Things to Do in Usa

Disney Springs (formerly known as Downtown Disney) is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment center in Florida’s Lake Buena Vista, near Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme parks. When you need a break from amusement park rides, head to Disney Springs to pick up souvenirs, dine, or see a show.

Disney Springs' Town Center is built around the natural springs that first attracted settlers to the area. From there, walkways lead to The Landing, the West Side, and the Marketplace. Each offers themed architecture, a playful atmosphere, and spots offering live music and waterfront views. Specialty shops and restaurants range from casual to upscale, while entertainment options include Cirque du Soleil performances and The Boathouse, which offers vintage amphicar rides and Italian water taxi rides on Lake Buena Vista. There is also a bowling alley, movie theater, carousel, and multiple concert venues. 

Tours from downtown Orlando often include a stop at Disney Springs as well as other area highlights such as Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and SeaWorld Orlando. For a bird’s eye view of Disney Springs, opt for a helicopter tour of the Orlando area. 

Disney Springs is accessible by car as well as bus and water transportation. One-way bus service from the four Disney theme parks operates daily, and the promenade is accessible by complimentary water transportation from select Disney resorts.

Disney Springs is open daily from 10am to 12am. While there are plenty of indoor activities at Disney Springs, it’s essentially an outdoor mall so check the weather forecast before heading over.

Lines are an inevitable part of the Disney experience, especially at popular rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, but with a little planning, you can avoid the worst of them. Get to the park before it opens, and immediately head toward the big ticket rides near the back of the park, scheduling your three Fast Passes as you go. Lines tend to be shorter during parades and fireworks shows, and the slower-paced rides are often quieter in the evening after families with young kids have headed home for the day.

Things to Know Before You Go

• An admission fee of $5 per car or $1 per pedestrian is required.
• Hiking up Diamond Head involves numerous steep stairs and isn’t accessible for travelers in wheelchairs. The trail also includes a 225-foot (68-meter) tunnel that is well lit but can feel a bit tight.
• Restrooms and water are located at the trailhead, but there are no facilities on the trail.
• Be sure to wear proper walking shoes.
• On tours of the crater with a tour guide, hotel transport is often included and reduces the need to find parking.

How to Get There
The best way to reach Diamond Head Crater hiking trail is by foot, bike, guided tour, car, or the local bus. There is limited parking if you choose to drive; many travelers opt to take The Bus to the Diamond Head State Monument bus stop.

When to Get There
Diamond Head State Monument opens at 6am and closes at 6pm daily, with last entry at 4:30pm. Considering over 2,000 people hike up the famous volcanic crater each day, you'll never have the trail completely to yourself, unless you start your day with a race to the top. Though crowds are heavy almost every day, Tuesdays tend to be especially heavy since one of Oahu's most popular sights—Hanauma Bay—is closed. The best time to beat the heat is early in the morning, and there's usually a line in front of the gate for the 6am opening. Diamond Head tours also arrive pretty early, so hiking late in the day may sometimes help you beat the crowds. If you plan to hike up Diamond Head in winter, keep an eye out for humpback whales that leap from the waters offshore.

Diamond Head History
In Hawaiian, the mountain is known as ‘Leahi’—the name Diamond Head comes from British sailors who found calcite crystals embedded in the mountain and falsely claimed they were diamonds.

The Deschutes River is a major waterway running through central Oregon, a tributary of the Columbia River that separates Oregon from Washington. The Deschutes flows through several central Oregon communities, the largest being Bend, where quite a bit of water from the river is used for irrigation. It's also a major recreational waterway, both in the city of Bend and the surrounding area, used for fishing (it's world-famous for fly fishing) and rafting.

Most rivers in the United States flow south, but the Deschutes flows north – along with a few other Columbia River tributaries. At one point, there was a major waterfall on the river, which is where it got its name – Riviere des Chutes is French for River of the Falls. That waterfall is gone now, thanks to The Dalles Dam.

Families with small children will appreciate the interactive science and technology exhibits at Discovery Place, which includes the largest IMAX theater in the Carolinas. In a single visit, your kids can laugh, get grossed out, and learn complex concepts about the natural world -- as well as enjoy a cupcake. 

Permanent exhibits here include Worlds Alive, which includes a hands-on aquarium and an indoor rainforest; architecture studio Project Build; and KidScience, a playroom designed to teach kids 7 and under about simple math concepts, weather patterns, and more.  

Scientists and performers present stage shows and splashy demonstrations designed to illustrate everything from animal behavior to the different states of elements.  A rotating series of short 3D films tell stories about endangered creatures, while there are always two longer movies to choose from at the IMAX Dome.

The on-site Community Café offers gluten-free options, organic produce and a Cupcake Corner with a seasonal menu of treats. 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom takes the best parts of a theme park and a zoo, blending them seamlessly into one encompassing experience. Visitors can go on safari through the Sahara (and see real animals in naturalistic habitats), explore the world of Pandora from Avatar, ride the rapids of an Asian river, or encounter a yeti on Mount Everest.

 

The newest of Walt Disney World’s four parks is a favorite with families. Admission options vary, from a single-day ticket that gets you into Animal Kingdom to single or multi-day Park Hopper passes that allow you to freely move between any of Disney’s four parks (including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Travelers based in places like St. Augustine, Tampa, or St. Petersburg may even visit the park on a very long day trip.

 

 

Disney offers free bus transportation to Animal Kingdom from Disney hotels and other Disney parks. The only other way to get there is to drive yourself or book round-trip transportation.

 

Plan to arrive a few minutes before the park opens, and head straight for the animal exhibits before it gets too hot. If possible, plan your visit during months when school is in session to avoid the high season crowds.

 

While this park may lack the fireworks and parades Disney is known for, there’s no shortage of entertainment options. The Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo—The Musical, both Broadway-style musicals, are popular with visitors of all ages, and once the sun goes down, the River of Lights illuminates Discovery River in a spectacle of light and sound.

In American history, the Delaware River is best known for the brave crossing made by George Washington around Trenton, NJ, when he directed a surprise attack during the Revolutionary War. However, today the Delaware River is home to a vibrant modern waterfront as it winds past Philadelphia, where locals and visitors alike can find great food, music, shopping and summer festivals. Among the many attractions along the riverfront, you can explore Olympia, the country’s oldest floating steel warship, at the Independence Seaport Museum, head to Morgan’s Pier to enjoy craft beer and live music overlooking the river, and climb aboard the RiverLink Ferry to explore the city from the water.

One of the largest museums between Chicago and California, Denver Art Museum showcases a wide range of art in its 70,000-piece collection. From Native American art to ultramodern contemporary pieces, interactive exhibits to works sparking profound cultural reflection, DAM (as locals call it) is a destination for art lovers of all ages.

 

The museum features a diverse array of art from the American West, particularly its enviable American Indian collection of ceramics, textiles, beaded garments, and contemporary glasswork. Other permanent collections include African, Asian, European, American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, and textiles from around the world. The museum also hosts a number of traveling exhibitions.

 

Great for families, the museum sparks kids’ creativity with gallery games and encourages them to make their own art at the on-site family center. The museum is often a stop on private and group city sightseeing tours. Admission is included in the Mile High Culture Pass, which also proffers access to several other museums.

 

 

DAM is on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets. Multiple parking garages are nearby, and metered street parking is also available, although scarce during certain hours. RTD buses and the light rail have stops nearby, or take the free 16th Street Mall ride, get off at Cleveland Place and then walk south through Civic Center Park to the museum.

 

The museum is open Monday–Thursday from 10am–5pm, and Fridays from 10am–8pm. Every first Friday of the month, hours are extended till 10pm. The museum also hosts “Untitled Final Fridays” much of the year, when local artists, writers, activists, musicians, and other creatives present a completely artist-designed program showcasing their individual talents. DAM is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

Denver Art Museum regularly hosts high-profile temporary exhibits. Over the years, the curatorial staff have secured exhibits, such as “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century,” and “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection.” Demand is high for these special events, and many are timed, so it’s best to secure tickets beforehand.

The tallest peak in North America at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), Denali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley, is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve in south-central Alaska, an enormous area covering 6 million acres (2.5 million hectares). Founded in 1917, the park protects the native animals who roam free in its remote alpine tundra wilderness. 

 

The main activities at Denali are admiring the scenery and observing the wildlife. Caribou, moose, bears (black and grizzly), wolves, and Dall sheep are heavily sought after and also the most elusive; more common animal sightings include smaller mammals such as arctic squirrels, foxes, and marmots. Although walking and hiking tour options are limited so as not to disturb the environment and wildlife, guided tours from Talkeetna and Healy offer opportunities for adventure activities such as flightseeing, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and ATV rides.

 

 

The only way to reach Denali National Park by road from Anchorage or Fairbanks is via State Route 3; it’s roughly two hours from Fairbanks or five hours from Anchorage. The Alaska Railroad also connects to the park from both cities.

 

The summer season runs from mid-May to mid-September and is the best time to visit if you’re hoping to see wildlife with temperatures ranging from 40° to 60°F (4.4° to 15.5°C). You may also visit in the spring or fall, but snow can fall at any time, so be prepared for cold or unexpected weather, and note that the buses do not operate during this time. The park road is closed in the winter, although Denali remains open for winter recreation.

 

Denali National Park is home to 39 mammal species and 169 bird species, but wild animals can be elusive and sightings aren’t guaranteed. To maximize your chances of seeing something, take a tour or the park bus instead of exploring on your own. The tour buses take you up a bit higher off the road for an elevated view, and tour groups provide more sets of eyes to keep watch. Grizzlies are more common around rivers and high-alpine areas, while Dall sheep are sometimes seen up high on the mountainside. If it’s clear and warm, some animals are less active in the middle of the day, so try the cooler hours of morning and evening.

For many visitors, a trip to Alaska just isn’t complete without catching a glimpse of the massive, snow-capped centerpiece of Denali National Park. Topping out at 20,322 feet (6,194 meters), Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley) is North America’s highest peak. As it’s often completely shrouded in clouds, some say there’s only a 30-percent chance of seeing the peak in any one day. 

There are many ways to experience Denali without actually having to climb it. Book a jeep or ATV tour of Denali National Park to explore deep into the Alaska wilderness, or take the short hike to Reflection Pond for spectacular views of Denali. Get up close and personal to North America’s highest peak with an unforgettable flightseeing tour from Anchorage or Talkeetna.  Choose a tour with a glacier landing to step right out onto the ice-covered mountain yourself. 

The entrance to Denali National Park is located about 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Anchorage. There is only one road in Denali National Park, and most private vehicles are prohibited past mile 15 (kilometer 24). Most visitors arrive by car and then explore the park by shuttle bus or guided bus tour. 

Denali is most accessible during the summer season, which typically runs from the end of May through the middle of September. Visitation is highest during the summer months, but winter, with only a handful of visitors and plenty of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and dogsledding opportunities, can be a magical time to visit. 

Since the region around Denali is almost completely free of light pollution, it is a great place for both stargazing and viewing the Northern Lights. The sky has to be dark enough to see the lights; by mid-August the Northern Lights start to become visible, with your best chance of seeing them from September through April. 

Dinosaurs once roamed the earth, and they once walked the ground in Colorado. We only know this from the dinosaur bones, tracks, and marks left behind at Dinosaur Ridge, just west of Denver. Known as one of the most famous sites where dinosaur bones have been discovered, they were first unearthed in 1877 by a local professor. Their display increased public interest in dinosaurs and prehistory, sparking excavations throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Later, in 1937, dinosaur tracks from the Early Cretaceous Period were found.

These steps can now be traced on the Triceratops Trail, a half-mile journey through fossils and imprints as much as 68 million years old. There’s also a Dinosaur Ridge Trail which, at 2 miles roundtrip, circles through the rocky landscapes of dinosaur tracks and bones.

The Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center is also worth a stop to learn a bit more about the area and the dinosaurs past. You can learn as the excavation process as well with an interactive simulated dinosaur dig.

Devil’s Hole State Park is a peaceful place to relax after visiting thunderous Niagara Falls or when exploring the Niagara Gorge. The 42-acre (17-hectare) park has picnic areas, hiking trails, and fishing spots. Just north of Niagara Falls, New York, it overlooks the Devil’s Hole Rapids on the Niagara River and has views across to Canada.

This popular state park is a scenic destination year-round. In the warmer months, visitors enjoy picnicking, hiking, and fishing. In the winter there are snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails. Located on the US side of the Niagara Gorge, the park is connected to or near a number of other parks—including Whirlpool State Park and De Veaux Woods State Park—as well as other hiking trails such as the Whirlpool Rapids Trail and the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail.

Visitors often include a visit to Devil’s Hole State Park with a day of sightseeing and exploring nature in the area, as it’s a convenient distance from Niagara Falls and the towns of Lewiston and Youngstown. Some guided tours of the region stop at Devil’s Hole or the adjacent Whirlpool State Park.

Devil’s Hole State Park is beside the Niagara Scenic Parkway (formerly called the Robert Moses Parkway), between the towns of Niagara Falls and Lewiston, on the US side of the Niagara River. The easiest way to get here is by private vehicle.

Devil’s Hole State Park is open year-round, although the restroom facilities are open only between mid-April and late October. The park is not lit at night, so it’s advisable to visit during daylight hours.

For something a bit more thrilling than a walk in the park, join a jet boat tour of the Niagara River from Lewiston or Youngstown, a few miles north of Devil’s Hole State Park. Choose from wet or dry seating, and enjoy the views of the wooded cliffs along either side of the river as you zip up and down it.

Disneyland Resort houses two theme parks: the iconic Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. California Adventure is the newer park and contains attractions such as Hollywoodland and Paradise Pier, while Disneyland Park—Walt Disney’s original 1955 creation—is home to Space Mountain, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and the Haunted Mansion.

 

Disneyland Resort is brimming with activities for the whole family. Young kids can enjoy attractions such as The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland, while adrenaline junkies can defy gravity on a number of roller coasters, Splash Mountain, and many other heart-pumping rides. Disneyland Park is known for its eight sections: Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Mickey's Toontown, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country. In California Adventure Park, travelers can visit seven distinct areas: Buena Vista Street, Pixar Pier (formerly Paradise Pier), Grizzly Peak, Pacific Wharf, Hollywoodland, A Bug’s Land, and Cars Land.

Visitors can buy single-day, multi-day, or park hopper tickets to visit one or both parks, depending on their schedule and interests. Travelers who want to avoid the stress of traffic and parking at Disneyland can opt for an admission package that includes transportation from Los Angeles, while those looking to save time can choose VIP options such as FASTPASS, MaxPass, and Magic Morning tickets, which include early entrance or skip-the-line privileges. Guided tours are also available for travelers who want to explore park highlights with a tour guide instead of navigating on their own. 

 

Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Santa Monica, 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of downtown LA, and 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Long Beach. LA traffic can be very heavy, so give yourself plenty of time if you plan to drive. 

 

Disneyland Resort is open daily, from morning until late evening. It’s most crowded during school holiday periods such as spring break (March and April) and the summer months. Opt for an early morning or weekday visit to avoid crowds. 

 

For dining, shopping, and entertainment, head to Downtown Disney, located within walking distance of Disneyland and California Adventure. Open daily, the district’s restaurants include ESPN Zone, La Brea Bakery Cafe, and several other venues serving Mexican, American, Cajun, and Italian fare. Popular shops include Pandora Jewelry, the Lego Store, and Sephora, while a movie theater and jazz club provide entertainment.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is Denver’s very own agrarian escape from the city, while still being within the city’s confines. Featuring North America’s largest collection of plants from cold temperate climates around the world, a Japanese Garden, and Denver’s first publicly accessible green roof, the Denver Botanic Gardens routinely presents visitors with a cutting edge way of approaching horticulture and what growing a garden means.

Actually comprised of three diverse and distinct gardens each with their own attributes and noteworthiness, the Denver Botanic Gardens has its main location on York Street in the Cheesman Park neighborhood.  Also home to a natural amphitheater, the main gardens are often a site for summer concerts. The two other locations include The Gardens at Chatfield, which feature meadowland and natural riparian areas, and Goliath, an alpine wildflower garden. 

Built on 80 acres of land in the Northern corner of Denver’s historic City Park, the Denver Zoo is a full day of animal excitement. The first of its kind in America, the highly regarded Denver Zoo did away with cages and began using naturalistic zoo enclosures beginning with its famous Bear Mountain back in 1906, and continues the trend of conscientious zoo maintenance and upkeep.

Today, a visit to the Denver Zoo is a pleasant, meandering stroll through Pachyderm Alley, Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge, Bird World, and many other intriguing exhibits which highlight the zoo’s 700 different species of animal, including the incredibly rare okapi, red-bellied lemur, Amur leopard, black rhino, and Siberian tiger. Take the train around the park, grab a bite to eat in the café, get up close and personal with flamingos, or go say “Hi!” to Mshindi, the world’s only rhinoceros that paints with a brush. This 3-ton artist’s work is on display in the Pachyderm House.

Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest public park and although the green space offers over 11 miles of trails, the shorter Loop Trail is perfect for those wanting a quick taste of the scenery. Connecting to the other trails designed for further exploration, it follows the perimeter of the park, taking hikers through second-growth forests consisting of maple, alder, cherry, fir and cedar trees, open meadows and along sandy beaches littered with gnarly driftwood. The park is also a great place to get a view of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, as well as to catch a glimpse of the diverse wildlife. Seals, sea lions, chipmunks and over 270 species of birds have made their home in and around the 534 acres of the park and just like the visitors coming here for a quick respite, have found somewhat of a sanctuary from the active city.  

On the land of the park you can also find the Daybreak Star Cultural Center, a foundation providing social and educational services to Native Americans, as well as the incredibly picturesque West Point Lighthouse. The latter is also known as the Discovery Park Lighthouse and is a historic building that has been in operation since 1881. Perched on the very westernmost tip of the peninsula in the midst of windswept grass and a rocky beach full of driftwood, it makes for a stunning photo opportunity.