The area's telegenic canyons, wind-shaped buttes and dramatic sandstone towers embody the rugged character of the West -- and the central place that character holds in our national identity.
Enjoy the unforgettable view of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers merging to create the mighty Ohio. At night, lights twinkle on no fewer than 15 bridges. Read more.
The Upper Mississippi River runs through Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Winding through 19th-century river towns, the sites along the way read like chapters in American history. Read more.
Coral reefs, beaches and mist-shrouded volcanic peaks adorn Hawaii's oldest island. Along the Kalalau Trail, mountains plunge 4,000 ft into the Pacific. Take a short hike inland to Hanakapi'ai Falls. Read more.
Engineering marvel, art deco icon, monument to progress: The Golden Gate Bridge is named for the strait it spans. It's a grand symbol of one of the world's most striking cities. Read more.
A choice spot for fall leaf peeping, Grafton is one of Vermont's prettiest hamlets and arguably its best preserved. The Windham Foundation has rehabilitated more than 50 historic buildings. Read more.
Named for the Shoshone bride of a 19th-century trapper, the pristine, 2.5-mile-long body of water mirrors the mountains' glory. Read more.
The 110-mile strip of the Keys boasts sights existing nowhere else in the U.S. With a peak elevation of 18 ft, the land can seem an afterthought to the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf on the other. Read more.
Shaded by live oaks, perfumed by magnolias and surrounded by historic buildings, 22 enchanting public squares, including Columbia Square, beckon like secret gardens. Read more.
