What to See in the United States

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The United States has 23 sites (20 of them on the continental mainland) inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Paradoxically, given the country's wealth, this is far fewer than Italy, which holds the record with over fifty, as well as China, Spain, France, or even neighboring Mexico. In fact, the U.S. ranks just 10th in the number of inscribed sites.

Most of these sites highlight America's natural heritage. Aside from the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and two or three other historical sites, all the UNESCO-listed locations are national parks. Among the most famous and tourist-friendly are Florida's Everglades, the Great Smoky Mountains on the East Coast, plus Glacier National Park, Olympic National Park, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone in the West.

By Region

Each region of the United States is rich in sites and places to discover:

• What to See in New England: Boston and its surroundings (Minute Man, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket...), the cities of Connecticut like Hartford, Mystic, and New Haven for their more or less historical heritage, plus numerous natural sites popular for "outdoor" activities and their forested landscapes, such as the White Mountains, the Berkshire Hills, the Green Mountains, the Appalachian Trail, or the lakes of New Hampshire.

• What to See on the U.S. East Coast: Must-sees like New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Niagara Falls. Also, historical sites including Gettysburg and Antietam, the mountainous backcountry (Adirondacks, Catskills...), and coastal or seaside areas like the Jersey Shore, Long Island, Ocean City, Atlantic City, and the Chesapeake Bay.

• What to See in Florida: Primarily Miami, Orlando with its theme parks, Fort Lauderdale and its canals, Sarasota and West Palm Beach, "Old" St. Augustine, the Everglades swamps and their wildlife, Biscayne National Park, and the stunning Florida Keys.

• What to See in the Southern United States: Charming cities like Savannah and Charleston, New Orleans, Memphis, and Nashville for music, the "Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia," and Civil War sites around Fredericksburg. Also, Cajun Country with Louisiana's marshes and bayous, plantations along the Great River Road, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the beaches of the Grand Strand and the Carolinas in general.

• What to See in Texas: Mostly cities like San Antonio, Austin, or Galveston, which are less known but more interesting than Houston or Dallas, plus Padre Island (for birds and beaches) and parks like Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, and Palo Duro Canyon.

• What to See in the Midwest and Great Plains: Chicago, Mount Rushmore, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula for its wild landscapes and outdoor activities are the three main attractions in this less touristy region. Also notable are the greater St. Louis area and parks in states bordering Canada (Porcupine Mountains, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Cuyahoga Valley, Voyageurs National Park, Door County...).

• What to See in the American West: A vast selection that, beyond the must-see Las Vegas and Santa Fe, takes visitors into nature, including encounters with Pueblo culture (Mesa Verde and others). Focusing on the essentials, highlights include Antelope Canyon, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Grand Teton, Death Valley, the "must-sees" like the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Yellowstone, Zion National Park, and many other worthwhile spots...

• What to See in California: Obviously Los Angeles and San Francisco with its Bay Area, Highway 1 connecting these two cities (via Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon...), the ghost town of Bodie, San Diego with its beaches, theme parks, and Spanish-era landmarks. For nature, Death Valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Tahoe, and the famous Yosemite.

• What to See in the Pacific Northwest: Seattle, but above all, nature—starting with the Oregon Coast and Puget Sound, plus the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake, Craters of the Moon, the Columbia River Gorge, Hell's Canyon, Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, and other wild areas.

• What to See in Alaska: Nature in all its splendor, featuring Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Glacier Bay, Denali, Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island, Kenai Fjords, and Misty Fjords in the Inside Passage, the waterway along the coast, as well as Kachemak Bay State Park and others. Also, cities (Anchorage, Juneau) or towns showcasing local cultures or Alaska's past (Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway...).

• What to See in Hawaii: A mix of beach and surf spots (Honolulu, among others) and nature/volcanoes, with highlights like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island or Haleakalā National Park on Maui.