Things to Do in North America

Not far from the famous falls, the Outlet Collection at Niagara is an open-air shopping center with some of the world’s top clothing and accessory brands available at a discounted outlet price. More than 100 shops make up the modern complex, including brands such as J. Crew Factory, the Nike Factory Store, Coach, Fossil, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Lululemon, and The North Face.

The collection is uniquely shaped as eight interconnected buildings in the shape of a racetrack, completed with expert style and design. Partially covered walkways make for a comfortable stroll between the different shops. Food options range from The Eatery food court to a weekly farmers market and frequent events. Kids can enjoy the playground area, and strollers are available to shoppers and guests. Though the shopping center is expertly maintained and manicured, it is family-friendly throughout. It is the largest outdoor outlet shopping center in Canada.

Oxbow Public Market—with dozens of restaurants, food stalls, and shops—brings the bounty of Napa’s famed wine, food, and organic produce under a single roof. Open all day, it’s a one-stop shop for great food, to quickly experience the best of Napa Valley, or relax for a moment at this local gathering place before exploring the region.

 

Oxbow Public Market, situated on a curve in the Napa River, is a good starting point for exploring the natural beauty of Napa and a great way to taste the flavors of the region in a compact and concise way. Get an insider’s view of wine country’s culinary scene. Tours typically include many opportunities to taste Oxbow’s many artisan goods and learn about everything from Fatted Calf's handcrafted salumi to Kara's Cupcakes to Three Twins Ice Cream, among many others.

 

You can tour the market on foot, independently or as part of a group, or visit as a stop on a Napa Valley wine trolley tour.

 

 

Situated east of downtown Napa on First Street past McKinstry Street, Oxbow Market is highly visible and easily accessible by foot from town. Walk over First Street Bridge, pass two blocks, and the market is on your left. If driving a car, there’s ample parking in an off-street, no-fee parking lot.

 

Oxbow comes alive in late spring when local produce is at its peak. Mornings are usually quieter with fewer crowds than later in the day. Tuesday is Locals' Night with happy-hour specials from 5 to 8pm. In September, Oxbow hosts its annual Fork It Over benefit, a fundraiser for the Community Action of Napa Valley (CANV) Food Bank. It includes a reception, garden tour, and 4-course dinner at the Culinary Institute of America.

 

Stop by Hog Island Oyster Bar for small plates, a glass of wine, or the Hog Island sweets that give the company its name. For Locals’ Night on Tuesdays, chef’s choice half-price oysters from nearby Marin County, and beer and wine specials make a stop here a must.

Once considered the world’s greatest naval ship thanks to its powerful weaponry, heavy armor, and advanced fire control systems, the USS Iowa served the U.S. Navy during World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. Today it’s docked in Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro, California. 

USS Iowa visitors have their choice of several tours: a self-guided tour (just board the vessel and following an easy, well-marked path), a guided kid’s tour, a guided highlights tour, the Full Steam Ahead tour, and the Big Stick Tour, which offers the best behind-the-scenes access, including lunch in the captain’s or admiral’s cabin. 

Whichever you choose, you’ll walk in the footsteps of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and President Reagan as you see where daily operations took place, where officers spent their free time, the galley, and the flying bridge. Go below deck to play an interactive combat game in the digital theater, then explore exhibits that reveal more about the ship’s fascinating history. Former military personnel are usually on hand to answer questions. 

The museum is located at Berth 87 at the Los Angeles World Cruise Port Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, about 30 miles (48 kilomters) south of downtown Los Angeles. Take I-110 South to exit 1A, then turn onto North Harbor Boulevard. Paid parking is at the lot on 1st Street and Harbor Boulevard.

This site is open from 10am–5pm daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Weekdays tend to be less busy than weekends; on some days, it’ll feel like you have the entire vessel to yourself. Fleet Week, when there are typically several free events planned, can be an exciting time to visit.

The USS Iowa, escorted by three destroyers—including the William D. Porter, also known as the “Willie Dee”—was carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Nov. 14, 1943. During a routine mock torpedo run, one crew member didn’t remove a crucial priming pin, which launched a torpedo toward the USS Iowa. Thankfully, the Willie Dee crew radioed to the Iowa, and the vessel made a safe, sharp turn to avoid impact.

Considered a marvel of engineering when it was first constructed, the Overseas Highway connects Miami and mainland Florida to the Florida Keys. Originally stretching a total of 113 miles (182 km) with 42 oversea bridges, the highway was constructed over the bed of the Overseas Railroad, which was constructed by Henry Flagler as part of the Florida East Coast Railway. When much of the railroad was destroyed in a hurricane in 1935, the roadbed and bridges were sold to the state of Florida; thus, the Overseas Highway was completed in 1938 and gave motorists access to the multitude of coral and limestone islands that make up the Florida Keys. 

While most of the Overseas Highway runs to the right of the original railroad line, some of the old bridges can still be seen as you drive along through the Keys. The portions where pedestrians are allowed are now popular fishing spots; historic bridges like the Bahia Honda Bridge and Long Key Bridge are now fishing piers. 

The Highway as a whole is a destination of its own, affording views of impossibly aquamarine water, Robinson Crusoe-esque islands and plenty of examples of classic Florida kitsch in the form of roadside stands and mom-and-pop shops. The National Scenic Byways program named the Overseas Highway an All-American Road in 2009. It’s the only All-American Road in Florida and one of 30 in the entire country.   

Home to just a half-dozen heritage villages, Orleans Island measures 22 miles (35 kilometers) long and six miles (nine kilometers) wide. Located in the St. Lawrence River just downstream of Quebec City, this finger-like sliver of an island charms visitors with its expansive fertile farmland filled with vineyards, apple orchards, and sugar bush.

A bus tour from Quebec City is a great way to reach the island, which is connected to the mainland by the Orleans Island Bridge (Pont de l’Île d'Orléans). These tours usually take passengers around the island’s circular Route 368 road, making frequent stops at chocolate factories, wineries, sugar shacks, and ice cider producers so participants can sample local products. Active travelers can embark on a kayaking tour.

Orleans Island is located about 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Old Quebec. PLUMobile buses run between Quebec City and Orleans Island, Monday through Friday, though there are only a few departures every day. Because of the limited public transport options, it’s often easier to visit by car or organized tour.

Summer and early autumn are the best times to go kayaking or cycling around the island. During winter, the island is blissfully quiet, and there are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities, but some attractions are closed. Sugar shack season usually takes place in March and April with maple syrup producers serving maple-themed meals and hosting live folk music and dances in their cabins. 

When French explorer Jacques Cartier stumbled across the island in 1535, he named it Island of Bacchus because of the vines that grew here. More than four centuries later, Orleans Island is well-established as one of Quebec’s leading wine regions, and is particularly well-known for its production of ice wine, a sweet wine made by pressing frozen grapes. 

Formerly the Washington Park Zoo, Portland’s Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo in the western United States. In total there are more than 2,200 animals with 260 species represented, though the stars of the zoo are more often than not the herd of Asian elephants. The youngest elephant was born at the park in 2012, so she’s still toddler size, while the rest impress with their spotted ears and unique personalities. There’s also a very unique California Condors exhibit which showcases the local and endangered birds.

The animal exhibits are easily explored and grouped geographically, ranging from the Great Northwest and Pacific Shoes to the wildlife of Asia and Africa. With specialized gardens and an extensive plant collection, there is a variety of plant life as well. The zoo’s narrow gauge railway connects to the International Rose Test Garden inside Washington Park. The park often holds special events, including the seasonal zoo summer concert series and holiday Zoolights show.

Often regarded as one of the fanciest and most expensive areas in Montreal, Outremont has only recently started to be on the tourist map. Understandably so – with its elegant avenues and stately manors, it’s no wonder more and more visitors are drawn to it. The name Outremont actually comes from a pun with the French wording for ‘over the mountain,’ seeing as most Montrealers resided south of the Mount Royal at the time. The three main thoroughfares are Bernard Avenue, Van Horne Avenue, and Laurier Avenue, which are filled with upscale shops, trendy cafés and chic French bistros that even locals consider a treat. The district also includes Mount-Royal cemetery (resting place of many major Canadian figures), which is popular with runners thanks to its giant leafy trees and soothing atmosphere.

While Outremont is a predominantly French-speaking neighborhood, it holds a lot more than just wine bars. Twenty percent of Outremont’s population is part of the Hasidic Jewish community; there are, therefore, several kosher bakeries and restaurants, as well as synagogues and Yiddish-run businesses in the area. It was the home of famed author Mordecai Richler.

A nine-foot-tall golden-helmeted and spear-wielding bronze depiction of King Kamehameha the Great stands on the North Kohala Civic Center lawn in the tiny town of Kapaau. Though there are similar statues honoring the King throughout the state—including notably in Hilo and fronting the State Supreme Court in Honolulu—this site is perhaps the most significant to the king’s own story: He was born not far from here in 1758, and lived his first few years in hiding deep within a nearby valley where he was safe from battling tribal factions. Kamehameha would later prove his strength, acquiring each of the Islands for the Kingdom of Hawaii by 1810.

The statue, originally intended for a site in Honolulu and constructed in Europe, took several years to make. However, the ship transporting it to Hawaii wrecked in a storm near the Falkland Islands and the heavy sculpture sank to the bottom of the sea. Insurance money was used to quickly replace the missing statue with an even taller one, and that arrived in Honolulu in 1883 where it still stands today. Meanwhile, entrepreneurial fishermen lifted the original and sold it back to the Kingdom of Hawaii for a bargain price. Seeking a spot for the ill-fated statue, the state decided to place the original commissioned bronze here. Each June 11th—the state holiday honoring Kamehameha—all statues of the King, including this one, are draped in community-strung floral lei to celebrate his legacy.

A concentrated cluster of grand government buildings overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is the centerpiece of Downtown Ottawa. At the heart of the complex is Centre Block, a neo-Gothic riot of greening copper turrets, stone-carved gargoyles, and pointed arches built around a soaring central campanile (bell tower) known as the Peace Tower. Parliament Hill is not just a pretty sight; it’s also home to Canada’s most important democratic institutions, including the Library of Parliament and the chambers of the House of Commons and the Senate.

Parliament Hill is an essential sight for anyone interested in the history and politics of Canada. Visitors can see the complex via city bike tours, hop-on hop-off bus tours, and amphibus tours (over land and water), as well as on guided day trips from Montreal. Access to all Parliament buildings is ticketed, with same-day-only tickets issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the ticket office at 90 Wellington Street, across from Parliament Hill. Tours of Centre Block are offered year-round, while tours of East Block, the historic hub of the 19th-century Canadian government, run from July until early September. Visitors can also embark on a self-guided ascent up the Peace Tower or an independent visit to the Memorial Chamber.

 

As there is no parking on Parliament Hill, it’s best to use public transport. Buses 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12 stop nearby.

 

Arrive early in the morning and head straight to the ticket center of Wellington Street to ensure access. Tours regularly fill to capacity, particularly in summer.

 

During summer, visit the front lawn at 10am to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. On summer nights, Parliament Hill hosts the Northern Lights Sound and Light Show, which tells the story of Canada through images projected onto the Gothic exterior of Centre Block. From early December to January, Parliament Hill hosts a festive Christmas light spectacle. The complex is also a focal point for Canada Day celebrations on July 1.

Dating back to the 1840s, Ottawa Notre Dame Basilica (Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame) is the oldest church in Canada’s capital. The Gothic Revival structure is full of eye-catching design details, from its two shimmering, silver tin-covered steeples to the interior’s soaring vaults and star-studded blue ceiling.

Many visitors get a glimpse of Ottawa’s Notre Dame Basilica during sightseeing tours of the city, whether on foot, by bus, or even by amphibious vehicles that travel on both dry land and water. You can tour the cathedral independently year-round. Guided tours, lasting 45 to 60 minutes, are available from mid-May to mid-October, and must be booked in advance. You can also attend a mass in the cathedral; English- and French-language services are hosted here.

Notre Dame Basilica is located on Sussex Drive, just opposite the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Walk here from Parliament Hill in under 15 minutes, or from ByWard Market in around five minutes. Alternatively, ride the 1 or 9 bus to Dalhousie Street, which is just two blocks from the cathedral. 

The best time to visit the church is outside of mass times, as you may not explore while services are taking place. From May through October, consider coming for opening (9am) or in the afternoon (1pm to 3pm) Tuesday to Saturday, to avoid clashing with services. From November through April, opening hours are more restrictive; try coming around 10am Tuesday through Friday or 2pm on Saturdays. 

The Ottawa cathedral is loaded with architectural and decorative adornments, including ribbed vaults and stained glass windows. Among the standout features are the the intricately carved sculptures of apostles, saints, and prophets visible in the sanctuary’s niches, as well as the carved wooden altars, which are interspersed with gold leaf and gems. Liturgical objects, including precious stone-embedded chalices and gold cloth vestments, are also on display in the basilica. 

Built in 1928, the Orpheum Theater is a historic theater and one of America’s few remaining “movie palaces” from the 1920s era. Before it was the Orpheum, it was the site of the Grand Opera House and home to vaudeville performances for nearly two decades. Since then it has withstood the threat of bankruptcy, demolition and being burnt to the ground to become known as the “South’s Finest Theater.”

Decorated with ornate crystal chandeliers, luxe draperies, carved moldings, and a large pipe organ, the theater was restored in 1996 to its former glory along with an expansion of the stage and backstage areas. Today, the theater hosts top Broadway shows, concerts, comedy shows, and special events year-round. Many famous faces have graced the Orpheum stage, and it continues to be a center for arts and entertainment and culture of Memphis.

Catch a show and a slice of local history at the Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee. The venue is not only a National Historic Landmark, but it’s also the largest theater in Milwaukee’s Theater District and the fourth oldest continually operating theater in the 

country. Beer magnate Frederick Pabst built the Pabst Theater in 1895 as a German-style opera house. It is opulent both inside and out, and today the interior still boasts its most glamorous accessories, including a two-ton Austrian crystal chandelier over the auditorium, a staircase made from white Italian Carrera marble, and a proscenium arch  framing the stage that is highlighted with gold leaf. 

The Orlando Eye is the brand new Ferris wheel in Orlando and is the biggest observation wheel on the east coast of the United States. At 400 feet above the ground, the Orlando Eye offers a completely new vantage point of Orlando and the rich landscape of Central Florida. On a clear day, you can see from the lively theme parks, glittering lakes and the downtown skyline all the way to Cape Canaveral on the coast. Additionally, iPads inside the 30 capsules let visitors learn more about the surrounding landmarks in several languages. 

The Ferris wheel is part of a whole entertainment complex, which apart from the ride with a view, also includes Madame Tussauds wax museum, the Orlando Sea Life Aquarium, shops and a food court. At night, the Eye lights up in a rainbow of colors and adds another 64,000 LED lights to the theme park capital of the world. Thus, the attraction is also worth a visit in the dark – not only for those wanting to see the city turn its lights on, but also for photographers wanting to capture the Ferris wheel itself.

On Ford Island in the heart of infamous Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Aviation Museum’s two massive hangars totaling more than 120,000 square feet house military aircraft from the WWII Vietnam and the Korean War. Given its setting, the highlights here are Pearl Harbor related: Hangar 37 houses Japanese Zero planes, a civilian plane that was shot down during the Pearl Harbor attacks, and a P-40 fighter plane similar to those that took flight on Dec. 7th, 1941. On the door of Hangar 79, it’s still possible to see bullet holes left from that day. But there are plenty of other planes to pique the aviation-enthusiasts interest including an authentic F4F Wildcat, the actual Stearman N2S-3 piloted solo by former President George H.W. Bush and several MiG planes from the Korean conflict. You can even learn about ill-fated aviator Amelia Earhart, who visited the airstrip here on several occasions, including during her Round-the-World Flight—each year, the museum hosts a birthday party in her honor. Additionally, incredibly popular combat flight simulator experiences are available for an additional fee; the experience lasts 30-minutes including a flight briefing. 

Los Angeles is a city that stretches on for miles and miles, an urban sprawl with dozens of unique neighborhoods. One of the best ways to see the city from above, the OUE Skyspace is an observation deck with both indoor and outdoor lookouts. The panoramic views of Los Angeles provide a full 360-degree visual. On a clear day, it’s possible to see the mountains and sea that surround the city,  and even the Hollywood sign. It is California’s tallest open-air observation deck.

Because of the expansive views, it’s also a popular spot for photography. Visitors stand almost 1,000 feet above the ground below. There’s also a time lapse and an infinity mirror to experience on your way to the top. For additional adrenaline, it’s also possible to take a ride down an outdoor glass slide that runs on the exterior of the U.S. Bank building (the tallest in Los Angeles.) The Skyslide allows you to experience the views while zipping down from the 70th to the 69th floor.

The OUE Skyspace is included on most architectural tours of the city and has quickly become an essential stop in downtown Los Angeles.

Arguably the world’s most famous coffee chain, Starbucks got its start in 1971 in downtown Seattle—it’s one of the reasons the city is synonymous with coffee. There’s often a line out the door at what’s called the original location, with coffee drinkers eager to say they’ve had a cup of joe at the birthplace of a worldwide phenomenon.

Though not actually the first Starbucks location, this is the so-called original, the oldest remaining store of the thousands around the world. Located in famous Pike Place Market, this Starbucks is a tourist draw and has a feel unlike any other. Often you’ll find buskers playing lively music just outside the front door. 

Throwback logos are the theme here, and the decor takes a similar bent. The bar is covered in leather sourced from scrap at nearby shoe and automobile manufacturers; the walnut on the doors, tables, and bar top came from a local farm; and the signage on the bar is recycled slate from an area high school. In all, it’s a humble birthplace for a commercial powerhouse. 

Located in Pike Place Market, in downtown Seattle, the original Starbucks sits at 102 Pike Street, near the corner of 1st and Pike. It’s easily accessible on foot or by a slew of Seattle city buses running through downtown.

The café is small and gets crowded quickly. Come in the early morning hours, before the downtown area has truly woken up and filled with tourists, though if you do encounter a line, know that it moves quickly.

Pike Place Market is a worthwhile diversion if you’re visiting the original Starbucks. Opened in 1907, the sprawling marketplace is one of the country’s oldest continuously operated public farmers markets. In addition to fresh produce, dozens of stalls sell fresh flowers, jams, honey, jerky, pasta, olive oil, and more. Craftspeople offer worthwhile souvenirs, and small, independently owned restaurants and shops make up several levels of the market.