10 Spectacular Places to Visit in The United States

Everyone loves a good vacation, and some people like to travel the world. Many of us, however, do not have time to travel internationally. Luckily, there are plenty of locations right here in the United States!

These spectacular places will change the way you think about this country. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful beach or something less crowded, these have you covered.

There are many spectacular places to visit in the United States, an immense country that brings together from large metropolises such as New York or Chicago, natural wonders that will leave you speechless such as Yellowstone or Niagara Falls, or tours by car or motorcycle to discover the deepest America through roads such as Route 66.

To enjoy all these gems you would need several months, so it is highly recommended to divide the country by zones, especially between west and east, where most of the points of interest are concentrated, and visit each of them on a journey.

The best time to travel to the US is in spring (April and May) and fall (September and October), when you avoid the extreme heat of summer and the cold of winter, there is not as much tourism and prices for accommodation are more affordable.

Remember that to enter the country it is mandatory to request the ESTA document through this official page and have the best travel insurance for the United States since health is very expensive and any problem can mortgage you for life.

Based on the many trips we have made to this great country, in the last one we wrote this guide of tips for traveling to the United States, and those that we plan to do in the near future, we have made a list of those that we believe are the 10 spectacular places to see in the United States. We started!

The USA is filled with sites and spots that are absolutely amazing and often overlooked by people who only stick to cities. There are so many gems out there in the US, including some that you may not expect!

Contents show

List of spectacular places in the United States

If you’re planning a road trip to the States, here are some spectacular places to visit that will leave you craving for more.

Here’s the list of spectacular places to visit in the United States:

1. New York

New York, one of the most famous cities in the world, with its skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, its gigantic malls like the Soho and Rockefeller Center, museums, and entertainment. I have to say that New York is one of the great cities in the United States, in addition to Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.

New York, full of nicknames such as the city of skyscrapers, the city of asphalt, or the one that never sleeps, is one of the tourist places in the United States that never disappoints and always exceeds all expectations.

If this is your first time in the city, we recommend investing between 7 and 10 days to get to know its most famous buildings and attractions such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway, Times Square, or the Statue of Liberty, as well as getting lost in its neighborhoods more authentic like Harlem, Queens or Brooklyn, where you can feel like just another New Yorker.

Although for us, the best thing about New York is that no matter how many times you visit it, something new always appears that will surprise you, from a museum, a theater or musical show, a design store, an original cafeteria, or a new viewpoint, like the fantastic The Vessel, which make it tremendously addictive.

In order not to miss anything important in the city, we recommend that you follow this New York guide that includes articles such as the most beautiful places to visit in New York, the best things to do in New York, or the restaurants where to eat cheaply in New York, among many others.

Start with a visit to the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy. Take a ferry to Liberty Island and tour the statue’s pedestal, or climb to the crown for panoramic views of the city.
Explore Central Park, one of the most famous urban parks in the world. Take a stroll through the gardens, rent a boat to go around the lake, or watch a show at the Delacorte Theater in summer.
Visit Times Square, a major commercial intersection and tourist destination known for its billboards, bright lights, and Broadway shows.
Check out some of the world-class museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, or the Museum of Modern Art.
See a Broadway show or attend a performance at Lincoln Center, home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic.
Take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the views of the Manhattan skyline and the East River.

2. Florida

The state of Florida is a wonderful place to visit with its warm weather, great food, and beautiful beaches. It is home to the sandy beaches of Fort De Soto Park, the expansive Everglades area, and so much more. Florida is also home to some of America’s most dangerous alligators.

A few days of vacation in the state of Florida enjoying the beach and the attractions of the Orlando theme parks is another of the best things to do in the United States.

The best way to get to know this area is to land in Miami, there are direct flights from Spain, and spend a day or two in this city with a Latin rhythm and beautiful beaches where you can bask in the sun.

Once the visits are complete, you can rent a car to travel the Florida Keys highway, observe alligators and crocodiles in the Everglades National Park, visit the historic St. Augustine, see space rockets at the Kennedy Space Center, and above all, pass some fun last days in the parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Visit the theme parks in Orlando, such as Disney World and Universal Studios, where you can experience the magic of Disney and the excitement of your favorite movies and TV shows.
Explore the Kennedy Space Center, where you can see real spacecraft and learn about the history of the American space program.
Take an airboat tour of the Everglades National Park, where you can see alligators, panthers, and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
Head to the Florida Keys, a chain of islands that offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world, as well as great fishing and boating.
Relax on the beaches of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Key West, and enjoy the warm weather, crystal-clear waters, and white sandy beaches.

3. San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most picturesque cities in the US. This is where you see some of the most beautiful views as you look out over the city. There are many sights to see, and these sights are what make this a popular place to visit, both for working and relaxing.

San Francisco, located on a beautiful bay and considered the most European city in the country, is next to New York, one of our favorite places in the United States.

This city full of charm and diversity, which also has a pleasant climate during most of the year, is perfect to spend a few days relaxing enjoying neighborhoods such as Castro and Fisherman’s Wharf, walking up the steep streets with its historic tram, crossing the iconic Golden Gate or visit the cinematic Alcatraz Jail.

To get to know the best of this city, we advise you to follow this San Francisco guide that has interesting posts such as the best things to see and do in San Francisco and the itineraries ofSan Francisco in one day, San Francisco in two days and San Francisco in 3 days.

If you have extra time in the city, we recommend you rent a car and take a trip to Yosemite Park, Sequoia, and Death Valley, or take the scenic highway to Los Angeles.

Start with a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. Take a walk or bike ride across the bridge and enjoy the views of the city and the bay.
Explore the colorful neighborhoods of Haight-Ashbury, known for its counterculture history and bohemian vibe, and Chinatown, the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.
Visit Alcatraz Island, where you can tour the historic prison and learn about its notorious inmates and the island’s history as a military fortification.
Take a trip to Napa and Sonoma, two of the most famous wine regions in the United States, where you can visit wineries and taste wines from some of the best winemakers in the world.
Visit the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, a fine arts museum that features European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
Ride the famous San Francisco cable cars and enjoy the views of the city, including the famous hills and Victorian architecture.

4. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular places in the United States. No other waterfall in the world has its force and beauty like Niagara Falls does. It is a major worldwide attraction that looks incredible! Before your trip to Niagara Falls, one of the most important things to know is how you can get the most out of it. Here are some tips that will help you plan a great trip to Niagara Falls and make it more enjoyable.

Niagara Falls Located between the borders of Canada and the United States, Niagara Falls is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world and that we are sure you will not forget.

This spectacular waterfall of the Niagara River, 1,000 meters wide and 54 high are one of the best excursions in New York, as it has a good daily connection by bus (7 hours) and plane (1 hour).

Once at the falls you can enjoy the views from the viewpoints from both countries (those on the Canadian side are more photogenic), see the Horseshoe Falls, embark on the Maid of the Mist boat to feel the force and sound of the water up close, fly over them with a helicopter flight or have fun with one of its most popular attractions such as the Whirlpool Aero Car, the Mistrider Zipline zip line and the Journey Behind the Falls.

To complete the experience, you can stay at one of the hotels with views of Niagara Falls such as the Hilton Niagara Falls, the Niagara Falls Marriott, or The Oakes Hotel.

See the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls, three of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.
Take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist, which takes you to the base of the Horseshoe Falls for an up-close and personal view.
Experience the Cave of the Winds tour, where you can walk along a series of decks and walkways that lead you to the Hurricane Deck, just a few feet from the Bridal Veil Falls.
Visit the Niagara Adventure Theater, an IMAX theater that shows a film about the history and geology of the falls.
Take a helicopter or airplane tour for a bird’s-eye view of the Niagara River and the falls.
Visit the Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the United States, where you can see the falls and other natural attractions.

5. Hawaii

Hawaii is a state in the United States that many people have already planned trips to. It has almost always been at the top of vacations for tourists for many years. In this article, I’m going to cover some spectacular places you can visit and a little bit about how to get there.

After a route through the most essential places to visit in the United States, you can spend a few days relaxing on the paradisiacal beaches of Hawaii, an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean and with direct flights from the large cities of the West Coast such as San Francisco or The Angels.

The only way to move between the different islands is by plane and once there it is advisable to rent a good car to explore the fantastic landscapes of volcanoes, hidden coves, and lush forests, where many scenes from the popular series Lost were filmed.

Although the archipelago has many islands, the ones that are usually visited are the four largest: Oahu (the most touristy and with the largest offer of accommodation), Maui (impressive beaches and good atmosphere), Big Island (great volcanoes), and Kauai ( the most virgin and green).

The minimum time to be able to know all the tourist places of these 4 islands, without much rush, would be about 15 days, so if you have less time we recommend you discard some and invest more time in enjoying the beaches and the routes of trekking.

Visit Oahu, the “Heart of Hawaii” and home to the state capital, Honolulu, and famous Waikiki Beach.
See the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, which honors the memory of the sailors who lost their lives in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Take a tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center, where you can learn about the cultures of Polynesia and see traditional dances and performances.
Visit the Maui, known for its beautiful beaches, scenic road to Hana, and the Haleakala National Park, where you can see the world’s largest dormant volcano.
Take a snorkeling or diving tour of the Big Island, where you can see colorful fish, sea turtles, and dolphins.
Relax on the beaches of Kauai, known as the “Garden Isle” for its lush tropical forests and scenic cliffs.

6. Chicago

Chicago is one of the most visited cities in the country, with over 46 million people coming every year. This is quite a lot if you consider that it’s way smaller than New York or Los Angeles. But as they say, by virtue of its size, Chicago knows how to show and not tell, with amazing landmarks that are definitely worth a visit.

Chicago, known as the Windy City or the Second City, and located on the shores of Lake Michigan, is another of the places in the United States that you cannot miss.

Destroyed by a great fire in 1871 and terrorized by gangsters like Al Capone during the prohibition period, this city has been reborn from its ashes to become a great metropolis of imposing skyscrapers, manicured parks, modern architecture, interesting museums, and sandy beaches around the lake, where you can sunbathe or have a picnic.

Although its main attractions such as the Millenium Park, Navy Pier, the Art Institute, or the Willis Tower can be seen in about two days, it is advisable to invest more time to enjoy all the experiences that the city offers such as trying its pizza Chicago-style or see the world’s best-preserved T-Rex skeleton at the Field Museum.

Start with a visit to Willis Tower, the second-tallest building in the United States and home to the Skydeck, where you can see stunning views of the city from the 103rd floor.
Explore the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the most renowned art museums in the United States, which features works by Monet, Van Gogh, and other famous artists.
Take a walk along the Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue that is home to some of the city’s best shops and restaurants.
Visit Millennium Park, a public park that features sculptures, gardens, and the famous “Cloud Gate” sculpture, also known as “The Bean.”
See a show at the Chicago Theatre, a historic theater that hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and other performances.
Take an architectural boat tour of the city, where you can see some of the most famous buildings in Chicago and learn about the history of the city’s architecture.

7. Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is located in the North-West corner of Wyoming, bordering Montana and Idaho. It is the first national park in the USA and covers an impressive 2,219,766 acres. It’s also home to a multitude of animal species including bison, elk, wolves, bears, and predators such as the coyote. The scenery inside the park is dominated by snow-capped mountains which are often reflected in lakes and rivers which feature boat trips into Yellowstone Lake or Pelican Creek.

On our first trip through the Western United States, if there is any place that left a mark on us, it was Yellowstone Park, the oldest national park and one of the great natural wonders of the world.

A circular itinerary by car between geysers, hot springs, boiling mud pools, fumaroles, and canyons of this gigantic volcanic caldera will take you about 4 or 5 days, and among its highlights are the Old Faithful geyser, the Grand Prismatic, the Lower Falls, or Great Falls and the limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, although the experience of driving and passing herds of bison, maples or even a bear, is unique.

We got to Yellowstone from San Francisco in a trip of more than 11 hours, although another faster option is to catch a flight to Jackson, located 70 kilometers from the south entrance or to Idaho Falls, about 200 kilometers from the west entrance.

You can stay at the Lazy G Motel, a 5-minute drive from the entrance, in the West Yellowstone area, although it is also a good option to sleep inside, in one of the hotels in the park.

See Old Faithful, one of the most famous geysers in the world, which erupts approximately every 90 minutes.
Explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you can see the Upper and Lower Falls and the colorful rock formations that have been shaped by erosion.
Visit the Mammoth Hot Springs, where you can see terraces of travertine formed by the mineral-rich hot springs.
Take a hike in the backcountry and see the diverse wildlife, including bison, elk, and grizzly bears.
Visit the Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-altitude lake in North America, where you can do fishing and boating.
See the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States, known for its brilliant colors caused by the different types of bacteria living in the water.

8. Route 66

Route 66 was an important road in the United States, which was key to the development of the country. From the Gold Rush Era to the Santa Fe Railway and from riverboats to the automobile – Route 66 has a great history that can be retraced today by travelers. The highway is legendary for passing through Arizona, California, New Mexico, and for providing access to Chicago as well as New York.

Another of the best things to do in the United States is to complete Route 66 in about two weeks, either by car, motorcycle, or motorhome, which goes from the city of Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, on a tour of almost 4,000 kilometers.

With more than 100 years of history and considered one of the legendary journeys that any traveler would like to do, this mythical route passes through several sections of the old highway The Main Street of America, where they preserve motels, gas stations, and roadside cafes with the same decoration of the 50s and that give it an authentic character, although also focused on tourism.

Among the most essential stops are Las Vegas, Cadillac Ranch, the towns of Williams and Seligman, the Wigwam Motel, the Mr. D’z restaurant in Kingman, and especially the Grand Canyon, one of the most incredible places to visit in the United States, which we will talk about later.

Start your journey in Chicago, the starting point of Route 66 and travel through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Visit the iconic landmarks, such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, and the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook.
Check out some of the historic towns and cities along the route, such as Springfield, Missouri, and Gallup, New Mexico.
Take a drive through the scenic countryside and see the prairies of Illinois, the deserts of Arizona, and the mountains of California.
Visit some of the many museums and visitor centers that tell the story of Route 66 and the people who have traveled it.

9. Grand Canyon of Colorado

Grand Canyon of Colorado is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the United States. It exhibits colors so beautiful, it’s hard to imagine nature could create something this breathtaking. The Grand Canyon of Colorado is more than just a sight; it’s a must-visit for any traveler to the United States.

After a great route through the National Parks of the Western United States through Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and Bryce Canyon, you can put the icing on the cake with a visit to the Grand Canyon, another of the world’s natural treasures.

This immense canyon that ranges from 6 to 40 kilometers wide and reaches depths of more than 1,500 meters, was created by the erosion, over millions of years, of the bed of the Colorado River.

At present it is divided into three areas that can be visited and although the most popular is the South Rim as it concentrates more points of interest if you come from Las Vegas it is more comfortable to know the West Rim area, located just two hours away and with the incredible Skywalk lookout, a transparent platform that hangs from the cliff.

If you come by private car, you can leave it in one of the authorized parking lots and move with the park shuttles that stop at the different viewpoints, also do not forget to book this helicopter ride on the South Rim or this on the West Rim, one of our most brutal experiences of the trip.

For more information, we recommend reading this post on how to get to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.

Start with a visit to the South Rim, the most popular and accessible area of the park, where you can see the most famous views of the canyon.
Take a hike on one of the many trails that lead to the canyon floor, where you can see the Colorado River and the colorful rock formations up close.
Visit the Yavapai Point and Geology Museum, where you can learn about the geology of the canyon and see exhibits of fossils and minerals.
Take a mule ride, a guided tour on the back of a mule that takes you to the bottom of the canyon and along the Bright Angel Trail.
See the sunset or sunrise over the canyon, which can be a breathtaking and unforgettable experience.

10. Alaska

Alaska is so much more than its most popular attraction, Denali National Park. There’s so much to explore, from Fairbanks on the north to Juneau on the south and everything in between. In this piece, we’ll be taking a look at some of the more spectacular places to visit in Alaska that you should definitely add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip!

To finish this list of tourist places in the United States, we suggest you take a motorhome trip through the wild landscapes of Alaska, ideal for lovers of the most unspoiled nature.

Known as the «last frontier», this state offers enough attractions to spend about 3 weeks discovering its incredible mountain landscapes, rivers, fjords, and glaciers, as well as the possibility of seeing bears hunting salmon and northern lights, if you travel in winter.

Among its essentials are the Denali, Kenai, and Wrangell-San Elías National Parks, the town of Homer, and take a cruise to observe glaciers and whales up close, among many others.

See the Denali National Park, home to Mount Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America and home to grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep.
Take a cruise to see the glaciers, whales, and other wildlife in the Inside Passage, a narrow waterway that runs along the coast of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska.
Visit the Kenai Fjords National Park, where you can see glaciers, fjords, and a wide variety of marine life, including sea otters, sea lions, and puffins.
Take a flightseeing tour and see the spectacular landscapes, including the Brooks Range, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Try some of the local seafood, such as salmon, halibut, and crab, which are caught fresh in the waters of Alaska.