USA Bucket list 50 States Checklist + Free Printable
The United States of America is a massive tourist destination. A country so large that a single trip is not sufficient to explore it all. We have visited the US many times and still have a lot to cover. It doesn’t matter if you live in the US or traveling for the first time we have got you covered with over 750 things to do in the country, and this 50 states checklist is the perfect way to start your USA bucket list.
The best part of this USA travel bucket list is that it is laid out by the state in an alphabetical manner and we are also sharing a 60 page eBook with all the attractions for you to print out and check off your wanderlust dreams! Click to access the free download here
USA Bucket list 50 States Checklist
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Alabama
☐ Visit US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville
☐ Tour movie sites in Alabama
☐ Attend Mardi Gras in Mobile
☐ Climb boulders at Horse Pens 40
☐ Camp at the Gulf Shores Outpost
☐ Plan a romantic getaway in a cabin at Monte Sano State Park
☐ Go ghost hunting on the streets of Birmingham
☐ Soak in fall colors in various parks in Alabama
☐ Attend the Moundville Native American Festival
☐ Eat your heart out at the National Shrimp Festival
☐ Explore the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman
☐ Capture the 90 feet waterfall at the Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden
☐ Check out the ‘Unclaimed Baggage Center’, the world’s only lost baggage store
☐ Visit the largest park of Alabama – Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham
☐ Head to the Birmingham Zoo
☐ Wander the Botanical Gardens
☐ Check out the pump where Helen Keller learned to spell W-A-T-E-R
Alaska
☐ Kayak near a glacier, get up close and personal
☐ Spot grizzly bears
☐ Check out killer whales or a whole pod of orca whales
☐ Sail through awe inspiring Alaskan Fjords
☐ Learn to snorkel among sea-life wonders
☐ Chase northern lights in Fairbanks
☐ Wander among Totem poles
☐ Pig with and eat seafood including Alaskan crab
☐ Book an Alaskan Cruise to enjoy the trip
☐ Drive the Alaskan Highway from Anchorage to Yukon (Canada)
☐ Explore Denali National Park
☐ Relax at the Chena Hot Springs
☐ Attend the ceremonial Iditarod race in March
☐ Celebrate winter or summer solstice
☐ Go hiking at the Chugach State Forest
☐ Visit the top of the world – Utqiagvik
☐ Explore Valdez’s natural wonders – Keystone Canyon & Worthington Glacier
Arizona
☐ Visit Grand Canyon National Park
☐ Book a helicopter tour over the canyons
☐ Head to Havasu Falls
☐ Capture amazing shots of the Antelope Canyon
☐ Take a hot air balloon ride over the stunning red canyons around Sedona
☐ Check out the exhibits at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
☐ Hike to Ribbon Falls
☐ Try out activities at the Flagstaff Extreme obstacle course
☐ Check out the tea ceremony at the Japanese Friendship Garden
☐ Soak in fall foliage from the Snowbowl’s Scenic Chairlift
☐ Explore the Goldfield Ghost Town
☐ Learn about Native American tribes at the Museum of Northern Arizona
☐ Step back into the American west at the city of Tombstone
☐ Go spelunking in the Lava Cave in Flagstaff
☐ Watch cowboys at the world’s oldest Rodeo event
READ: Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim & Best Airbnbs near Grand Canyon
Arkansas
☐ Chase the Gurdon Light in southwest Arkansas
☐ Stay at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, and participate in their nightly ghost tours
☐ Visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park, where the world’s biggest diamond was found
☐ Attend the Johnson County Peach Festival
☐ Hang out at the Basin Spring Park in Eureka Springs
☐ Visit Fort Smith National Historic Site
☐ Drive along the Talimena Scenic route in the fall
☐ Tour the Lower White River Museum in Des Arc
☐ Watch sunrise over the Arkansas River Valley
☐ Walk through the Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock
☐ Climb the Pinnacle Mountain
☐ Spend a night on a houseboat on Lake Ouachita
☐ Enjoy a relaxing day at the Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs
California
☐ Walk the Golden Gate Bridge (our 4 days in San Francisco Itinerary)
☐ Visit Hollywood
☐ Drive the Big Sur Coastline (more West Coast USA Road trips)
☐ Hike up to the Hollywood sign and take pictures
☐ Stargaze at the Glacier Point
☐ Visit Death Valley National Park
☐ Soak in sunsets at Sausalito
☐ Walk up to the Salvation Mountain
☐ Hang out at the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
☐ Take a ferry to Alcatraz Island and learn about its history
☐ Visit SFMOMA
☐ Try out oldest wine at Sonoma County (+ more road trips from San Francisco)
☐ Kayaking at the Channels Islands
☐ Capture amazing photos at the Cypress Tree Tunnel
☐ Be mesmerized at the Sequoia National Park
☐ Visit Wine Castle and wine tasting in Napa Valley
☐ See sunset over the Kelso Dunes
☐ Visit Goat Canyon Trestle
☐ Soak in to geothermal waters of Bumpass Hell
☐ Whale watch in Santa Cruz
☐ Explore, camp, hike at Yosemite National Park
☐ Learn surfing in San Diego
☐ Head to La Jolla for the weekend, explore sea caves (Guide to coastal cities in California)
☐ Walk the ghost town of Bodie
☐ Check out the Crooked Street
☐ Find all the metal statues in Anza Borrego
☐ Head to the top of the Moro Rock in Sequoia
☐ Take a ghost tour of the Haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach
☐ Drive the Spectacular Pacific Coast Highway in California
☐ Drive the historic Route 66
☐ Locate lost miles in Joshua Tree National Park
☐ Visit Land’s End area in San Francisco
Colorado
☐ Spend a winter (wonderland) vacation here (here are best ski resorts in Colorado for beginners)
☐ Admire the painted rocks at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park
☐ Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
☐ Check out the Dillon Ice Castles (winter)
☐ Soak in Glenwood or Dunton Hot Springs
☐ Hang out at the Hanging Lake
☐ Enjoy a scenic drive through Garden of the Gods
☐ Visit Denver’s Union Station
☐ Try out Colorado Craft Beer
☐ Explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
☐ Photograph snow peaks at the White River National Forest
☐ Attend the Loveland Sculpture festival (in Loveland)
☐ Watch sunrise from Lookout Mountain
☐ Run, slide, soak in views at the Great Sand Dunes
Connecticut
☐ Visit the Mark Twain House
☐ Walk the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge
☐ Explore Gillette Castle State Park
☐ Enjoy a ride at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
☐ Take a cruise at the Thimble Islands
☐ Spend a day by the shore at Lighthouse Point Park
☐ Visit Lavender Pond farm in Killingworth
☐ Hike, or enjoy a relaxing time at the Bluff Point State Park
☐ Hang out at the Savin Rock Beach in West Haven
☐ Embark on a road trip to check out all hidden gems from Hartford to Essex
☐ Visit a Connecticut Brewery
Delaware
☐ Join the Delaware State Parks Time Travelers Program
☐ Check out the World War II observation tower at Cape Henlopen State Park
☐ Visit Delaware Natural History Museum
☐ Attend Jazz Festival in Wilmington
☐ Ice Skating in Wilmington
☐ Spend a day at the Killens Pond state park in the fall
☐ Photograph cherry blossoms at Brandywine Park in the spring in Wilmington
☐ Explore downtown Lewes
☐ Join a mountain biking tour at White Clay Creek State Park
Florida
☐ Go clubbing in one of the Miami nightclubs
☐ Learn to surf at the Cocoa Beach
☐ Visit Hemingway House
☐ Relax and picnic at any of Florida beaches
☐ Visit Disneyland Orlando/ Universal Orlando/ Legoland
☐ Join a history and food tour in St. Augustine
☐ Learn at Kennedy Space Center
☐ Scuba dive at West Palm Beach
☐ Explore Castillo de San Marcos
☐ Spend a day at any of the Water Parks in Florida
☐ Try Cuban sandwich in Miami
☐ Drink from a pineapple and pose!
☐ Go on an airboat ride to experience Florida Swamps
☐ Eat Key Lime Pie!
☐ Visit the Sunken Gardens (Botanical Gardens)
☐ Trek through the Ravine Gardens
☐ Visit the Ernest Hemingway House in Key West
Georgia
☐ Check out the prettiest Atlanta Botanical Gardens
☐ Visit the stunning Cloudland Canyon
☐ Hiking in North Georgia Mountains
☐ Explore the ‘little Grand Canyon’ of Georgia – Providence Canyon
☐ Hang out at the Barrier Islands Visit Disneyland Orlando/ Universal Orlando/ Legoland
☐ Take photos of the Driftwood Beach, on Jekyll Island
☐ Sleep in a treehouse in Atlanta
☐ Soak in Atlanta’s city views from the Hot Air Balloon
☐ Spend a girl’s weekend in Savannah
☐ Spend another weekend in Helen, a popular mountain town
Hawaii
☐ Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
☐ Enjoy a day at any of the Hawaiian Islands
☐ Hike the Kalalau Trail
☐ Soak in views from Waimea Canyon, aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific
☐ Snorkel with Sea Turtles at Tunnels Beach or Molokini Crater
☐ Explore Leper Colony Kalaupapa National Historic Site
☐ Learn at the Polynesian Culture Center
☐ Take a tour of Pearl Harbour
☐ Hike Diamond Head
☐ Embark on road trips connecting various places in Hawaii
READ: Most romantic cities in the USA for a weekend getaway
Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa
Idaho
☐ Try out Idaho style fries and finger steaks
☐ Go on a wine tasting tour in any of Idaho’s 50+ vineyards
☐ Check out the Shoshone Falls
☐ Stay at Ernest Hemingway’s Suite 206 at the Sun Valley Lodge
☐ Enjoy a drive-in movie at the Spud Drive In on Highway 33 near Driggs
☐ Take a drive along the St. Joe Scenic River Byway
☐ Explore the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness
☐ Photograph ‘Craters of the Moon’
☐ Go whitewater rafting on the Salmon River
☐ Spend a weekend in Sandpoint
☐ Relax at Idaho Hot Springs – Kirkham or Bonneville Hot Springs
☐ Visit Sun Valley
Illinois
☐ Photograph the ‘bean’ at the Millennium Park
☐ Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (voted #1 in the world)
☐ Explore the Shawnee National Forest, and admire the stunning Garden of the Gods
☐ Enjoy the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
☐ Admire the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens (named one of the highest quality Japanese gardens in North America)
☐ Learn history, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
☐ Spend a romantic weekend at Galena, city for its history, architecture, and resorts
☐ Visit Chicago Botanical Gardens, which boasts of 400 acres and has 26 distinct gardens
Indiana
☐ Explore Indiana Dunes State Park, located on the southern tip of Lake Michigan
☐ Cycle across the Kosciusko County,exploring Webster Lake, Winona Lake, and Lake Wawasee
☐ Wander the Antique Alley in Richmond County
☐ Visit the interactive history park – Conner Prairie, located in Fishers
☐ Catch car race at the Indy 500
☐ Head to the top of Soldier and Sailors Monument to soak in city views
☐ Spend a weekend in the quaint town of Metamora filled with heritage gems and retail therapy
☐ Visit the farm at Prophetstown
Iowa
☐ Admire the Grotto of the Redemption, world’s largest man-made grotto located in West Bank
☐ Pig out eating pork dishes (Iowa produces the most pork in the country)
☐ Visit the historic American Gothic House, a pop-culture icon located in Eldon
☐ Enjoy a ride on the Snake Alley (just like the crooked street)
☐ Spend a day at the seven villages of Amana Colonies, which is full of German heritage
☐ Hike the trails at Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor
☐ Discover Iowa’s farming culture at Living History Farms
☐ Attend the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines (August)
Kansas
☐ See pueblo ruins, from 1650 to 1750 A.D. in El Cuartelejo Pueblo near Scott City
☐ Cowboy Experience – Experience the cowboy lifestyle with horseback rides, cattle drives, and wagon rides in a Kansas Ranch
☐ Check out Mushroom Rock State Park and Castle Rock for some of the ‘out of this world’ rock formations – at the Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark
☐ Photograph pretty sunflowers at the Grinter’s Sunflower Farm near Lawrence
☐ Enjoy Svensk Hyllningsfest (festival) in Lindsborg which celebrates the town’s Swedish heritage
☐ Visit the Cosmosphere – This is a space museum that displays exhibits like the Liberty Bell 7, the Apollo 13 command module Odyssey, and a version of Mission Control desk.
☐ Visit Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens or the pretty Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
☐ Tanganyika Wildlife Park
☐ Photograph The Keeper of the Plains – a 13.4 metres Cor-Ten steel sculpture – at sunset in Wichita
Kentucky
☐ Visit the Cumberland Gap Historic Park, to learn about the state’s origins and see the old Hensley Settlement near the Cumberland Caves
☐ Take a tour of Mammoth Cave, this is the world’s longest cave system offering a unique collection of seemingly new worlds beneath the ground.
☐ Eat Derby Pie
☐ Hike up Black Mountain in Kentucky, upto the highest in the state for those beautiful views
☐ Visit the Red River Gorge
☐ Attend the Kentucky Derby
☐ Spend a weekend in Bardstown
☐ Head to the Mega Cavern – a former limestone mine in Louisville, and one of the highest buildings in Kentucky today
Louisiana
☐ Head to New Orleans and explore the heritage lanes, including Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter > New Orleans Bucket list here
☐ Be there for the Mardi Gras (or atleast visit Mardi Gras World attraction)
☐ Visit the National WWII Museum, aka the National D-Day Museum. This is a military history museum located in New Orleans
☐ Take a tour of Laura Plantation, a restored historic Louisiana Creole plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River near Vacherie (St. James Parish, Louisiana)
☐ Explore Poverty Point World Heritage Site
☐ Capture the beautiful Acadian Village, a picturesque private cultural park located in Lafayette
☐ Take in coastal views from the Grand Isle State Park
☐ Enjoy a day at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Maine | Maryland | MA | Michigan
Maine
☐ Explore Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the USA. Ride bikes, go kayaking, and soak in the rugged natural coastline.
☐ Hike the tallest mountain on America’s Atlantic Coast Mount Katahdin
☐ Photograph the Portland Head Light, a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, built in 1791
☐ Enjoy a cruise at the Casco Bay. Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine.
☐ Go lobster boat hunting (tour) in Portland
☐ Hike the Appalachian Trail
☐ Seafood – try lobster rolls!
☐ Relax and picnic at the Sand Beach
☐ Go whale watching in Bar Harbor, Maine coast (mid April to October)
☐ Pick blueberries in farms near Portland (July to mid September)
Maryland
☐ Visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, and learn about its history
☐ Visit the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, for unique artifacts and exhibits on display
☐ Picnic and enjoy a slow day at the Great Falls
☐ Explore the Antietam National Battlefield area, which commemorates the 1862 American Civil War Battle of Antietam
☐ Scuba dive at Baltimore’s National Aquarium
☐ Attend Maryland’s summer of music festival ‘ Delfest’, a 3 day event
☐ Try Mayland Rye at a local distillery
☐ Pig out with steamed crabs, and crab cakes!
☐ Enjoy thrilling rides at the theme park – Six Flags America, in Bowie
☐ Hot the ski slopes at Wisp
☐ Go on winery tour in Maryland (8 wine trails)
Massachusetts
☐ Get Instagrammable photos at Colby Farm (sunflower field)
☐ Visit Harvard University Boston Campus
☐ Visit Salem in October, for fall foliage
☐ Enjoy a weekend in Cape Cod
☐ Spend another weekend in Nantucket
☐ Go to a Patriots game
☐ Visit the Museum of Science in Boston
☐ Explore Martha’s Vineyard
☐ Go whale watching – coastal MA
☐ Visit Old Sturbridge Village to see how rural New England town looked like in the 1830’s.
☐ Eat Boston cream pie
☐ Eat lobster roll
☐ Visit Boston Harbour’s 34 Islands by ferry
☐ Go shopping at the Wrentham Premium Outlet
Michigan
☐ Dine at the 71st floor of the GM Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit
☐ Climb Warren Dunes – Southwest Michigan
☐ Snorkel in Great Lakes and check out shipwrecks
☐ Ride a Dune Buggy on Michigan’s Sand Dunes
☐ Go stargazing at the Headlands
☐ Stay in Big Bay Point Lighthouse for a night
☐ Head to Mount Bohemia (ski) for the winters
☐ Enjoy a pint at Grand Rapids Brewing Co
☐ Check out Ocqueoc Falls
☐ Visit the stunning Reading Room, located inside the University of Michigan’s William W. Cook Legal Research Library (Ann Arbor)
☐ Spend a night at a hobbit-looking/mushroom like house in Charlevoix in Northern Michigan
☐ Cross the Croswell Swinging Bridge
☐ Canoe on the Torch Lake
☐ Drive through the “Tunnel of Trees” (north end of Petoskey, MI) in the fall or the M-22 scenic drive (117 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline)
Minnesota
☐ Check off at least 10,000 of the 11,842 (even if they are drive-bys)
☐ Join a whitewater rafting tour on the St. Louis River
☐ Chase Minnesota’s highest waterfall, High Falls at Grand Portage State Park
☐ Enjoy a romantic Classic drive-in movie under the blanket of stars
☐ Join a food tour
☐ Visit Native American Heritage Site
☐ Go biking in one their prettiest trails
☐ Tour Spam Museum in Austin
☐ Stay on a treehouse and tugboat on another night
☐ Hike out to Witch Tree in Grand Portage
☐ Enjoy a drive on Highway 1, starting in Ely, ending near Lake Superior
☐ Watch the parade of low-rider cars at the Cinco de Mayo festival in St. Paul
Mississippi
☐ Visit the Red Bluff (Little Grand Canyon)
☐ Go hiking, camping and enjoy the history and nature at Dunn’s Falls
☐ Take a tour of the Vicksburg National Military Park
☐ Check out the Windsor Ruins (Windsor Plantations)
☐ Explore Petrified Forest
☐ Chase waterfalls at the Clark Creek Nature Area
☐ Visit Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Jackson
☐ Enjoy a drink and live music at F. Jones
☐ Attend Mississippi Giant House Party aka Neshoba County Fair
☐ Learn at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
☐ Spend a day at Natchez
Missouri
☐ Explore the quirky City Museum in St Louis
☐ Check out Pythian Castle in Springfield
☐ Go underwater diving in Bonne Terre Mine
☐ Enjoy craft beer
☐ Visit Kansas City Zoo – Check out stingrays, polar bears, kangaroos, tigers, penguins, and giraffes
☐ Worlds of Fun – Ride the Nordic Chaser at Worlds of Fun and try all seven world-class roller coasters, and make waves at Oceans of Fun
☐ Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
☐ Pig out at Peggy Jean’s Pies
☐ Take a tram ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch, St Louis
☐ Photograph Bavarian Gardens at the Missouri Botanical Garden
☐ Create your own candle at Candle Fusion
☐ Enjoy mouthwatering Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
☐ Explore the historic St. Charles district
Montana
☐ Visit Glacier National Park
☐ Chase Northern Lights
☐ Enjoy a summer picnic at Flathead Lake
☐ Soak in city views from Missoula’s “M” hiking trail
☐ Check out limestone caverns in the Northwest
☐ Enjoy a tour of Gates of the Mountains
☐ Experience Montana Guest Ranch experience by staying at 320 Guest Ranch
☐ Eat cinnamon rolls
☐ Visit Butte and learn about the state’s mining history
☐ Check out traditional pow‑wow in Montana (Wolf Point in early August)
☐ Head to Bridger Bowl Ski Area in the winter
READ: Best winter destinations in the USA
Nebraska
☐ Explore the stunning landscape at Toadstool Geological Park
☐ Check out Chimney Rock that rises 480 feet above the North Platte River Valley near Bayard
☐ Attend Applejack Festival in Nebraska City
☐ Check out Ashfall Fossil Beds in Royal
☐ Explore Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the world’s sites for Miocene Epoch mammal fossils
☐ Visit the Nebraska State Capitol
☐ Check out Dobby’s Frontier Town Alliance, and attend their fall festival
☐ Visit the quirky Carhenge
☐ Learn at Durham Museum in Omaha
Nevada
☐ Spend a weekend in the Sin City, Las Vegas, our 3 day Las Vegas itinerary here
☐ Take a helicopter or a hot air balloon ride over Las Vegas
☐ Day hike at the Red Rock Canyon
☐ Check out the Hoover Dam
☐ Visit Great Basin National Park in White Pine County
☐ Soak in views of Mount Charleston in Spring Mountains and Clark County
☐ Explore Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s oldest park
☐ Visit Lake Tahoe
☐ Check out the fountains at Bellagio Las Vegas or read about romantic things to do in Las Vegas
☐ Drive the Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Route 375)
☐ Visit The Seven Magic Mountains in Nevada
READ: Day tours from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon & Best Hotels to stay in Las Vegas for first timers
New Hampshire
☐ Attend one of the fall festivals (more fall destinations in US)
☐ Enjoy hikes at Mount Monadnock, world’s second most hiked mountain
☐ Soak in views from the Castle in the Clouds
☐ Go apple picking
☐ Spend a weekend at Loon Mountain Resort
☐ Attend New Hampshire Film Festival
☐ Sign up for aerial adventure at Morningside Flight Park
☐ Picnic near the Polar Caves
☐ Go wine tasting at Seven Birches Winery
☐ Check out Arethusa Falls near Bartlett
☐ Join Lakes region scenic driving tours
☐ Take the 3 hour cog railway trip to the Northeast’s highest summit – Mount Washington
☐ Go on a chocolate and martini road trip
New Jersey
☐ Check out High Point State Park’s monument by driving
☐ Hike the Appalachian Trail (72 miles of the trail are in NJ)
☐ Snap a photo of the George Washington Bridge
☐ Hang out at the Six Flags Great Adventure Park for a day
☐ Soak in amazing views from Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook
☐ Wander (or people watch) Atlantic City Boardwalk
☐ Visit Great Falls in Paterson
☐ Explore the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
☐ Checkout of the lighthouses – Cape May or Absecon
☐ Visit the Newark Museum of Art
☐ Enjoy a beautiful sunset from the Liberty State Park in Jersey City
☐ Go boating at the Delaware Water Gap
☐ Spend time at the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson River Palisades
READ: Best weekend getaways on the East Coast USA
New Mexico
☐ Visit the White Sands National Park at sunset (or sunrise) to capture the stunning dunes
☐ Check out ancient ruins at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park
☐ Take the Sandia Peak Tramway (Albuquerque)
☐ Hike inside the caves of Carlsbad Caverns National Park
☐ Visit Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe
☐ Head to the International UFO Museum
☐ Check out prehistoric ruins of El Morro National Monument
☐ Hike to the Wheeler Peak
☐ Visit Ghost Ranch (Village of Abiquiú in Rio Arriba County)
☐ Drink Piñon coffee
☐ Explore City of Rocks State Park
☐ Pig out with Frito Pie (s)
☐ Visit The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe
New York
☐ Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City
☐ Check out the Empire State Building, one the most photographed building in the world
☐ Pose for an Instagrammable shot of the Flatiron Building
☐ Be on the Times Square at night
☐ Take a sunset cruise to see the Statue of Liberty
☐ Visit the Rockefeller Center
☐ Soak in city views from the ‘Top of the Rock’
☐ Visit the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum
☐ Catch a Broadway show
☐ Visit Madison Square Garden
☐ Picnic in Central Park
☐ Check out the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
☐ Enjoy a fun day at the Niagara Falls State Park
☐ Shop at outlet stores in Buffalo
☐ Explore castles at New York’s Thousand Islands
☐ Go ziplining at Catskills
☐ Attend a county fair
☐ Climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse
☐ Spend a romantic weekend in the Hudson Valley
☐ Berry picking in Long Island
☐ Go sailing in Long Island
☐ Explore the Adirondacks
☐ Check out the Bronx Zoo, one of the largest metropolitan zoo in the States
☐ Go river rafting at the Letchworth State Park
☐ Join Howe Caverns Haunted Cave Tour (October/Fall)
☐ Ice skate in NYC and visit Christmas Markets in the US
North Carolina
☐ Head to the coast of North Carolina, and check out wild horses
☐ Catch a golden sunset at one of the many lighthouses in NC (Currituck, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, and Old Baldy)
☐ Explore Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
☐ Climb to the top of Chimney Rock
☐ Go on a guided tour of Biltmore Estates in Asheville
☐ Slide down the 60-foot natural waterfall and rock (in Brevard)
☐ Learn about the Reed Gold Mine (and gold rush) in Midland
☐ Cross the 228-foot suspension bridge – Mile-High Swinging Bridge
☐ Enjoy a sunkissed weekend at White Lake, Elizabethtown
☐ Spend a day at Ocracoke (explore their lighthouse, museum, eat and enjoy a relaxed here)
☐ Drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
☐ Photograph sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park
☐ Chase Elk River Falls at the Elk Park
North Dakota
☐ Embark on a city tour of one of the ND cities – Grand Forks, Fargo or Bismarck
☐ Take a self guided tour of Fort Union Trading Heritage Site
☐ Camp at Lake Metigoshe State Park
☐ Bike through Maah Daah Hey Trail in Theodore Roosevelt Park
☐ Drive through the scenic Chan Sansan Backway
☐ Visit Devils Lake
☐ Learn about Prairie Indians at the Knife River Indian Villages
☐ Photograph the International Peace Garden (Manitoba & North Dakota)
☐ Check out American white pelicans at the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge
☐ Explore Petrified Forest
☐ Go canoeing at the Missouri River
☐ Camp at the Lewis and Clark campsite
☐ Go on a brewery tour – Fargo Brewing Company, Drekker Brewing Company, Laughing Sun Brewery
Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon
Ohio
☐ Embark on an Ohio road trip
☐ Walk among the treetops on the canopy tour at Holden Arboretum
☐ Chase starry nights at the Observatory Park, a dark sky preserve (in Geauga County)
☐ Catch a baseball game
☐ Go on African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton
☐ Relax at the Lake Erie sand beaches
☐ Attend a quirky festival (like the duck tape fest or twins festival)
☐ Visit the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton
☐ Go glamping at the Mohican Treehouses
☐ Search for fossils at Caesar Creek State Park near Waynesville
☐ Experience the Ice Age on Kelleys Island at Glacial Grooves Park
☐ Hike at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
☐ Explore the Lavender Trails in Orrville
Oklahoma
☐ Drive along the Route 66
☐ Visit National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City
☐ Capture the Centennial Land Run Monument in OKC
☐ Spend a romantic evening at the Bricktown District in OKC
☐ Attend the Poteau (hot air) Balloon Festival
☐ Capture the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge in OKC in the evening
☐ Take A Sunset Drive Along Lake Hefner
☐ Try a unique soda flavour at the POPS Soda Ranch
☐ Check out the the tallest waterfall in Oklahoma, Turner Falls
☐ Visit the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
☐ Visit the Tulsa Air & Space Museum
☐ and eat delicious BBQ in Tulsa
☐ Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
☐ Enjoy a beautiful sunset at Mt. Scott
Oregon
☐ Drive all of Highway 101
☐ Check out the “alpine peaks” of the Wallowas, one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon
☐ Embark on a covered bridges scenic bikeway (Willamette Valley)
☐ or Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway
☐ Check out the Crater Lake
☐ See Multnomah Falls
☐ Climb Mount Hood
☐ Attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland in the spring
☐ Chase sunsets in continental Oregon
☐ Soak in views from the top of Astoria Column
☐ Attend a Trail Blazers game
☐ Go wine tasting
☐ Hike Oregon’s section of the Pacific Crest Trail
☐ Get active outdoors – snowboarding, skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking
☐ Visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory
☐ Go behind the South Falls in Oregon’s largest Silver Falls State Park
☐ Check out Heceta Head Lighthouse
☐ Watch a drive-in movie in OR
Pennsylvania
☐ Visit Philadephphia’s iconic landmarks – Independence Hall, Liberty Hall, Mütter Museum
☐ Chase waterfalls at Pocono Mountains Bushkill Falls Park
☐ Check out the Magic Gardens in Philly
☐ Take a self guided tour at United States Mint
☐ Visit Knoebels Amusement Resort for free
☐ Head to Scranton (of ‘The Office)
☐ Drool at chocolates at Hershey’s Chocolate World
☐ Explore Fonthill Concrete Castle
☐ Eat a Philly Cheesesteak
☐ Visit a Amish farm in Lancaster County
☐ Learn about US military history at Gettysburg National Military Park
☐ Marvel at the Horseshoe Curve
☐ Photograph Pennsylvania’s Lady Liberty, Dauphin
☐ Check out Kecksburg UFO
☐ Visit Valley Forge National Historical Park
☐ Enjoy a canal ride at the National Canal Museum near Easton
Rhode Island
☐ Take the Ferry from Jamestown (or Providence) to Newport
☐ Spend a day at Jamestown or the popular Newport
☐ Eat seafood (lobster rolls)
☐ Spend a day at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown
☐ Capture autumn leaves at Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
☐ Complete Newport Cliff Walk
☐ Explore Fort Adams in Newport
☐ Tour the Breakers Mansion in Newport
☐ Visit Mohegan Bluffs, Block Island
☐ Eat clam cakes at Narragansett Beach
☐ Explore Federal Hill in Providence
South Carolina
☐ Take a tour of the State House in Columbia
☐ Go skydiving at SkyDive Carolina, Chester
☐ Check out the 400 year old Angel Oak on Johns Island
☐ Hike the Table Rock, and soak in views of the Pinnacle Mountain
☐ Check out the decommissioned submarine in Mount Pleasant
☐ Spend a night tent camping in the South Carolina wilderness
☐ Hang out at Falls Park on the Reedy River in downtown Greenville
☐ Float down the Congaree River
☐ Visit the UFO Welcome Center in Bowman
☐ Check out the purple martins at Bomb Island on Lake Murray
☐ Take the ferry out to Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor
☐ Go on hot-air balloon ride with Captain Telegram
South Dakota
☐ Admire the Mount Rushmore National Memorial
☐ See cute baby bears in Country USA
☐ Check out The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
☐ Visit Badlands National Park
☐ Hike the George S. Mickelson Trail
☐ Relish Chislic – a deep-fat fried or grilled bite-sized chunks of sheep meat
☐ Soak in the views of the Pinnacles Overlook
☐ Hike the Black Elk Peak for mesmerising mountain views
☐ Enjoy breathtaking view of West River on Harney’s Peak
☐ Eat bagels or fuel up with coffee in South Dakota (their cafes are pretty)
☐ Go snowshoeing to cross country skiing to snowboarding in the state
☐ Visit Falls Park during the Christmas Season
Tennessee
☐ Visit Graceland – former home of Elvis Presley
☐ Hit Beale Street in Downtown Memphis in the evening
☐ Check out Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville
☐ Visit Belle Meade Plantation (Historic Site & Winery) in Belle Meade
☐ Embark on the Lost Sea Adventure – Craighead Caverns cave system (Sweetwater and Madisonville)
☐ Explore the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park downtown Nashville
☐ Wander the Island in Pigeon Forge and visit the WonderWorks
☐ Hike or stay at an inn in Mount LeConte, highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
☐ Visit the Roaring Fork
☐ Hang out at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show
☐ Spend a day at Cades Cove an isolated valley located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
☐ Capture the Parthenon in Centennial Park Nashville, and explore the art exhibits from local artists
Texas
☐ Wander the San Antonio RiverWalk (dine/walk/go on cruise)
☐ The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in East Dallas
☐ Take a tour of Texas State Capitol in Austin
☐ Spend a day exploring Palo Duro Canyon
☐ Pose at the Cadillac Ranch (public art installation and sculpture) Amarillo
☐ Visit Space Center Houston
☐ Eat Gumbo, and Chicken Fried Steak
☐ Learn about Spanish and Texas history at the Alamo
☐ Explore Big Bend National Park
☐ Hike Devil’s Hall at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, east of El Paso
☐ Camp overnight at the Padre Island National Seashore, south Texas
☐ Soak city views from Reunion Tower in Dallas
☐ Enjoy at the SeaWorld San Antonio, marine theme park
☐ Explore Inner Space Cavern, Georgetown
Utah
☐ Explore Zion National Park
☐ Bryce Canyon National Park in the winter
☐ Photograph the arches at the Arches National Park
☐ Go skiing at the Deer Valley Ski Resort
☐ Enjoy hikes in Canyonlands National Park, Moab
☐ Admire and soak in views from Natural Bridges National Monument
☐ Stay at Sundance Resort in winter
☐ Attend Sundance Film Festival
☐ Embark on the Colossus the Fire Dragon ride at the Lagoon Amusement Park Salt Lake City
☐ Spend a winter break at Snowbasin Resort or Solitude Mountain Resort
☐ Hike the 8 mile route – Observation Point Trail
☐ Visit Utah Olympic Park
☐ Hike Queen’s Garden Trail to check out the canyons
Vermont | Virginia
Vermont
☐ Spend a winter vacation at the Stowe Mountain Resort
☐ Drive through the Smugglers’ Notch mountain pass in Lamoille County in the fall
☐ Shop at the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington
☐ Explore Stowe in the fall
☐ Visit Green Mountain National Forest and embark on hiking trails
☐ Hike to the Moss Glen Falls
☐ Take in panoramic views from the Equinox Mountain in Bennington County
☐ Take a self guided tour of the Vermont State House, located in Montpelier
☐ Spend a day at the Elmore State Park, swimming, picnicking, canoeing
☐ Go snowboarding at the Killington Ski Resort
☐ Visit the historic Lincoln House Hildene
☐ Camp at the Grand Isle State Park, on the shore of Lake Champlain
☐ Enjoy fall hikes at the Gifford Woods State Park located at the base of Pico Peak in Killington
☐ Visit the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry
Virginia
☐ Visit Shenandoah National Park
☐ Go on the scenic Skyline Drive, a 105-mile route that runs through Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains
☐ Hike Ridge Trail – Old Rag Mountain
☐ Visit Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery in Arlington County
☐ See the Historic Jamestown cultural heritage site in Jamestown Island
☐ Drive through Virginia Safari Park to see wildlife up close
☐ Go on a self guided tour of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial
☐ Learn about the Civil War at the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Prince William County
☐ Spend a weekend at the luxurious Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs
☐ Check out the Chrysler Museum of Art
☐ Explore Skyline Caverns in Warren County
☐ Visit the Pentagon Memorial, located in Arlington County
Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Washington
☐ Take in 360 degree views of the city of Seattle from the Space Needle
☐ Explore Olympic National Park
☐ Visit Mount Rainier National Park
☐ Eat my heart out at the Pike Place Market Seattle
☐ Hike Pacific Crest Trail, North Cascades National Park
☐ Ski at the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area
☐ Ride the Seattle Great Wheel in the evening for sunset views over the city
☐ Go camping at the Lake Crescent
☐ Visit Bellevue Botanical Garden for winter festive events
☐ Take a tour of the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett
☐ Explore Deception Pass State Park
☐ Ski at the Mt. Baker Resort in Bellingham
☐ Visit the Museum of Glass in Tacoma
☐ Spend a day at the Alki Beach
West Virginia
☐ Embark on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail the longest hiking-only trail in the world
☐ Go skiing at the Canaan Valley Resort
☐ Spend a weekend at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort in the winter
☐ White water rafting at the New River Gorge National River in the fall
☐ Picnicking and mountain biking at the Pipestem Resort State Park
☐ Boating on the Summersville Lake
☐ Visit Berkeley Springs State Park for its mineral spa
☐ Take a Seneca Caverns Cave tour in Germany Valley
☐ Soak in views from the observation tower at the Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
☐ Go on a guided tour of Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Site
☐ Explore historic Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
Wisconsin
☐ Visit the Milwaukee Art Museum Milwaukee showcasing over 25,000 works of art
☐ Hike, camp or go rock climbing at the Devil’s Lake State Park in eastern Sauk County
☐ Spend time at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison
☐ Check out the Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee
☐ Visit the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with 21 islands and shoreline on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior
☐ Go on a self guided tour at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison
☐ Learn about history of circus at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo
☐ Soak in sunset views near the Cana Island lighthouse in Door County
☐ Hit Cascade Mountains in the winter
☐ Picnic or embark on a day hike at the Willow River State Park
☐ Walk the Milwaukee Riverwalk in the evening
☐ Try organic beer at the Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee
☐ Visit Rib Mountain State Park in the fall to capture fall foliage (near the city of Wausau)
☐ Go cheese shopping at the Mars Cheese Castle
☐ Explore the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Wyoming
☐ Hike and camp at the Grand Teton National Park
☐ Check out the UNESCO sites at the Yellowstone National Park from hot springs, geysers, wildlife, and lakes
☐ Visit Jackson Hole in the winter
☐ Explore Devils Tower. a butte igneous rock in the BearLodge Ranger District of the Black Hills
☐ Capture Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone
☐ See the Tower Falls
☐ Check out wildlife at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole
☐ Admire creations at the National Museum of Wildlife Art
☐ Explore the Mormon Row Historic District in Teton County (National Register of Historic Places)
☐ Enjoy scenic drive through the Dunraven Pass – a mountain pass on the Grand Loop Road between Tower and Canyon in Yellowstone
☐ Hike and learn about geology at the Fossil Butte National Monument
☐ Snap a photo of the Chapel of the Transfiguration, a small log chapel in Grand Teton National Park
☐ Chase waterfalls in Wyoming – Lewis Falls, Mystic Falls
☐ Check out rodeo history at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
We hope you enjoyed this list of amazing things to do in the United States. Don’t forget to sign up for a printable list and remember to share it with your friends!
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