Best Places to Visit Across America

Estes Park, Colorado

Situated at the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and surrounded by protected land, Estes Park offers travelers the best of outdoor recreation, real wildlife experiences, and hometown hospitality.

Rocky Mountain National Park, a main attraction in the area, is located just to west of Estes Park, and consists of 415 square miles of spectacular mountain environments. A highlight of the park is Trail Ridge Road which crests at over 12,000 feet. The park also features over 300 miles of hiking trails, lakes and a variety of wildlife.

Trail Ridge Road is a paved, 48 mile long scenic highway which connects the park entrances in Grand Lake and Estes Park. It features switchbacks and hairpin curves, and rises to a height of 12,183 feet above sea level. The road is open seasonally in non-winter months.

Destin in the Florida Panhandle

Destin is situated on the white beaches of the Florida Panhandle, east of Pensacola and west of Panama City. There is lots to do in Destin, with its world famous deep-sea fishing fleet, luxury resorts, and mild weather. The beaches are white, and the blue-green water is spectacular for swimming and other water activities.

And the shopping! Multiple shopping developments and major shopping destinations such as Bass Pro and Silver Sands Outlets provide hours of fun.

A number of annual events offer fun for residents and visitors alike, such as the Destin Seafood Festival and Gumbo Contest and Silent Auction.

Kennebunkport, Maine

The Town of Kennebunkport is located in York County, Maine, about 85 miles northeast of Boston, and 29 miles south of Portland. It lies on Maine Highway 9, east of I-95 and U.S. Highway 1. Nearby is Acadia National Park.

The town center, the area in and around Dock Square, is located along the Kennebunk River, about one mile from the mouth of the river on the Atlantic Ocean. Historically a shipbuilding and fishing village, for over a century the town has become a popular summer colony and seaside tourist destination.

Points of interest include Ocean Avenue, Gooch's Beach, Middle Beach, the Seashore Trolley Museum, the Brick Store Museum, the Eastern Trail, the Wedding Cake House, Blowing Cave, Saint Ann's Church, whale watching, sailing excursions, art galleries and eclectic shops.

Juneau, Alaska

The City and Borough of Juneau is the capitol of Alaska, located on the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan Panhandle. Juneau is about 235 air miles north of Ketchikan and 40 miles east of Hoonah.

It is situated at the base of Mount Juneau and across the channel from Douglas Island. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge connects the Juneau mainland with Douglas Island.

Juneau shares its eastern border with the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is the only U.S. state capital to border another count

During May through September, cruise ships from Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Viking and other lines dock in downtown Juneau and provide a variety of shore excursions.

A trip to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center provides fascinating information as well as excellent views of this ever-changing wonder.

Sedona, Arizona

The City of Sedona is located in north Central Arizona on State Route 89A and State Route 179. Interstate Highway I-17 runs in a north-south route to the east of the city. Sedona is about 30 miles south of Flagstaff, and 120 miles north of Phoenix. Las Vegas lies 275 miles to the west. The popular small tourist town of Jerome is only 27 miles to the southwest.

Sedona is considered a premiere destination by millions. Sedona is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can take a hike or a bike ride or perhaps just enjoy a beautiful sunset..

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Vancouver, British Columbia

The City of Vancouver is a coastal, seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia in western Canada. Located on the western half of the Burrard Peninsula, Vancouver is bounded to the north by English Bay and the Burrard Inlet and to the south by the Fraser River. Vancouver Island, across the Strait of Georgia, shields Vancouver from the Pacific Ocean.

Top spots for exploration include downtown’s Stanley Park, with its old-growth cedar forests surrounded by water views and sandy beaches, and the Granville Island Public Market. Other popular neighbourhoods include the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown.

Read more about Vancouver British Columbia

Fredericksburg, Texas

Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, the city of Fredericksburg, with its strong German heritage dating back to 1846, is a popular destination for tourists, wine connoisseurs, and nature lovers.

Fredericksburg offers a variety of attractions and events, both inside the city and in the outlying hills in all directions. Downtown you will find many art galleries, antique shops, restaurants and historical sights.

The fields in the area turn purple when the spring bluebonnets are in bloom, and the Willow City Loop is a popular, nearby road trip.

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Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria is ocated in the Canadian Province of British Columbia, at the southern end of Vancouver Island.

Popular with tourists from around the world, Victoria has been named both the Most Romantic City in Canada and one of the top 15 Friendliest Cities in the World. With a perfect growing climate, Victoria is known internationally as the City of Gardens.

The Butchart Gardens, just north of Victoria, are internationally known and appreciated. Founded in 1886, the Royal BC Museum is one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world.

Read more about Victoria, British Columbia

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is located in the southern part of Arizona, and the county seas of Pima County. It is the second largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix, 108 miles (174km) to the north. Tucson is situated 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Over 3.5 million visitors annually due to Tucson's numerous resorts, hotels, and attractions.

San Diego, California

With its mild year-round climate, varied terrain, beautiful harbor, and abundance of outdoor activities, San Diego is consistently a major, popular tourist destination. Attractions such as Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and the USS Midway draw visitors from around the world.

One of the most exciting and sophisticated metropolitan regions in the country, San Diego comprises more than 100 colorful and unique neighborhoods.

San Diego is located on Interstate Highways I-10, I-5 and I-15 in extreme southern California, adjacent to Tijuana, Mexico.

Ocracoke on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

With a year-round population of just under 1,000, Ocracoke Village is a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of mainland living. Ocracoke Village is on the National Register of Historic Places, with houses and buildings dating from the 1880s, along with more recent additions under the canopy of live oaks, cedars, and yaupons.

At just a little over a square mile, and surrounded by water, everything within the Village of Ocracoke is conveniently located for walking or biking. Access is by private boat, small plane, or NCDOT ferry.

Bar Harbor in Maine

A favorite travel destination of ours is Bar Harbor, highly ranked as one of the best places to visit in Maine and all of New England. Located on Mount Desert Island and close to the popular Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is the island's largest town. Other villages on the island include Southwest Harbor, Tremont and Northwest Harbor.

Bar Harbor has a year-round population of about 5,200 residents. The summer season has warm days and cool evenings, with an average daily high temperature above 66F. The colder winters don't stop the activity in Bar Harbor, and many cold weather activities abound in the area.

The entrance to Acadia National Park is less than one mile from downtown Bar Harbor; part of the park is actually in Bar Harbor proper.

Banff, Alberta in Canada

Located to the west of Calgary, Alberta, is Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, along with the adjacent Kootenary National Park and Yoho National Park. Further to the northwest is Jasper National Park. These parks offer unparralled scenic views year round, plus a vast number of lakes, rivers, forests, and glaciers.

The town of Banff is accessed from the Trans Canada Highway 1, and is located about 127km from Calgary, and 58 km from Lake Louise to the west.

The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate the Banff skyline. Banff and Lake Louise are located within the confines of Banff National Park. What makes Banff National Park so special is its easy access and close proximity to the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is located in central New Mexico on Interstate Highway 25, about 65 miles northeast of Albuquerque. It is the capitol city of New Mexico, and is positioned at 7,000 feet above sea level.

The city was one of the larger cities on Historic Route 66 during its earlier alignments. It passed through downtown near the historic La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel. Located on the Plaza, the epicenter of downtown Santa Fe, is the Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied government building in the United States.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a dominant landmark in the downtown area, and a must-not-miss attraction for visitors. Nearby things to see include Loretto Chapel, the New Mexico State Capitol building, and the New Mexico Museum of Art.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 37 miles southeast of Providence and 74 miles south of Boston.

Once the summer playground of America's wealthiest families, Newport remains a popular vacation destination at any time of year.

The area's historic sites, architecture, events, fishing, beaches, water recreation, shops and fine restaurants draw tourists from around the world.