Meeting Mickey Mouse, heading off into the wilderness with a backpack and thirst for adventure or gazing at rock formations so strange and vividly coloured they barely seem real. It would take several lifetimes to tick off all the must-do experiences on offer in the USA.
Click through the gallery for our selection of the top 65 unmissable experiences you must have in the USA...
Birmingham was the site of some of the worst violence carried out against Civil Rights protestors and the city meets its past head-on with a series of interactive and unflinching exhibits in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. It overlooks Kelly Ingram Park, which has a statue of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and sculptures depicting the horrific attacks on child marchers.
Sprawling over six million wild, ruggedly gorgeous acres, this national park surrounds North America’s tallest peak, Denali, and has a varied landscape from alpine forest to snowy slopes. The park is home to Dall sheep, wolves, grizzlies and black bears, which can often be spotted from bus tours in summer. Make sure to visit the national park's website as some road closures are in place until at least the end of summer 2026.
You haven’t seen a glacier until you’ve seen it from a kayak. The chilly waters of Kenai Fjords National Park, home to orcas, sea otters and humpback whales, are lined with jagged blue and white ice. Conditions can be windy and choppy so a guided tour is recommended for less-experienced paddlers. Due to the area's remote location, make sure you check the latest updates before visiting.
These ethereal slot canyons – divided into two sections known as 'The Crack' and 'The Corkscrew' – can only be explored on a guided tour with a native Navajo guide. And it’s better that way, because somehow the bright, swirling colours appear even more vivid when illuminated by the history, culture and geology. Visit in summer for the best chance of catching the light beams that pierce through the gaps.
Just outside Grand Canyon National Park, this horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River is easily accessed via the town of Page. Head to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook before sunset to watch the ancient rocks glow peach, pink and soft lilac, mirrored in the water.
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Sometimes nature throws a real curveball. In this case, she threw a spinning, swirling, spectacular googly. Photos of this peaches-and-cream sandstone rock formation look like paintings. You can only access the Wave in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument by entering the permit lottery and if selected, there is a recreation fee to pay when visiting as well.
The granddaddy of them all is high on many people’s bucket lists for good reason. Whether viewed from the terrifying glass-floored Skywalk, which curves 70 feet (21.3m) above the void, from a helicopter or from one of the many overlooks around the rim, there’s one guarantee: you’ll feel tiny. The South Rim is considered the best for sunrise – and those blazing reds and oranges are worth dragging yourself up for.
Death Valley’s otherworldly scenery has starred in Star Wars movies and standing on the cracked, crackling salt flats of Badwater Basin certainly feels like being in a sci-fi film. The flats stretch over nearly 200 square miles (520sq km) at the lowest point in North America.
Few stretches of road inspire so much awe and admiration as the stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway between Carmel and San Simeon, where cliffs protect caramel beaches and Monterey pines blanket the slopes. Big Sur is even more beautiful viewed from horseback. Trail rides follow redwood-shaded paths in Andrew Molera State Park and end with a canter on the soft sand.
Photographers flock to Joshua Tree National Park for its night skies thick with stars and ethereal views of the Milky Way. The Flintstone-style boulders and spindly, spiky Joshua trees that stud the park add to its surreal beauty. Camp overnight and gaze up at the twinkly blanket or follow the park’s tips for the best stargazing spots.
This rust-red hunk of steel is one of the world’s most recognisable bridges and can be admired from San Francisco’s many hilly streets and rooftop bars. Cycling (or walking) it offers a different perspective, revealing the hulking arches and girders up close. It’s a popular route so prepare to stop-start frequently – and just enjoy the views.
Majestic. Magical. Massive. There are many adjectives to describe the towering giant sequoia trees that line the paths of Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park. But you may end up unable to get past 'wow' as you crane your neck to view these big beauties, up to 210 feet (61m) tall and 2,700 years old. The grove can be accessed by taking the free shuttle at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza.
California is home to many wine areas but Napa is the classic choice to sip Cabernet Sauvignon in grand chateaux and tour cellars with barrels of Champagne-method fizz. Most wineries flank Highway 29, while quieter tasting rooms sprawl out from the squiggly Silverado Trail.
There are various spots for viewing those 45-foot (13.7m) letters, which loom in LA’s Hollywood Hills, but there’s something particularly special about seeing them up close – and standing above the city sprawl. Griffith Park has various trails that weave up to the sign. Alternatively, view it amid a wild landscape of mountains and canyons from Griffith Observatory.
Drive, hike or cycle along Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road in spring and you’ll pass scatterings of vivid spring wildflowers. Go in summer and you’re likely to see elk and bighorn sheep grazing the mountain slopes. But arguably the most spectacular time is autumn, when the aspen trees’ leaves are tinged with golden and amber. Make sure to check the park's website before planning to drive along the Trail Ridge Road as its opening times can depend on the weather conditions.
You could be forgiven for mistaking these intricate rooms, carved into the cliffside in Mesa Verde National Park, for a modern art installation. The Ancestral Puebloan ruin is actually believed to have been built between 1190 and 1260 and is North America’s largest known cliff dwelling. You can tour the structure, made up of 150 rooms and underground chambers, with a park ranger.
It doesn’t really matter what gig you see at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, tucked between two sandstone monoliths a little outside Denver. In a setting like this, with views of alpine valleys and mountains, it’s guaranteed to be spectacular. Unsurprisingly, though, it does attract some huge names, with U2 and The Beatles among those who have played in this acoustically perfect wonder.
You need a few days to cram in the thrills and spills of Walt Disney World Resort, which is more like a small country than a theme park. But Magic Kingdom really is the most magical part of this Orlando attraction. Where else could you fly to Never Land on a pirate ship, hang out with Mickey and Minnie and rocket through the darkest reaches on Space Mountain?
Everglades National Park offers a glimpse of what the planet might look like if we weren’t here. This subtropical wilderness is most definitely where the wild things are, whether meandering across your path or lurking in marshy waters. An airboat tour, skimming over the water in mangroves and swamps, is one of the best ways to get up close to alligators and turtles.
Many people hop straight on a plane from Miami to Key West, but they’re missing out on one of the country’s most scenic stretches of road. This portion of the US1 soars above the Straits of Florida so it feels like you’re driving on water. Highlights include idyllic waterside resorts, galleries and breweries in the Morada Way Arts District and meeting rehabilitating leatherbacks at Marathon Turtle Hospital.
Key West is the nightlife hub of the Florida Keys and most of the action is centred around Duval Street, where open-sided bars like Willie T’s have pillars and ceilings plastered with dollar bills. Try Smallest Bar, which is tinier than a shed and fun for a group selfie.
Cornflower skies, palm trees, sandy beaches and rows of 1930s buildings in soft pastel shades. Miami’s South Beach is pretty much the dream seaside destination and a must for architecture enthusiasts. Take a guided tour to learn more about the Art Deco Historic District or simply stroll along the boulevard and take in the views.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter immerses fans in the bestselling books and films with beautiful attention to detail. Long queues for the Hogwarts Express train, which runs between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, go quickly thanks to the palpable air of excitement. Once there, you can tick another item off your bucket list: drinking a Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron pub.
In Georgia Spanish moss drapes elegantly from the towering oak trees that border Savannah’s old-world streets. In springtime, bold pink azalea flowers bloom in parks and eerily beautiful cemeteries. Georgian mansions neighbour old cotton warehouses, while restaurants and craft beer pubs line the river. All this is best explored on foot, either self-guided or on one of many themed tours.
Surfing and Oahu are as inseparable as boards and wax or salt and sand. Many of the blazingly white beaches here are great spots for beginners too. Check out surf schools and board rentals at White Plains Beach, whose gentle, consistent waves are ideal for those who have yet to master their cutbacks and carves, or join laidback crowds at Waikiki Beach.
Chicago is famous for deep-dish pizza, the blues and, depending on your age, possibly the 1980 Blues Brothers movie. Above all else (literally), it’s famous for its architecture. Get to know the birthplace of the skyscraper on a city river cruise with the Chicago Architecture Center. Volunteer docent guides, who know the buildings brick by steel rod, will point out the Willis Tower (the city’s tallest), Art Deco styles like 333 North Michigan and the Spanish Colonial Revival–style Wrigley Building.
A city with its own signature cocktail is bound to be fun. New Orleans actually has several with classics, including the French 75 and Hurricane, invented here. The Sazerac, a potent concoction of sugar, cognac and bitters, served in an absinthe-rinsed glass, is the drink most closely associated with the city. Try it along infamous nightlife strip Bourbon Street or sip in relative peace in the Roosevelt Hotel’s classic Sazerac Bar.
Between October and March, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the first place in the US where the sky awakens and swirls with blazing red, orange and lilac. Of course, that means getting up earlier to see the sunrise, but there’s also something magical about witnessing the first light to hit the country. There’s a car park and a short walk to the summit. As always, make sure to check if there are any closures inside the park due to changing weather conditions.
If you only eat one thing while travelling down Maine’s southern coast, make it a lobster roll (or two). The tender meat is served in soft, slightly chewy rolls and drenched in melted butter and it’s as addictive as it sounds. Find them anywhere from waterside restaurants to tiny roadside shacks like legendary Wiscasset spot Red’s Eats, which promises at least one whole lobster per roll.
This barrier island straddles Maryland and Virginia and wild horses roam on the soft, biscuity beaches, munching on dune grass and sometimes splashing in the water. Take a cruise or kayak tour to see the elegant equine creatures from a safe distance.
Cape Cod, curling from Massachusetts’ coast like a bicep, is one of the world’s best places to spot whales, being close to marine sanctuary and feeding area Stellwagen Bank. Prime season is between April and October, when you can often spy dolphins, harbour porpoises and pilot whales from the shoreline. For the best chance of seeing humpbacks and orcas, though, join one of the boat tours that cruise around one of the world’s best whale-watching spots.
Boston has plenty of modern attractions, but it’s impossible to escape history here. The city embraces its role as the birthplace of the American Revolution. The Boston Freedom Trail, run by the Freedom Trail Foundation, links together sites, meeting houses and graves connected to the 1765-83 war. Follow the 2.5-mile (4m) brick path yourself or take a lively tour with a costumed guide, readying yourself for cries of 'huzzah!'.
Martha’s Vineyard has long been a favourite place to 'summer', so of course the island has gorgeous beaches. Some are private or attached to resorts but many can be explored freely. Paddle, hike or drive between sandy spots like Lobsterville Beach, with dunes and popular fishing areas, and Menemsha Public Beach, known for its gin-clear water. There are five lighthouses to visit too.
Car-free Isle Royale National Park is an archipelago on Lake Superior, part of the Great Lakes chain. Most of the 200-plus islands feel wonderfully isolated, with networks of trails through forests, around the lakeshore and to waterfalls. The largest, Isle Royale, is home to moose, snowshoe hares and wolves. Take a boat trip around the islands or camp at one of the backcountry sites.
Highway 61 isn’t called the Blues Highway lightly. This route, which follows the wiggles of the Mississippi River as it crosses the state, has as many musical connections as it has bends. Bob Dylan named an album after it; Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke and Howlin’ Wolf lived near it; and now Morgan Freeman owns a blues club – Ground Zero in Clarksdale – along the route.
You’ll need at least two hours to drive this 50-mile (80km) iconic mountain road, which zig-zags vertiginously in Glacier National Park. You’ll want to spend a lot longer, though, as the reasons to pull over and gaze at the views are endless. Keep watch for mountain goats and bighorn sheep, which graze on the slopes, and plan to stop at Jackson Glacier Overlook for pine-fringed views of the park’s seventh largest glacier. Sometimes part of the road might be closed, so be sure to always check the website for alternative routes.
Some people hate it, others return year after year, drawn to the flashing lights and flashier casinos like moths to a glamorous flame. But we think everyone should experience Las Vegas and its strip of hotels, restaurants, bars and gambling tables at least once and make up their own minds. For a more laidback vibe, spend a little time exploring the museums and hip bars of downtown.
You’d need a lot of stamina and free time to hike the entire Tahoe Rim Trail, which circles North America’s biggest lake for 165 miles (265km). Hiking a portion of it is a more achievable, yet still satisfying, challenge. A series of well-mapped routes cut through forests and fir and pines, skimming above shimmering bays and passing meadows, beaches and lava formations.
White Sands isn’t a misnomer: these pale dunes resemble whisked egg whites or soft peaks of Chantilly cream. They roll and ripple for 275 square miles (710sq km) between the Andres and Sacramento mountain ranges. You’ll probably want to jump around and roll down the slopes, and you can: sledding and hiking is permitted.
Perhaps the most famous waterfalls in the world make up Niagara Falls, on the border between the US and Canada. New York State is home to the smallest of the three – American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls – but arguably boasts the best vistas. Soak up the views and the water on the popular Maid of the Mist boat tour, which starts and ends on the US side.
The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is dedicated to the 12 million immigrants who first stepped on the US soil right here and to whom around 100 million Americans can trace their ancestry. Their stories are both humbling and sobering. Ferry tickets include another bucket list item: the Statue of Liberty...
You can access Liberty Island to meet the lady herself too. There are three grades of tickets: one that allows access to the island, one to climb the Fort Wood part of the pedestal and a third (be sure to book well in advance) which means you can get up to the crown.
Gazing over Manhattan’s sleek and sparkling skyline is on pretty much everyone’s must-do list and there are lots of viewpoints to choose from. The Empire State Building is a popular one, but we think the Top of the Rock tops even that. For a start, you can see the needle-topped Empire State from this vantage point in the Rockefeller Center and the views across Central Park aren’t too shabby, either.
The novelty of arriving at a winery by boat is reason enough to go tasting in the Finger Lakes, a series of 11 skinny lakes that resemble gnarled digits. There are more than two dozen wineries tucked around the shores of Cayuga Lake and you can rent a kayak or join a boat tour to visit them. The wine is pretty good too, from Riesling to ice wine.
Dig out your retro swimwear and roll up your towel. This crowded yet charming Brooklyn neighbourhood is really more like a beach resort and one that’s changed little since the 1950s. Candy floss on the boardwalk, arcades filled with vintage games, amusement park rides and people splashing in the waves – it’s a refreshing escape from hot New York summers.
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As one of the most beloved dishes of American cuisine, no US bucket list can be complete without eating Buffalo wings in its birthplace, Buffalo, New York. This sports bar classic gets its name from the Buffalo sauce the chicken wings are tossed in. One of the best ways to indulge in this fiery American dish is to take on the Buffalo Wing Trail, which will guide you through 14 of the best Buffalo wings throughout the city.
Clingmans Dome is the highest part – and best vantage point – of the Great Smoky Mountains. Views stretch up to a hundred miles (160km) on clear days (though there’s often mist clinging to the canopies of spruce-fir trees below). Conveniently, there's parking half a mile (800m) from the summit, which is topped by an observation tower.
Hip Portland was one of the first places to become famed for craft beer and, though pretty much every US city has a smattering of breweries, it’s still one of the best places to sip through IPAs, porters and sours. There are several tours and ale trails to try all kinds of local beers while walking through beautiful Portland. Or just find a nice spot and sup up.
The first challenge when visiting America’s deepest lake is finding it, as it’s often shrouded in fog in winter. Once you’ve surmounted that hurdle, one of the best ways to enjoy the lake is with a boat tour. In summer, the park operates regular rides that circle the volcanic islands and pass by the Old Man of the Lake, a hemlock tree trunk that bobs in the water.
It’s starred in films (remember that cliff-clinging scene in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest) and its image is carved in the minds of most of us. But nothing quite prepares you for seeing such a well-known landmark close-up. Amp up the drama by visiting at night to see the mountainside faces of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln spectrally illuminated.
The Black Hills and Badlands area is one of the best places to see American bison or buffalo, with huge herds grazing the prairies and grasslands. See herds munching at the base of Bear Butte or drive the 18-mile (29km) Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park, home to around 1,300 of the hairy, humpbacked creatures. Go in late September to witness the thundering spectacle of the herds being rounded up.
Hyped-up places can so often be disappointing, but Elvis Presley’s mansion is not one of them. The sleek tour allows visitors to wander through the building and zoom in on items with an iPad, revealing extra facts, footage and pictures. Peek into the Jungle Room, pay your respects at the King’s grave and visit Gladys’ Diner for a deep-fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (Elvis’s fave).
Pull on your cowboy boots and button up your checked shirt – Nashville’s famous Music Row (a stretch of Broadway) is the place to be more than a little bit country. Weaving in and out of the honky-tonks along the road is as much a must as catching a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Most bars have musicians performing pretty much all night long, and the dancing often spills onto the sidewalks.
The vast and varied landscape of this national park in southwest Texas will have hikers strapping on their backpacks and boots. It’s home to the Chisos mountains, limestone cliffs, waterfalls and sections of the Chihuahuan Desert. Scale mountain peaks or see the park from a raft on the Rio Grande. This desert national park can get extremely warm, so be sure to check temperatures in the park before planning a hike.
BBQ is one of those foods that the mere mention of causes people to salivate and it's nothing unusual to want to travel thousands of miles to sample some of the world's best. Hip Austin is as famous for popular places serving tender brisket, ribs and sausages cooked low and slow over woodsmoke. Even queuing for hours has become a 'thing' – iconic spot Franklin attracts party crowds with a BYOB policy, buskers and ball games.
The hike to Angels Landing is not for beginners or vertigo sufferers. It’s steep, sometimes narrow and, at certain points, requires hanging onto a chain bolted to the cliffside. But the five-mile (8km) round trip rewards those with a head for heights with views across the layered rocks of Zion Canyon. Less confident climbers can stop at Scout Lookout – it’s just before the trickiest last half-mile (800m) and still offers spectacular views.
Bryce Canyon's tall, spindly rock spires or hoodoos are the most distinctive feature of this otherworldly landscape, creating a jagged sprawl of apricot and cream towers. Follow hiking trails that wind beneath the strange rock formations, through forest and around the series of natural amphitheatres that make up the national park.
Take a selfie outside the gleaming seat of power in the country’s capital, a city that’s filled with history and also buzzing with life (the food scene is particularly dynamic). The gates to the White House tend to be crowded with tourists during the day, so go at dusk for a clearer, and more atmospheric, photo. The Lincoln and George Washington memorials are both within walking distance too.
Where can one eat the best Greek yogurt, try tasters of clam chowder, sample craft beer and watch fish fly through the air? You could spend a day at Pike Place Market on Seattle’s waterfront and still not have scratched its delicious, quirky surface. The highlight for many is the Fish Market, where mongers throw specimens from the display to the weighing scales, to the delight of crowds.
Olympic National Park is rich in natural beauty, from glacier-capped mountains and dark-honey beaches to natural hot springs. But arguably the most beautiful and unexpected part is Hoh Rain Forest, where old-growth trees are shrouded in vivid emerald moss. Two trails run from the visitor centre and, if you want to spend more time in this quietly magical place, you can camp overnight.
The waters that surround the San Juan Islands, northwest of Seattle, are home to resident orcas and other pods that visit in summer. Several companies including Outdoor Odysseys run kayaking day tours or overnight trips for a chance to see the striking whales up close. Even if you don’t see any orcas, you’re likely to see seals, dolphins, bald eagles and otters as you paddle by driftwood beaches and pine-studded shorelines.
Certain conditions are needed to visit the ice formations at Apostle Islands National Shoreline. They can only be reached by foot, when the ice on Lake Superior is thick enough to walk on. Some years, it isn’t – but that just makes gazing at this natural spectacle, where caves drip with icicles by the lakeshore, even more spectacular.
The parallel cracks that run down Devils Tower in Wyoming make it a popular spot for crack climbing. Unless you’re very experienced, we recommend viewing the monolith from the ground. The structure, which resembles a huge tree stump, is a sacred site for more than 20 Native tribes, including Cheyenne and Lakota, and you can join ranger-guided hikes in summer.
Yellowstone National Park has the largest number of geysers and geothermal pools in the world and they are also among the most striking. They hiss, spurt and sparkle in vivid shades of blue, green, pink and yellow. Grand Prismatic Spring is the most famous example and can be viewed (at a safe distance) from an overlook.
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