Things to Do in North America

Known as “America’s Church,” this 1744 city landmark was the first Protestant Episcopal congregation, the post-Revolution version of a Royalist, Anglican church founded in 1695. Early parishioners included George Washington and Betsy Ross, and its cemetery hosts the remains of several signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin.

One of the most-visited sites in Philadelphia, the church is chock full of historic objects, including communion silver commissioned by England’s Queen Anne and mahogany cabinetry by some of the city’s most renowned woodworkers. Topped by a 200-foot-tall steeple, it was once the tallest building in America.

This distinctive 1892 Victorian home in Dupont Circle, the first fireproof building in the city, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Often referred to as the Brewmaster’s Castle, this ornate concrete and steel fortress was built and owned by the head of the Christian Heurich Brewing Company; this company ran from 1872-1956 and was once the largest employer in D.C.

Christian Heurich, a German immigrant, rose to prominence in D.C. society as a result of his company’s success, and this 31-room mansion was the major showplace of his wealth. State-of-the-art in its day, it features indoor plumbing, heated hot water, and an elevator. Its well-preserved interior is a microcosm of life in a late 19th-century Dupont Circle mansion, which at that time was the “it” address for the city’s rich and famous.

Located in the Houston Museum District, the Children’s Museum of Houston makes learning fun for children and families. Founded in 1980 by a group of parents who hoped to make early childhood development a priority in the community, the museum features 14 interactive exhibits that allows for myriad fun experiences. At Invention Convention kids can build robots, cars and rockets using LEGOs, magnets, batteries, switches and more, while Think Tank allows them to enhance their problem solving skills with brain teases, puzzles and optical illusions. Kidtropolis is another favorite station, as children can act like adults by governing life-sized city. Taking on the roles of city leaders, business owners and community members, children are given an ATM card with 40 Kidtropolis dollars to budget with, needing to get a job, purchase groceries and deposit wisely.

A few of the other many exhibits include How Does It Work?, where kids will learn the answers to challenging questions through investigation, Inventors’ Workshop, where kids are given a creative activity to complete relating to art, technology and/or science, and EcoStation, an outdoor/indoor exhibit showcasing hands-on environmental activities like bug collecting and identifying animal tracks. Exploring three-story mazes, viewing a live chicken hatching, learning about Gullah culture, fighting crime, climbing boulders and navigating a boat upstream in an outdoor water park area are just a few more of the many other experiences that can be had at the Children’s Museum of Houston.

The Children’s Museum of Houston is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm Thursday 10am to 8pm, and Sunday 12pm to 6pm. Admission is $9 for adults and children over one, $8 for seniors over 65 and military and free for children under one years of age. Additionally, it is free for all to enter on Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm.

Following the Chilkoot Trail is to take a journey into the past, to the time before the gold-rush era of prospectors when the Tlingit people used the route to trade coastal products for pelts and plants with the people of the interior. The trail is a significant historic site, and has been described as ‘the world’s longest outdoor museum.’

The 33-mile (53km) trail is for walkers only, who take three to five days to follow the often difficult route that in gold-rush days was the most direct path from the port at Skagway to the gold fields of the Yukon. The route was shorter than White Pass but more deadly.

Prospectors taking the Chilkoot route were advised to carry a ton of gear and rations, enough to ensure self-sufficiency for one year. Alternative transportation systems devised to help carry their infamous ton of gear included aerial tramways, pack animals and Tlingit porters.

Hiking the Chilkoot Trail is such a popular recreational activity that permit numbers are limited during the peak season months of June to early September.



Photo courtesy of the National Park Service

One of New York City’s most recognizable and distinct skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building is considered a masterpiece of art deco architecture. The tallest building in the world when it debuted in 1930, it was soon surpassed by the Empire State Building. Today, however, the Chrysler Building remains the world's loftiest brick building.

 

The Basics

The Chrysler Building is visible from all over town, but there are a number ways to get a firsthand look at the landmark. Visit as part of an architecture- or photography-themed walking tour, or zip by on a coach or driving tour of Manhattan’s highlights.

 

The skyscraper can also be spotted from the air on a helicopter tour, or from the water’s edge on a boat tour. While the Chrysler Building does not have an observation deck, visitors can freely tour its lobby, where an elaborate mural by artist Edward Trumbull decorates the ceiling.

 

Things to Know Before You Go

• While the Chrysler Building’s lobby is open to visitors, the rest of the building is off-limits to tourists.
  
• A helicopter tour or the Empire State Building’s observation deck provides the best perspectives of the Chrysler Building.
  
• Renowned as an icon of art deco design, the Chrysler Building is a must for architecture buffs.

How to Get There

Conveniently located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the Chrysler Building is very accessible. The landmark is a short walk from Grand Central Terminal and Times Square; both transit hubs offer connections with numerous subway and bus lines, plus the Metro-North Railroad. Traveling by taxi is another simple way to explore.

 

When to Get There

The Chrysler Building is an iconic, year-round landmark that can be visited and enjoyed in every season. The lobby is open from 10am–6pm, Monday–Friday, excluding public holidays.

 

Chrysler Building’s Exterior

True to name, the Chrysler Building was the headquarters for Chrysler for several decades. If you look closely, you’ll discover hubcaps, fenders, and other automotive flourishes incorporated into its façade. Then, there are its famous, eagle-shaped gargoyles, inspired by the brand’s hood ornaments.

The islet of Mokolii, or Chinaman’s Hat, is a rugged little outpost that’s home to wedge-tailed shearwaters and occasionally explored by adventurous visitors.

Its unusual shape makes it a popular landmark to spot from panoramic viewpoints such as Kualoa Point. The fish-filled coral reefs surrounding the island are home to sharks, adding to the island’s mystery and James Bond quality.

When the tide is out you could even walk here, but it’s best to visit by kayak or boat. When you get here, you can explore sea caves or have two golden beaches all to yourself.

A 20-minute climb winds to the top of the island for great views looking back to Oahu’s Windward coast.

Just beyond the edge of Anchorage and nestled in the foothills of the Alaskan Rockies lies the third largest state park in America. Chugach State Park boasts half a million acres (202,400 hectares) of hiking, skiing, camping, snowmobiling, rafting, climbing and wildlife viewing right at Anchorage’s doorstep, and which the locals enjoy year-round.

Home to alpine wildflowers, moose calves, pristine streams, howling wolves and glacial-fed rivers, the Chugach State Park is a favorite reminder to all living in Anchorage that wilderness via front-country trails or backcountry bushwhacking is ready and waiting, should you choose to explore it.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza—meaning "at the mouth of the well of the Itza"—is Mexico's most-visited archaeological site, a magnificent display of the advanced civilization of the Maya people and the ceremonial center of the Yucatan.

Bald eagles have a safe home at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Created in 1982, the huge park protects the world’s largest collection of bald eagles and their habitat.

Natural salmon runs are also protected in the preserve, where the Chilkat, Kleheni, and Tsirku Rivers meet.

For the best views of the eagles, head to the Haines Highway by the river flats surrounding the Chilkat River. To ensure the eagles aren’t spooked by your presence, stay off the river flats themselves and keep to the area near the highway.

From October to February, the eagles are attracted to the wetlands by the spawning salmon. During these months around 3,000 bald eagles have been known to stay at the preserve; the number of year-round inhabitants is between 200 and 400.

As well as eagle viewing, a visit to the preserve might take you river rafting on the Chilkat River to spot beavers, brown bears, moose and waterbirds.