Yellowstone National Park boasts the Old Faithful geyser.
The U.S. offers a plethora of vacation sites, from camping in a national park to visiting one of the many theme parks across the country. If you're interested in history, Washington D.C., the nation's capital is a great place to start. It can be hard to choose just one place to go. However, no matter what you're interested in doing, there's a great place to enjoy in the U.S.
Washington D.C.
The nation's capitol has been in Washington D.C. since 1800, when it was moved from nearby Philadelphia to the banks of the Potomac. The site was chosen personally by George Washington, whose family estate was situated some 40 miles downriver at Mount Vernon. Over the years, the collection of historic buildings has grown with outdoor spaces such as the reflecting pool outside the Washington Monument as well.
Some of the earliest buildings include the White House, the Capitol Building and the Treasury. Other important pre-Civil War buildings include the Octagonal Museum, the Willard Hotel, Ford's Theater, the National Portrait Gallery and the Old Ebbitt Grill, the oldest pub in the city.
After the Civil War came the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Washington Monument, the Carnegie Library, Union Station and the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. More recent times have seen the arrival of the National Cathedral, the Vietnam War Memorial and a new Metro train system. And who could leave out Mount Vernon, the oldest structure of all.
Olympia National Park
Olympia National Park in western Washington state includes three distinct biological regions, including the Pacific coastline, a temperate rain forest and an alpine ridge that bursts with blooms every summer. While all the areas are fascinating, visitors might especially appreciate the drive up the Hoh River Valley to the Hoh River Forest Visitor Center. Here, you will find a series of short, level walking trails to take you through the green gloom of the moss and lichen covered trees.
Red Rock Country
Head to Moab, Utah, which is near two National Parks and the Slick Rock Mountain Bike Trail. This is where Edward Abbey came to write "Desert Solitaire" and though the area is slightly more developed now, the outdoor experience is first rate. The two national parks, Arches and Canyonland, provide a stunning backdrop for a drive, short hike or overnight backpack excursion. Mountain bikers will enjoy the Slick Rock Bike Trail in the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
Lighthouses
Due to a very rocky coastline, Maine has more than 60 lighthouses that begin near Kittery on the New Hampshire border and continue north to Eastport, which is adjacent to New Brunswick, Canada. Some are offshore on uninhabited islands, while others are on prominent necks of land attached to the mainland. A few are privately owned and serve as a private residence or place to stay. Some of the more prominent lookouts include the Portland Head Light near Portland, the Pemaquid Light, which is mid-coast and the Bass Harbor Light in Acadia National Park.
Tags: Bike Trail, buildings include, great place, Mount Vernon, National Park, National Park, Olympia National
