Things to Do in North America

For the lowdown on Polynesian lore, legend, history and anthropology, drop into the Bishop Museum. Far from dry, displays range from woven hats, sculptures and scientific exhibits to planetarium shows and historical artifacts.

Located in Central Park on the lower level of Bethesda Terrace, Bethesda Fountain, or “Angel of the Waters,” features a neoclassical eight-foot-bronze angel holding a lily on top of a tiered fountain. Bethesda Fountain is considered not only one of the most beautiful fountains in New York, but also in the world. It is one of the city’s largest fountains, at twenty-six feet high by ninety-six feet wide. The angel, designed by Emma Stebbins, was the only sculpture commissioned as park of Central Park’s original design. During the initial stages of Central Park’s planning, the idea was to create a welcoming “open-air hall of reception” where visitors could enjoy views from a terrace overlooking the lake. They also wanted something that blended in with the surrounding nature, which was to be the focus of the park. Bethesda Fountain was a fitting choice then, and still is today. Additionally, when the Croton Aqueduct was opened in 1842 to bring fresh water to New York City, Bethesda Fountain was used to commemorate this purification, which is why the angel carries in her outstretched hand a lily, the symbol of purity. She also stands about four small cherubim, which symbolize peace, health, purity and temperance.

You can view Bethesda Fountain from 6am to 1am. To get to Bethesda Fountain by subway on the West Side take the A, B, C, D lines to 72nd Street. If traveling on the East Side, take the 4, 5, 6 lines to 68th Street.

Go big or go home on the Big Island of Hawaii. The largest and southernmost island in Hawaii is home to active volcanoes, secluded beaches, rainforests and island-grown coffee. Shore excursions include a Kona coffee tour, a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or ziplining over waterfalls.

If you don’t want to take an organized tour, a rental car is the best way to get around, as the island’s most popular features lie outside the villages and there is little in the way of public transport.

How to get to the Big Island

Cruises dock in either Kailua-Kona, on the west side of the island, or Hilo, on the east side. If you pull into Kailua-Kona, ships anchor in Kailua Bay and you’ll be tendered to Kailua village. In Hilo, ships dock in the cargo port a couple of miles from downtown. Taxis, a bus and rental car shuttles pick up at the port for trips to downtown Hilo or the airport to pick up rental cars (reserve your rental car in advance – they book up fast).

One day in Hilo

Downtown Hilo is a walkable historic area, and there are several museums and cultural sites. Start at the Pacific Tsunami Museum, a memorial to the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that destroyed parts of the town and killed many residents. Located in an old bank, the museum includes a wave simulator that allows you to experience the feeling of moving water. Don’t be afraid to get chatty with volunteers – you may meet one who is a tsunami survivor.

Next, check out another Hilo museum, the Lyman House Museum, whose exhibits detail Hawaii’s missionary history. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Then enjoy a stroll around town, checking out historical Hawaiian landmarks like the King Kamehameha statue and the Naha Stone.

Make your way to Lili'uokalani Gardens, Japanese gardens built on the waterfront to honor Hawaii’s Japanese immigrants. Have a bite of sushi here or just soak up the serene environment.

Existing in marked contrast to the colorful vistas of the neighboring Grand Canyon, the dark volcanic walls of the aptly named Black Canyon offer access to the Colorado River, Hoover Dam, and the El Dorado and Black Mountains that serve as its natural borders.

One of the best ways to experience the Black Canyon and the Colorado River is to take a guided rafting tours led by experienced professionals versed in the local geology, flora, fauna, and folklore.

Many tours offer a full day of sightseeing along the calm waters of Lake Mead and the Colorado River, complete with complimentary box lunches and transportation to and from the area.

Another popular way to take in the area is via helicopter tours operating out of Las Vegas. Beginning with a ride to McCarran Airport in a limousine, select tours ferry you to the canyon in cutting-edge six-passenger A-Star jet helicopters, where you'll embark on a mellow rafting trip from the base of the damn downriver to vans or buses waiting to return you to your hotel. The trip out includes beautiful views of the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and the surrounding country.

Travelers bent on treating themselves to a first rate trip can also opt for a variation on the helicopter tour that involves a touch down in the Grand Canyon, where you'll indulge in a champagne breakfast before flying to historic Boulder City and proceeding with the rafting trip.

George Washington supposedly asked Betsy Ross to stitch the first-ever American flag. The seamstress is said to have created the Stars and Stripes in 1776. Today, visitors can explore the 18th-century house where Betsy Ross purportedly lived, examine artifacts from her life, and even meet a costumed Betsy Ross impersonator.

 

The Basics

Step back in time on a tour of the Betsy Ross House, dating all the way back to the 1740s, in Philadelphia’s Historic District. Explore the house’s narrow rooms, see 18th-century mementos, and learn more about the life of the famed seamstress on a self-guided or audio tour. Most visits to Betsy Ross House are combined with stops at other Revolutionary War–era landmarks in the vicinity.

 

Tours that call on the Betsy Ross House are often of the walking variety but you can also visit as part of a Segway excursion or as a stop on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

 

Things to Know Before You Go

• Betsy Ross House is the perfect destination for history buffs eager to learn more about Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War era.
  
• Visitors with mobility issues can access the ground floor and courtyard, but won’t be able to navigate the narrow staircases and upper floors.
  
• A ground-floor restroom and map of the house are available.
  
• Kids can meet a costumed Betsy Ross impersonator, learn how she stitched the flag, and listen to a special audio guide narrated in her voice.
  
• Pick up Philadelphia souvenirs at the Betsy Ross House’s gift shop.

How to Get There

Betsy Ross House is conveniently located on Arch Street, a short stroll from Independence National Historical Park and many of the city’s museums. If you’re driving, parking is available nearby at the Autopark at Independence Mall or National Constitution Center. There are also ample public transportation options, including SEPTA Regional Rail, the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line, PATCO, and numerous SEPTA or New Jersey Transit buses.

 

When to Get There

Betsy Ross House is open daily year-round, but closes on Mondays in the winter months. It’s a popular Philadelphia destination all-year long, but the summer months are particularly busy, when it hosts Flag Day celebrations on July 14, storytelling sessions, and First Friday outdoor movie screenings.

 

Other Historic Philadelphia Landmarks

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Betsy Ross House is also close to a number of other important landmarks from United States history. Combine a visit to the house with a trip to the Liberty Bell, a tour of Independence Hall, or a visit to the National Constitution Center. All are just within a few minutes' walk of each other and can be combined into a full-day American history tour.

When Nashville turned 200 it decided to throw a party—and to open a park. Since June, 1996, the 19-acre Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park has given locals and visitors a calm and scenic place to rest. The park boasts numerous features, like an impressive view of the Capitol building, erupting geyser fountains, an informative Civil War exhibit and a Greek amphitheater for live concerts.

Visitors can take an easy walk along the .9-mile paved Bicentennial Mall Trail, or stop at the nearby Nashville Farmers’ Market before picnicking on the well-kept lawns. The 200-fee wide granite map on the park’s southern end gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the state and at the park’s northern end, travelers can wander the short Path of Volunteers and the flora-lined Walkway of Counties.

Encompassing an entire city block at the intersection of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, this eight-story shopping mall has been a popular attraction since its opening in 1982. With over 100 individual shops ranging from chain to high-end, the mall is also home to three department stores, a food court and several restaurants.

Once the site of a locally beloved amusement park, the mall's valuable property still encompasses a working oil field. Considered by many Angelenos to be an architectural eyesore studded with external escalators and a poorly-designed, $1-an-hour parking lot, the Beverly Center's iconic status with tourists has been fueled by its appearances in movies like Scenes from a Mall and Less Than Zero.

Resident stores include Henri Bendel, True Religion, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo and H&M and restaurants include L.A.'s only outposts of The Capital Grille and Grand Lux Cafe. There is also a hair salon, an Apple store and various shops geared towards children and teenagers; the weekend crowd here skews towards the latter population, with some of L.A.'s most outlandish teen fashions on living display. The mall is open daily.

Big Cypress National Preserve, a 720,000-acre (2,900 sq. km) area, was one of the first national preserves in the United States when it was established in 1974. Not technically part of the Everglades, but bordering it to the south, Big Cypress preserve is the most biologically diverse region of the terrestrial Everglades. Composed primarily of a wet cypress forest, it is home to a wide array of flora and fauna including mangroves, orchids, alligators, venomous snakes, a variety of birds, the Florida panther and the Florida Black Bear. The preserve is also home to several endangered species such as the West Indian Manatee, the eastern indigo snake and the Florida Sandhill Crane.

With twelve campgrounds, some of the area’s best hikes and a long-established hunting scene (white-tailed deer, hogs and turkeys are abundant), Big Cypress provides plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors. The southern terminus of the Florida National Scenic Trail is located in Big Cypress, which is ideal for hiking in the winter months.

For the more intrepid hiker, trekking through Big Cypress is pleasant year-round; cypress country is a bit more welcoming to hikers than the dense sawgrass prairies that you’ll find in the Everglades. Rangers often lead hikes in the dry winter months, as well as canoe trips and bicycle tours. Other tours include swamp buggy tours, pole boat tours and backcountry fishing.