With skyscrapers stretching to the stars, charming towns living at the speed of yesterday, and last expanses of unspoilt wilderness, the best places to visit in the US aren’t limited to state borders or city streets.
Check out these colorful states, awe-inspiring national parks, and exciting cities from coast to coast during your first visit to the United States.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
You don’t need to trek out into the American West to see one of the best landscapes in the United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country thanks to its hiking trails, fishing holes, and cascading waterfalls These misty mountains connect the popular tourist destinations of Gatlinburg and Cherokee via the scenic drive across Newfound Gap Road.
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
After decades of innovation and imagination, the Steel City is stronger than ever. Pittsburgh sports fans are as passionate about football, ice hockey, and baseball as they are proud of the city’s history. A city already renowned for cool places like the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh’s historic neighborhoods continue to foster an ever-growing creative and culinary scene that leaves visitors in awe of the ‘Burgh.
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3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is an icon. This 2.2 million acre park expands out from its geothermal pools in Wyoming into the forests and mountains of Montana and Idaho. Bison, bears, and elk roam the terrain. Old Faithful, the star of Yellowstone’s 500+ active geysers, performs daily for visitors.
4. Greenville, South Carolina
In South Carolina’s Upcountry, the Reedy River Falls are an oasis in downtown Greenville. Falls Park on the Reedy is just off of the tree-lined main street, letting pavements and pathways unite the city blocks with the river’s cascading rocks. This walkable family-friendly city has an excellent children’s museum, pocket-sized zoo, and delicious Southern fare.
5. Bar Harbor, Maine
The sleepy bayside town of Bar Harbor, Maine, comes alive in the summer. Visitors pack the seafood restaurants like a can of sardines, salivating over fresh fish stew and lobster rolls. A relaxing boat ride around the Cranberry Islands is as serene as can be. Bar Harbor also has an awesome neighbor: Acadia National Park, full of granite peaks and rocky beaches.
6. Cuyahoga National Park, Ohio
Cuyahoga National Park is an underrated gem, showcasing central Ohio’s pretty scenery across biking, hiking, and kayaking trails. Only minutes from both Cleveland and Akron, one of the best ways to experience the park is via the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: vintage train rides offering sightseeing, dining, and entertainment excursions throughout the year.
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7. Detroit, Michigan
Motor City still has gas left in the tank. Attractions like the Motown Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, and Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation pay homage to the homegrown creations that changed the world. Today’s Detroit has gotten a tune-up thanks to the modern ingenuitive minds. The Heidelberg Project’s murals stretch across once decaying neighborhoods while ghost tours, hip breweries, and quirky shops offer hours of fun.
8. San Francisco, California
Few landmarks compare to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Taking a photo with the red suspension bridge should be at the top of your must-do list, alongside riding a streetcar and touring Alcatraz Island. Cool places like Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Union Square deservedly earn their reputation as popular tourist destinations in the City by the Bay.
9. Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma
Cherokee Nation as a sovereign tribal government predates Oklahoma’s statehood. A trip into this Native American territory is a lesson in tradition; its museums cover all aspects of its history, from its National Prison Museum to its Supreme Court Museum. Support its artisans and consider taking a cultural or historical class to learn about peoples that have called the United States home long before the country was colonized.
10. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
Words will never describe the Grand Canyon anymore than photographs can. Only viewing this immense landscape in person will ever begin to give you a sense of its absolutely breathtaking landscape. Visit it however you wish, whether that’s hiking from the rim to the river, taking photos from the viewing platforms, or venturing through this national park on the Grand Canyon Railway.
11. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Dells is called the Waterpark Capital of the World, but despite it being one of the best vacation spots for Midwesterners, this slice of America’s Dairyland is just as alluring for those who want solitude in the outdoors. Snow tubing, golfing, canoeing, picnicking, and hiking make for a splendid retreat into nature is a state that’s often overlooked by international visitors.
12. Fort Worth, Texas
Ride into Cowtown and you’ll see Texas’ true colors. Once a trading post for cowboys, the Fort Worth Stockyards are still a popular gathering place. A Western experience welcomes you to this north Texas city with bull riding, cattle drives, and rodeos weekly.
13. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
The world’s largest gypsum dunefield awaits in New Mexico’s White Sands National Park. Walk along the great dunes and you’ll see imprints of the past everywhere, including in the Ice Age-era fossilized footprints. Over 800 species of animals live in this desert, including unique “white” species of mice, lizards, spiders, and crickets that have evolved only here to match their surroundings.
14. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the quintessential Southern city for all the right seasons. Dozens of green squares are planted between the streets, making it rare to spend any steps outside of the shade of magnolias, palmettos, and sycamores. Between the bustling riverfront and the sunny Forsyth Park, you’ll find historic theaters, haunted cemeteries, and museums honoring the legacy of Georgia’s Lowcountry.
15. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
Idaho has an otherworldly site that might be one of the best places to visit in the US for making out-of-this-world memories. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve has over two dozen cinder cone volcanoes and two lava tubes that you can crawl through in the summer. Winter is an excellent time to visit for skiing and snowshoeing; just make sure that whenever you visit, you stay until nightfall to watch the cosmos come alive.
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16. Rapid City, South Dakota
The Dakotas deserve attention from international visitors and Rapid City is a perfect homebase near cool places like Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and Crazy Horse National Memorial. The city itself has plenty to do, too, especially for families. The Museum of Geology, Dinosaur Park, Reptile Gardens, and Bear Country USA will keep them smiling no matter the season.
17. Sequoia National Park, California
Step into a land of giants at Sequoia National Park. Conveniently next door to Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park’s namesake trees are among the tallest in the world. The General Sherman Tree stretches into the heavens, though it’s far from the only marvelous sight. Underground marble caves, granite cliffs, and gorgeous waterfalls make Sequoia National Park an inspiring destination for first-time US visitors.
18. Hawaii
Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959 but is far different from any of the other 48. Thousands of miles from the U.S.’s Pacific coast, nearly 150 islands create a paradise perfect for sun worshiping, surfing, and doing absolutely nothing. The Pacific Tsunami Museum, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park are great additions to any itinerary.
19. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Northern Lights spotting, island hopping, and Junior Ranger programs all in one place: Voyageurs National Park is located at the top of Minnesota where it waves to Canada across Rainy Lake. It’s one of the best places in the US to visit in the US that’s both off the beaten track yet has a host of activities to keep you for an entire vacation.
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20. The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest stretches from Northern California through Oregon and Washington into Canada. Though each part of the PNW is worthy of a singular visit, this part of the US is best explored in one fluid motion. Cool places like Portland, Oregon’s Lan Su Chinese Garden and Seattle’s Pike Place Market are as unique as Cannon Beach and Rainier National Park.
21. Washington, D.C.
When it comes to educational fun places to go, few cities beat Washington, D.C. The United States capital has 74 museums, 17 of which are Smithsonian Institute museums. The National Museum of African Art, the International Spy Museum, the Folger Shakespeare Library, National Geographic Museum, and National Air and Space Museum are among the many places where learning meets leisure on your first-time visit to the US.
22. Utah
If Washington, D.C., is a haven for museum lovers, then Utah is one of best places to travel for outdoor lovers. Five iconic national parks have an address in Beehive State: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. These “Mighty Five” have more than pretty scenery: beyond the red rock formations you’ll see white sandstone domes, crimson hoodoos, and hanging gardens.
23. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, making it one of the best places to visit in the US to explore its earliest colonial history. Nearly 500 years of history sits within the pedestrian-friendly historic district, including the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the country and 300-year-old Castillo de San Marcos fort.
24. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
When Midwesterns need a holiday, they visit one of the best vacation spots close to home: Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. Good times topside are always on the itinerary, though those who wish to stay on land will find fun at the area’s many water parks and amusement centers.
25. Sanford, Florida
Sanford sits just north of Orlando yet feels like a departure from the theme park capital of the world. A compact historic downtown rests along the shores of Lake Monroe where thousands of alligators bob in the water. Once called Goldsborough, one of the first Black towns established in Florida, Sanford’s brick lined streets are full of breweries, antique shops, and Victorian houses.
26. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of the youngest national parks in the United States, at least, in terms of official protection. The steep cliffs and craggy spires are just the tip of the geological greatness that took two million years to create. Star gazing, scenic drives, rock climbing, and canyoning await.
27. Chicago, Illinois
America’s “Second City” is one of the best places to visit in the US. A Midwest metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago deserves your fiercest appetite for cuisine and culture. Pizza, hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches are just the appetizer. Take an architectural boat tour, see live comedy at the Chicago Theater, and gaze into the cosmos at the Adler Planetarium.
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28. Alaska
Alaska is massive and is one of the best states to visit no matter which part of its 665,000 miles you set your sights on. From the hot springs of Fairbanks to the fjords of Ketchikan, Alaska is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Denali National Park’s six-million acres alone possess a tundra, glaciers, and the tallest peak on the continent: Denali.
29. New Orleans, Louisiana
Spend more than a few hours in New Orleans and you’ll find yourself dancing across its Creole streets. Literally. Musicians practice in the middle of the street on any given day, treating passersby to live performances as sweet as Cafe du Monde’s sugary beignets.
30. New York City, New York
The Big Apple is a world of its own. While New York City doesn’t define the United States, it does represent countless communities and cultures that make the five boroughs as diverse as the fifty states. Plan a full-fledged tour from the top of the Empire State Building to the toes of the Statue of Liberty or hop around subway stops in search of pizza and bagels; no matter what you do, NYC is one of the best places to visit in the US for the first time.