1Comprised of 50 states, the USA occupies an area that's only just marginally smaller than Europe.
2It's in this vast country that you will find an unbelievably diverse array of natural landscapes, cityscapes, people and cultures.
3From the tropical islands of Hawaii to the desert landscape of the Grand Canyon,
4as well as the multicultural cities such as Chicago and New York City,
5you'll never be stuck for destinations to discover.
6Here's a look at the best places to visit in the USA.
7...
8Number 25 - Aspen
9Aspen, Colorado, is the place to go for skiing in the USA.
10Four separate skiing areas - Aspen Highlands, Ajax Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass further down the valley -
11make it a frosty playground for winter sports.
12Aspen exploded as a silver mining town in the late 19th century;
13something reflected in the architecture from this time.
14Summer is a good time for heading to the hills
15and there are hiking opportunities galore nearby.
16...
17Number 24 - Atlanta
18The capital and largest city of Georgia,
19Atlanta is a sprawling city with three urban skylines
20rising up from the picturesque scenery of rolling hills, pine forest,
21magnificent old oak trees and charming magnolia trees.
22Established as a railroad terminus in 1837,
23Atlanta has emerged as the leader of the New South.
24The city's top attractions are the CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola
25and the Georgia Aquarium, which features the world's largest indoor aquarium.
26...
27Number 23 - Yosemite National Park
28World-famous Yosemite National Park has become the iconic hangout for keen wilderness hikers,
29who enjoy spending weekends attempting the many trails that crisscross the parks.
30Yosemite is high on many bucket-lists,
31with people drawn to its dramatic scenery and beautiful wildlife,
32powerful waterfalls, impressive sequoias and jaw-dropping cliffs.
33Iconic and photogenic centerpieces include the granite cliffs of El Capitan
34and Half Dome as well as the imposing Bridalveil Fall.
35...
36Number 22. Zion National Park
37Even among America's National Parks, few can match the stunning beauty of Zion National Park.
38Situated near Springdale in southern Utah,
39the park protects a series of incredible rock formations and high sandstone cliffs,
40and is a favorite spot for hiking, canyoneering and climbing.
41Unlike many other parks in the American Southwest, where visitors look down from the rim of a canyon,
42visitors to Zion walk on the canyon floor and look up.
43In addition to the magnificent monoliths and cliffs,
44the park is known for its desert landscape of sandstone canyons, mesas, and high plateaus.
45...
46Number 21 - San Antonio
47The jewel of Texas, San Antonio is a city steeped in both rich history and modern day appeal.
48Located in south-central Texas, the city is one of the largest in the United States
49and best known as the home of the Alamo.
50Another of San Antonio's most visited attractions is the Riverwalk,
51a vibrant pedestrian scene of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues
52stretching along both sides of the San Antonio River
53right in the middle of the downtown area.
54...
55Number 20 - Savannah
56The quintessential Southern city, Savannah draws millions of tourists every year to its charming scenes of Victorian architecture,
57cobbled streets and moss-draped oaks.
58Lying on the Atlantic Coast in eastern Georgia,
59Savannah is the state's oldest city,
60rich in history, hospitality and natural beauty.
61A walk around the Historic District's cobbled streets
62allows views of beautiful old mansions from the 19th century and historic sites.
63When you've had enough of old buildings,
64a stroll through the tree-lined paths of leafy Forsyth Park is bound to refresh you.
65...
66Number 19. Philadelphia.
67Commonly referred to by locals as "Philly",
68Philadelphia is a major US city in southeastern Pennsylvania
69and home to the iconic Liberty Bell and the Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
70Regarded as the "Birthplace of America",
71Philadelphia is known as the city in which the country's founding fathers signed the 1776 Declaration of Independence
72and the US Constitution.
73There's a host of interesting art museums to visit in the city,
74including the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
75which is not only one of the largest in the world,
76but also famous for its long flight of steps
77which were featured in the 1976 film "Rocky".
78...
79Number 18. Sedona.
80Located in the north-central part of Arizona,
81the town of Sedona is known for its vibrant art scene and spiritual retreats.
82However, Sedona's most popular attraction is the breathtaking array of red sandstone formations
83that create a striking red and orange backdrop to the town.
84Attracting artists, spiritual seekers and outdoor lovers alike,
85Sedona's brilliant landscape offers much to see and do.
86Incredible natural landmarks like Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock
87present excellent photograph opportunities.
88...
89Number 17. San Diego.
90Centered around a natural harbor,
91the coastal Californian city of San Diego is located on the border with Mexico.
92It's rich in Mexican culture,
93delicious seafood and blessed with a year-round mild climate.
94Visitors are attracted to the city for its laid-back mindset,
95and opportunities to soak up some beautiful sun, sea, and sand.
96Then there's also the bustling Balboa Park,
97where you can find San Diego Zoo, among dozens of museums and botanical gardens.
98...
99Number 16. Denali National Park.
100Covering a massive expanse of mountainous land in Alaska,
101Denali National Park is the third largest national park in the United States.
102The piece de resistance of this incredible slice of wilderness is Denali.
103Once known as Mount McKinley,
104this is the tallest mountain not just in the USA,
105but the whole of North America.
106Bike, hike or mountaineer yourself through this region
107for stunning scenery and sights of grizzly bears, wolves, and moose.
108...
109Number 15. New Orleans.
110Regarded as one of the most unique cities in the USA,
111New Orleans is widely known for its distinctive French Creole culture, cuisine, and architecture
112as well as jazz music and the annual Mardi Gras celebration.
113Situated in southeastern Louisiana,
114New Orleans is the state's largest city and a major US seaport.
115Devastated by heavy flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
116New Orleans is now mostly recovered
117and remains one of the best places to visit in the USA.
118...
119Number 14. Niagara Falls.
120The world-famous Niagara Falls straddles Ontario in Canada
121and the American state of New York.
122Located on the Niagara River,
123the falls are a culmination of the flow of water that gushes out of the Upper Great Lakes
124and are actually made up of three falls -
125Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.
126Six million cubic feet of water cascades over the ridge every second,
127making for an incredibly impressive site
128which draws an estimated 30 million tourists a year.
129...
130Number 13. Boston.
131One of the oldest cities in the USA,
132Boston is best known for its wealth of American history, architecture and academic institutions.
133The capital and largest city in New England,
134Boston is a spectacular sight in spring and autumn with flowering trees and fall foliage.
135As the setting of many historic events that led up to the American Revolution,
136Boston is steeped in early American history.
137...
138Number 12. Miami.
139One of the most vivacious cities in the USA,
140Miami is best known for its sunny beaches, Latin culture and sizzling nightlife.
141Located in southeastern Florida off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean,
142Miami is also a major port city managing the world's largest number of passenger cruise ships.
143Across the bay from Miami on a barrier island is Miami Beach,
144known for its Art Deco architecture and glamorous South Beach.
145...
146Number 11. Seattle.
147Home to global giants like Boeing, Starbucks and Amazon,
148Seattle is the largest city of the USA's Pacific Northwest region.
149Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City due to its lush scenery resulting from a rainy climate.
150The skyline of Seattle is a thicket of towering skyscrapers.
151The crowning glory is the futuristic 605-foot tall Space Needle, built in 1962.
152The city is well-known for it's seafood,
153which you can try at the historic Pike Place Market.
154What's more: the surrounding pine forests make for perfect hiking.
155...
156Number 10. Hawaii.
157The Polynesian archipelago of Hawaii is a veritable paradise
158that's spread across hundreds of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
159With its tropical climate, famously pristine beaches and wealth of natural scenery,
160Hawaii has been promoted as a tropical destination since the end of World War 2.
161The islands are also a prime destination of surfers from around the world.
162Despite the steady influx of visitors,
163indigenous Hawaiian culture still thrives
164and can be seen in ceremonies, traditions and folk music.
165...
166Number 9. Orlando.
167Home to world famous theme parks like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios,
168Orlando is no doubt a favorite destination for family vacations.
169Located in central Florida,
170Orlando is a place where dreams and magic become reality.
171With several amusement parks, visitors to Orlando can meet their favorite storybook characters,
172reenact live famous movie scenes, ride thrilling roller coasters
173and watch dolphins performing marvelous tricks.
174...
175Number 8. Washington DC.
176The capital of the United States and seat of the federal government,
177Washington D.C. Is located on the country's East Coast.
178A cosmopolitan city that is home to many diverse cultures,
179Washington is widely known by its many iconic landmarks like the White House,
180Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
181Many of these monuments are all located within the beautifully landscaped parkland known as the National Mall.
182...
183Number 7. Los Angeles.
184The second-largest city in the USA,
185Los Angeles is located in southern California surrounded by the Pacific Coast, mountains and valleys.
186Often regarded as the "Entertainment Capital of the World",
187LA is awash with celebrity culture.
188You can see the handprints of film stars on Hollywood Boulevard
189or go on a tour to see stars' homes in Beverly Hills.
190For laid back days there's the bohemian neighbourhood of Venice Beach,
191home to Muscle Beach and a rambling promenade
192that doubles as a stage for all sorts of quirky street performers.
193...
194Number 6. Chicago.
195Nicknamed the "Windy City" and best known for its towering skyscrapers, sports teams and unique style of hot dogs and pizzas,
196Chicago is the third-largest city in the USA.
197Located on Lake Michigan in the heart of the Midwest region in northeastern Illinois,
198Chicago is a major hub for finance, industry, and commerce.
199The city's numerous sites range from the futuristic Millennium Park and the iconic Sears Tower
200to the Navy Pier with its parks, restaurants, and amusements.
201Numerous genres of music such as Jazz, Blues, and House music have roots in the live music venues around Chicago.
202...
203Number 5. Yellowstone.
204Established in 1872,
205Yellowstone is famous for being the very first national park in the world.
206There are numerous geysers to watch here -
207notably Old Faithful, which is practically legendary;
208it never fails to erupt on schedule.
209And then there's the multicolored Grand Prismatic Spring,
210ringed by rainbow colors thanks to different bacteria that live in the cooler sections of this boiling body of water.
211Yellowstone National Park is also home to more wild animals than just about any place in the United States.
212...
213Number 4. Las Vegas.
214You wouldn't think a city in the middle of the desert in Nevada would be as popular as it is,
215but it's thanks to the cavalcade of casinos here that Las Vegas is so famous.
216The most well-known casinos themselves are practically household names:
217Caesar's Palace, MGM Grand, the Bellagio.
218In addition to gambling, show girls and lavish performances,
219Las Vegas offers plenty more to suit people of all ages and interests.
220On the main street called the Strip,
221there are the Bellagio's impressive fountain shows,
222a replica of the Eiffel Tower
223and an Egyptian pyramid, amongst other landmarks.
224...
225Number 3. San Francisco.
226Set on the tip of a peninsula,
227San Francisco is a beautiful city in northern California
228that is famous for a lot of things.
229Undoubtedly, the Golden Gate Bridge is the city's number one attraction.
230Tourists can drive, bike ride or walk across this famous suspension bridge
231to admire and photograph stunning views.
232There's also the bustling Chinatown, the seafood at the ever-popular Fisherman's Wharf,
233the notorious island prison of Alcatraz
234and the famously steep and winding Lombard Street.
235You'll be hard pressed to get bored in this fascinating city.
236...
237Number 2. Grand Canyon.
238Attracting millions of visitors every year,
239the Grand Canyon is one of those bucket list destinations in the USA.
240Located in northern Arizona,
241this massive natural wonder was carved by the Colorado River
242over a period of several million years.
243It is not the deepest or the longest canyon in the world
244but the overwhelming size and colorful landscape offers visitor vistas that are hard to match.
245Simply find a viewpoint and peer over the edge,
246or fly over it in a helicopter.
247If you want a really long hike, go for the Rim-to-Rim Trail
248but don't forget to pack plenty of water,
249this is an unrelenting desert climate, after all.
250...
251Number 1. New York City.
252The jewel in the crown of the USA when it comes to urban areas,
253New York is a megacity that is absolutely packed full of iconic places, areas, and buildings.
254In fact, sometimes it feels like you're walking through familiar territory,
255thanks to how often the city features in Hollywood films.
256There's Central Park, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Times Square -
257even the "Five Boroughs" that make up NYC are famous.
258Then there's the culture: Koreatown, multiple Chinatowns,
259the remnants of Little Italy, and communities from Jewish to African American
260make New York a true world city
261made rich by the people who've flocked here from all over the world.
262...