The United States of America is a land of diversity, it is filled with vibrant cities, landmarks, and breathtaking scenic views. From hot spots in New York City to the sun-kissed beaches of California, and from the rich history of the East Coast to the beauty of the National Parks, The possibilities can be endless for first-time visitors.
The United States has so many diverse cities and attractions that it is difficult to narrow down the list, in this article we’ve created a list of the 10 Best places to visit in USA for first time Visitors, to help you get started.
This guide will introduce you to the real essence of America, this list is an introduction to the best and most popular places to go in the United States.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
All Images Credit: Pixabay.com
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly trip or want to enjoy some quality time, New Orleans is a city to put on your travel list.
With spooky tours, Creole restaurants, and museums that cater to countless interests.
New Orleans is a city full of countless opportunities to experience culture and history.
Hop on one of the classic streetcars as we take a ride through the Crescent City.
French Quarter is one of the most famous neighborhoods of New Orleans.
This is known for its beautiful architecture with its cast iron balconies, exposed brick houses, and cobblestone streets.
The French Quarter also features colorful influences reflective of the city’s Caribbean roots.
The neighborhood is considered a National Historic Landmark and has even been nicknamed the Crown Jewel of New Orleans. Be sure to check out Jackson Square, the site of the statue of General Andrew Jackson, and the St. Louis Cathedral.
Garden District, is another beautiful place to visit in New Orleans, a beautiful, historic neighborhood with stunning mansions surrounded by ivy and other greenery. This area is known for its tranquil atmosphere, which can feel like a sigh of relief for those wanting to take a moment from the hustle and bustle.
You can explore some of the nearby cafes and shops, local food, Creole seafood dishes, wines, and signature cocktails.
NOLA is full of opportunities to explore, with options for engagement with art, history, and culture at all times of the year.
2. San Francisco, California
Spanning the strait that connects San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was constructed in 1937.
Today, it is one of the most famous symbols of the United States and is considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World.
With its international orange color and beautiful surroundings, it is also said to be the world’s most photographed bridge in the world.
Walk or drive across this prominent landmark to find the best spot for a selfie
or even take a boat ride under the bridge.
Don’t miss Presidio, a large park on a former military post located at the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Fisherman’s Wharf is another most popular place in San Francisco, it got its name from the fishermen who berthed their boats in the San Francisco wharf and provided food for hordes of Gold Rush fortune seekers in the 1800s.
This historic neighborhood has been a world-renowned tourist destination since the 1970s.
Visit Pier 39, where you’ll find an array of shops, restaurants, and many other attractions, and a unique view of the sea lions basking by the pier.
Ghirardelli square stands at one end of Fisherman’s Wharf.
This well-loved landmark was formerly a chocolate factory established by an Italian immigrant.
Today, Ghirardelli Square consists of unique shops, award-winning restaurants,
and a five-star hotel.
Don’t forget to visit San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
and the Historic Pier 45, where you can see the Vessels from the 2nd World War.
If you have time, you must visit Marina District Lighthouse and Wave Organ.
This sculpture interacts with the waves of the San Francisco Bay.
GOLDEN GATE PARK is a nice break from the busy city life,
It is an ideal venue for walks, picnics, and reading.
Here, you’ll find gardens, meadows, hills, lakes, playgrounds, and buildings in this
urban park stretching across 1,000 acres.
There are many exciting attractions within the park, including
the Conservatory of Flowers, a Victorian-style glass greenhouse Murphy and Dutch Windmills, which were constructed for park irrigation, a charming Stow Lake along with the Golden Gate Pavilion and Strawberry Hill, the 55-acre San Francisco Botanical Garden,
de Young museum, America’s oldest public Japanese public,
and many other attractions.
3. New York City, New York
NEW YORK CITY is one of the most iconic cities in the world new York city has a lot to offer to every type of traveler,
The Statue of Liberty has to be at the top of your list when you visit New York, built in 1886 Lady Liberty continues to stand tall as a symbol of freedom, book tickets in advance if you want to see the Statue of liberty and always plan to visit in the morning to avoid the queues.
With the right lights and endless crowds, Times Square is the place to be in New York City, there are a lot of things to do in Times Square, remember to check out the fun stores and take an iconic photograph in the middle of the square.
Offering breathtaking views of the city top of the rock is a tourist must-found in the Rockefeller Center take the NBC tour enjoy a bit of shopping and then go to the observation deck for the views of the New York City skyline.
The Empire State Building is another great place to visit, this is a historic building and a perfect place to view the city, on a clear day and the neighboring states.
whether you are looking for a walk pedal or carriage ride you need to visit central park during your time in new york city, this is a huge park meaning you could easily spend a whole day here visit strawberry fields belvedere Castle central park zoo and the lake whilst you’re in the park and remember to pick up a map at one of the visitor centers to avoid getting lost.
One of my favorite things to do in New York City is food, eat your way around New York City so eating at the best restaurants eateries, and street stands is one of the best things to do in New York City, Head to Cat’s deli for the best pastrami sandwiches around tour the pizza spots around the city or visit Chinatown to have some cheap but delicious food under 10 bucks.
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park, the crown jewel of the American Southwest and arguably one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world, Grand Canyon National park winds for 277 miles through Northern Arizona.
The Canyon is a mile deep in most areas formed over millions of years by the Colorado river which runs at its base and separates the North rim from the South rim even though the distance between rims is just 10 miles across in most areas, there’s no bridge connecting them and it’s about a five hour drive from one to the other.
The vast majority of travelers visit just the South rim of the canyon which is closest to Phoenix and Interstate 40. The North Rim is only accessible by passing through Southern Utah and its remoteness means that it receives far fewer visitors.
Grand Canyon is an experience in itself even with the crowds take the time to explore the visitor center and walk through Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.
If you’re looking to adventure at the Grand Canyon there’s everything from camping to hiking to biking and rafting from helicopter tours to mule rides there’s no way you’ll get bored visiting the Grand Canyon.
However when planning your activities make sure to pick ones on the same side of the rim, the last thing you want to do is accidentally book a hiking trip on one side and rafting on the other.
You can rent bikes on the South rim and venture up and down the hermit road this seven-mile bike ride is closed to car traffic from March to November making it one of the most scenic routes to bike in the world yaki point road is another popular bike ride but much longer one almost 42 miles.
5. Orlando, Florida
Orlando, the largest city in Central Florida, is a thriving metropolis full of opportunities for exploration and fun.
Over 75 million people flock to this busy tourist hotspot every year to enjoy its many famous landmarks and exciting activities. Orlando, Florida is, without a doubt, the most sought-after tourist destination on the planet.
The thrills of the city’s famous theme parks are a must for any visitor, but that’s only the beginning of the city’s allure. Florida is a great state to live in if you love theme parks, there are a lot of theme parks that attract first-time Visitors to the USA, Disney Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, Hollywood Studio, SeaWorld, and Epcot, are a few examples.
Orlando has something for everyone, from nature trails and sunset boat rides on its 100 lakes to cultural walking tours and encounters with native wildlife. There’s always something exciting to do in “The City Beautiful”.Welcome to the Itinerant Traveler and in this video we’ll be going over the 8 best things to do in Orlando, Florida for first-time visitors.
One of the best things to do in Downtown Orlando is to go to an Orlando Magic game at the Amway Center. Over one million people visit the Amway Center every year to see one of the center’s 200 events, which include NBA games and concerts by big names like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. NBA games include top-tier talent on the court, nonstop action, and entertainment. Beyond the game itself, there will be a wide variety of exciting activities for fans of all ages, making this an experience that no family will soon forget. The Orlando Magic is a source of civic pride being the city’s lone “big four” (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) professional sports franchise.
For first-time visitors to Orlando, especially those who have always wanted to be astronauts, a trip to Kennedy Space Center is a must. Explore vintage space shuttles, meet actual astronauts, and tour NASA facilities on a trip out of this world at Cape Canaveral. Explore the lives of American space pioneers from Project Mercury to the current day at the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Take a full day to marvel at everything the center has to offer. Visit the Rocket Garden to see huge shuttles that explain the history of rocketry and highlight the early spaceships from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects. If you’re lucky, you can witness a real rocket taking off.
One of Orlando’s most exciting and entertaining attractions, Kennedy Space Center features a variety of exhibitions, an IMAX cinema, bus excursions, and astronaut training simulations. There is so much to learn and experience!
6. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most unique parks in the country located in Northwest Wyoming, just north of Jackson Hole in the Tetons Yellowstone is home to grand prismatic springs also home to Old Faithful Yellowstone is the country’s oldest national park with over 3 million visitors every single year.
There are a lot of places that first-time US visitors should see, they can go to black sand Basin where the sunset is amazing, black sand Basin is almost a mile Drive Northwest of Old Faithful Geyser, the main Park Road with the Basin is named because of its sand derived from an obsidian which is a black volcanic glass.
Biscuit Basin is also a very beautiful place to visit, it is a 1.8-mile drive North of black sand Basin this is another quick and easy stop where you’ll only be walking three-quarters of a mile here to see all of the geothermal features.
In Biscuit Basin the number one thing to see here is Sapphire Pool this pool is unbelievable and has some of the most rich aqua blue colors in the park.
7. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is widely recognized as the “Entertainment Capital of the World” for a very good reason. There’s just so many things to do there.
Las Vegas is famous for many reasons casinos are one of the biggest people from across the world come here to try their luck in America, some do it for new experiences and some for serious gambling, look anywhere and you will hear dice rolling cards dealt and slot machines beckon, Vegas is home to over 100 casinos each offering an upscale feel variety and big payouts.
However, just outside of Las Vegas, the rest of Nevada and the neighboring states all have a plethora of spectacular attractions to offer as well, ranging from futuristic marvels to nature’s most stunning creations.
Red Rock Canyon is located in the west of Las Vegas. There are a lot of things to see and activities to do in the Mojave Desert, which is almost 196,000 acres.
Summers in Red Rock can be extremely hot, so you must begin hiking at daybreak and finish by 10-11 a.m.
The 13 mile Scenic Drive in Red Rock Canyon is a great way to get a good overview of all the park. You’ll pass by multiple picturesque viewpoints, a slew of trailheads, and some of Nevada’s most breathtaking landscapes. It’s worth noting, though, that the Scenic Drive is a one-way road.
There are over 26 hiking trails around the canyon area, they are different in difficulty levels, from easy to strenuous uphill, but all with breathtaking views, the Calico Hills Trail is one of the most spectacular.
8. Washington, D.C.
Washington DC, the United States of America, has some of the country’s most famous landmarks, including the White House, the Capital Building, and the Lincoln Memorial.
Washington DC is also famous for its world-class museums and galleries, including the Smithsonian Institution, it has 17 of the country’s most amazing museums. About 700,000 people live in the city, but around 6 million people live in the metropolitan regions of Northern Virginia and Maryland.
particularly if you wanna see George Washington’s house, Thomas Jefferson’s house, or some more things that are farther afield out of the city itself.
9. Miami, Florida
Miami has been a very influential city in the world for a very long time it’s rise to the top has been catapulted as it’s becoming a major leader in Wall Street to entertainment many companies have moved their headquarters here, and construction is not slowing down according to a study in 2018 Miami was ranked as the second richest city in the United States and the third richest city globally in purchasing power.
what makes Miami so magical, is that downtown is a very lively place most of the buildings are new with a mix of business hotels and residential buildings.
Right in the middle of downtown is the Miami River which flows from the Everglades into Biscayne Bay, south of the river is Brickell one of the largest financial districts in the United States, in recent years construction of residential and mixed-use Towers have reshaped this area into a walk-in-friendly neighborhood with some of the best high-end dining and shopping.
Brickell Ave is very reminiscent of Manhattan and Wall Street the only distinction at times are the palm trees that remind us of our tropical surroundings this area has beautiful views of Biscayne Bay Virginia key and to the Northeast Dodge and Fisher Islands the southern part of Brickell shifts to a residential neighborhood with only a few Condominiums along the bay north of the Miami River.
We have the Bayside Marketplace a two-story open-air shopping center with restaurants just north of Bayside Marketplace we have the casaya center home of the Miami Heat basketball team and a host of many world renowned events throughout the year, north of the arena is another park with a science and art museum the concert hall and Opera House are also located here filling the evenings with excitement across the road is Park West a residential neighborhood with many beautiful buildings front and center the growth is not stopping here or anytime soon.
10. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Illinois is one of the most famous cities in the United States, draws visitors from around the world with its iconic Skyline cultural richness, and vibrant atmosphere renowned for its architectural Marbles and its unique food scene the city provides plenty to eat see and experience throughout the day and late into the night.
Chicago’s loop is home to the best entertainment in the city first-rate hotels and world-class shopping.
The Chicago River and its riverwalk are just fantastic you can take an architecture boat cruise up chicago river and you can gaze up at a lot of cool buildings like chicago’s famous marina city towers.
Willis Tower, another beautiful place to see if you are visiting Chicago for the first time, this is the third tallest building in the u.s, currently formerly known as the Sears Tower was the world’s tallest building for nearly 25 years it also has an observation deck.
Grand Park is a huge urban park that is sometimes called Chicago’s front yard it’s home to the Buckingham Fountain and the Pritzker Pavilion where free concerts and festivals can be enjoyed throughout the summer another recent addition to the city is Millennium Park built in 2004 and it features crowd fountain an interactive work of public art and video sculpture.
11. Yosemite, California
Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks in America, if you’ve ever wanted to be surrounded by gorgeous natural beauty hike through some of the Region’s most Majestic Trails or snap a few photos of stunning waterfalls then Yosemite will not disappoint, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy in the Park from biking in white water rafting to skiing and rock climbing.
The most popular area of the park is Yosemite Valley, it would take several days to visit just the sites in this area alone. One of the first things that will catch your eye when driving into the valley is the Merced River the river runs straight through the park and offers plenty of opportunities for rafting fishing or relaxing on its banks dozens of hikes weave alongside the river including paved bike paths Boardwalk loops and strenuous climbs up and out of the valley some sites that you can’t miss are mirror-like Sentinel Meadow and Cooks Meadow lower Yosemite fall Trail.
El Capitan on the opposite end of the spectrum is one attraction that you cannot miss. It’s the largest exposed Granite monolith in the world and it’s a popular site for rock climbers, El Capitan Rises nearly 3 000 feet high and offers climbers a challenging and thrilling adventure from the ground you can pull up a chair and admire The Bravery of the climbers that take to the walls of this huge rock face. El Capitan is one of the most photographed sites in Yosemite National Park on the Eastern edge of the cliff.
12. Glacier National Park, Montana
If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure glacier national park is the place to go with over 700 miles of hiking trails pristine lakes and colorful wildflowers it’s hard not to be awestruck by this natural wonder whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a first-time tourist there’s something for everyone to do.
Going-to-the-sun-road is one of the most scenic drives in America, it stretches 50 miles from the west entrance to Saint Mary Lake on the east, along the way you’ll see everything from distant glacial lakes to lower pastoral valleys nestled among the mountains, going to the sun road is only open from about June to October each year depending on snowfall.