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The Grand Canyon West Rim is also home to Havasu Canyon. This maze like canyon – filled with tall rock walls, cacti, cottonwood trees, and turquoise blue waterfalls – is a mecca for hikers. One of the highlights is the 8-mile (12 km) trek to the Supai Village, a must stop. A trail from Hualapai Hilltop drops steeply through a starkly beautiful landscape. Once you reach the village, you’ll find a cafe, general store, and a post office.Other activities in the Grand Canyon West Rim include river rafting and exploring the Grand Canyon Caverns, which are dry caverns created from lava and limestone.

Hoover Dam is one of the largest public works projects in the USA - it's been called the 'Greatest Dam Ever Built.' Hoover Dam is a National Historic Landmark and stands as a testament to the thousands of men and women (and their families) who came to a harsh, barren land and, in less than five years, built a structure that changed the future of the west. The dam also created Lake Mead, named for the man who oversaw the project. From Las Vegas Hoover Dam is a convenient day trip.

Dubbed among the world’s top 10 diving locations, Molokini is prized by underwater enthusiasts for its protected reef, crystal-clear visibility and schools of tropical fish. The crater is also a favorite with birdwatchers, who come here to spot seabirds like petrels and shear-waters. Come here by organized tour for a day of swimming and diving, and terrific views across the water back to Maui.

Coastal redwoods are the tallest living things on earth, and walking among these giants is truly an awesome experience---and one only to be had Northern California and a small part of southern Oregon. Best of all, the old-growth redwoods at Muir Woods are only 12 miles/19 kilometers north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the closest redwood stand to San Francisco. Even at busy times, a short hike gets you beyond the crowds, onto trails with mammoth trees and stunning vistas.

With its sharp craggy mountains, deep canyons and desert basins, you won't believe that Sin City is only a few hours away from the deserted, dramatic and often surreal scenery of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. There are many activities to do around and on Lake Mead; it's a peaceful and beautiful place to bike, kayak, water ski, camp, fish and hike. You can also scuba dive or go for a swim in one of the surrounding lakes. Lake Mead and Lake Mojave are the two main destinations in the Lake Mead Recreation Area. Lake Mead is 110 miles (177 km) long and Lake Mojave is 67 miles (107 km) long. Because of their size, both are major destinations for boaters. The surrounding beaches, marinas, and campgrounds make the surrounding area popular for boater and non-boaters.

The Las Vegas Strip is an All-American road show, home to the most famous hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. With famous spots like Paris, Treasure Island, the Venetian, Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace and the MGM Grand, it’s no wonder that the strip is the most popular destination in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Strip houses entertainment, bright lights, other-worldly architecture, and the city's trendiest clubs and nightlife. It's a Disneyland for adults, a place where fun and fantasy meet. Watch Elvis impersonators or avant-garde performances by Cirque du Soleil, or try your luck on a slot machine. There’s something for everyone in Las Vegas.

The defining moment of America's last decade is burned into our collective imaginations: the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when New York's World Trade Center crashed to the ground. Ten years later, on the spot where the Twin Towers fell, a memorial to all those lost that day (including at the Pentagon, Shanksville, PA and those killed in the 1993 bombing) was finally unveiled in a solemn ceremony. All are invited to the space, located in the heart of a new World Trade Center still under construction. It is a rare greenscape in lower Manhattan, shaded by rustling swamp white oaks that were chosen for their muted yellow hue come autumn. Two enormous fountains, designed by architects Michael Arad with landscape architect Peter Walker, mark the footprints of the fallen towers with plunging waterfalls. These are surrounded by bronze parapets, engraved with the names of those lost. Personal tributes are welcome.

Cinema buffs believe Alfred Hitchcock had it right: seen from below at Fort Point, the bridge induces a thrilling case of Vertigo. Fog aficionados prefer the lookout at Vista Point in Marin, on the north side of the bridge, to watch gusts rush through the bridge cables. Crissy Field is a key spot to appreciate the whole span, with windsurfers and kite-fliers to add action to your snapshots. Unlike the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge provides access to cyclists and pedestrians. From the Golden Gate Bridge itself, you can see stunning vistas of San Francisco and Marin County, as well as Alcatraz, Angel Island, and oceangoing liners passing through the bridge’s tall red towers. Golden Gate Bridge connects the city of San Francisco with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Sausalito and the Muir Woods National Monument.

Frihedsgudinden er en af New Yorks (og USA's) mest ikoniske seværdigheder. Monumentet var en gave fra Frankrig i 1886 og blev givet som et symbol på fejringen af 100 års jubilæet for underskrivelsen af uafhængighedserklæringen. Statuen er 46 meter høj og meget passende placeret på Liberty Island ved indsejlingen til New Yorks havn. Lady Liberty byder besøgende og immigranter velkommen med de berømte ord: "Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

The Grand Canyon South Rim is more then those spectacular canyon views. The first stop for many is Grand Canyon Village, which is filled with many historic buildings. Other historic highlights in the South Rim is Desert View Watchtower, which has one of the few views of the bottom of the Canyon and the Colorado River; Grand Canyon Railway Depot, built in 1909; and Bright Angel Lodge, a rustic lodge built of logs and stones. For hikers, the Grand Canyon South Rim is where you'll find Bright Angel Trail, Rim Trail, and South Kaibab Trail - all of which offer the most dazzling views of the Grand Canyon. You might even spot one of the regal California condors, which have recently returned to the area. At night, head back to the Grand Canyon Village to enjoy Native American dancing.

Famed for the ancient live oak trees that flank its main walkway, the Oak Alley Plantation might seem eerily familiar. Used as a site for several movie screenings including the popular Interview With A Vampire, the Oak Alley Plantation is, in real life, all the more beautiful and exciting. A sprawling plantation with over 1300 acres to its name and an interactive Civil War museum, visitors to Oak Alley enjoy the beauty of the grand antebellum plantations with a historical walking tour. A 17 ft-wide veranda and opposing doors and windows provide shade and cross-ventilation for the main house during hot summer days, but what makes a trip to Oak Alley memorable isn’t the beautiful architecture - it’s the lush grounds themselves, the mossy oak trees, and the stories of bygone days. These will have you imagining yourself sipping a mint julep and laughing as part of what was once the magnificent southern aristocracy.

Experience New Orleans from the Mississippi River with a scenic cruise on the historic Steamboat Natchez. Take a two-hour cruise from the heart of the French Quarter that takes you back in time to the atmosphere of the Old South while enjoying a creole lunch onboard and a Calliope Organ concert. Learn about New Orleans foundation as a harbor city on the daytime cruise, or hop on the nighttime Jazz Cruise for dinner with live band, "Dukes of Dixieland". The views of the New Orleans' skyline from the Steamboat Natchez are picturesque, day or night. These sights, sounds, and smells of a cruise along the muddy bottomed Mississippi create the perfect southern ambiance expected from culturally-rich New Orleans.

The French Quarter, also know as the Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans. The Quarter, as it is commonly known, runs from the banks of the Mississippi River to Rampart Street and between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue. Much more than a historic district, the appeal of the French Quarter is easy to see. It's walkable, picturesque, always busy, and filled with an extraordinary range of great restaurants, bars, nightclubs, courtyard cafés, art galleries, rummage shops and museums. A visitor can walk these blocks time and time again and always notice something new. Here you'll find beautiful ironwork details on historic buildings branching out from St. Louis Cathedral. Barter for knick-knacks at the French Market or take a carriage ride around Jackson Square and see the colorful assortment of artwork, merchants, and street performers that give New Orleans its quirky character.

Travelers looking to experience life on the top of the world need look no further than the spire of One World Observatory. The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, this lower Manhattan skyscraper has a high-speed elevator that shoots visitors straight to the 102nd floor in less than 60 seconds. Impressive time-lapse technology showcases the transformation of the city from the 1500s to modern day as guests make their ascent. The major attraction, known as the Discovery Level, is located on the 100th floor of One World Observatory. Visitors say the 360-degree views highlight the best of Manhattan and offer impressive looks at surrounding waterways and iconic city skyline. Several high-tech installations provide travelers with the unique experience of zeroing in on specific neighborhoods or checking out real-time footage of streets far below.

Want to make a spectacular understatement? Go ahead and call the Grand Canyon “a great big hole in the ground.” About 277 miles (444 km) long, an average of 10 miles (16 km) wide and more than a mile (1.6 km) deep, the colorful, eroded layers of this northwestern Arizona wonder reveal nothing less than the incredible geological history of the North American continent. Each year, some 5 million people visit this testament to the power of water over rock, making the Grand Canyon the most popular national park in the U.S. Some arrive on a historic train from the depot in the Old West town of Williams, an hour south, while far more travel here by car. You can brave the Skywalk, a transparent (and strongly reinforced) walkway that juts out over the West Rim; hike down, around or across the divide (remembering to bring lots of water); or soar high above the whole canyon on a helicopter tour.

It has its rivals, but when most people say the words 'New York observation deck' and 'skyscraper', the 102-story Empire State Building immediately springs to mind. The world's tallest building from 1931 to 1977, the Empire State is currently the tallest building in NYC. The iconic skyscraper is topped with a stepped Art Deco pinnacle that's floodlit at night and boasts holiday and commemorative colors throughout the year - green for St Patricks Day, red and pink for Valentine's Day, red and green for Christmas and so on. After admiring the glistening Art Deco mosaics in the lobby, ride the elevator to the 86th or 102nd floors and get ready to drink in those astounding 360-degree views. The 86th-floor observatory is 1,050 feet (320 m) high, and if you pay a little extra you can visit the more intimate, enclosed observatory on the 102nd floor at 1,224 feet (373 m).

Red Rock Canyon is a network of impressive canyons and surreal rock formations inside the Red Rock National Conservation Area. If you're looking for opportunities to hike, bike or rock climb within easy striking distance of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is just what you're looking for. One of the more popular destinations for climbers here is Keystone Thrust, made up of towering red sandstone peaks and walls that reach as high as 3,000 ft (910 meters). Then there’s La Madre Mountain (8,154 ft / 2,485 m), a moderate climb and an optimal spot for mountain biking. Other highlights include Icebox Canyon (to get here, you start hiking an easy trail through the canyon and then boulder-hop and climb to reach the top) and the Pine Creek Canyon oasis (a running creek surrounded by pine trees).

I næsten 150 år har Alcatraz givet de uskyldige kuldegysninger og de skyldige koldsved. Gennem årene har det været USA's første militærfængsel, derefter et afskrækkende topsikret fængsel og nu en nationalpark. Det er ikke så underligt, at det første skridt, du tager på "The Rock", når du forlader færgen, synes at være ledsaget af uhyggelig musik: dunh-dunh-dunnnnh! Turen til Alcatraz er populær, og pladsen er begrænset. Køb billetter til Alcatraz så lang tid i forvejen som muligt, op til 90 dage. Listen over indsatte på Alcatraz ligner til forveksling listen over USA's mest eftersøgte personer. Berømte kriminelle, der har afsonet en fængselsstraf på Alcatraz, tæller gangsterbossen Al "Scarface" Capone fra Chicago, den elegant klædte kidnapper George "Machine Gun" Kelly og den iltre mafioso og tidligere digter "Bumpy" Johnson. Selvom Alcatraz blev anset for at være et flugtsikkert fængsel, lykkedes det i 1962 for Anglin-brødrene og Frank Morris at flyde væk på en specialfremstillet flåde for aldrig at blive set siden. Et besøg på Alcatraz er mere end bare et kig ind i det indvendige af et gammelt fængsel.

In the heart of downtown Honolulu, just across the street and two blocks west of Hawaii’s largest mall, is the small boat harbor of Kawalo Basin and the starting point for a number of popular Honolulu water-based adventures. Deep sea charter fishing vessels moor alongside snorkel and scuba charters, parasailing vessels, winter whale watch pontoons, underwater submersible tours and even an 83-foot pirate galleon complete with water-firing cannons for daytime family fun or evening debauchery. If you’re looking to get beyond the beaches of Waikiki and out into the big blue, a stroll along its street-side dock will, at the very least, display your varied options. Though there is no beach access here, a gentle but ridable wave that breaks left of the harbor channel is a popular surf spot with local groms (kids in surf speak). In addition to hosting the Rip Curl GromSearch competition, the break is a training ground for the Kamehameha High School surf team.

A hallowed name in US history, Pearl Harbor was the site of the December 7, 1941, bombing by the Japanese that wrenched the United States into World War II. In total, nine U.S. ships were sunk and a further 21 damaged, and the eventual death toll was 2,350. Pearl Harbor is still a Navy base today, and a National Historic Landmark. For visitors, the focus is the USS Arizona memorial, protecting the remains of the American battleship destroyed in seconds during the attack. The USS Utah was also sunk, and there is a memorial on nearby Ford Island. The highlight of the harbor's Bowfin Park is the submarine USS Bowfin and the adjacent memorial museum, packed with memorabilia and exhibits.

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is famous for its seaside beauty, marine life and water sports. The 15-mile (24 km) length of coast is lined by cliffs, white-sand beaches and turquoise sea. Come here to whale watch or spot dolphins and monk seals on an eco-cruise or sailing adventure. Follow the Kalalau Trail to go hiking across the cliff tops to Hanakapiai beach and waterfalls. Say hello to the local marine life on a snorkeling excursion, with the opportunity to see tropical fish and green sea turtles.

Antelope Canyon is a breathtaking natural attraction in Arizona and a large source of tourism revenue for the Navajo Nation. The stunning slot canyon is the most visited in the American Southwest and was formed by erosion of Navajo sandstone. The canyon is composed of two parts, the upper and lower canyon. The upper canyon is referred to as “the place where water runs through the rocks” and does not require you to climb. The lower canyon is called “spiral rock arches” and has stairs so you can access the base.