North America

The Niagara Falls is an amazing natural wonder located on the border of the United States and Canada. The Falls are a must see attraction in North America. The geological wonder consists of three waterfalls. The Horseshoe Falls border New York State and Ontario, Canada. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are in New York State. There are tours, parks, restaurants, shopping, interactive exhibits, casinos and luxury hotels. Since 1900, daredevils have attempted to go over the Falls in enclosed barrels. Some were successful and some were not. During the mid-twentieth century, the Falls became a popular honeymoon destination. The Niagara Falls are definitely a must see attraction in North America.

New York City has many must-see attractions including Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, Fifth Avenue, Wall Street, Broadway and Ellis Island. Times Square, located in Midtown Manhattan at Broadway and Seventh Avenue is the United States’ most famous intersection. It’s home to commercial businesses, entertainment venues, hotels and restaurants. The Times Square has been called “The Crossroads of the World”, “The Center of the Universe” and “The heart of The Great White Way”. Over 50 million people, mostly tourists, cross the intersection each year. Since 1907, the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration has been held in Times Square when the “ball is dropped” at midnight. Well known for its bright advertising signage, Times Squares is home to neon and LED lighting jumbotron.

Endowed by the Getty Trust, the Getty Center features the Getty Museum in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. In 1997, the $1.3 billion Center opened to the public. It’s beautiful hill top architecture and gardens overlook the city of Los Angeles. The J. Paul Getty Museum draws nearly 2 million visitors each year. The Getty Center includes the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation and the J. Paul Getty Trust. The buildings were designed by Richard Meier for beautiful views and safe from earthquakes and fires. One of the most visited museums in the United States, the J. Paul Getty Museum includes pre twentieth century European art and nineteenth and twentieth century American and European photographs.

The USS Arizona memorial is in Pearl Harbour on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It is the resting place of 1,102 bodies of United States Marines killed during the surprise attack by the Japanese on the morning of December 7, 1941. The events of that morning would lead the United States into World War II. The United States Navy established the harbour as a base in 1899. The memorial was built in 1962 and is visited by more than 2 million people each year. The memorial is built over the wreckage of the bombed ship, the USS Arizona. It is one of several United States memorials as part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

The Freedom Trail covers two and a half miles in Boston Massachusetts. The trail follows a path in the city that marks several sites that were important to the American Revolution. Many of America’s founding fathers lived in Boston and the city was home to many Revolutionary events. The Trail begins at Boston Common and winds through downtown through the North End and ends in Charlestown at the USS Constitution. The Trail is marked by red lines or red bricks. Sites along the trail include churches, graveyards and the naval frigate at the site of the “Boston Tea Party”. Other sites include the Old State House, the Old South Meeting House and Paul Revere’s house. It is a great way to get a history lesson at your own pace.

The Grand Canyon is one of North America’s most amazing natural formation. It is a part of the Colorado River basin and has been formed over the last 70 million years. It is located in Arizona and stretches 277 miles up to 18 miles wide and a depth of more than a mile. The river valley in the Colorado plateau is a site to behold. It is home to the Native Americans and draws in 5 million tourists each year. It is a great place for sightseeing, camping, hiking, skydiving and rafting. Helicopter tours are a regular feature of the place. The biological diversity of the Grand Canyon is vast and many species of animals inhabit the Canyon.

No visit to San Antonio, Texas is complete without a visit to the Alamo. The Spanish Mission was the site of the Battle of the Alamo, an important point in the Texas American Revolution. During the 13 day siege between February 23 and March 6, 1836, Mexican troops assaulted and killed all but two Texan defenders. The site became known as a battle site instead of a mission. The Texas Legislature would purchase the land and buildings during the early twentieth century and the Alamo’s chapel became a State Shrine. The Alamo is the most popular tourist destination in Texas. It inspired the quote “Remember the Alamo” and inspired several movies.

Whistler, Canada is a must during any visit to western Canada. The ski resort town grew in the early twentieth century and built itself up in a bid to be a location for the 1960 Olympics but lost the bid. Just a two hour drive from Vancouver, Whistler Village and Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort are breathtaking. It is the largest ski resort in North America. Blackcomb Mountain opened in 1980. The mountainous and forested area of Canada has always been a winter retreat, but it has become a summer retreat as well. The Village increased in popularity after becoming a venue in the 2010 Olympics. It is also a retreat for golfing, hiking, biking and other summertime activities.

Just about everyone in the world has to make a trip to Las Vegas in their life time. Up until 1959 casinos and hotels were based in downtown Las Vegas along Freemont Street with some resorts out of the city limits. After 1959 large resorts and casinos were built on what would become to be known as “The Strip”. Las Vegas become a place for gambling, vacationing, seeing live shows and getting married. Many of the original casinos and resorts have been taken down to be replaced by modern luxury hotels. Caesars, Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, Paris, New York New York, MGM and Luxor are just some of the massive and popular resorts and casinos on the Las Vegas strip.

It would be impossible to miss the massive Mont Royal Park on a trip to the French Canadian city of Montreal. The vast park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same designer who created the plans for New York City’s Central Park. The public park has walking paths, bike paths, lakes and lookouts. Mont Royal Park offers educational opportunities, music venues and spacious grounds to lay around. The park typically helps visitors to Montreal get their bearings as they sightsee the grand city.