1

Times Square, New York

Image: Claudio Schwarz

Of course, the famous multicolored screen-lit corner of Midtown Manhattan is one of the most concurred spots in the country and the world. It is estimated that over 300,000 people pass through this intersection every day.

Forever buzzing with shiny advertisements and businesses that grant service 24/7, the "Crossroads of the World" and its nearby streets are a hub offering adrenaline, entertainment, history, gastronomy, and museum-like stores. During the New Year's Eve ball drop event, the number of visitors can climb up to one million, although it reached its all-time record on December 31st, 1999. An estimated two million people gathered there to watch the ball mark the end of the year, century, and millennium!

2

Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas

Image: David Vives

The Las Vegas Strip is said to be the brightest spot on the planet when seen from space. This four-mile-long stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Nevada concentrates some of the world’s largest and most boastful hotels, casinos, and resorts. No wonder the area attracts approximately 42 million visitors each year.

Although the heart of Las Vegas offers plenty of entertainment venues, fine dining establishments, sports events, galleries, and huge shopping centers, it is most famous for being a gambling destination . A 2019 survey concluded that eight in ten adults who visited Las Vegas gambled while they were there.

3

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Image: Chad Stembridge

Visitors in Washington D.C. flock in masses to the National Mall. This open-park area sprawls over two miles from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and is also home to iconic landmarks like the Washington Monument , the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. The Smithsonian museums are another attraction, offering free access to art, history, and science exhibitions.

Approximately 30 million visitors walk the area each year, which makes it a top-tier attraction for people all over the country and the world. Of course, the park is most flooded with attendance on special dates and events, such as the celebrations of Independence Day , Earth Day, or the Blossom Kite Festival.

4

Millennium Park, Chicago

Image: Kevin Olson

Those who travel to Chicago know they should visit Millennium Park, and those who go to Millennium Park know they must approach the iconic bean-shaped Cloud Gate . As a consequence, it is estimated that 25 million people are reflected on the silver surface of The Bean every year.

Millennium Park was opened twenty years ago, in 2004, as an urban development built over a former industrial area to promote art and outdoor recreation in the "city in a garden," which is Chicago’s motto.

5

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Image: Alireza Mirzabegi

Sprawling by the Pacific Ocean is the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It covers a massive 1,017-acre urban section and includes attractions like the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Japanese Tea Garden. It also offers beautiful gardens , picnic areas, lakes, and iconic structures like the Conservatory of Flowers. Not to mention privileged views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

24 million visitors come to the park each year, with some events gathering over 200,000 attendees, like the annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. There are spots in this park to suit all interests : Windmills, boat rentals, observation towers, a Shakespeare Garden, 130 species of birds, and even bison!

6

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando

Image: kaleb tapp

Even though Magic Kingdom Park charges for admission, it’s still one of the most visited places in the country every year. At least 20 million go through the turnstiles annually to walk the quintessential Disney theme park.

Cinderella’s Castle, Main Street, U.S.A., and iconic attractions like Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion are fan favorites in this land. Special events held for Halloween, Christmas, and Fourth of July are among the park’s largest annual celebrations, drawing thousands of visitors.

7

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston

Image: Brett Wharton

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been standing since 1742 when it was established. Historically, it served as a focal point for public discourse and commerce. Today, it is mainly a marketplace that features more than 80 businesses , including eateries, shops, and entertainment venues, all set along charming cobblestone walks.

The area is vibrant all year round, frequented by musicians, magicians, and other performers . Foodie soirees, history tours, and fairs of local enterprises are further reasons to visit the spot. About 18 million do so every year.

8

Balboa Park, San Diego

Image: Vincent Yuan @USA

Balboa Park in San Diego features stunning gardens and buildings, as well as the world-famous San Diego Zoo . 1,200-acre wide, it also houses the San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Natural History Museum. The park famously boasts Spanish-Renaissance architecture and has become a hub for both locals and tourists.

During the holidays, the December Nights celebration gathers over 350,000 visitors across two days, when museums offer free entry and festive performances are held. EarthFair is another huge event in the park, attracting 60,000 attendees to one of the world’s largest environmental fairs to promote sustainability.

9

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Image: Jack Prommel

Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, this National Park gathers over 12 million people every year. It is indeed the most visited national park in the U.S. and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site . Its mist-covered peaks, lush forests, and diverse wildlife fascinate visitors who walk its hiking trails. These include the Appalachian Trail.

Hundreds of thousands choose to visit the park during fall when autumn colors light up the landscape. In spring, the Wildflower Pilgrimage draws botany enthusiasts who come to the guided talks and walks to appreciate the park's unique biodiversity.

10

Pier 39, San Francisco

Image: Deane Bayas

Pier 39 is ideal for a family-friendly promenade. Located on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, this waterfront marketplace is known for its shops, restaurants, and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Bay. There’s also a colony of sea lions forever lounging on its docks, who have become one of the dearest attractions of the site.

Another main attraction is the two-tiered carousel sitting towards the end of the pier. The 15 million pedestrians who come yearly can also enjoy its video arcade, 3D rides, shops, and restaurants, and visit the Aquarium of the Bay.

1

87 steps

Image: Ryan Stone

In case you haven't counted them, there are exactly 87 steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. But why does that number matter? Although the National Park Service says it wasn’t intentional, many people connect it to the opening line of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago..." Coincidentally, 87 is also the number of years between the moment he delivered the speech and the monument’s dedication. Pretty incredible, right?

2

Hidden underground chamber

Image: Kdwk Leung

The Lincoln Memorial is more than what you see at first glance; there’s an entire hidden world beneath it. That’s right! Underground lies a large chamber built as part of the monument’s foundation. Giant concrete columns support the structure above, and there are also narrow corridors where workers once walked. You can even find graffiti and markings left by those builders in the early 1900s. Although the public can’t visit this space yet, the National Park Service has said it hopes to open it in the future.

3

A pyramid?

Image: Andrew Backhouse

Can you imagine a giant pyramid rising over the landscape of Washington, DC? It’s hard to picture, but it could have happened. Among the many design proposals for the Lincoln Memorial were some extravagant ideas, including a huge pyramid. In the end, the Greek temple design we know today won out.

4

The typo

Image: Andre Schofield

To err is human, and the Lincoln Memorial is no exception. As you may know, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are engraved on the interior walls. But the carver made a small mistake when transcribing the Second Inaugural Address, writing "euture" instead of "future" in the line "high hopes for the future." Although the error was corrected, people say that if you look closely enough, you can still see it.

5

Lincoln's friends made it happen

Image: Casey Horner

For years, several proposals to build a memorial to Abraham Lincoln failed in Congress. Fortunately, Senator Shelby Collum and Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon joined forces to get the final bill approved. These men had known Lincoln and felt that a memorial to Honest Abe was both fitting and necessary.

6

Who is Thomas Jefferson looking at?

Image: J. Amill Santiago

It’s well known that the statue of Thomas Jefferson inside his memorial faces north toward the White House and the Washington Monument. But there’s another interesting interpretation. Also to the north is the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the south side of the US Treasury Building. Since Jefferson and Hamilton were once colleagues who later became political rivals, some like to imagine that Jefferson’s bronze likeness is keeping a cautious, almost "watchful eye" on Hamilton.

7

FDR specifically requested the Jefferson Memorial

Image: Rafik

Since the early 20th century, there had been talk of building a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson. But nothing moved forward until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933. An admirer of Jefferson, FDR pushed tirelessly for the project until Congress approved it. But he was not only the one who requested it; he even delivered the dedication speech when the memorial was completed in 1943.

8

10,000 pounds

Image: Michael Kranewitter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We all know Jefferson was a great man, but do you know how big his statue is? It stands around 19 feet tall and weighs an astonishing 10,000 pounds; that’s a lot of bronze! Originally, the statue was a painted plaster model because, when it was dedicated in 1943, metal shortages from World War II made bronze unavailable. Four years later, in 1947, the bronze statue we see today was installed.

9

Once a popular beach

Image: Amelia Cui

Before becoming the site of the Jefferson Memorial, the Tidal Basin Beach was a popular beach in Washington. That's right; at the beginning of the 20th century, the area was used for swimming, boating, and picnics. This, coupled with the need to cut down some cherry blossom trees for construction, sparked controversy and turned some people against the project.

10

Created by a landfill

Image: Sharosh Rajasekher

Before the Jefferson Memorial could be built, the area had to be transformed. The Tidal Basin was originally shallow and surrounded by marshland, so workers filled it with material dredged from the Potomac River to create a stable foundation. Definitely a big effort.

1

Keep Austin weird (Austin, Texas)

Image: MJ Tangonan

We’ll begin with one of the most distinctive unofficial mottos out there. In the year 2000, an Austin resident named Red Wassenich called a radio show and made a pledge encouraging fellow citizens to " Keep Austin Weird ." The phrase resonated with him, and he soon began printing bumper stickers and shirts. It was quickly embraced by other Austinites, eventually evolving into the unofficial motto still seen all over the Texas capital.

2

Al-Ki (Washington)

Image: Toan Chu

The only American state that has a fully unofficial state motto. " Al-Ki " (also written as "Alki") is a word from Chinook Jargon that translates to "by and by," though it’s sometimes interpreted as " hope for the future ." Whichever translation you prefer, both express a beautiful sentiment—one that reflects not only the optimism of early 19th-century settlers but also the warm, forward-looking spirit of the people of Washington State.

3

Land of Lincoln (Illinois)

Image: Joel Mott

Illinois takes great pride in being the home state of our 16th president—and with good reason. Who wouldn’t be proud of " The Great Emancipator "? Interestingly, Lincoln wasn’t born in Illinois; he was born in a log cabin in Kentucky and spent much of his childhood in Indiana. However, Illinois was definitely Lincoln’s home : it was in the "Prairie State" that he made a name for himself as a lawyer and met his future wife.

4

Sportsman’s Paradise (Louisiana)

Image: Fitsum Admasu

If you’ve ever visited the great state of Louisiana, you’ve probably noticed the many outdoor opportunities it offers, including abundant hunting, fishing, and trapping spots. While Louisiana’s official motto is "Union, Justice, and Confidence," many know the Pelican State by another moniker: "Sportsman’s Paradise."

5

Smiling faces, beautiful places (South Carolina)

Image: Jacqueline Munguía

One of the most memorable aspects of visiting the American South is experiencing its famous " Southern hospitality ." People from the South take pride in their warmth, kindness, and the instinctive way they welcome visitors. In that spirit, South Carolina’s unofficial motto perfectly reflects these values . After all, if you ever visit this great state, be prepared to be greeted by the two things it’s best known for: "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places."

6

Taxation without representation (Washington, D.C.)

Image: Louis Velazquez

Most license plate mottos praise the state or city they represent. However, since 2000, Washington, D.C. has famously used a slogan that protests its unique political situation. For over 20 years, D.C. license plates have featured a variation of the phrase "Taxation Without Representation"—a quote that highlights the fact that D.C. residents must pay federal taxes without having voting representation in Congress.

7

Wild, wonderful (West Virginia)

Image: Sharosh Rajasekher

There’s nothing like a good alliteration to lift your spirits. West Virginia is known worldwide for its beauty—a living reminder that good things come in small packages . What the state lacks in size, it makes up for with its stunning scenery. In that spirit, we’d like to celebrate whoever coined West Virginia’s most famous unofficial motto: "Wild, Wonderful." It’s short, simple, and perfectly captures the essence of this remarkable state.

8

America’s Dairyland (Wisconsin)

Image: Brian Suman

Wisconsin is known around the world for the exceptional quality of its dairy products, and Wisconsinites take great pride in that fact. Don’t believe it? Just look at the fans of the Green Bay Packers, who often wear iconic "cheesehead" hats shaped like wedges of cheese, proudly celebrating their state’s most famous export. While the official state motto is the single word "Forward," many prefer Wisconsin’s unofficial title: "America’s Dairyland," a nickname that appears frequently across the state.

9

Life Elevated (Utah)

Image: Taylor Brandon

In 2006, Utah’s Department of Tourism introduced a new slogan to promote tourism and inspire residents to take pride in their beautiful state. The slogan, "Life Elevated," was featured on tourism signs and license plates throughout "The Beehive State." When you think about it, the slogan is quite clever, especially considering it indirectly references one of Utah’s most beloved natural wonders: Arches National Park.

10

Old Dominion (Virginia)

Image: STEPHEN POORE

From "the Mother of Presidents" to "the Mother of States," Virginia boasts a collection of iconic nicknames . While "Old Dominion" may not be as self-explanatory as some other monikers, it’s no less impressive. The name originates from Virginia being the first overseas dominion of the English kings and queens .