The United States, a land of contrasts and diversity, offersa multitude of unforgettable experiences for travelers from all over the world. From the East Coast to the West Coast, via the heart of the country, each region unveils its own unique treasures, from dizzying skyscrapers to breathtaking natural landscapes. In this article, we take a look at the 20 must-see places to visit during your stay in the USA. Get ready to discover iconic cities, majestic national parks, fascinating historical sites and much more. Are you ready? Join us on a journey through the wonders of this vast country!
Petit Futé tip: remember to consult our dedicated article What official documents do I need to enter the U.S.? to best prepare for your trip!
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1. San Francisco, the California must-see
The Golden Gate© © Eloi_Omella - iStockphoto.com
California is a traveler's dream, with its mild climate and beautiful Pacific beaches. In this state, a multitude of destinations welcome visitors year-round, but San Francisco is definitely something special. A tolerant, alternative city, you can't miss the places that everyone has seen at least once in a lifetime: the Golden Gate,Alcatraz prison and the Painted Ladies, Victorian houses located around Alamo Square. After a ride on the cable car, you can breathe the iodized air on Fisherman's Wharf, where sea lions make their home. The Exploratorium, the Palace of Fine Arts and the Young Museum are all great alternatives for wandering through museum aisles.
Read more: What to see, what to do in California? The 21 must-sees
2. New York, the jewel of the East Coast
Morning stroll on the Brooklyn Bridge© © mapman - Shutterstock.com
How can you miss the city whose name conjures up a multitude of images in your mind? New York always has something new to offer, and there's no doubt that you'll want to visit again and again, if only to see the essentials. An unmissable experience is a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge, to contemplate one of the world's most beautiful skylines. The Empire State Building, one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers, also offers breathtaking panoramic views. New York is also home to a wide variety of neighborhoods, from the Bronx to Chinatown and Little Italy. You can also get some fresh air in the city that never sleeps, in the gigantic green lung that is Central Park or by treading the sands of Coney Island. MoMA, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Broadway and its musicals, art is also present in all its forms, and the cultural possibilities seem endless.
Read more: What to do in New York in 4 days Itinerary and 5 tips for preparing your trip to New York
3. Seattle, dynamic city of the Pacific Northwest
View of Seattle© © espiegle - iStockphoto.com
Bordered by Lake Washington to the east and Puget Sound to the west, Seattle is a city that never fails to surprise visitors to the United States. It's a delight for those who enjoy water sports and cruises. You can also stroll through the city's neighborhoods, from Fremont, with its beautiful murals, to Montlake, with its wooded atmosphere, and Capitol Hill, a Mecca of the counter-culture. The Seattle Art Museum features exhibitions by the world's greatest artists, while the Museum of Pop Culture offers concerts and exhibitions dedicated to the preservation of pop culture. For a panoramic view of the city, you can either head to Kerry Park, or climb the floors of the Space Needle, which has a platform where you can have lunch, with a view!
4. New Orleans, Louisiana's temple of jazz
The French Quarter of New Orleans© © GTS Productions - shutterstock.com
It's one of Louisiana's must-sees: the most French of American cities delights visitors with its many museums in the Art District, its promenade along the Mississippi and its simply incredible gospel services, such as those held at Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church. Of course, the French Quarter is a must, with its Hispanic-inspired buildings, patios, wrought iron, fountains and lush gardens. A real little corner of paradise. Jazz also resonates en masse in this beautiful Louisiana city, as it does at Preservation Hall, an old building dating back to the early 19th century. And whether you're a sports fan or not, an American soccer evening at the Superdrome is bound to be a unique moment to share with loved ones in New Orleans.
Read more: What to do and see in New Orleans? The 15 must-sees
5. Las Vegas, Nevada's legendary city
Las Vegas© © f11photo - iStockphoto.com
In the American West, Las Vegas is an incredible city built in the middle of the desert. The first question to ask is: where are we going to stay? The city is home to a number of hotels, some of which are reminiscent of Venice, others of castles, but also of Rome and Egypt. For entertainment in Las Vegas, you can choose between the unmissable casinos on the Strip, the grandiose musical shows or the immense water games at the Bellagio Hotel. Evenings are bound to be electric in the city, which is a paradise for those who like to stay up late. So it's not in our selection of the best EVG destinations for nothing! During the day, you can also take advantage of a prime location for helicopter flights over mythical landscapes such as those of the nearby Grand Canyon.
Read more: Top 5 destinations where you can sleep in a luxury hotel for less
6. Miami, Florida's city of many faces
Art Deco facades, Miami© © pawel.gaul - iStockphoto.com
Where do you start when you arrive in Miami? Well, by heading to the Miami Beach district, to admire the pastel facades of its Art Deco buildings, before stretching out your towel on the beach for a few hours in the sun. Art is everywhere in Miami. In its most contemporary forms in the Design District, in the form of murals in Wynwood, not forgetting the must-see World Erotic Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. During the day, Downtown is the perfect place for shopping. At sunset, it becomes the temple of nightlife, with its many bars, restaurants and clubs. You can't leave Miami without spending some time in Little Havana, the Cuban quarter. Admire the Mediterranean-style houses, inhale the fragrant scents of tobacco, close your eyes - you're in Cuba.
Read more: What to do in Miami 17 must-sees
7. Chicago, third largest city in the USA
Deep-disc pizza, a Chicago specialty© © Elena Pominova - Shutterstock.Com
One of the first things to do in Chicago is to visit the John Hancock Observatory for a superb panoramic view of the city and Lake Michigan. Then it's on to the astonishing Marina City towers and the 442 m-high Willis Tower! In the midst of all this architecture lies Millennium Park, home to the iconic bean-shaped Cloud Gate, other contemporary works and a bit of greenery. The area is also often animated by concerts and family activities. The Navy Pier is also a great place to enjoy the great outdoors. Other must-do Chicago experiences include a ride through the city on the Loop train, a local pride and joy, as well as fine dining, deep-disc pizza and donuts.
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's historic hub
Independence Hall, Philadelphia© © f11photo - Shutterstock.com
Philadelphia is a prime destination for those interested in the country's history. Stroll through the National Independence Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell, symbol of American independence, and the other highlights of this exceptional museum complex: Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center and Carpenters' Hall. The USS New Jersey, a battleship belonging to the U.S. Navy, gives visitors an insight into the lives of U.S. Navy soldiers during their missions. Then it's on to Fishtown and the SEPTA, one of the world's oldest subways, for street art, shopping, bars and restaurants. Old City, built on the banks of the Delaware River, offers a bucolic stroll, with its two- and three-storey brick houses, historic 18th-century gardens and museums such as the National Museum of American Jewish History and the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Did you know? Are you a thrill-seeker? Continue your journey to The Eastern State Penitentiary, an imposing penitentiary center located north of Philadelphia and one of our Top 25 most haunted places in the world. Opened in 1829, it was home to the notorious Al Capone.
9. Portland, Oregon's trendy city
Portland Japanese Garden© © Paula Cobleigh - Shutterstock.com
Portland is a city with a green, alternative vibe. It's characterized by bridges spanning the river, parks and bike paths that make it easy to get from one neighborhood to another. For a taste of American campus life, a good place to start is the University of Portland, one of our top 10 vegetarian destinations. In the city, dozens and dozens of breweries are open for a good morning coffee, a creamy donut during the day and a good beer in the evening. The city is also lush and green, and you'll enjoy strolling through the Rose Garden and theJapanese Garden, one of the most beautiful outside Japan. And don't miss the Portland Saturday Market for crafts, food and entertainment. On the museum side, the Pittock Mansion is a must-see to better understand the city's history and its transformation over time.
10. Boston, one of the USA's oldest cities in Massachusetts
Boston's historic center© © Sean Pavone - Shutterstock.com
A city with a long history, one of the first things to do in Boston is to follow the Freedom Trail, a route that takes in the important sites of the American Revolution. Founded in 1630 on the East Coast of the United States, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the country, and its architecture differs from that of other major cities. Although the city is full of high-rise buildings, you'll also find some beautiful red-brick buildings, notably in South End, Back Bay and Beacon Hill. Strolls among the buildings can give way to a few wanderings in the green spaces to recharge your batteries, in Boston Common Park and the Boston Public Garden. The rest of the time, you can enter the art galleries and stroll through the Museum of Fine Arts, go whale watching offshore and then return to settle down at the table of a restaurant where the chefs don't lack imagination. Seafood is succulent in Boston, a gourmet city for sure!
Good to know: Boston is one of the 5 places to discover in springtime in the United States!
11. Detroit, a city of contrasts to visit in the U.S
Detroit is a city full of contrasts, a fascinating place to visit for those wishing to discover another face of the United States, less glamorous but just as captivating. The city is the emblematic symbol of America's post-industrial decline. Many neighborhoods were abandoned or razed to the ground at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, sometimes giving the impression of walking through a ghost town. However, this bleak picture does not do justice to Detroit's fascination with the city. Other neighborhoods are being reborn, such as Corktown, Eastern Market and Midtown. Midtown, for example, is today the beating heart of a vibrant cultural life, where prestigious institutions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H Wright Museum of African-American History alongside internationally renowned universities. Street art, ubiquitous throughout the city, also testifies to a vitality that can be seen on every street corner.
12. Yosemite National Park, one of the most emblematic tourist sites in the United States
One of the United States' most iconic tourist attractions and a spectacular example of a glacier-carved valley: welcome to Yosemite Valley! Visitors can explore the valley on foot, by bike or using a free shuttle bus that serves 21 stops. Stretching 13 km long and 1.6 km wide, at an altitude of 1,209 metres, the valley offers breathtaking views of sheer cliffs and two iconic rock formations: El Capitan and the Cathedral. Impressive waterfalls, some over 700 metres high, tumble down the rock faces. Venture a little further and you'll discover vast forests of centuries-old redwoods.
Good to know: Although the park covers over 300,000 hectares, the majority of tourists are concentrated in Yosemite Valley, giving the impression that the park is very busy, especially in summer. To avoid crowds and permit difficulties, it' s best to visit Yosemite in spring or autumn.
Read more: The 15 most beautiful national parks in the USA
13. Bryce Canyon National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in the USA
Rather than a canyon, Bryce Canyon is an immense natural amphitheater in the shape of a horseshoe, sculpted by erosion on the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Its unique geological formations, known as hoodoos or "fairy chimneys", are truly extraordinary. This chaotic landscape of finely jagged boulders and rock needles, overlooking the sides of an incised valley, is one of nature's most intricate sculptures, shaped by wind, rain and frost. The picture would be incomplete without the brilliant splashes of color - scarlet pink, orange, white, gray, violet, blue, vermeil - that nature has deposited here and there. The Rim Trail, a dozens-kilometre-long trail, skirts the jagged plateau bordering the canyon. In just a few hours, the first part of this trail allows you to explore the most spectacular sites. Discovering this park is one of Utah's must-do experiences.
14. Mythical Los Angeles
Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills... So many evocative names in the largest conurbation in the western United States. These distinct little worlds can be traversed on the same boulevard over dozens of kilometers, such is the vastness of Los Angeles. L.A.'s demographic diversity is one of its greatest assets, as evidenced by neighborhoods such as Koreatown, Little Armenia, Chinatown, Little Ethiopia and El Pueblo, to name but a few. Los Angeles is much more than glamour and glitz. You'll discover that art and culture are omnipresent, whether in the great museums of Miracle Mile, the prestigious galleries of Beverly Hills or on the walls of Downtown. Los Angeles is also the birthplace of surf rock, popularized by the Beach Boys.
Read more: What to do in Los Angeles 19 must-sees and must-visits and What to see and do in Los Angeles in 3 days?
15. Yellowstone National Park and its unrealistic landscapes
it's one of those 10 unrealistic landscapes that seem to come from another world... DescribingYellowstone National Park, the oldest national park in the United States and in the world, is an arduous task, given its vastness and diversity. Backed by the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone offers winter activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is a sanctuary for wildlife lovers, where you can spot bison, wolves, mountain lions, elk and even wolverines. The scenery is breathtaking, with sites such as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, numerous geysers, Crescent Hill and Yellowstone Lake. History buffs won't be disappointed either: the park is home to numerous historic sites and museums, bearing witness to its rich past, such as Fort Yellowstone and Old Faithful Inn. All that's left to do is take the famous Grand Loop Road through the park.
16. Grand Canyon National Park, a unique experience
The Grand Canyon, a site of unimaginable immensity, flirts with the boundaries of the unreal and alone justifies a trip to Arizona. Carved out by the mighty Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is an impossibly vast expanse, stretching 450 km between Lake Powell and Lake Mead in Arizona. Contemplating its 1,300-metre depthis a unique experience, and Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited sites in the USA. Although its history remains mysterious, its forty layers of rock make it possible to go back 1.7 billion years.
Good to know: If the Grand Canyon is your dream, you'll love seeing it from another perspective... Why not from the air? Yes, you can zip-line over this natural wonder. In fact, it's one of the most unusual activities you'll ever do on a trip.
17. Washington DC, one of the world's capitals to visit
Washington D.C. is one of the world's must-visit capitals. You'll marvel at such iconic monumentsas the Capitol, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, the White House and the Pentagon. The Smithsonian Institution, nicknamed the "national breadbasket", is home to some 15 fascinating museums, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum, all of which can be explored with a Washington D.C. tour guide in hand. Must-see activities include the National Museum of the American Indian, the Old Post Station and the Library of Congress. Not only is Washington a city of museums, it also invites you to discover its typical, picturesque neighborhoods. Georgetown, with its lively streets, Adams Morgan, the headquarters of intellectuals and partygoers, and Dupont Circle, a residential neighborhood.
Worth knowing: Kenilworth Park, with its water gardens, exhibitions, 18-hole golf course and three marinas, is well worth a full day's visit.
18. Monument Valley, an awe-inspiring, fairytale landscape unique in the world
Straddling Utah and Arizona, in the heart of the Navajo Reservation, Monument Valley offers a breathtaking, fairytale-like landscape that is unique in the world. This natural setting exudes an impression of infinite immensity and has been popularized by numerous films, notably those by John Ford, including "The Fantastic Ride" in 1938. More recently, the location has been immortalized in films such as "Back to the Future 3" (1990), "Forrest Gump" (1994), "Mission Impossible 2" (2000), "The Lone Ranger" (2013) and "Transformers: Age of Extinction" (2014). The atmosphere of Monument Valley is mystical: in this vast space, only rocks stand here and there, seemingly laid out by the hand of giants. There are three types of formation: the mesa, massive and stable; the butte, smaller and eroded; and the spire, narrower and almost shaped.
19. Lake Tahoe and its incomparable emerald color
This gigantic glacial lake is distinguished by its incomparable emerald color. With a depth of almost 500 meters, it is the tenth deepest lake in the world. Contrary to what its shape might suggest, it is not a volcanic crater lake. Some sixty rivers flow into Lake Tahoe, making it a fish-filled lake ideal for anglers who enjoy trout and salmon. The water is exceptionally clear, with a visibility of 30 meters. Measuring 35 km long and 20 km wide, it can be circumnavigated by car in around two hours. The landscape is much more beautiful and natural to the north. In winter, skiers enjoy the slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake. The prettiest villages are on the Californian side, while the Nevada side is marked by less attractive hotel-casinos.
10. What to visit in the USA Niagara Falls
What more can be said about Niagara Falls that hasn't already been said? They remain the favorite destination of newlyweds, the most photographed site in the world, and could fill a million bathtubs every second. One thing's for sure: they impress even the most jaded. Some filmmakers, such as Henry Hathaway with his film "Niagara" (1953, starring Marilyn Monroe), have seen incomparable dramatic potential in them. However, apart from these natural wonders, which are particularly spectacular on the Canadian side, the rest of the city resembles an amusement park. Fortunately, the hustle and bustle and the lights are set slightly back from the falls, preserving their natural majesty.
Where to go in the USA with the family?
The United States offers a host of destinations ideal for family vacations, each with its own attractions and activities suitable for all ages. Here are a few suggestions:
Orlando, Florida:
- Theme parks: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND are must-sees for families.
- Activities: Beaches, water parks, and numerous family attractions.
San Diego, California:
- San Diego Zoo: One of the best zoos in the world.
- LEGOLAND California: Perfect for kids.
- Beaches: Ideal for relaxing family days.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho:
- Nature and adventure: Geysers, hot springs, hiking and wildlife observation.
- Educational activities: children's programs and guided tours.
Washington D.C.:
- Museums: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, and many others.
- Monuments: Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and White House.
Grand Canyon, Arizona:
- Spectacular scenery: Hiking, boat tours and helicopter flights.
- Educational programs: Guided tours and information centers.
Hawaii:
- Beaches and water activities: Surfing, diving and whale watching.
- National parks: Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park.
New York, New York:
- Urban attractions: Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Charleston, South Carolina:
- History and culture: Visit historic plantations, museums and stroll through the historic district.
- Beaches: Relax on nearby beaches such as Folly Beach and Sullivan's Island.
Where to go in the USA on a budget?
Travelling to the USA on a budget is entirely possible with careful planning. Here are a few destinations and money-saving tips:
- Las Vegas, Nevada:
- Accommodation: Many hotels offer affordable rates, especially on weekdays.
- Free activities: Stroll the Strip, take in the fountain shows at the Bellagio, and visit the Fremont Street Experience.
Austin, Texas:
- Accommodations: Budget options like hostels and Airbnb.
- Free activities: Live music in bars, walks around Lady Bird Lake, and a visit to the Texas State Capitol.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
- Accommodation: Reasonably priced hotels and hostels.
- Free activities: Visit Independence National Historical Park, stroll through Rittenhouse Square and explore the city's murals.
Salt Lake City, Utah:
- Accommodations: Affordable options like motels and Airbnb.
- Free activities: Visit Temple Square, hike in the surrounding mountains, and explore Liberty Park.
Kansas City, Missouri:
- Accommodation: Moderately priced hotels and hostels.
- Free activities: Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, stroll through the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and explore the City Market.
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