The 75 Most Popular American Tourist Destinations

The National September 11 Memorial in New York City exists to remember the 2,977 people who died in the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It also honors the six people who were killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993. All of their names are inscribed in bronze panels. The memorial has identical pools where the Twin Towers once stood. Each spans nearly one acre each, and they feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. 

A 15-minute ferry ride takes visitors to Alcatraz, just over a mile offshore from San Francisco, California. The 22-acre island is home to an abandoned federal prison and the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. It's also the site of a historic 18-month occupation by a group of Native American activists called Indians of All Tribes. You may recognize Alcatraz from popular culture, as it's appeared in several movies, including "The Book of Eli," "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "Catch Me If You Can," and video games like "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4" and "Call of Duty: Black Ops II."

Arches National Park is in Eastern Utah, just north of Moab. It features more than 2,000 sandstone structures (it has the highest density of natural arches in the world) including the renowned Delicate Arch, which can be seen on Utah license plates. There are over 76,000 acres in total for adventurers to enjoy backpacking, biking, camping, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, stargazing and more.

The Bellagio is an insanely gorgeous luxury resort, hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Vacationers can gamble, shop, eat, hang out at the pool, party the night away or ogle the incredible acrobats and entertainers in Cirque du Soleil. Whether you're watching from inside or out, you must see the Fountains of the Bellagio, a mesmerizing water show with synchronized music and lights. It runs for 15 minutes, and every show is free.

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan. It's one of the oldest roadway bridges in America and the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the entire world. Today, it's one of the most iconic parts of the New York City skyline. Travel by car or take a stroll on the elevated pedestrian walkway. Just watch out for bicyclists!

Canyonlands National Park features canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires. It's located in Utah's high desert and is split into four parts including the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the Green and Colorado rivers. While they look close together on a map, no roads connect them directly. It takes anywhere from two to six hours by car to get from one to another, and because of this, visitors usually visit just one area in a single trip.

Carnegie Hall is a concert hall in Manhattan just south of Central Park. It's one of the world's most highly regarded venues for both classical and pop music. Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, George Gershwin and the Beatles have all played here. In all, the property houses three auditoriums: Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall. It's one of New York City's last large buildings originally built completely of masonry without a steel frame.

This sculpture is formally called "Cloud Gate," but everyone calls it the "The Bean" because... well, it looks like a giant shiny silver bean. Artist Anish Kapoor created this in 2006 by welding 168 stainless steel plates together, but it's so well polished you can't see the seams. You've probably seen it on your Instagram feed, as it's a popular spot for tourists to snap photos in Chicago, Illinois.

Death Valley lies in the Great Basin on the border of California and Nevada. Its name sounds a tad extreme, but it's really not that gruesome. It's true that Death Valley is the hottest place in North America, though. Temperatures average over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but can reach well over 120. It's also the driest and lowest national region on the continent, but many nearby peaks have snow on them, and once in a blue moon there's rain and wildflowers take bloom. Just make sure to travel with plenty of water and salty foods or sports drinks to maintain proper electrolytes.

Anaheim, California's beloved Disneyland is the only park built to completion under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. With 18.3 million visitors each year, it's the second most visited amusement park in the world after Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Florida. Disneyland's nine districts include Main Street, U.S.A. (home to Sleeping Beauty Castle), Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Fantastyland, Frontierland, Mickey's Toontown, Tomorrowland and the newest addition, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. In 1965, the island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monnument, and the main building reopened as a museum in 1990. Annually, 2 million visitors ferry in from New York and New Jersey to tour the immigration museum and surrounding property. There's an abandoned contagious disease hospital here, too, but that's closed to the general public.

Everglades National Park protects 20 percent of the original Everglades in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. It's the largest tropical wilderness in America and the third largest park after Death Valley and Yellowstone. Every year, a million visitors come here to camp, hike, canoe, kayak, geocache, bike, fish and catch a glimpse of rare and endangered species including manatees, crocodiles and Florida panthers.

In the 1800s, Chinese and Italian fishermen swarmed to San Francisco by the bay to sell Dungeness crab to a rapidly growing population caused by the gold rush. Though it's more of a tourist attraction now, people still actively fish here. There are a ton of fresh seafood restaurants at Fisherman's Wharf, some of which are accessible by way of the extremely popular Pier 39. This is a great place to take children who might enjoy visiting the aquarium, riding the carousel or watching the California sea lions sunbathing on wooden docks.

Fremont Street is one of the most famous destinations in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. There's so much glitter and glam. Everywhere you look there are flashing lights. Check out the Neon Museum (dedicated to preserving vintage neon signs) or take a free photo with a million dollars in cash at the iconic Binion's casino. Oh, and if you want to see a piece of the Berlin Wall (yes, the actual Berlin Wall), head into the men's bathroom at Main Street Station.

Glacier National Park is in northwestern Montana on the border of the U.S. and Canada near Alberta and British Columbia. The park stretches over more than 1 million acres, including two mountain ranges, 130 lakes, 1,000 plant species and hundreds of animals including grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats, wolverines and Canadian lynxes.

This urban park in San Francisco, California comprises more than 1,000 acres in the shape of a rectangle — not unlike New York City's Central Park, but 20 percent larger. Approximately 13 million people visit Golden Gate Park each year, making it the fifth most visited park in America. Take it all in on foot, bike or Segway. Some attractions include the Japanese tea garden, bison observatory, flower conservatory, windmills, carousel and aquarium.

The Grand Canyon is located in northwestern Arizona. It's 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and more than a mile deep in some places. The North Rim is closed during winter months (December 1 through May 15), but when it's open you can go for a day hike, ride a mule or take a scenic drive. The South Rim is open all year. Here, you can learn about the canyon's history and culture from park rangers, see a museum, watch a film, walk, hike, bike, ride a mule, drive, whitewater raft and more.

Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming is home to northern parts of Jackson Hole and major peaks of the Teton Range in the Rockies. Explore the alpine terrain, lakes or the Snake River. There are 310,000 acres in total perfect for backcountry camping, biking, bird watching, boating, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, the park is a popular place to go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

There are more than 2,600 stars embedded in the sidewalk of California's world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. They span 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street. The historic landmark pays homage to people in the entertainment industry. Some fictional characters have also been honored, including Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Kermit the Frog, Shrek, Godzilla and Lassie.

Joshua Tree National Park is just east of Los Angeles, California. It's named after the twisted and spiky Joshua trees that grow in the Mojave Desert. The Colorado Desert also exists within park limits, as well as a portion of the San Bernardino Mountains. The landscape is great for driving down backcountry roads, backpacking, birdwatching, camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, photography and stargazing.

The Las Vegas Strip is about 4.2 miles of restaurants, resorts, hotels and casinos. It's not actually in Las Vegas, though. It's just outside the city limits in Clark County, Nevada. People from all over the world come here to relax, party, shop, gamble and golf. The strip is home to several Cirque du Soleil shows and musical residencies.

Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, stretching from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City. The 26,000-foot roadway crosses the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. A surplus of tourists use the bridge to get to the upper peninsula in the summer, but others seek out the bridge itself to appreciate it in all its glory (and snap a few pictures while they're at it).

Monument Valley is part of the Colorado Plateau. It's on the border of Arizona and Utah. Although this is a popular tourist destination, there are basically just canyons, red sand, tall buttes and the biggest blue sky you've ever laid eyes on. It looks pretty much exactly how you'd imagine the Wild West. Tourists can take a drive down a 14-mile dirt road to see the Mittens, Three Sisters, John Ford's Point, Totem Pole, Yei Bi Chai and Ear of the Wind. Other guided tours are available to reach Mystery Valley, Hunts Mesa and more. If you want, you can even see it all on horseback.

The National Mall is the 2-mile stretch of green between the United States Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Every year, the park sees about 24 million tourists visiting bordering Smithsonian museums, art galleries, memorials, statues and other institutions.

Niagara Falls is made of three waterfalls — Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls — on the border between Ontario and New York. It's part of the Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario. Most people visit in the summertime during the day or night. Floodlights allow a clear view of the falls when it's dark out. The most popular attraction is the Maid of the Mist boat cruise, which takes passengers into the basin of Horseshoe Falls, the most powerful waterfall in North America.

California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek state parks combine with Redwood National Park to cover 139,000 acres along the coast of Northern California, an area that is home to the tallest trees on Earth. There are no hotels or motels in the parks, so take a hike and pitch a tent in the redwood forest. Other recreational activities include horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking and fishing.

Rocky Mountain National Park is in north-central Colorado, about 75 miles from the Denver International Airport. The region offers spectacular mountain and lake views, wildflowers and 300 miles of hiking trails. This environment offers close-up views of wildlife such as bighorn sheep, birds, elk and mule deer.

Some of the world's largest trees can be found in Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California. In fact, the biggest one in the world is here, and it goes by the name General Sherman. The massive sequoia is 275 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 52,500 cubic feet by volume. In addition to these monster trees, the park features canyons, caverns, foothills and mountains. Limited Wi-Fi and cellphone coverage will have you feeling at one with nature.

South Street Seaport is in lower Manhattan along the East River. This historic New York City district features some of the city's oldest architecture as well as modern shops, restaurants and bars. The seaport has been a popular place for filming. You may recognize it from "I Am Legend," "Godzilla" or "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."

The Statue of Liberty is one of America's most iconic landmarks and is recognized as a symbol of freedom to people around the world. The massive green copper statue was gifted by France in 1886 and today tourists ferry over from both New York and New Jersey to marvel at her beauty.

The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated public park on the west side of Manhattan. It's built on the abandoned New York Central railroad. The walkway features lots of trees and other plants, art installations, decks, overlooks and other various passageways. The High Line typically welcomes food vendors during summer months, but Italian restaurant Santina is open all year round at the park's southern end.

New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as "the Met," is the largest art museum in America, and with nearly 7 million annual visitors, it is the third most visited in the world. There are more than 2 million permanent pieces separated into 17 different cultural departments.

Times Square is the heart of New York City and "The Center of the Universe." It's a major tourist destination because of all the flashy billboards, bright lights, Broadway musicals, art, shops and restaurants. The world's most famous New Year's Eve countdown happens here with about 1 million people packed into the square. It's estimated that 330,000 people cross through the area every day, accounting for 50 million visitors annually.

The Capitol Building in Washington D.C. is the focal point of the legislative branch and a symbol of the American government. The building has been a meeting place for the House of Representatives and the Senate for the last two centuries. Today, it's also an art and history museum. Visitors can explore the building or even watch Congress in session.

This isn't your average beach. People from near and far come to Venice Beach in California to watch street performers, shoot hoops, surf, shop, eat, skate, break a sweat at the outdoor gym and drink with their toes in the sand. It features a promenade, a fishing pier, Muscle Beach (the birthplace of the physical fitness boom), a bike trail and a recreation center for beach volleyball, paddle tennis, skating and handball.

The White House is a mansion in Washington, D.C., where the president and first family live. Anyone visiting the nation's capital can go on a self-guided tour of the historic building, but a reservation must be made ahead of time by submitting a request through your Member of Congress.

Yellowstone was the first national park in the world. The park's 2.2 million acres of land cover parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Its most famous feature is the Old Faithful geyser, which erupts every 45 to 125 minutes. An estimated 4 million visitors arrive here annually to camp, hike, bike, boat, fish, ride horses and llamas, ski, snowshoe, snowmobile and take in the wildlife. Grizzly and black bears, bison, elk, wolves, bighorn sheep and moose are just a select bunch of the area's residents.

Zion National Park is in southwestern Utah near the town of Springdale. Take short or long walks through trails in the uber-popular Zion Canyon or Kolob Canyons. Guests can also go rock climbing, horseback riding, camping, biking, birding, canyoneering, stargazing and boating down the Virgin River.