America250: Top Things to Do Across the United States

America’s founding story comes alive across the Northeast through Revolutionary War landmarks, historic cities, coastal communities, and iconic cultural destinations.

• Massachusetts – Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail and explore sites central to the American Revolution.
• Pennsylvania – Visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
• New York – Experience New York City, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Niagara Falls.
• New Jersey – Explore Revolutionary War sites, historic towns, and scenic Atlantic coast destinations.
• Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine – Discover colonial villages, maritime heritage, picturesque towns, rugged coastlines, and landscapes that helped shape early America.

Explore the birthplace of American government and the cultural traditions of the Chesapeake region.

• Washington, D.C. – Explore the National Mall, Smithsonian museums, the U.S. Capitol, and iconic national memorials.
• Maryland – Discover Chesapeake Bay culture, maritime heritage, and historic waterfront communities.
• Delaware – Visit America’s First State and explore colonial landmarks and coastal attractions.
• Virginia – Experience Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, and the homes of America’s Founding Fathers.

Trace America’s early growth through historic cities, coastal landscapes, and Revolutionary War sites.

• North Carolina – Explore the Outer Banks, historic settlements, and Revolutionary War history.
• South Carolina – Experience Charleston’s historic district, Lowcountry culture, and coastal beauty.
• Georgia – Discover Savannah’s historic squares, Southern hospitality, and Atlanta’s cultural attractions.
• Florida – Visit St. Augustine, America’s oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement, along with world-famous beaches and attractions.

Follow the stories of freedom, resilience, music, and cultural traditions that transformed America.

• Alabama – Follow the Civil Rights Trail through Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma.
• Mississippi – Discover blues heritage, Civil Rights landmarks, and Mississippi River communities.
• Louisiana – Experience New Orleans jazz, Creole cuisine, Mardi Gras, and unique cultural traditions.
• Tennessee – Explore Nashville’s music scene, Memphis blues heritage, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Arkansas – Visit Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and scenic Ozark landscapes.
• Kentucky – Experience bourbon country, horse farms, and Mammoth Cave National Park.
• West Virginia – Discover Appalachian culture, mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure.

Discover the region where American ingenuity, manufacturing, transportation, and innovation helped shape the modern nation.

• Ohio – Visit aviation landmarks, presidential homes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and vibrant cities along Lake Erie.
• Indiana – Experience the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, historic communities, covered bridges, and Midwest hospitality.
• Illinois – Explore Chicago’s architecture, museums, cultural attractions, and Lincoln heritage sites.
• Michigan – Discover the Great Lakes, Mackinac Island, scenic shorelines, automotive history, and outdoor adventures.
• Wisconsin – Enjoy charming lakefront communities, Door County, dairy heritage, and year-round recreation.
• Minnesota – Visit the Twin Cities, the Boundary Waters, and the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

Follow the paths of pioneers, settlers, and explorers across America’s agricultural heartland and historic frontier.

• Missouri – Discover the Gateway Arch and the starting point of westward expansion.
• Iowa – Experience rolling farmland, agricultural heritage, and small-town charm.
• Kansas – Explore prairie landscapes, frontier history, and the legacy of the American West.
• Nebraska – Follow pioneer trails and discover the vast Great Plains.
• North Dakota – Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park and explore rugged badlands.
• South Dakota – Experience Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and Badlands National Park.

Discover dramatic canyons, Indigenous heritage, towering mountains, and some of America’s most spectacular natural wonders.

• Colorado – Experience Rocky Mountain National Park and breathtaking alpine landscapes.
• Utah – Explore Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks.
• Arizona – Stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon and discover Monument Valley and Sedona.
• New Mexico – Experience Native American heritage, Santa Fe, Taos, and White Sands National Park.
• Nevada – Enjoy Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon, and the Valley of Fire.

Follow the Pacific coastline through iconic cities, dramatic landscapes, and world-famous natural attractions.

• California – Visit Yosemite National Park, Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, and California’s iconic coastline.
• Oregon – Explore rugged Pacific coastlines, Crater Lake National Park, and scenic wine regions.
• Washington – Discover Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park, and Olympic National Park.

Experience some of the most remote, diverse, and breathtaking landscapes under the American flag.

• Idaho – Explore mountain wilderness, rivers, and outdoor adventure destinations.
• Montana – Discover Glacier National Park and the gateway to Yellowstone.
• Wyoming – Visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and experience the spirit of the American West.
• Alaska – Experience glaciers, wildlife, Denali National Park, and vast wilderness.
• Hawaii – Discover volcanic landscapes, Polynesian culture, tropical beaches, and the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

Explore the places where the United States was born and the ideals of liberty first took shape.

• Independence Hall (Pennsylvania)
• The Freedom Trail (Massachusetts)
• Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia)
• Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (New York)

Visit sites that shaped the nation’s growth, challenges, and transformation.

• Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania)
• National Mall and Smithsonian Museums (Washington, D.C.)
• Historic landmarks and presidential memorials throughout the United States

Follow the stories of those who expanded the promise of liberty and equal opportunity.

• Civil Rights Trail Sites (Southern States)
• African American historical landmarks
• Museums and memorials dedicated to social justice and civil rights

Discover the people and cultures whose traditions continue to shape the American experience.

• African American Heritage Sites
• Native American Cultural Centers
• Hispanic and Latino Heritage Destinations
• Asian American Historical Landmarks

Experience the sounds, flavors, and customs that define America’s cultural landscape.

• Music Heritage Trails
• Culinary Tourism Experiences
• Regional cultural festivals and traditions

Explore the stories of generations of immigrants who helped build the nation.

• Immigrant Heritage Communities
• Ellis Island and immigration history experiences
• Ethnic neighborhoods and cultural districts across the United States

Experience Old San Juan, El Yunque National Forest, historic forts, and vibrant Caribbean culture.

Discover pristine beaches, sailing adventures, and historic island communities.

Explore Chamorro heritage, Pacific history, and tropical landscapes.

Experience Polynesian culture, national parks, and stunning volcanic scenery.

Enjoy beautiful beaches, diving opportunities, and Pacific Island traditions.

The U.S. also administers nine largely uninhabited islands and atolls — such as Midway, Wake, and Palmyra — that serve as wildlife refuges, conservation areas, and research sites, and are generally closed to tourism.