Washington, DC – Who wouldn’t want to visit the US capital? Years ago when I was in school, I visited Washington, DC on a field trip. I still have a few memories from the trip but now I want to visit it as an adult so that I can really appreciate the rich historical value that the city has to offer. There are too many places to list but here are a few points of interest to visit:
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- National Air and Space Museum
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Washington National Cathedral
- Library of Congress
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New Orleans, Louisiana – A city full of blended cultures, food, music and history; what more could you ask for? For a few years, my grandma lived in a small city out side of Baton Rouge but we never made it down to New Orleans. Now as an adult I would love visit this vibrant city. The ultimate trip would be able to go during Mardi Gras season to see all the extravagant parades. Here are a few “must-sees” when visiting New Orleans:
- French Quarter
- Bourbon Street
- Historic Voodoo Museum
- Hurricane Katrina Memorial
- Old Ursuline Convent Memorial
- Longue Vue House and Gardens
- New Orleans Musical Legends Park
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Sequoia National Park, California – Home to some of the biggest and tallest sequoia trees in the world, you have to travel to the west coast. I have never been to California but this is one place I would love to visit. Along with Kings Canyon there are plenty things to see beyond the trees. Here are some of the great sites that Sequoia has to offer:
- Giant Forest Museum
- Moro Rock
- General Sherman Tree
- Crystal Cave
- Tunnel Log
- Grizzly Falls
- Tunnel Rock
- Buck Rock Lookout
New York City, New York – Times Square is the ultimate place to be to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Coming from a small town in South Carolina, the big apple would a sight to see for me. Here is a list of popular sites to visit:
- Times Square
- Statue of Liberty
- Central Park
- The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- Grand Central Terminal
- Ellis Island
- Empire State Building
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
Key West, Florida – Visiting the Florida Keys is a must for this bucket list. An Island connected by a highway from the Florida coastline, Key West is a popular vacationing spot. I have been to Florida several times for vacation but I have never been this far south and I think it would be a great island adventure. Listed below are some of the hottest spots to check out in Key West:
- The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Turtle Kraals Museum
- Key West Aquarium
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
- Key West Firehouse Museum
- Key West Lighthouse Museum
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
Honolulu, Oahu Hawaii – Adding another island to the bucket list, Honolulu is an undeniable must see. Sand, sun and loads of fun is why I want to visit this tropical oasis. Even though the beaches are a great attraction, here are some other points of interest to see while there:
- Pearl Harbor
- Diamond Head State Monument
- Honolulu Museum of Art
- Iolani Palace
- Byodo-In Temple
- Kualoa Ranch
- Waikiki Aquarium
- Polynesian Cultural Center
Nashville, Tennessee – No it’s not Memphis (I just loved the picture), it’s Nashville the capital city of Tennessee. This is where a lot country musicians come to stake their claim to stardom. Though I’ve traveled through this city of music, I have never stopped to enjoy all that the city has to offer. Here are some of Nashville’s great attractions:
- Grand Ole Opry
- Parthenon
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Fort Nashborough
- Fort Negley
- Lane Motor Museum
- Belle Meade Plantation
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is exactly that: Grand. Even though we were pretty close by a few years ago we didn’t visit the Grand Canyon. Now I would love the opportunity to visit this natural wonder. If the views just aren’t enough, below is a few places to visit in the park:
- Grand Canyon Visitor’s Center
- Mather Point
- Yavapai Geology Museum
- Grand Canyon Village
- Desert View Watchtower
- Tusayan Ruin and Museum
- Kolb Studio
- Verkamp’s Visitor Center
Niagara Falls, New York – Who wouldn’t want to see this gigantic waterfall? Though I gave up a chance to visit Niagara Falls years ago, now I would love to visit this popular tourist spot. Listed below are a few things that Niagara Falls has to offer:
- Old Fort Niagara
- Aquarium of Niagara
- Art Alley
- Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
- Niagara Power Vista
- Niagara Adventure Theater
- Cave of the Winds Pavilion
- Niagara Falls Observation Tower
Route 66 – 8 State Road Trip – Last but not least is the famous Route 66, which travels through 8 different states. I think this would be the ultimate road trip because it covers so many states and there is so much to see on this famous highway. Below is the list of states it covers but because there are so many attractions, I only chose one attraction from each state:
- Illinois: Gemini Giant
- Missouri: Meramec Caverns
- Kansas: Brush Creek Bridge
- Oklahoma: Big Blue Whale
- Texas: Cadillac Ranch
- New Mexico: Pueblo of Santo Domingo
- Arizona: Wigwam Village Motel #6
- California: First McDonald’s Restaurant
Even though these didn’t make it to my top 10, here are a few more U.S. destinations that are very popular tourist destinations:
- Las Vegas, Nevada (checked off)
- Hoover Dam, Nevada – Arizona border (checked off)
- Orlando, Florida (checked off)
- San Antonio, Texas (checked off)
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Charleston, South Carolina (checked off)
- Savannah, Georgia (checked off)
- Mount Rushmore Memorial, South Dakota
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Fort Knox State Park, Maine
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Anchorage, Alaska
I hope this inspires you to make your own top 10 bucket list of travel destinations. If you already have a place in mind, leave a comment below because I would love to know. Make sure you are signed up for my weekly email and as always have a blessed day!
