Things to Do in North America

Kaanapali Beach is perhaps the most well-known beach in all of Maui. Situated on west the west coast, these three miles of soft, golden sand have been called the best beach in America. It was once the retreat for the royal family of Hawaii, and it is now home to some of the most famous Hawaiian resorts.

There are countless ways to enjoy the beautiful beach, from a stroll on the sand to swimming and snorkeling in the clear, warm sea. There is a paved walkway along the length of the beach, but it’s hard to resist walking on the sand. If you’re in the water, keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles—they’re common visitors to the area. During whale season, humpback whales can be seen breaching from the shore.

At the northern end of Kaanapali, Black Rock has some of the beach’s best snorkeling. Every night at sunset cliff divers can be seen performing the Hawaiian ritual here, lighting torches along the cliff before leaping into the ocean.

Once you’ve had your fill of the beach activities, head up to nearby Whalers Village for some of Maui’s best shopping and dining, as well as a whaling museum with history of the area.

Set 2,000 feet (610 meters) above Downtown Juneau, the 1,500-square-mile (3,885-square-kilometer) Juneau Icefield is the fifth largest in North America and feeds 38 major glaciers, including Mendenhall Glacier. Visitors come from around the world to trek on the 3,000-year-old icefield itself or tour one of its many glaciers.

 

A vast majority of visitors who step foot on the icefield do so as part of a helicopter tour from Juneau. A typical helicopter flight takes visitors above the icefield for a landing on one of several different glaciers and a guided walk on the surface of the ice. Those with an interest in Alaskan dog sledding can combine a helicopter tour of the Juneau Icefield with a dog sled ride from a camp on secluded Herbert Glacier.

 

 

While situated only a stone’s throw from Juneau, it takes an airplane or helicopter ride to access the icefield itself. The only safe way of getting there is by booking a guided tour.

 

The best time to visit the icefield, as well as Juneau’s other outdoor attractions, is from May to August when days are long and relatively warm. Crowds on the icefield are never really a problem, but you’ll find a much quieter Juneau if you bundle up and visit during the offseason (September to April).

 

The Juneau Icefield and the glaciers it feeds have been retreating since the 1700s. Experts studying the ice sheets of Alaska predict that if current global warming trends continue, the Juneau Icefield will be half its current size by the end of this century and will disappear entirely by the end of the next.

Niagara Falls is an incredible sight from land and by boat, but at Journey Behind the Falls visitors who wish to truly experience its massive power can get up close and personal—and wet. Standing on an observation deck behind the falls, where more than one million bathtubs of water thunder over the edge every second, is a truly unforgettable experience of Niagara.

At Journey Behind the Falls, visitors descend by elevator to a series of tunnels bored into the rock behind Niagara Falls. The two tunnels, which extend approximately 150 feet (46 meters) behind Horseshoe Falls, lead to views of water cascades right in front of the open cave entrances. The best part is stepping out on the observation deck for a truly different and incredible perspective—you will get very wet, but it’s worth it!

Journey Behind the Falls is located off Niagara Parkway, directly across from Horseshoe Falls. Enter the tunnels through the Table Rock House, which has visitor information.

Journey Behind the Falls is open year-round. The best time to visit is early in the day. During the summer, there’s also a nighttime fireworks show several times weekly. 

Niagara Falls is actually composed of three sets of falls: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls (also known as Canadian Falls). Horseshoe Falls is the cascade behind which Journey Behind the Falls travels. It’s an incredibly popular attraction, whether you’re planning your falls visit from the Ontario (Canada) side or the New York (US) side. 

Yellow tang, surgeon fish, multi-colored parrot fish, pufferfish, humuhumunukunukuapuaa (Hawaii’s state fish) and over 100 other species can be spotted in this crystal clear and protected cove south of Kailua-Kona. Kahaluu Beach Park’s small stretch of white coral and black lava beach makes this one of the great and rare Hawaii Island snorkeling spots that also affords easy ocean access. Couple that with its picturesque setting—fringed with palms and bookended by the tiny white-clapboard 1880s Saint Peter by the Sea mission—shallow u-shaped bay, and year-round water temperatures hovering between 75 and 81 degrees, and Kahaluu is a strong a contender for the Island’s best snorkeling locale. Beyond the ancient rock wall said to be built by Menehune (a hard-working race of little people in Hawaiian legends), seasonal breakers around five feet high entice both beginner and moderately experienced surfers. During the winter months, monster waves rage and bring out the experts as they have for centuries—it’s said this was a popular surf spot for alii (Hawaiian royalty). With all of these great features, Kahaluu Beach Park’s charms are no secret—after around 10 a.m. it can be challenging to find a spot in the parking lot or on the sand.

Offering family entertainment that both adults and children can enjoy, the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship sets sail from the Riviera Maya and sails the Caribbean seas while dazzling passengers with swashbuckling pirate shows and hearty food. The ship is a modern replica of the Santa Maria, which Columbus is said to have journeyed on when he discovered the Americas.

The Jolly Roger features four decks and can accommodate up to 240 passengers, with plenty of space for entertainment and dining. Filet mignon, lobster, a vegetarian option, plus a special pirate kids menu are on offer, not to mention the open bar with free domestic drinks. The pirate show is a blend of comedy and adventure, interspersed by dinner, fireworks, and dancing. Expect dramatic sword fighting, exploding cannons, and amazing acrobatics, all designed to entertain, delight, and draw you in to this unique pirate adventure.

Insider’s Tip: This is a popular attraction, so it's a good idea to book tickets in advance. Dinner, drinks and entertainment are all included in the ticket price.

Hawaii’s first planned resort town, Kaanapali is a consistent favorite with visitors, with numerous hotels and condominium complexes sharing the prime waterfront location along Kaanapali Beach. Once named America’s Best Beach, the spot offers three miles of sand and warm, swimmable water. Families play on the shores, keeping eyes open for a possible whale swimming in the distance. Tour boats depart directly from the sand during whale-watching season, which runs through the winter.

Along with numerous restaurants, there are a variety of stores located in Kaanapali’s open-air Whalers Village shopping mall. Throughout the day, free Hawaiian entertainment, like hula dancing and lei-making lessons, are offered to guests. A walkway runs in between the beach and the line-up of resorts and businesses, making it easy to forget about the car and stroll from one spot to the next. There’s always a fun crowd of folks moving about.

Pre-contact Hawaiians didn’t believe in land ownership, but they did divide the Islands into sectional slivers called ahupua’a. Running from the mountains to the sea, ahupuaa had enough land and water resources to support a whole community, and the 5,300 acre Ahupua’a ‘O Kahana State Park is one of the few statewide divisions that remains intact and managed as a whole. Surrounded on three sides by the verdant Koolau Mountains, and fronting Kahana Bay, the scenic park includes a dusty neighborhood of mostly ethnic Hawaiian residents, two popular jungle hiking trails —Kapa’ele’ele and the Nakoa Loop—leading back into a deep valley, the remnants of an ancient fishpond and a beach park with year-round camping.

Most visitors, drawn by its forested seaside park and calm tropical waters, stop by the here to snap photos enroute to the North Shore. The bay is very shallow and can be murky thanks to the nearby infusion of Kahana Stream, so swimming is not recommended. Instead, the best parts of this park are both scenic and cultural: Visit the rocky, circular remains of the ancient Huila Fishpond on the eastern side of the bay, or head into the park to speak with residents. The 31 families that live here share responsibilities and assist with interpretive programming. The volunteer-staffed orientation center will help guide you toward the hiking trailheads that navigate Kahana Valley, former site of kalo loi (taro terraces), au’wai (channeled irrigation streams), heiau (temples) and later, during WWII, jungle warfare training.

This huge 1.6 million-acre National Forest park, divided into three distinct sections both north and south of the Grand Canyon, is more than just juniper, spruce and pine forest as the name implies—it is also comprised of grassland prairies, rocky riverbeds, scrubland and peaks like Kendrick Mountain at 10,418 feet. 

Popular for its Grand Canyon-esque ecosystems without the crowds, the first decision visitors will have to make is which section to visit. The Williams District in the far south is home to the park’s visitor, which carries maps and brochures of area activities, while the Tusayan District abutting the southern edge of Grand Canyon National Park has popular hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails through its varied elevation. The North Kaibab District—bisected by the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Scenic Byway (State Highway 67), past sinkhole ponds and Ponderosa pines—is the largest area and stretches most of the way to Utah.

In total, the forest area boasts six campgrounds and more than 300 trail options affording chances to glimpse whitetail deer, elk, turkey or coyote. Three historic cabins—Hull Cabin in the Tusayan District, Jumpup Cabin in North Kaibab and Spring Valley Cabin in the Williams District—are available for rent. Several Grand Canyon helicopter and plane tours departing from the airport in Tusayan afford the chance to double-dip and take in the National Forest en route to the Grand Canyon’s grandeur.

Joshua Tree National Park lies at the crux of the Colorado and Mojave deserts and spans 429,690 acres (173,889 hectares) of wind-swept Southern California plains. Famous for its starlit night skies and surreal geological features, the park’s rich landscape and signature flora draws day-trippers, rock climbers, and backpackers alike. 

Whether you want to visit on a day trip from Palm Springs or take a multi-day hiking tour, Joshua Tree is a perfect wilderness escape. Hiking and mountain biking trails abound in the park; visitors can stroll through Hidden Valley, bike down old country roads, or get completely off the grid on a customized hiking tour. Rock-climbing enthusiasts can perfect their solo climbing skills with a top-rope anchors class or take a beginners rappelling course, while photographers can snap photos of bighorn sheep, birds, and black-tailed jackrabbits.

Those wishing to cover more ground can venture deep into the desert on a van tour or luxury Hummer day trip and see highlights such as the inselberg rock formations, San Andreas Fault, and Keys View atop Ryan Mountain—the highest point in the park at 5,500 feet (1676 meters) above sea level. 

Joshua Tree National Park is located roughly 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. The nearest airport is in Palm Springs, roughly one hour by road from the park’s south entrance. The best way to get to Joshua Tree is by road; you can approach the park from Interstate 10 or California Highway 62. Be careful not to rely on GPS directions, which can route you onto potentially impassable backcountry roads. 

Peak season in Joshua Tree runs from October through May, with most visitors arriving in the spring and fall. Summers are hot here, with temperatures above 100°F (38°C). In the spring, wildflowers bloom and speckle the desert with bright red, purple, and orange hues. 

The towns of Palm Springs and Palm Desert are good jumping-off points for excursions into Joshua Tree National Park. Coachella Valley Preserve, located near the Palm Springs area, is a popular destination for picnicking and hiking, as well as a hub for wind farming and agriculture. Mojave National Preserve, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Cabrillo National Monument are also within driving distance of the park. 

Housed in what was originally the Hotel Utah, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building — named in honor the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement — opened in 1993 after 76 years as a hotel internationally recognized for its elegance.  The original Hotel Utah first opened in 1911, and before its closing in 1987 it hosted U.S. presidents, lawmakers, LDS Conference Attendees and many famous celebrities. 

The building is located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. Its large, ornately decorated multi-story lobby features a large white statue of Joseph Smith Jr. and an enormous crystal chandelier. The complex also contains a FamilySearch center (where the public can do family history and genealogy research), three restaurants, 13 banquet rooms, catering services, a full-service floral department and the Legacy Theater, which has regularly scheduled free showings of church-produced films.

The dignified Jungle Queen Riverboats have plied Fort Lauderdale’s New River for more than 80 years. Passengers aboard the historic vessels enjoy sightseeing along the city’s riverfront as well as in the waterway’s tropical environment—complete with extraordinary plants, exotic birds, and resident alligators. Whether you opt for a daytime or evening cruise, all come with the crew’s signature hospitality and entertainment along the way. 

The Jungle Queen Riverboat Company owns two boats and offers several tours. The daytime sightseeing cruises go up the New River, sailing past Millionaire’s Row, downtown Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, and the Intracoastal Waterway, and more. Some cruises include a stopover at the Jungle Queen Tropical Isle where passengers see an alligator show and other native wildlife. The evening dinner cruise heads up the New River as well, but also includes an island stopover for an all-you-can-eat dinner of barbecue ribs, chicken, and shrimp, and a variety show under the tropical foliage.

All cruises depart from Bahia Mar Yachting Center, in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Paid parking is available in the Bahia Mar Hotel lot or a public lot across from the Jungle Queen box office.

Jungle Queen cruises sail year-round, rain or shine, with the boats featuring covered tops. Boats begin boarding 45 minutes prior to departure.

Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruises were started in 1935 as a few small boats that gave sightseeing tours through the "Venice of America" — Fort Lauderdale's historic New River. After WWII, a dinner cruise was incorporated and since 1958 the cruises have included a vaudeville-style variety show. Today Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruises are still run by the same family who took over in 1958.

The town of Kahului on Maui is often just the starting point for vacations on the island, but if you've got a bit of spare time there are some good reasons to explore Kahului before moving on.

Kahului is one of the main shopping destinations for Maui residents, and it's home to one of Hawaii's largest airports. Besides shopping, however, you can also check out the Kanaha Beach Park and Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary. The former is a relatively hidden beach (behind the airport), and the latter is a bird sanctuary with some endangered Hawaiian bird species. There's also a botanical gardens featuring solely native Hawaiian flora. The town's history is closely tied to the sugar industry, which you can trace at Kahului's Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum.

Many visitors to Kahului know it as the starting point for the scenic Hana Highway (also known as the Road to Hana), which winds more than 50 miles along the northern shore of the island from Kahului to Hana.

This historic Charleston home, now part of the Charleston Museum, is a well-preserved example of Federal architecture. Built in 1803 by architect Gabriel Manigault for his brother Joseph, a Charleston rice baron, the 3-story townhouse is now a National Historic Landmark, showcasing the wealthy family’s 19th-century lifestyle.

 

An impressive central hall, with its spiral staircase leading to the upper floors, greets visitors entering the Joseph Manigault House. Many of the rooms have been restored to what they might have looked like in the 19th century, complete with original color schemes and a collection of French, American, and English period furniture. Entrance to the house also includes access to a period garden and several historical outbuildings, such as stables, kitchen, and former slave quarters.

 

Choose between a single admission to the Joseph Manigault House or a combination ticket that includes the Heyward-Washington House or the Charleston Museum as well. Some bus tours also include an optional upgrade that includes a visit to the house.

 

 

The house is located on Meeting Street between John Street and Ashmead Place, one block south of the Charleston Museum. It’s easy to reach on foot from most areas of the city’s historic district.

 

The historic home is open daily throughout the year, with shorter hours on Sundays. Tours of the house are offered every 30 minutes, with the last tour departing a half-hour before closing time.

 

In addition to the Joseph Manigault House, the Charleston Museum also manages the Heyward-Washington House. This Georgian-style double house, built in 1772, was once the home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Visitors can tour the mansion, formal gardens, and a kitchen building from the 1740s.

There are a few viewpoints along the road leading from highway I-5 to Mount St. Helens, but the best (and closest to the volcano) is the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory is at the end of State Route 504, and the visitor center overlooks not only the yawning crater of Mount St. Helens but also a huge swath of the blast zone. Exhibits walk visitors through what happened on the morning of May 18, 1980, as well as the scientific history that led up to that enormous eruption. There are trails that begin at the Observatory for day hikes, including a half-mile trail that offers great views into the crater.

Johnston Ridge is named for the volcanologist David Johnston, who was surveying changes in Mount St. Helens in May of 1980 when it finally erupted. He was never found.

As the world’s oldest and largest Tequila distillery, the Jose Cuervo brand is renowned around the globe - and the family-run distillery is the top attraction of the town of Tequila, the birthplace of Mexico’s National drink. Established in 1795, the legendary distillery forms part of the UNESCO-listed landscape of Jalisco and produces up to 20,000 gallons of mixto and 100% agave tequilas per day. 

Today, the Jose Cuervo Distillery is open to the public via guided tour, offering visitors the chance to learn how the juice is extracted from blue agave plants and distilled to produce a range of traditional blanco (white), añejo (aged) and mixto (diluted) tequilas. Guests can also sample a selection of fine tequilas, sip premium tequila straight from the barrel or visit the private cellars of the Cuervo family. It’s even possible to create your own customized bottle of tequila, selecting your choice of spirit and designing your own personalized label.

Also known as the Hana Lava Tube, these subterranean caverns were created when lava once cooled on the surface here but continued to flow underneath the ground above. Now there are hundreds of unique rock formations throughout the half mile long cavern system, including stalagmites and stalactites. The Kaeleku Caverns are the largest accessible lava tubes on Maui. It is estimated that the caves were formed nearly 30,000 years ago, and legend would tell us they are the work of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire.

Water drips from the ceilings of the caves, but bats and insects are noticeably absent from the environment. Much of the caverns look as though they’ve been coated in chocolate. It’s an underground landscape that feels almost otherworldly, waiting to be explored. Above ground, there is a unique red Ti botanical garden maze that is also easy to get lost in.

Juneau’s cruise port sits right alongside the historic downtown area, within walking distance of seafood restaurants and frontier-themed shops. There’s plenty to see and do right off the boat in the state capital, but the port also serves as a jumping-off point for excursions to Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaskan wilderness.

Passengers docking at the busy Juneau cruise port have a host of options to choose from. A popular choice combines a city tour of the former mining town with a trip to the nearby Mendenhall Glacier, located 12 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of the city. For animal lovers, the port serves as a departure point for whale-watching excursions in scenic Auke Bay, and the nearby Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area protects the highest concentration of brown bears on the planet. Adventure travelers can spend their time in port white water rafting or ziplining on Douglas Island, while cultural options include gold mining excursions or traditional Alaskan salmon bakes.

Cruise ships dock at three different areas, all within walking distance of Downtown Juneau. Larger ships tend to dock near South Franklin Street (near the Mount Roberts Tramway), while smaller vessels dock next to the floatplanes. A third dock sits at the south end of town.

Juneau averages 220 days of rain each year, so be sure to dress for the weather. The official currency is the US dollar, and there are ATMs and banks located throughout town.