Things to Do in North America

A beautiful structure designed in Late Gothic Revival style, the Sunset Cultural Center is the Monterey Peninsula’s top spot for cultural events and performances. With two stages, an art gallery, and a meeting room, the venue holds a variety of events year round. Its iconic arched entry is the door to the home of the Monterey Symphony, Carmel Music Society, and Chamber Music Monterey Bay. Transformed from an old public school, the cultural center is regarded to have some of the most beautiful interiors and acoustics in the area.

With just over 700 theater seats, the theater maintains an intimate space that allows for close interactions with performances. Shows range from theater and dance to concerts and comedy. Run by a nonprofit organization, the venue brings some of the world’s best arts and live performances to the area in addition to supporting local performing arts groups.

Located in Central Arizona’s Tonto National Forest -- within an hour of Phoenix -- the rugged 160,000 acre (64,750 hectare) Superstition Mountain Range is one of the state’s best hiking, rock climbing and outdoor activity attractions, especially for those with a true sense of adventure. Some popular treks in the Superstition Mountains include Miner’s Needle, Weaver’s Needle, Cave Trail and Peralta Canyon Trail (Peralta Canyon Area) and Treasure Loop Trail, Siphon Draw Trail and The Hand (Lost Dutchman Area). Those wanting to enjoy otherworldly desert scenery will love the mountain’s hoodoos and curving canyons, formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred over 15 million years ago. 

Superstition Mountains is an apt name for the range, as it’s home to a number of legends. Its history dates back 9,000 years, with some of its many inhabitants including the Apache Indians, Spanish explorers, Mexican gold miners and American trappers. One story is of the “Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine,” about a man named Jacob Waltz (aka the Lost Dutchman) who supposedly knew where the world’s richest mine was -- somewhere in the Superstition Mountains -- and kept the secret even after he died in 1891. Additionally, Apache Indians believed there was a hole in the mountain that led to hell.  

An interesting related attraction is the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, where visitors can peruse artifacts, historical treasures and folklore objects from the Superstition Mountains and surrounding area. You’ll also find the Elvis Memorial Chapel, a chapel and movie museum showing films made at Apacheland. The museum is open 9am to 4pm daily (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Admission is $5 per adult, $4 for seniors 55 and over, and free for youths 17 and younger with a paid adult. 

This legendary 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood extends east–west from Beverly Hills to Hollywood, laid end to end with celebrity-studded music venues dating back to the heyday of rock and roll, comedy clubs, boutiques, restaurants, hotels, and cocktail bars with stellar views of the surrounding city.

 

As one of the most popular stretches of road in all of Los Angeles—if not the country—the Sunset Strip features on just about every sightseeing tour of Hollywood and Los Angeles.

 

Board an open-top bus for a drive along the strip en route to celebrity homes, or join a film industry insider for a tour of nearby famous film locations. The Los Angeles hop-on hop-off bus also stops along the strip, as do guided day trips from Las Vegas and Long Beach.

 

 

The easiest way to get to Sunset Strip is to drive, but it’s also possible to reach the area by public transportation. Metro Line 2 stops in the area, as do several local bus routes. Public parking meters along the stretch of road accept credit cards.

 

The best time to visit Sunset Strip depends largely on the experience you’re looking to have. By day, the street’s boutiques and shops cater to those in need of some retail therapy. By night, the street transforms into a nightlife hub—home to some of the city’s best comedy clubs and posh cocktail bars.

 

Live music lovers will find some of the nation’s best venues along Sunset Strip. Highlights include the Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy, and the House of Blues; concerts are staged just about every night of the week.

Boston’s beautiful symphony hall is widely considered one of the premier classical music venues in the United States. Adored with Greek and Roman statues and gilded ceilings, the hall is known for its beautiful interior as well as its superb acoustics. It is home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, one of the country’s oldest and most celebrated.

The walls of the stage even slope down to increase the quality of the sound in the giant concert hall. Every detail was created or modified to enhance the acoustics, which makes for a phenomenal listening experience. The hall also contains an impressive 4,800-pipe organ. 

With its exterior lined with columns and classical design, the hall obtained status as US National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Past performances have included the works of classic composers such as Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Brahmns, and more.

This iconic Florida bridge is a testament to humankind’s architectural prowess and mother nature’s sheer beauty. Officially known as the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge (named after the former Florida governor), it was built in 1954 and spans Tampa Bay with a 1,500-foot cable-stayed main span. The bridge’s height, expansive views of the surrounding bay and modern design landed it the No. 3 spot on the Travel Channel’s list of top bridges in the world. Those traveling to Tampa shouldn’t miss the chance to be impressed by this architectural wonder and the amazing views of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico it provides.

Taos Pueblo is the world’s only living Native American community that has been designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Taos Pueblo is a sovereign nation with its own government, with the inhabitants speaking English, Spanish, and the native language (Tiwa). Tourism is an important part of the Pueblo’s economy and visitors are welcomed. This settlement in northern New Mexico, which was established in the late 13th and early 14th century, consists of ceremonial structures and multi-storied adobe homes built into terraced tiers. The entire pueblo is made from adobe, and the roofs are made of large timbers that have been hauled in from the forests. Some of the buildings are as tall as five stories. Although at places it looks like one large single building, the Pueblo is made up of individual homes that are built next to (and on top of) each other. Taos Pueblo has been continuously inhabited since its creation, and is the largest of the existing Native American pueblo communities. Around 150 people live full time in the pueblo, with other families that are part of the community living in more modern homes outside the ancient walls but still on Pueblo land.

Sunwapta Falls are a set of Class 6 waterfalls that originate from the Athabasca Glacier and the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The falls are easily accessible by car during the summer months, located a short drive off the Icefields Parkway that connects Banff and Jasper National parks.

Sunwapta is a Stoney (Assiniboine) word meaning “turbulent water.” Over time as the Sunwapta River changed its course, a deep gorge was caused in the limestone rocks. Today, the two sets of falls that make up Sunwapta Falls are over 75 feet tall. They have a total drop of 60 feet (18 meters) and a width of 30 feet (9 meters). The upper waterfall flows through a narrow canyon and drops into three lower falls. The waterfalls are at their peak in late spring and early summer when glacial melt is at its highest, and in the winter, you can ice climb, snowshoe, and admire the ice formations created by the falls.

Tankah Park is an ecological adventure park set in the jungle near Tulum in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Under lush trees and beside the crystal clear waters of cenotes, adrenaline-inducing activities such as zip lining and jungle trekking balance with relaxing canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and lounging. A visit to the park is a way to experience and interact with a variety of the natural landscapes of the area in one place.

The park sits above the Sac Actun underwater river system of the Yucatan Peninsula. The open-air cenote at Tankah is the largest in all of the Riviera Maya. It’s an adventure just to explore its fascinating rock formations and clear, turquoise waters. For the even more adventurous, the park’s two zip lines provide a unique perspective high above the trees and the water. There is also a local Mayan village to explore, with traditional crafts and clothing as well as refreshing traditional food and drink.

Luxurious all-inclusive resorts and private beachfront villas line the rocky cliffs of Tangolunda Bay in Huatulco. Some of the big names that you’ll find here include Dreams, Barcelo, and Las Brisas. It’s a top choice for those wanting to stay right on the bay, and the endless stretches of sandy shores are perfect for early morning walks.

Tangolunda’s resorts offer gorgeous beachside pools, romantic ocean views, and unlimited access to quaint (if touristy) shopping and pricey seafood fare. Families with kids will also find plenty to do here. Take a sightseeing cruise of the bay, soar above the jungle canopy on a zipline, or snorkel in the calm waters near Las Brisas. If you want who want to avoid the hassle of renting a car in Mexico, opt for a tour that includes transportation.

If you’re vacationing in Tangolunda Bay, chances are your resort will offer transportation options; if not, you can book a shuttle from the airport. Tangolunda’s beaches are best accessed via the private resorts, and taxis are plentiful throughout the Huatulco resort area.

Tangolunda Bay is lovely year-round. Winter sees large numbers of tourists, and the weeks before and after Easter are some of the busiest. Overcrowding is rarely a problem, however, as this destination receives far fewer tourists than other popular Mexican resort areas.

Tangolunda is Huatulco’s most exclusive bay and the majority of its beaches are accessible only to resort guests. Independent travelers can spend a day at Playa Arrocito or Playa Rincon Sabroso; the former has gentle waves and some shade, and is easily accessible by car. A section of Playa Tangolunda is also open to the public and offers water sports facilities.

These natural hot springs are filled with mineral water at 47 degrees Celsius, providing a warm welcome to relax in the beautiful Whitehouse wilderness. The hot pools emanate a warm fog into the often chilly air, beckoning for a dip. Two slightly different temperatures are kept, allowing for both a hotter and a cooler side of the springs.

Outside of a soak in the hot springs, there are 300 acres of scenic natural beauty surrounding, with hiking and biking trails in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. In operation for more than 100 years, it’s one of the most visited sites in the Yukon.

Moose, lynx, elk, mountain goats, and more are often seen in the wilderness nearby. It is even possible to view the Northern Lights from the pools. Many combine a day in the wilderness with an evening soak in the hot springs.

Lake Tahoe is split into two areas—South Lake and North Lake. The majority of summer tours such as biking, boating, and Jet Ski rental run out of South Lake Tahoe, opposite the lake from Tahoe City. Those staying on the south shore can visit Tahoe City on a tour that circles the lake by bus or bike, stopping along the way for photo ops.

 

Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular ways to get out on the lake, and a paved path runs along the water for walking and biking. Or take a rafting tour on the Truckee River, which flows from the lake. In winter, Tahoe City provides rental shops for ski and snowboarding gear and restaurants and bars to visit after a day on the slopes.

 

Tahoe City is located 15 miles (24 kilometers) off Interstate 80. Most visitors arrive via State Route 89 south from the town of Truckee. Find street parking and a few small parking lots along North Lake Boulevard.

Its busy seasons are winter and summer, with fewer visitors in full and spring, but Tahoe City hosts popular events year-round. Watch fireworks on the Fourth of July; head to Commons Beach in the summer for a farmers market or outdoor concerts; visit in June for the Tahoe City Food and Wine Classic; or celebrate Mardi Gras at the Tahoe City SnowFest Parade.   

 

The most accessible ski resorts from Tahoe City are Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. These neighboring resorts off State Route 89 are about five miles (8 kilometers) from town, and can be skied on the same pass. Northstar California Resort is a family-friendly resorts and about a 30-minute drive in normal conditions. The smaller Homewood Resort, about 15 minutes south on 89, is a local favorite.

San Francisco’s Sutro Baths was once a public bathhouse with seven indoor swimming pools. Perched atop granite bluffs at the city’s western tip, it symbolized the great wealth brought by the Gold Rush.

 

Sutro Baths, north of the Cliff House, are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Dazzling visitors when it opened in 1896, Sutro Baths was an impressive engineering feat: swimming pools filled with water from the Pacific Ocean and a series of concrete walls at high tide. Its aquariums, restaurants, art galleries, and exhibits made it a must-visit for San Franciscans.

 

Many city tours stop at Sutro Baths to explore the ruins and snap a few pictures. Walking tours of Lands End generally include time at Sutro Baths and finish with a drink at the Cliff House.

 

 

Ride San Francisco Muni’s 38 Geary bus line, exit at 48th Avenue and Point Lobos Avenue, and walk 0.33 mile (0.53 kilometer) to the Sutro Bath ruins, at the intersection of Point Lobos Avenue and Merrie Way. Or, hike from the Golden Gate Bridge to Lands Ends. A parking lot behind Lands End Lookout is impossibly busy on sunny days and summer weekends.

 

Sutro Baths can be accessed from sunrise to sunset, but Lands End Lookout is open daily from 9am to 5pm and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Most visitors come in the summer, which makes the baths, lookout, Cliff House, and trails crowded. Visit early in the morning or on a rainy day to have the place to yourself.

 

Adolph Sutro, San Francisco's 24th mayor (1895–1897), made his fortune removing gas and water from the Comstock Lode, a major silver mine in Nevada. Using his wealth to benefit others, he also built Sutro Heights Park, a 20-acre (8-hectare) formal public garden; revitalized the Cliff House as a family-friendly venue; and opened his family estate to the public.

Fed by the Daly Glacier on Waputik Icefield in late spring and summer, the misty falls thunder with icy water that reaches the roaring peak in the afternoons. Be prepared to get wet if you fancy getting up close to the water. Heading to see Takakkaw Falls from Emerald Lake, 12 miles away, makes for a popular day trip, and there are also a few more waterfalls up in the valley for hikers, such as Whiskey Jack Falls.

Fresh cheese fans will love this working farm’s Island-take on a traditional goat dairy on the slopes of Haleakala. Pens near the entrance underscore its unusual name—happy kids and off-duty does climb on a playground of elevated and colorful old surfboards. In total, Surfing Goat Dairy’s 42 acres are home to more than a hundred Swiss Saanen and French alpine goats that provide milk daily, the basis for fresh cheese and all-natural goat’s milk products created onsite.

Started by German expats and supported by a crew of workers that includes a regular rotation of college-aged goat farming interns, Surfing Goat Dairy runs short daily tours of its milking operation and three room dairy. Tour-goers can feed alfalfa to baby goats and will receive a brief overview of the cheese-making process and the equipment used to pasteurize, ripen and form the cheese. Tours include tastings from a selection of their 30 goat cheese flavors such as “Rolling Green” made with garlic and chives and “Purple Rain” made with Maui lavender.  In addition to their small gift shop, which also sells soaps, truffles and t-shirts featuring the farm’s happy ungulates, fans will be comforted in the fact that that hotels, shops and restaurants throughout the Islands and as far away as New York, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas and Phoenix import and feature their cheeses.

Dating back to 1755, Portland, Maine's Tate House Museum is the only existing example of pre-revolutionary architecture open to the public. In its heyday, it was the residence of Captain George Tate, a senior mast agent in the British Royal Navy, though it's now a museum, complete with period furnishings, an herb garden, and a gift shop.

This beautiful pre-revolutionary home provides an excellent introduction into what life was like in 18th-century colonial Maine.

Many visitors opt to go on one of the special topical tours offered by the museum, many of which are available with 24 hours' notice. One tour focuses on architecture, complete with a visit up to the attic of the house to see the rafters, while another takes visitors to the nearby Stroudwater Cemetery, where Captain Tate himself is interred.

 

 

The Tate House Museum is located on Westbrook Street in Greater Portland, right on the edge of the Stroudwater Historic District and a few minutes from Portland International Jetport. It's about a 10-minute drive from the city center to the museum (via Interstate 295), or a 20-minute bike ride. Bus #5 stops here about every half-hour Monday through Saturday, with limited Sunday service.

 

The Tate House Museum is open June through the end of October. The best time to visit is during the summer months of July and August, when the weather is at its best. Springtime is also nice here when many of the flowers and herbs in the surrounding garden are in bloom.

 

The Tate House offers a handful of special events, including a 5k trail run and an annual Christmas party. History buffs won't want to miss the Tate House Museum's annual lecture series, which focuses heavily on local area history. Topics run the gamut from the Revolutionary War to English paper piecing quilting.

Your visit to the natural wonder that is Niagara Falls begins at the Table Rock Welcome Centre. Here you’ll learn how to make the most of your time at the falls, plus you can buy tickets for some area attractions if you didn’t book a tour in advance. The complex has viewing platforms, restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Table Rock’s viewing platforms offer arguably the best views of the thundering Horseshoe Falls, other than being in a boat beside them. In the center of the entertainment and retail complex is Niagara’s Fury—a multisensory 4-D experience that re-creates the creation of the falls. The entry to Journey Behind the Falls, which takes you underground and literally behind the falls, is here as well.

Most Niagara Falls tours, whether half-day trips from Niagara Falls itself or full-day excursions from Toronto, stop at Table Rock.

Table Rock Welcome Centre is next to Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If not arriving with a tour, you can take the shuttle from Clifton Hill or park in the paid lot across the street from the complex.

Businesses at Table Rock are open year-round except for Christmas Day. Peak season at Niagara Falls is summer, particularly July and August, when the falls are at their fullest and the weather is typically lovely—yet the attractions are quite crowded. Consider a visit after 5pm, or in spring or autumn when the throngs are thinner; winter is generally quiet and lovely, though very cold.

The original Table Rock was a large, flat rock that jutted out over Horseshoe Falls and was used as a viewing platform until the early 1900s. A series of rock slides chipped away at the rock; the biggest of these saw a man and his carriage swept over the falls in 1850—and he lived to tell about it! In 1935 the remainder of the rock shelf was destroyed over safety concerns.

Set in the legendary Napa Valley, Sutter Home Winery has grown from a small business founded in 1948 to the second-largest independent, family-run winery in the United States. Now producing more than 20 varietals, they were the first winery ever to make white zinfandel. Due to its popularity in the 1970s and 80s, Sutter Home is credited with bringing wine into many American homes for the first time. The winery went on to bring a number of new varietals into wider availability across the country. 

One of the oldest wineries in Napa, Sutter Home wines are known for their high quality and affordable price point. Most are available to taste at the winery tasting room. Wines are lighter, sweeter, and more accessible than the others in the surrounding area. Be sure to try some of their reserve wines and to check out the gardens, Victorian home, and small shop.

In the late 1960s, Rufino Tamayo began utilizing his vast wealth to collect what has become a stunning display of international contemporary art. Not wanting to display the artwork in anything but a conceptually fitting structure, Rufino Tamayo worked with architects Abraham Zabludovsky and Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon to complete this iconic and compelling modern art museum.

Before passing, Tamayo gifted the collection and building to the Mexican people, and established a trust for the operational and maintenance costs of running one of the most successful museums in Mexico’s history. Today, visitors to this amazing structure can walk the halls of the museum and study the masterworks of artistic greats such as Picasso, Joan Miro, and Rene Magritte, as well as a finely curated selection of contemporary exhibits that tour regularly.