10 Best Things to Do in the US

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is a city full of history and an abundance of free activities to fill a vacation. Touring the numerous monuments and memorials, especially the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, should be high on any itinerary. The National Museums and Capital Building are also free and enriching experiences.

Beyond the historical and educational highlights, Washington D.C. has a bustling cultural and nightlife scene. U Street, in particular, northeast of the White House, is a hub for bar crawls and live music. And if you want to explore beyond the city, Baltimore is a short drive or train ride away.

Yellowstone National Park is a popular tourist destination, welcoming nearly 5 million visitors in 2021 alone. The vast park is made up of 3,500-square miles of wilderness and spans Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Because of its size, it's best to plan more than a day to take in the National Park.

Active geysers and hot springs pepper the landscape and are a big draw for spectators. Old Faithful, in particular, is a treat to watch explode. And the nearby visitor center can teach you all you need to know about the geologic forces at work. Or stay at the Old Faithful Inn (built in 1903) to get a view right from your room.

Central Park is a large urban park in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The 843-acre park has been a peak NYC destination since it opened in 1858. It is home to the Central Park Zoo, Delacorte Theater, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

In the spring and summer, Central Park hosts concerts and festivals that draw 1000s of spectators. In fall and winter, park visitors can hike through and admire the blazing autumn colors or ice skate for free at the Wollman Rink. True to its name, the park is nearby plenty of New York’s other exciting attractions like Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Driving along Route 66 (formally, U.S. Highway 66) is like traveling back in time. The route, which connects Lake Michigan in Illinois to the coast of southern California, was one of America’s first interstate highways established in 1926. The 2,488-mile stretch of road crosses 7 states and has become an icon of Americana in popular culture.

Along Route 66 today you can find many roadside attractions (like the Cadillac Ranch in Texas or the Gemini Giant in Illinois), natural wonders (like the Mojave Natural Preserve in California or the Painted Desert in Arizona) and iconic landmarks (like the St. Louis Arch in Missouri). Don’t miss a chance to stop at one of several Route 66 museums along the way.

Baseball is known as America’s pastime, and as such, visiting one of the country’s oldest ballparks is among the best things to do when visiting. Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs, was built in 1914. Only Fenway Park in Boston is older. Within the confines of the green-painted walls, sports history has been made, like Babe Ruth’s famous called home run or Sammy Sosa’s 60th home run.

Watching a baseball game at Wrigley Field is one option to take in the ballpark, but it hosts more than just sports. Catch a music legend belting on stage to a sold-out stadium, shop at a hygge-inspired market in the winter holidays, or take a 90-minute tour of the century-old establishment.

Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is an expansive complex of childhood magic and fun. The amusement park originally opened in 1971 so animator Walt Disney could expand upon his theme park idea when it became clear that adjacent developments around California’s Disney Land would limit the park’s scope. At 25,000 acres, the property is larger than Manhattan.

The Resort is split into 4 parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. There are also 2 waterparks, 1 near Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, and another near Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. The list of attractions at Disney World goes on, which is why it’s a vacation destination people return to time and again.

The illuminated, glitzy stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Nevada known as the Vegas Strip is one of the best places in the U.S. to visit. It is a concentrated stretch of hotels and casinos and a quintessential destination for nightlife and a bit of debauchery.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Though the Vegas Strip is known as a wild party spot it also has multiple Michelin-star restaurants and worldwide superstars giving nightly performances. The hotels themselves are renowned for their unique and sometimes kitschy design, while others focus on luxury. Many of the hotels also have attractions that are suitable for kids like pools, play zones, and amusement park rides.

Niagara Falls is a wonder of the world , a true bucket list attraction made up of 3 waterfalls in the Niagara Gorge. The largest of the 3 borders the U.S.’s New York state and Canada’s Ontario province.

Visitors to Niagara Falls can take boat tours through the gorge via the famous Maid of the Mist or a jet boat and feel the spray of the roaring Horseshoe Falls. The surrounding area is built up with even more to do including vineyards, breweries, casinos, live entertainment, and shopping centers.

The French Quarter is a charming neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, filled with history. Also known as Vieux Carre (Old Square) the district serves as the heart of the city and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

In the French Quarter, you can eat beignets piled high with powdered sugar and washed down with chicory coffee at Café Du Monde. You can take a carriage ride past Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. You can shop in the open-air French Market while listening to buskers play jazz. And, of course, you can visit the bars on Bourbon Street and watch the city come to life at night.

Waikiki Beach is located on the south shore of Honolulu on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It is recognized for its soft sand, warm water, and proximity to luxury resorts and hotels.

Made up of 8 public beaches in total, you can walk along Waikiki Beach as a scenic way to get around the Waikiki neighborhood. Or you can do as the sea turtles do and swim in the mostly calm waters. Surfing and paddleboarding are also popular ways to enjoy the clear blue waters. Enjoy a beachside dinner capped with the sun setting behind Mount Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) to end an unforgettable day.