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Grand Canyon

Image: Tim Hart

The Grand Canyon: Every angle seems worthy of a picture! This Arizona landmark is truly awe-inspiring, and very few would be able to visit without wanting to take home endless photos of it.

Whether you capture shots from the rim, hike to the bottom, or take a mule ride, the views are simply unforgettable. Hoover Dam is the second most photographed spot in Nevada—a worthy opponent!

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Central Park

Image: Jermaine Ee

Not only is New York’s gem the most filmed park, but it’s also the most photographed in the state!

A stroll through the oasis that is Central Park always merits a picture or two. Scenic green spaces, bike and boat rides, flower gardens, and even a zoo—there’s no shortage of photo-worthy spots. That’s enough to surpass the number of pictures taken from the Empire State Building and even Niagara Falls upstate.

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Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Image: Nico Smit

Picture this: you, a Mai Tai, and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. That’s the vibe at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, the most photographed spot in the Aloha State.

A paradise on Oahu’s famous Waikiki Beach, this resort—featuring its iconic Rainbow Tower, lush gardens, and multiple pools—certainly has no shortage of social-media-worthy corners.

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Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Image: Connor Gan

This one wasn’t hard to guess. South Dakota’s most photographed spot is Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a truly awe-inspiring sight: the 60-foot faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved into the granite mountainside.

Did you know it took 14 years to complete and involved over 400 workers? Arguably, it deserves all the attention it still gets.

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Disney's Magic Kingdom

Image: Brian McGowan

Another easy guess: the most magical place on Earth! Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots for tourists—and that’s in a state known for its paradisiacal beaches, like those in Miami and Key West!

It seems that castles, parades, fireworks, and timeless characters are enough to win the hearts of most Florida visitors.

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Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1701919747996-1e9531dde0a9?

A one-of-a-kind outdoor venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado undoubtedly takes home the prize. Nestled among stunning red rock formations, this dramatic landscape looks even more breathtaking at sunrise.

Imagine an epic rock concert there—or simply the joy of standing at its center and hearing your voice naturally amplified.

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Wrigley Field

Image: Blake Guidry

Whether you're a Chicago fan or not, the unwritten rule for tourists is simple: if you walk by Wrigley Field, you snap a picture. It’s a baseball lover’s dream and a must-see for any visitor to the Windy City.

Home to the Chicago Cubs, this historic ballpark has witnessed its share of legendary moments, from Babe Ruth’s called shot to the Cubs’ unforgettable 2016 World Series win. It even appears in more pictures than The Bean or Navy Pier!

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Philadelphia Museum of Art

Image: Chang Ye

Is the movie Rocky to blame? Maybe. The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of masterpieces from around the world. But let's be honest—most people just want to photograph or film themselves conquering the "Rocky Steps."

In the famous movie, the protagonist climbs those stairs daily as part of his training before his big triumph. His fists-up gesture is so famous that they even added a statue of him nearby! After your triumphant run and snapshots, take some time to explore the museum’s galleries and admire its stunning architecture.

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Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Image: Daniel Halseth

Sun, sand, and surf! Virginia Beach Oceanfront is the perfect destination for a classic beach getaway.

A scenic boardwalk, fresh seafood, and a towering 12-foot bronze statue of King Neptune are all frequent subjects of photos taken in this area. Even the occasional seagull makes for a popular portrait choice!

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Brown University

Image: Keming Tan

Several universities rank among the most photographed spots in their states, and Brown University is no exception! This Rhode Island Ivy League school boasts a beautiful historic campus, complete with Gothic architecture and an intellectual atmosphere that captivates visitors.

Brown’s campus is so popular and charming that online tours are available for people to explore from the comfort of their own computers!

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Disneyland

Image: Brandi Alexandra

Did you see it coming? Another Disney win! The original theme park, located in Anaheim, California, appears in more photos than the Santa Monica Pier, Golden Gate Park, or Hollywood’s Universal Studios. Walt Disney, who personally oversaw the park’s construction, would surely be proud!

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Han Solo- Al Pacino

Image: Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you imagine the legendary Han Solo played by anyone other than Harrison Ford? Hard to picture, right? But it nearly happened: Al Pacino was actually offered the role. According to Pacino, he got the Star Wars script before it became a massive hit, but he "didn’t understand it" and decided to pass.

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Jack Nicholson- Michael Corleone

Image: Larry Bessel, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s true that the great Jack Nicholson had no shortage of incredible roles and performances. But did you know he almost played one of cinema’s most iconic gangsters, Michael Corleone? However, Nicholson felt that "an Italian-American character should be played by an Italian-American actor" and passed on the role, which ultimately went to the brilliant Al Pacino.

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Pretty Woman- Molly Ringwald

Image: Panio Gianopoulos, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Pretty Woman (1990) is undeniably one of the iconic films of the ’90s, made unforgettable by the stellar performances of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. But did you know the role of Vivian almost went to someone else? Molly Ringwald, star of Sixteen Candles (1984) and The Breakfast Club (1985), was originally considered, but she turned it down because she didn’t feel comfortable with the role.

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Jack from Titanic- Matthew McConaughey

Image: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you picture a young Matthew McConaughey as the lovely Jack in Titanic (1997)? Hard to imagine, right? But it almost happened! Although he was five years older than Leonardo DiCaprio, both auditioned for the role. McConaughey came close to landing it but ultimately lost out because he refused to drop his Southern accent.

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Catwoman- Madonna

Image: chrisweger, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

When we think of Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer instantly comes to mind, as she gave us one of the most iconic portrayals of the character in Batman Returns (1992). But the role wasn’t always meant for Pfeiffer. That’s right! Catwoman almost went to the legendary Madonna. Believe it or not, the singer was originally offered the role but didn’t find it appealing at the time. Years later, she admitted she regretted passing it up.

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Django- Will Smith

Image: Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2012, Quentin Tarantino brought us Django Unchained , inspired by the 1966 Spaghetti Western classic Django . The film was a hit, with Jamie Foxx shining as the lead. But it could have looked very different, as another actor was originally offered the role: Will Smith. After reading the script, he passed, feeling that Django was overshadowed by other characters and that the story focused too much on vengeance.

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Mrs. Smith- Gwen Stefani

Image: Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) isn’t just one of the sexiest films of recent years; it’s also where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie met and fell in love. But we almost missed out on this iconic couple! Why? Well, besides Angelina, other actresses and artists were considered for the role. One of them was singer Gwen Stefani, who said she "almost got it" but chose to focus on her music career instead.

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Neo- Will Smith

Image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

We don’t know how many roles Will Smith has turned down over the years, but he appears twice on this list! This time, it’s the legendary Neo from The Matrix franchise. According to Smith, when they offered him the role, he had also been offered Captain James West in Wild Wild West (1999) and ultimately chose that one instead.

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Captain America- John Krasinski

Image: Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

John Krasinski won our hearts as the clever Jim in The Office . But did you know he nearly became a superhero? He was close to playing Captain America! Although he even auditioned, Krasinski later joked that when he saw Chris Hemsworth in his Thor costume, he realized the role and the movie weren’t quite for him.

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Iron Man- Tom Cruise

Image: Gabriel Hutchinson Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Iron Man, the genius billionaire who uses his brains and wealth for good, is a Marvel icon we all know and love thanks to Robert Downey Jr.’s brilliant performance. But did you know we almost saw Tom Cruise dressed up as a superhero? That’s right! He was seriously considered for the role, though the way the project was pitched didn’t quite convince him.

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There's only one

Image: Keith Luke

How many states share a border with just one other state? Only one! Do you know which one it is?

Correct! It's Maine. The Pine Tree State, located in the northeastern United States, shares its only state border with New Hampshire to the west. But wait! It also borders Canada (the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec) to the north and northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

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Alaska's distance

Image: Hari Nandakumar

If someone asked you what the shortest distance is between Alaska and the Lower 48 states, would you know the answer? Most people wouldn't! Well, the average distance between Alaska and the contiguous US is about 500 miles. But that's not the most interesting part. Believe it or not, Alaska is actually closer to Russia than to the mainland United States! At their closest point, Alaska and Russia are separated by just 2.4 miles across the Bering Strait.

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The US-Canada border

Image: Sergey Pesterev

You probably already know that, at 5,525 miles, the US-Canada border is the longest land border in the world. But there are still some fascinating details about it that many people haven't heard before.

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House (Derby Line, Vermont & Stanstead, Quebec) has an international border inside the building! You read that right: Americans enter through one door, Canadians through another. But be careful! International law requires that you exit through the same door you entered.

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The largest freshwater lake

Image: Andrew Ling

The Great Lakes —Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario— are one of the natural wonders of North America, and they also hold a world record!

That's right! The largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area is right here in North America. We're talking about Lake Superior, which is shared by both the United States and Canada.

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The most densely populated state

Image: Rob Curran

Since New York City is the most densely populated city in the country, many tend to believe that, as a result, New York State is the most densely populated. However, that's not the case.

The most densely populated US state is actually New Jersey! Its small size, combined with the large population in its urban areas and its proximity to New York City, has earned The Garden State this title.

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The largest US state

Image: Jacob Vizek

Most Americans know which state is the largest by area. But outside the US, some get this fact wrong!

Many people answer "Texas" when asked which is the largest of the 50 states. But in reality, Alaska is far bigger, covering about 665,300 square miles compared to Texas's 268,600. This misconception may stem from Texas's reputation as a "large state" or from the way many maps distort Alaska's true size, making it appear much smaller than it actually is.

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Florida's capital

Image: Meadow Marie

Miami is not only the most densely populated city in Florida but also one of its most famous, right up there with Orlando! Perhaps that's why many people mistakenly believe Miami is the capital city of the Sunshine State. However, the capital city of Florida is actually Tallahassee, which is smaller and doesn't quite receive as much attention.

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The longest river

Image: Samantha Sheppard

Measuring the actual length of a river can be tough due to the serpentine shape that these bodies of water often take. This may be why many people are unsure about which river holds the title of the longest in the US.

Well, here's the truth: At 2,341 miles, the Missouri River is the longest river in the US, though just by a small margin. In second place is the Mississippi River, which stretches for some 2,320 miles and is often mistakenly thought to be the longest due to that small difference.

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New York's capital

Image: Charlize Kruger

Similar to Florida, New York State's capital city is not its largest or most famous.

Contrary to what many people think, the capital of New York is not NYC, but Albany. Although Albany is smaller than NYC, it's an important economic and political hub, and it was chosen as the state capital because of its central location along the Hudson River.

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Large population

Image: Satyan Chawla

The United States is known for having a large population, partly due to the large size of its territory. But did you know it's also one of the most populated countries in the world? In fact, it's the 3rd most populated, coming right after India and China! There sure are a lot of us, aren't there?

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