1

Grand Canyon Railway

Image: Kurt Hänel

Can you imagine looking at the Grand Canyon National Park from aboard a train? You can do this, by taking the Grand Canyon Railway, which departs from Williams, Arizona, 30 miles west of Flagstaff.

This train travels past forests of ponderosa pines and parts of the Sonoran Desert into the heart of Canyon country, where you’ll spend the day exploring and hiking before boarding your return trip—just in time for sunset.

2

The Rocky Mountaineer

Image: Taylor Brandon

The spectacular views of Western Canada, along with the red rock wonders of Colorado and Southern Utah can be fully appreciated through the nearly all-glass cabins of the Rocky Mountaineer.

This luxurious train takes passengers from Denver to Moab, Utah, where they are treated to fine dining and cocktails while enjoying the majestic views.

3

Amtrak California Zephyr

Image: Levi Meir Clancy

Travelers aboard the California Zephyr can enjoy a 51-hour journey from Chicago to San Francisco that traverses through the magnificent landscapes of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and northern California .

The ride passes through the Rocky Mountains, travels by the canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, and spends an entire half-day on a trek through the Sierra Nevada, complete with views of Donner Lake and the Truckee River.

4

Cass Scenic Railroad

Image: Josh Nezon

The Cass Scenic Railroad was originally built in 1901 to transport lumber through the mountains of West Virginia . Today, it helps preserve the legacy of America’s locomotive history. The railroad offers two routes, including a four-and-a-half-hour round-trip journey to Bald Knob —the highest summit of Back Allegheny Mountain at 4,842 feet.

5

Amtrak Empire Builder

Image: Max Bender

The Empire Builder earns its name by traveling along major portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail. This 46-hour train departs daily from Chicago and traverses through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana , before concluding in either Seattle or Portland .

Passengers on this less-crowded route can enjoy views of the Mississippi River and the North Dakota plains, as well as the stunning scenery of Glacier National Park in Montana.

6

Amtrak Southwest Chief

Image: Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau

The long road from Chicago to Los Angeles can be traveled in great style and comfort aboard the Southwest Chief. The train traverses more than 2,000 miles, passing through Illinois farmlands, the Mississippi River, the red mesas of New Mexico, and the Mojave Desert .

This 40-hour ride can be taken in its entirety or partially, but no serious view collector should miss the most scenic stretch, which spans Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California, including Raton Pass—a National Historic Landmark along the Santa Fe Trail.

7

Cape Cod Central Railroad

Image: Melanie Hughes

This short, two-hour round trip is available only from May through October , immersing travelers in distinctive New England landscapes , including cranberry bogs, salt marshes, dunes, and woodlands.

The Cape Cod Excursion train offers an amazing sightseeing tour of the Cape’s natural attractions, including the charming Cape Cod Canal.

8

Amtrak Coast Starlight

Image: Lukas Robertson

This 35-hour journey between Los Angeles and Seattle departs daily and stops in some of the West Coast ’s greatest cities, including Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Portland .

The southern half of the route features long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline before moving inland to the valleys of the state’s agricultural heart, eventually reaching the snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Mountains. The observation lounge on the train offers the best views in the house.

9

Amtrak Adirondack

Image: Robert Macleod

The final Amtrak train on this list is the Adirondack. This route runs from New York City to Montreal, departing from the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station. The 10-hour ride takes its passengers along the Hudson River up to Albany then passes through Saratoga Springs and Lake Champlain before arriving in Canada .

It is highly recommended to take this route in the fall during peak foliage season to watch New England’s changing autumn colors pass by your window.

10

Napa Valley Wine Train

Image: Daniel Salgado

Imagine being able to drink wine from the beautiful wineries in Napa Valley without worrying about who is going to drive. That is exactly what passengers of the Napa Valley Wine Train can do.

Originally built in 1865 by a local millionaire to transport visitors to a spa resort in Calistoga, the train now offers travelers the chance to sip local vintages from a luxurious railcar while passing vaunted vineyards on a three-hour round-trip journey .

1

Statue of Liberty

Image: Erik Lindgren

We’ll start with what’s probably this city’s most famous icon. Lady Liberty has welcomed the "huddled masses" that arrived in NYC since the 19th century. You probably know that this statue was a gift from France to the American people, but did you know Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the iconic Eiffel Tower, built its metalwork?

Another fun fact: While nowadays the Statue of Liberty is world-known for its green hue, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, when she was inaugurated in 1886, Lady Liberty sported a reddish-brown color more befitting of copper , the metal she is made of. However, after years of oxidation due to exposure, the statue eventually became green.

2

Empire State Building

Image: Dana Andreea Gheorghe

The state of New York’s official nickname is "The Empire State": Some credit George Washington with coming up with this term, inspired by this state’s wealth and disposition. In that sense, this magnificent skyscraper stands as a proud homage to this sentiment and is one of the most recognizable figures in NYC’s skyline.

This 102-story skyscraper is located in the Manhattan borough and was, for a while, the tallest building in the world. It has been featured in over 250 films and TV shows since one of the most iconic scenes in movie history was filmed there: 1933’s King Kong showed the titular giant ape perched on top of the tower.

3

Brooklyn Bridge

Image: Brandon Day

At the time of its inauguration in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world: It stood as an engineering masterwork, both for its length and its innovative and unique design. But what’s truly amazing is that the Brooklyn Bridge has continued to amaze and inspire millions of New Yorkers for over 140 years.

The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, assisted by his son and chief engineer Washington Roebling. This NYC landmark eventually became a family affair: After John Roebling fell ill and was bedridden, his wife Emily contributed to see the project to completion.

4

Broadway

Image: Eddie Bugajewski

Looking for a night at the theatre? Then Broadway is the place to be. This street is synonymous with excellent plays and musicals, up to the point that it has become a metonym for the entire industry. Broadway offers 41 professional theaters, each with 500 seats or more, offering quality performances for thousands of people each year.

Alongside London West End’s district, Broadway is known as the highest level of theater entertainment in the English-speaking world. In that sense, Broadway represents the crème de la crème of American theater, up to the point of inspiring the name of other NYC theaters, which are known as "Off-Broadway" or "Off-off-Broadway".

5

Central Park

Image: Dana Andreea Gheorghe

Looking for a quick stroll through green scenery? Then head on to the most famous NYC park. While definitively the most iconic, you might be surprised to learn that Central Park is not the biggest park in the city: In fact, it’s only in sixth place. Having said that, this iconic location is still massive enough to fill a big part of New York City’s skyline with its lush green.

Central Park was built over a period of approximately 50 years during the 19th century, from its proposal in the 1840s to its completion in 1876. Nowadays, it features several iconic monuments and features, like the USS Maine National Monument, the Strawberry Fields Memorial, and the Central Park Zoo, which showcases over 160 different animal species.

6

New York Public Library Main Branch

Image: Chris Ladouceur

Libraries are known as "the guardians of knowledge", and New York City’s Public Library is no exception: With approximately 53 million items, this New York institution has preserved American culture and knowledge since 1895.

While the library has over 90 locations across the city, its most famous location is probably the main branch building, located in Manhattan. This location, officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, showcases the library’s famous stone lions guarding its entrance. Fun fact: These lions were nicknamed ‘Patience’ and ‘Fortitude’ by NYC Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

7

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Image: Pascale Amez

Standing at the heart of Brooklyn since 1911, Brooklyn Botanic Garden houses over 14,000 plants and trees, which welcome approximately 800,000 visitors every year. Besides showcasing these lovely specimens, the Garden offers educational and conservation programs, as well as a special garden inspired by the works of William Shakespeare.

While everything in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is certainly worth visiting, its main attraction is its 200 cherry trees, featured across its Cherry Walk and Cherry Esplanade. Thousands of tourists from all around the world gather in the garden during Spring, to watch these gorgeous trees blossom.

8

Grand Central Terminal

Image: Afif Ramdhasuma

You would think there’s not a lot of tourist value in a train station, but trust us: Grand Central Terminal is definitively worth the visit. This stationnot only showcases beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture and design, but it also perfectly encapsulates the busy and energetic everyday that New Yorkers take so much pride in.

Notably, the terminal has been featured in countless films and TV shows: Approximately 25 large-scale films are shot in the terminal each year. Most of these films have been shot on the famous 'Track 34,' which doesn’t block filming since it doesn’t have structural columns.

9

Met Museum

Image: Changqing Lu

We could have included a great number of museums in this list: After all, New York City is home to hundreds of fine art institutions. However, we ended up choosing the most visited museum in the United States, and one of the most respected cultural establishments in the world: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as " the Met ".

Founded in 1870, the Met is located in located right next to the eastern edge of Central Park. The museum houses over 1.5 million objects, including Ancient Egyptian art and paintings from masters like Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso.

10

Flatiron Building

Image: Serge Pelletier

This iconic building showcases the resilience and strength of New Yorkers. While nowadays is known as a New York institution, at the time of its opening it was sometimes called "Burnham's Folly": Many believed that the building, designed by Daniel Burnham, would eventually be knocked down by the wind due to its unique triangular shape.

And yet, this skyscraper still stands, 120 years after its inauguration. Its sleek and avant-garde design has truly cemented the Flatiron building as an architectural wonder.

1

Clean your lens

Image: Mika Baumeister

We’ll start with probably the most essential—and somehow most overlooked—tip: take a moment to clean your smartphone’s camera lens. Over time, it can accumulate dust and smudges, which can result in hazy or blurry photos.

Give it a quick wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth . It can make a significant difference in the clarity of your shots.

2

Investigate your camera app

Image: Brett Jordan

Almost every single smartphone comes with a default camera app that’s user-friendly and packed with features. Take some time to explore it , learn how to switch between photo and video modes, and familiarize yourself with settings like Portrait Mode, Night Mode for low-light shots, and Panorama Mode for landscapes.

3

Use gridlines

Image: Jonathan Kemper

Gridlines allow you to center your focal points and enhance the visual appeal of your photos. Most mobile camera apps let you turn them on easily. These gridlines strategically divide your screen into thirds , both horizontally and vertically, adding balance and symmetry to your shot .

4

Focus and exposure control

Image: François Genon

Focus and exposure are two of the most important settings you can adjust in a manual camera to achieve different effects in photography. Fortunately, both functions are available on most modern smartphones.

By playing with different focus and exposure points, you can highlight a specific subject against a blurred background or ensure a well-balanced shot in difficult lighting conditions.

5

Lighting

Image: Ben White

Always try shooting in natural light, often referred to as available light, whenever the opportunity arises. Natural light gives a gentle, even illumination that can significantly enhance the quality of your photos.

Avoid harsh, direct sunlight, which can create intense and unflattering shadows, potentially leading to overexposed or underexposed areas. If you're shooting in low light, rest your phone on a flat surface to stabilize it for long exposures.

6

Play with composition

Image: Eaters Collective

Experiment with different angles and perspectives to enhance your subject. Don't be afraid to get low or high for a unique viewpoint. Also, pay attention to what’s in the background and eliminate any distractions that might detract from your subject.

7

Take pictures often

Image: Ferdinand Stöhr

Practice makes perfect. Since your phone is always with you, it’s easy to integrate photography into your daily routine. Whether you snap a selfie or take a few shots on your way to work, there’s no wrong way to be a smartphone photographer. Great photos often come from everyday life.

8

Take many shots

Image: The Free Birds

Long gone are the days when you had only 36 exposures in your camera and had to choose each shot carefully. One of the best things about smartphones is that you can take as many photos as you want, and there is no need to print them to see the results . This makes it much easier to learn and improve as you go.

9

Avoid digital zoom

Image: Redd Francisco

Digital zoom generally produces poor-quality images, even on the best smartphones. Avoiding it is one of the basic photography tips for taking better photos. Instead of using a digital zoom, simply move closer to your subject to maintain image quality.

10

Use HDR

Image: Kote Puerto

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it’s a common feature on many smartphones. It enhances detail in both dark and light areas to provide a more balanced exposure . HDR prevents the sky from becoming too bright or the ground from appearing too dark, making it especially useful for landscape photography.

11

Set a high resolution

Image: TheRegisti

Simply put, the higher the resolution of your photo, the better quality it is . When taking pictures, try to get as close to the subject as possible, rather than zooming in. Take advantage of the higher pixel count.

12

Aspect ratio

Image: Alice Donovan Rouse

The aspect ratio determines the width and height of your photograph . The standard 4:3 ratio is versatile, but you can also choose widescreen 16:9 for a cinematic look or square 1:1 for Instagram-ready shots.