities such as Chica go and New York City, you’ll never be stuck for destinations to discover. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in the USA:
Number 15
. Aspen. Aspen, Colorado, is the place to go for skiing in the USA. Four separate skiing areas – Aspen Highlands, Ajax Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass further down the valley – make it a frosty playground for winter sports. Aspen exploded as a silver mining town in the late 19th century; something reflected in the architecture from this time. Summer is a good time for heading to the hill sand there are hiking opportunities galore nearby.
Number 14
. Atlanta. The capital and largest city of Georgia, Atlanta is a sprawling city with three urban skylines rising up from the picturesque scenery of rolling hills, pine forest, magnificent old oak trees and charming magnolia trees. Established as a railroad terminus in 1837,Atlanta has emerged as the leader of the New South. The city’s top attractions are the CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium, which features the world’s largest indoor aquarium.
Number 13
. Yosemite National Park. World-famous Yosemite National Park has become the iconic hangout for keen wilderness hikers, who enjoy spending weekends attempting the many trails that crisscross the parks. Yosemite is high on many bucket-lists, with people drawn to its dramatic scenery and beautiful wildlife, powerful waterfalls, impressive sequoias and jaw-dropping cliffs. Iconic and photogenic centerpieces include the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome as well as the imposing Bridal veil Fall.
Number 12
. Zion National Park Even among America’s National Parks, few can match the stunning beauty of Zion National Park. Situated near Springdale in southern Utah, the park protects a series of incredible rock formations and high sandstone cliffs, and is a favorite spot for hiking, canyoneering and climbing. Unlike many other parks in the American Southwest, where visitors look down from the rim of a canyon, visitors to Zion walk on the canyon floor and look up. In addition to the magnificent monoliths and cliffs, the park is known for its desert landscape of sandstone canyons, mesas, and high plateaus.
Number 11
. San Antonio. The jewel of Texas, San Antonio is a city steeped in both rich history and modern day appeal. Located in south-central Texas, the city is one of the largest in the United States and best known as the home to the Alamo. Another of San Antonio’s most visited attractions is the Riverwalk, a vibrant pedestrian scene of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues stretching along both sides of the San Antonio River right in the middle of the downtown area.
Number 10
. Savannah. The quintessential Southern city, Savannah draws millions of tourists every year to its charming scenes of Victorian architecture, cobbled streets and moss-draped oaks. Lying on the Atlantic Coast in eastern Georgia, Savannah is the state’s oldest city, rich in history, hospitality and natural beauty. A walk around the Historic District’s cobbled streets allows views of beautiful old mansions from the 19th century and historic sites. When you’ve had enough of old buildings ,a stroll through the tree-lined paths of leafy Forsyth Park is bound to refresh you.
Number 9.
Philadelphia. Commonly referred to by locals as “Philly, ”Philadelphia is major US city in southeastern Pennsylvania and home to the iconic Liberty Bell and the Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Regarded as the “Birthplace of America,” Philadelphia is known as the city in which the country’s founding fathers signed the1776 Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. There’s a host of interesting art museums to visit in the city, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is not only one of the largest in the world, but also famous for its long flight of steps which were featured in the 1976 film “Rocky”.
Number 8.
Sedona. Located in the north-central part of Arizona, the town of Sedona is known for its vibrant art scene and spiritual retreats. However, Sedona’s most popular attraction is the breathtaking array of red sandstone formations that create a striking red and orange backdrop to the town. Attracting artists, spiritual seekers and outdoor lovers alike, Sedona’s brilliant landscape offers much to see and do. Incredible natural landmarks like Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock present excellent photograph opportunities.
Number 7.
San Diego. Centered around a natural harbor, the coastal Californian city of San Diego is located on the border with Mexico. It’s rich in Mexican culture, delicious seafood and blessed with a year-round mild climate. Visitors are attracted to the city for its laid-back mindset, and opportunities to soak up some beautiful sun, sea, and sand. Then there’s also the bustling Balboa Park, where you can find San Diego Zoo, among dozens of museums and botanic gardens.
Number 6.
Denali National Park. Covering a massive expanse of mountainous land in Alaska, Denali National Park is the third largest national park in the United States. The piece de resistance of this incredible slice of wilderness is Denali. Once known as Mount McKinley, this is the tallest mountain not just in the USA, but the whole of North America. Bike, hike or mountaineer yourself through this region for stunning scenery and sights of grizzly bears, wolves, and moose.
Number 5.
New Orleans. Regarded as one of the most unique cities in the USA, New Orleans is widely known for its distinctive French Creole culture, cuisine, and architecture as well as jazz music and the annual Mardi Gras celebration. Situated in southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans is the state’s largest city and a major US seaport. Devastated by heavy flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans is now mostly recovered and remains one of the best places to visit in the USA.
Number 4.
Niagara Falls. The world-famous Niagara Falls straddle Ontarian Canada and the American state of New York. Located on the Niagara River, the falls area culmination of the flow of water that gushes out of the Upper Great Lakes and are actually made up of three falls – Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. Six million cubic feet of water cascades over the ridge every second, making for an incredibly impressive site which draws an estimated 30million tourists a year.
Number 3.
Boston. One of the oldest cities in the USA, Boston is best known for its wealth of American history, architecture and academic institutions. The capital and largest city in New England, Boston is spectacular sight in spring and autumn with flowering trees and fall foliage. As the setting of many historic events that led up to the American Revolution, Boston is steeped in early American history.
Number 2
. Miami. One of the most vivacious cities in the USA, Miami is best known for its sunny beaches, Latin culture and sizzling nightlife. Located in southeastern Florida off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is also a major port city managing the world’s largest number of passenger cruise ships. Across the bay from Miami on a barrier island is Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco architecture and glamorous South Beach.
Number 1.
Seattle. Home to global giants like Boeing, Starbucks and Amazon, Seattle is the largest city of the USA’s Pacific Northwest region. Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City due to its lush scenery resulting from a rainy climate. The skyline of Seattle is a thicket of towering skyscrapers. The crowning glory is the futuristic 605-foottall Space Needle, built in 1962. The city is well-known for it’s seafood, which you can try at the historic Pike Place Market. What’s more: the surrounding pine forests make for perfect hiking.