The full name of this powerful museum – opened in October 2021 – is the The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration. Poignant exhibits lay bare the horrors of the transatlantic and domestic slave trade, the Reconstruction era and segregation through video, sculpture, holograms and written displays. Hundreds of jars, filled with earth collected from around the country, commemorate lynching victims from across the States too. 

The purpose of the Sealaska Heritage Institute's Arts Campus is to immerse visitors in the arts and cultures of Indigenous peoples, including the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. It's set to open in June 2022 and will include a performance area, plus space for markets selling Indigenous arts and crafts from textiles to prints. There'll also be the chance to get involved in workshops teaching traditional skills like basketry. 

Exploring Grand Canyon National Park just got a lot cosier – and more glamorous. It’s hard to improve on landscapes like these, but the view from within these cosy, geodesic domes is pretty much unbeatable. The glamping pods, opened in May 2021, take pride of place on the edge of the park. Surrounded by red rocks and desert, they're kitted out with plush beds and large windows and skylights for drinking in the panoramas and gazing at star-filled skies.

Some 10,000 climbing artefacts, plus historical photographs and clippings, are housed in this museum, designed to celebrate the history and tradition of climbing in Yosemite. Outside, there's also space for picnics, plus alfresco events and film nights. It opened in April 2022, in the small town of Mariposa, right on the edge of Yosemite National Park. 

Rocky Mountaineer, which already had a string of gorgeous rail routes through Canada, has made its debut in the US. It chose the southwest for its first American venture, previewing from August to October 2021, before launching properly this year. The journey chugs from the Rockies to the Red Rocks – that is, from the breathtaking landscapes of the Rocky Mountains to the equally impressive red rocks of Moab, Utah. Glass-domed trains mean passengers can gawp at views en route to Colorado's capital Denver.

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Martin Luther King Jr. worked in Simsbury as a young student and this monument – unveiled in 2021 – is a testament to his legacy and the impact spending time in this integrated community had on him. A series of five glass panels represent aspects of King’s life, from his childhood to his time here before returning to the segregated South, with the etched words appearing to float in mid-air. A bench, made of Georgia granite, invites visitors to stay and reflect.

The Delaware Discoveries Trail offers a different way for visitors to explore: by ticking off a series of huge street-art murals dotted around the state. People are encouraged to plan road trips along the route that takes in the outdoor artworks, commissioned by the tourism office at locations including Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal and Delaware Botanic Gardens. 

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There's now an entire theme park devoted to Peppa Pig and the gang at the LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, opened in February 2022. Fans of the cute pink pig can enjoy gentle rides like Daddy Pig's Roller Coaster, with its undulating blue track, or Grandad Dog's Pirate Boat Ride, a mellow water attraction. There are also themed playgrounds and shows at Mr. Potato’s Showtime Arena. LEGOLAND® (including Peppa Pig Theme Park) has also become a Certified Autism Center, with sensory guides for each attraction.

This new heritage trail pays tribute to the more than 300,000 Georgians who participated in the Second World War effort, sharing their stories across 10 sites throughout the state. Established in February 2021, the trail connects fascinating sites like the Museum of Aviation (pictured), whose Scott Hangar houses Second World War aircraft, including the famous Flying Fortress. The poignant National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, created in collaboration with actual POW, is another must-visit.

Koloa Zipline was already a favourite with adrenaline junkies thanks to its zipline that whizzes above the gloriously green scenery of Kauai, known as the Garden Isle. And it took the energy up a few more notches when it launched its Zip Bike attraction, opened in summer 2021. Believed to be the only zipline for bicycles in the US, it takes riders pedalling through the air for a different perspective of the lush surroundings.

The views from One Lakeside, a brand new lakeside hotel in Coeur d’Alene, northwest Idaho, could only be closer if they were actually in the rooms. Each of the 29 luxurious suites has floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies so the dreamy surroundings are right there, beckoning guests out to mess about on the water or follow forest and mountain trails. The interior is pretty lovely too, with plush textures and natural tones that reflect the outdoors.

Check out the most remote hotel in every US state

Chicago's 19th-century, Neoclassical Germania Club Building is fresh from renovations and it's now home to Lighthouse ArtSpace, a place custom built for immersive exhibits. It debuted in 2021 with the US premier of Immersive Van Gogh, which allowed visitors to step into world-famous paintings including The Starry Night. The Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibit (pictured) opened in March 2022, featuring all-encompassing versions of the Mexican painter's stirring creations. 

A former Coca-Cola factory has had a major overhaul in Indianapolis. The Art Deco plant has been filled with a chic boutique hotel – the aptly named Bottleworks Hotel – with its super-sleek rooms with industrial touches and a cocktail bar. Also in the Bottleworks District, you'll find The Garage Food Hall packed full of local vendors, a movie theatre and a bar for ping-pong and duck-pin bowling. 

Joining the existing Lost Island Water Park, the Polynesian-themed Lost Island Theme Park will open to visitors in summer 2022. Five 'realms' (Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit) are packed full of attractions, from a giant pendulum ride to a green viper-themed roller coaster (pictured). Visitors can also expect a host of characters to interact with and some family-friendly food options.

Muriel is the main attraction at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, located at the Amelia Earhart Airport. The last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E airplane (pictured) is identical to the one Amelia Earhart flew during her famous world flight in 1937. Named after Amelia’s sister and housed in a 1930s hangar, Muriel and other fascinating exhibits relating to the pilot’s life and career can currently be viewed on behind-the-scenes tours arranged in advance, with the museum due to open fully by 2023.

Louisville’s riverside is a lot more colourful since the Waterfront Botanical Gardens opened in 2021. The 23-acre urban gardens have been meticulously planned and planted for several years before finally being opened to the public. People can now explore the Mary Lee Duthie Gardens, which include native plants and blooms designed to attract bees, next to the Graeser Family Education Center. Future phases will add a Japanese garden envisioned by designer Shiro Nakane.

Opened in May 2021, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience brings together centuries of fascinating stories under one roof. Its collection of more than 4,000 exhibits, including letters, photos and religious relics, delves into the lives of Jewish people and communities in America’s South, touching on periods of history, including the Civil War, Second World War and the Civil Rights Movement.

Maine is famed for its breathtaking scenic byways and three have recently been designated that status in the state. The 89-mile (143km) Katahdin Woods & Waters route slices and, in places, squiggles through the thinly forested inland with views of Katahdin, the state’s tallest mountain and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. The route runs from the southern entrance to Baxter State Park, following parts of the Penobscot River and ending at the park’s northern entrance, at Grand Lake Matagamon.

Lexington Market – tipped as the oldest public market in the States – has been given a major facelift. Set to reopen its doors in spring 2022, the market's upper and lower floors have been completely revamped, though they're still crammed full of vendors doling out world food, from Chinese dishes to Cajun delights. There's also a brand new outdoor plaza for alfresco events and live music.

This state-of-the-art venue is set to shake up Boston’s live music scene when it opens in autumn 2022. The MGM Music Hall occupies what was once a paved lot used by broadcast trucks for parking and as a service yard for Fenway Park. With four floors covering around 91,500 square feet (8,500sqm) and space for around 5,000 people, its design combines hi-tech visuals and sophisticated acoustics. Bruno Mars will be the first to perform here in September 2022. 

Michigan’s largest theme park unveiled the delightful new Camp Snoopy in spring 2021. The area, themed after the Peanuts cartoon strip and named in honour of its black-and-white beagle, has five rides inspired by the iconic series created by Charles M. Schulz. They include the Woodstock Express, a gentler ride named after Snoopy’s best friend, and Beagle Scout Lookout, which mimics a ride in a colourful hot air balloon.

This three-acre riverside park is both a recreational space and an important heritage site. Water Works, opened in May 2021, sprawls adjacent to St Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge and is a sacred site for Native Americans who once inhabited the land. Dakota art and heritage markers are dotted around the site, which also has fire pits, Indigenous artwork and a sensory garden. A much-anticipated restaurant, Owámni by The Sioux Chef, also opened in 2021.

Fans of country star Marty Stuart should beeline for Jackson's Two Mississippi Museums in 2022. Beginning in May, a major exhibition – born from a partnership with the singer himself – will chronicle Stuart's life and legacy. Highlights will include his first ever guitar, as well as relics from other country music legends such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. 

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum was the first library and museum created under the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act. It reopened in July 2021 following a major £24 million ($33m) renovation that has completely overhauled the space with new interactive exhibits telling Truman’s story, from growing up here in Independence to becoming the most powerful man in the world. Among the items on display is a series of photographs of Truman when he served in the First World War.

Opened in December 2021, this new resort is located on the grounds of Big Sky’s Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and looks set to become a destination hotel for the area. Montage Big Sky has more than a hundred plush guest rooms and suites and is one of just a few 5-star properties in the state. With several restaurants, a huge spa and outdoor pools surrounded by forest and mountain scenery, it's an ultra-luxurious base for winter sports enthusiasts, who have direct access to the area’s trails in winter.

The Peregrine, which opened in downtown Omaha in April 2021, brought new vitality to a 1914 landmark building with a sensitive £10 million (around $14m) makeover. Part of the Hilton’s Curio Collection, which focuses on unique properties with artistic flair, the hotel is named in honour of the peregrines that nest on the office tower next door and the interior is filled with motifs inspired by the birds – from a six-storey mural in an Art Deco style to Takeoff, the rooftop bar.

Billed as an immersive playground, Area15 is one of Las Vegas's newest attractions, located just a short hop from The Strip. It’s akin to a particularly lively district, with sculptures dotted around the grounds and, inside, a series of art and light installations and immersive virtual reality experiences along with shops, bars and restaurants. There's also LIFTOFF, a ride that whisks visitors off in an open-air balloon ride at 130 feet (40m).

The long-running Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad has added an exciting new option for people who want to be even more immersed in the scenery of the Lakes Region: guided Rail Bike Adventures. The tours launched in 2021 with state-of-the-art rail bikes that participants pedal along the 19th-century line, crossing the Winnipesaukee River and Durkee Brook before reaching the shore of Lake Winnisquam.

This museum is dedicated to the Underground Railroad’s most famous 'conductor', Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and helped others flee via a network of trails and safe houses. Tubman worked in Cape May in the 1850s as a cook, using her wages to help fund her abolition efforts, and this centre tells the story of her time in the town and her broader legacy. Its 2020 opening date was pushed back due to COVID-19, but it finally opened in June 2021.

On the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest and a few miles from downtown, this Auberge Resorts Collection property opened in spring 2021 and has garnered attention and praise for its sensitive restoration of a historic landmark. Bishop’s Lodge was settled more than 150 years ago by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy and became a private residence for the Pulitzer family. Now, luxury suites and casitas have heritage touches like stucco walls, Navajo-style rugs and traditional kiva fireplaces.

It's hard to believe that the Big Apple doesn't already have a museum dedicated to its famous theatre district – but the Museum of Broadway, slated to open in summer 2022, will be the first of its kind. Through video projections, detailed timelines and plenty of theatre-land relics, the museum will tell the story of Broadway, from its 18th century roots to bright modern-day productions like Hamilton and Hair.

Only a small handful of North Carolina properties listed in the Green Book – a guide for Black travellers passing through the Jim Crow-era South – remain in operation. The Historic Magnolia House, an elegant 1914 building that hosted Jackie Robinson, Gladys Knight and James Brown, is among them. The motel, which shuttered in the 1970s, underwent restorations and opened in late 2021. The North Carolina Civil Rights Trail also launched in early 2021, with site markers being placed now and up until 2023. 

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (AKA the Three Affiliated Tribes) live on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, and this new museum – opened in May 2021 – offers insights into their lives, rich culture and history. Visitors will find living history programmes, interactive exhibits and precious artefacts, all piecing together stories about these Indigenous peoples. There will also be special events offering the chance to taste traditional meals prepared onsite and an amphitheatre with outdoor seating is being built.

Yes, this is the other Coney Island, a popular water park in Cincinnati. And its newly opened Challenge Zone is the largest aqua glide pool obstacle course in the US. It features more than 150 feet (46m) of obstacles for participants to climb and scramble over, along with slides, monkey bars and a balance beam (like a fun version of walking the plank). A highlight is King of the Mountain, where people climb up before jumping or sliding down into the water with a splash.

Bob Dylan fans should head to Tulsa's Arts District this year. In May 2022, a new museum dedicated to the world-famous singer-songwriter will open, and it'll chronicle his life and legacy through a collection of more than 100,000 relics. There'll also be additional temporary exhibits, plus live performances and talks on a range of creative topics.

Glamping lifted camping to a higher level of luxury and this newly renovated hotel takes things up a few notches again. Tucked in the central Oregon countryside, with pine forests, white water rapids and winter sports just steps away, Campfire Hotel is all rustic elegance. Camp-inspired rooms have plush beds and usable guitars mounted on the walls, so guests can practice for a singsong by the outdoor fire pit.

Read our guide on what to do and see in Portland

There's an otherworldly new attraction opening in Pittsburgh in October 2022. The brainchild of space robotics company Astrobotic, Moonshot Museum will be dedicated to all things outer space, featuring interactive educational displays. Best of all, though, you'll get to watch real lunar rovers being built before your eyes. A giant window will allow visitors to look onto the action. 

Old Slater Mill, considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America, became part of Blackstone Valley National Park in spring 2021. The 1793 building was owned by Samuel Slater, who ran a cotton factory powered by the Blackstone River, and has been reopened as a museum with textile machines from the late 1700s onwards. It makes up the Slater Mill Historic Site with the 1810 Wilkinson Mill and the 1758 Sylvanus Brown House.

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The location of this new museum is poignant – it's set to open on Charleston's Gadsden’s Wharf, where it's thought that nearly half of all enslaved Africans were forced to pass. Displays will lay bare the horrors of the slave trade and South Carolina's role in it and also celebrate African American culture and its impact around the globe. The African Ancestors Memorial Garden will be a peaceful place to reflect.

Oglala Lakota Living History Village, opened in 2021, is a space for Lakota voices, stories and culture. The outdoor attraction in Cactus Flats, Jackson County has interactive exhibits and areas where visitors can listen to Lakota people share their stories and see displays of their heritage. It's designed to take visitors on a journey through Lakota Country, past and present.

Nashville's hotly anticipated National Museum of African American Music finally opened its doors in 2021. It’s the first major museum dedicated to celebrating the far-reaching musical contributions of African Americans, telling the story of genres including jazz and hip hop and paying homage to musical icons. Visits begin in Roots Theater, where an immersive introductory film chronicles history and musical traditions, from the era of slavery to the Harlem Renaissance.

The Circuit of Americas is already a major attraction in the Texan capital, loved for its races and high-profile concerts. But its brand new amusement park, COTALand, is set to pull in even more visitors. A bunch of kid-friendly attractions have already sprung up – guests can preview them at upcoming events – and a host of spine-tingling thrill rides are also now in the works. Watch this space...

The Aquarius Trail Hut System wriggles through a remarkable stretch of southern Utah. There are five huts placed along 190 miles (306km) of biking trails which take in rugged plateaus, canyons and forest en route from Brian Head to Escalante. The huts have serious eco credentials too: each off-grid bolthole, sleeping six people in two cabins, is solar powered and made from shipping containers. 

Read our full guide to southern Utah here

Vermont is very much an outdoorsy state so this new glamping option, with boutique bedroom tents dotted around a farm grazed by alpacas, fit in perfectly when it opened in summer 2021. The safari-style tents have king or queen beds and are hooked up to electricity and Wi-Fi with mini-kitchens and en suite bathrooms – so this isn’t exactly roughing it. The covered decks, with Adirondack chairs, lanterns and smokeless fire pits, are made for sitting out late, listening to the sounds of the farm and watching for passing camelids.

Here are more of America's best glamping spots

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture, in the historic city of Richmond, has just reopened after a £24-million ($30m) renovation project. The major overhaul has added extra family-friendly spaces, an immersive theatre and a series of new exhibition areas. To kick things off, the museum is opening with a brand new exhibition called Our Commonwealth, which explores the state's five regions.

Dubbed the first of its kind in the world, this brand new museum in Seattle is dedicated to blockchain art and crypto artists. Opened in January 2022, it's got a futuristic feel, with large screens displaying works by big names in the field such as Blake Kathryn and Seattle's own Charles Peterson. There are pioneering exhibitions centred on climate change and female creators too. 

New River Gorge became the USA’s newest national park when it was designated official status in December 2020. The area has long been a favourite with those in the know for rock climbing and hiking up to incredible views over the bend in the New River, flanked by thickly forested hills. It’s also a popular whitewater rafting destination, with the river flowing in parts through canyons. There are also activities and tours led by park rangers, from guided hikes to nature walks.

America's Black Holocasut Museum was closed for 14 years, but is fresh from a reopening in February 2022. Museum operators describe the centre's four themes as Remembrance, Resistance, Redemption and Reconciliation – and poignant displays cover some 4,500 of history, from African life before slavery right up to African-American culture and experiences in the modern day. You can expect videos, powerful photography and interactive displays. 

The Cloudveil brings a new level of style and luxury to exploring two of the USA’s most beguiling national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Located in Jackson Hole’s Town Square, the Western-inspired hotel opened in May 2021 with 100 rustically elegant rooms and a terrace with heated pool and hot tub. The decor, from sleek wooden pieces to marshmallow-soft beds and artwork reflecting the mountain scenery, is as impeccable and inspiring as the natural surroundings.

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