1

Pizza

Image: Nik Owens

This Italian classic truly needs no introduction. From its humble beginnings in Naples, pizza conquered the world, and America is no exception. Whether it's a classic New York slice or a deep-dish Chicago pie , pizza is a staple in American diets, with endless customizable topping options.

2

Sushi

Image: Jakub Dziubak

Once considered exotic, this Japanese delicacy has become a mainstream favorite in America. From California rolls to spicy tuna, these bite-sized pieces of artfully prepared fish and rice have won over many of our palates with their fresh flavors. Not to mention the fun appeal of sushi bars!

3

Fondue

Image: angela pham

Cheese fondue or chocolate fondue? All are welcome! This Swiss tradition of dipping diced food into a communal pot has become a fun and interactive dining experience for Americans. It’s a meal as much as an event: The point is to share and enjoy!

4

Dulce de Leche

Image: Leigh Skomal

This caramel treat hails from South America, where it's slathered on everything : pancakes, fruit, ice cream —you name it! Lately, Americans have embraced this sweet indulgence, swirling it into ice cream and frappucinos, drizzling it over desserts, and even stuffing it into cookies.

5

Ramen

Image: Bon Vivant

Another convenient, exotic, and fulfilling meal that many Americans can vouch for. Whether in the form of a quick instant noodle fix or as a gourmet bowl in a Japanese bar, this is a meal that has become a favorite comfort food for many.

6

Macaron

Image: Holly Stratton

Charming to the eyes as well as delicious! Macarons are delicate French cookies that are almost too pretty to eat . They are almond-based and usually served in bright colors, already a favorite for those of us with a sweet tooth.

7

Pad Thai

Image: Hidden

Once street food in Thailand, today a go-to for American takeout lovers. It combines fried rice noodles, protein, vegetables, and a tangy sauce . Interesting! The dish offers a delicious balance of flavors and textures that has garnered many fans across the country.

8

Paella

Image: Olivier Collet

Paellas are inviting to all of the senses. This saffron rice is a staple of Spanish cuisine and often includes seafood, chicken, or chorizo. It’s accompanied with vegetables and served in a large pan. Its colorful presentation makes it a showstopper at any dinner party or food festival.

9

Pavlova

Image: Léo Roza

This meringue-based feast from New Zealand and Australia has charmed its way onto many American dessert menus. If you like a crisp crust of meringue with a fluffy interior, topped with fresh fruit like strawberries or cherries, you must try this dessert —if you haven’t already!

10

Feijoada

Image: Beatriz Braga

Feijoada (pronounced fey-zhoo-ah-dah) is a hearty black bean stew from Brazil. It’s packed with pork, spices, and often served with rice and orange slices. Sure, a bold flavor . But Americans are starting to embrace this traditional Brazilian pride!

11

Arepas

Image: Alexandra Tran

Arepas can go with anything, really. Some refer to them as culinary blank canvases . They are versatile cornmeal cakes from Colombia and Venezuela, which can be stuffed or accompanied by spreads like cheese, shredded beef, vegetables —you name it!

12

Gyro

Image: Bruna Santos

The gyro (pronounced yee-roh) is a Greek pita-wrapped delight, and a favorite of handheld dining . Packed with spiced meat, crisp veggies, and garlicky tzatziki, gyros are a satisfying and flavorful meal that Americans have embraced for their fresh taste and convenience.

13

Curry

Image: Photo By: Kaboompics.com

The fragrant aromas and complex flavors of Indian curries have captivated us for decades. From the creamy tikka masala to the fiery vindaloo , curry dishes have opened the door for Americans to incorporate rich spices from foreign cuisines.

1

Mount Vernon (George Washington) - Mount Vernon, Virginia

Image: Matt Briney

George Washington's Mount Vernon isn't just a house—it's basically an 18th-century empire. Sitting majestically on the Potomac River, this sprawling estate was where our first president played gentleman farmer when he wasn't, you know, founding a nation.

The estate includes the mansion, beautiful gardens, Washington's tomb, and even a working distillery where they still make whiskey using his original recipe. Fair warning: the place is huge, so plan to spend at least half a day exploring.

2

Monticello (Thomas Jefferson) - Charlottesville, Virginia

Image: James DeMers

Thomas Jefferson didn't just write the Declaration of Independence—he also designed one of America's most ingenious homes. Monticello is an architectural marvel, packed with Jefferson's clever inventions, from a seven-day clock to a bed alcove between two rooms .

Perched atop a mountain with stunning views of Virginia's countryside, Monticello reflects Jefferson's obsessions: architecture, science, wine, and collecting artifacts. You'll see his extensive library, scientific instruments, and even the desk where he penned some of America's most important documents.

3

Hermitage (Andrew Jackson) - Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Giorgio Trovato

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage proves that Old Hickory had a softer side—at least when it came to interior decorating. This Greek Revival mansion near Nashville showcases surprisingly elegant taste for a guy who basically invented political mudslinging. The home features original wallpaper, family furnishings, and enough period detail to make any history buff swoon.

The grounds include Jackson's tomb, beautiful gardens, and the Tulip Grove mansion where his nephew lived . There's also a museum that doesn't shy away from the more controversial aspects of Jackson’s legacy, including his policies toward Native Americans.

4

Sagamore Hill (Theodore Roosevelt) - Oyster Bay, New York

Image: Laura Nyhuis

If you've ever wondered what a president's "Summer White House" looks like, Sagamore Hill delivers in spades. Teddy Roosevelt's Long Island retreat is filled with hunting trophies, books, and artifacts from his adventures around the globe .

The rambling Victorian mansion overlooks Oyster Bay and perfectly captures TR's larger-than-life personality. You'll see the study where he conducted presidential business while supposedly on vacation, because apparently, Teddy Roosevelt didn't understand the concept of "unplugging."

5

Springwood (Franklin D. Roosevelt) - Hyde Park, New York

Image: Jessica Tan

Springwood is where Roosevelt returned throughout his presidency, seeking refuge from Washington's pressures and the challenges of polio. The house tour includes the room where he was born .

The estate also features his presidential library—the first of its kind—and the rose garden, where both Franklin and Eleanor are buried. The Top Cottage, FDR's personal retreat on the property, shows insight into how he adapted to living with paralysis.

6

Harry S. Truman House - Independence, Missouri

Image: urbanvibe14

Harry Truman's home in Independence is refreshingly normal—which makes sense for a man who went from haberdasher to president without losing his everyman touch. This white Victorian house belonged to his wife Bess's family, and the Trumans lived there before, during, and after his presidency.

The house looks like the Trumans just stepped out for groceries, with original furnishings, Harry's hat hanging in the hall, and Bess's piano in the parlor . It's a time capsule of mid-20th-century American life, proving that you don't need a mansion to make history.

7

Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch - Stonewall, Texas

Image: WikiImages

The Texas White House, as LBJ called it, is where the 36th president went to escape Washington's fishbowl and reconnect with his Hill Country roots. The ranch is still a working cattle operation, which somehow makes it even more authentically Texan. You can tour the ranch house, see LBJ's famous Amphicar (half car, half boat, all LBJ showmanship), and visit the one-room schoolhouse where his education began .

The ranch is part of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, which also includes his birthplace and the family cemetery where he's buried. The house itself is modest but comfortable, filled with Western art and the kind of leather furniture you'd expect from a Texas rancher.

8

Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm - Plains, Georgia

Image: WikiImages

Before he was president, Jimmy Carter was just a peanut farmer's kid growing up in rural Georgia without electricity or running water. The restored farmhouse and grounds show what life was like in 1930s rural America . The pump in the yard wasn't decorative; it was how they got water.

Visiting the Carter farm is like stepping into a time machine. You'll see the commissary where tenant farmers bought supplies, the blacksmith shop, and the outhouse that served as the family's "facilities."

9

Ronald Reagan Ranch - Santa Barbara, California

Image: Nicolas HIPPERT

Perched in the Santa Ynez Mountains with sweeping Pacific views, this 688-acre ranch was where the Gipper went to ride horses, clear brush, and make decisions that shaped the 1980s. The rustic adobe house is surprisingly modest : no movie-star mansion here, just a comfortable retreat.

Tours are limited and require advance booking, but they're worth the effort. You'll see Reagan's Jeep, the tack barn where he kept his horses, and the house where he and Nancy entertained world leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev.

10

George W. Bush Prairie Chapel Ranch - Crawford, Texas

Image: History in HD

While Bush's Crawford ranch isn't open for public tours (yet), it deserves mention as a modern presidential retreat that captured the nation's imagination. The environmentally conscious "Western White House" featured geothermal heating, a rainwater collection system, and lots of brush for W to clear while contemplating post-9/11 America . It's where he hosted everyone from Vladimir Putin to Tony Blair, proving that Texas hospitality works in any era.

1

The sweet tooth

Image: Michelle Tsang

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? With so many options available today, it's hard to choose just one, right? Like us, Thomas Jefferson also loved ice cream. Not only that, he's often credited with making this treat famous in America.

The third US president discovered his sweet tooth during his time in France. It's impossible not to imagine Jefferson doing important paperwork with a bowl of ice cream on his desk. In addition, it's said that he often served the sweet dessert to his guests at the White House.

And that’s not all! A recipe for vanilla ice cream, handwritten by Jefferson himself, is still kept to this day in the Library of Congress.

2

The handshaker

Image: Erika Fletcher

It seems that Jefferson was a man who set trends and influenced fashions. Ice cream wasn’t the only custom that spread across the country thanks to him.

Today, the handshake is a very common and popular form of greeting. But this was not always the case. Before Jefferson's presidency, handshakes were less frequent, and people often used other formal greetings, such as bowing.

Jefferson argued that handshakes were horizontal and, therefore, more democratic. This belief illustrates how he integrated his principles into every aspect of his life, even small habits and customs.

3

The friend

Image: Joanna Kosinska

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams first met in 1775 at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Despite their differences, they liked and respected each other. Together, they were part of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and became even closer when they both served as diplomats in Europe during the 1780s. Jefferson later served as vice president to his friend Adams when the latter took office in 1797. Although they drifted apart after Adams' presidency, they reconciled in 1812, and their regular letters returned.

As if all this weren’t enough, they both died on the same day. And not just any day—both passed away on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

4

The polyglot

Image: Thomas Kelley

Can you speak more than one language? It's hard not to be impressed when you see a bilingual person developing their skills, right? And then there are those who speak three or four languages!

In this regard, Jefferson’s case is remarkable. The third president of our country was fluent in no less than six languages! In addition to his mother tongue, English, and the widely spoken French (which he used during his time as American minister to France in the 1780s), Jefferson also had strong skills in Latin, Ancient Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Furthermore, some sources suggest he also knew some German. A true polyglot!

5

The musician

Image: Baher Khairy

During his childhood in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson developed a strong interest in and passion for music. Music was a fundamental element in his home, and this art form was also a main part of his education.

The Father of the Declaration of Independence played the violin perfectly. His father, Peter Jefferson, taught him to play this instrument when Thomas was very young, and his talent only grew over the years.

Less frequently than the violin, Jefferson also played the cello—another stringed instrument known for its sophistication.

6

The architect

Image: Richard Hedrick

Jefferson's talents were even more varied! He was not only a polyglot and a musician but also an accomplished architect.

Thomas Jefferson played a major role in the design and construction of his plantation home in Virginia, the magnificent Monticello, which would later earn him one of his famous nicknames. Inspired by classical and Renaissance architecture, Monticello is considered one of the greatest works of American architecture. To add further merit to his work, Jefferson began the design of the plantation and its house in 1768, when he was only 25 years old!

Fun fact: Today, Monticello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7

The family man

Image: Heike Mintel

If you're a family person, you'll love this aspect of Thomas Jefferson.

In addition to politics, business, and his many talents, Thomas Jefferson was also a devoted family man—and, we must say, he had quite a large family. But how big was his family? Jefferson was born to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson and was the third of ten siblings.

In 1772, he married Martha Wayles Skelton, with whom he had six children. However, only two daughters survived to adulthood: Martha and Mary, who also gave him many grandchildren.

8

The farmer

Image: Stephen Radford

Agriculture was central to Jefferson's vision at the national policy level and also in his personal life.

Monticello was not only his home but also a 5,000-acre plantation where he experimented with different crops, including wheat, corn, tobacco, and various vegetables and fruits.

In addition, he was also an enthusiast of flower gardens. His interest in horticulture led him to import seeds and plants from around the world to experiment with in America!

9

The pet lover

Image: Dawn McDonald

Among his many qualities, his appreciation for animals truly stood out.

At Monticello, he had a variety of farm animals, including geese, turkeys, chickens, horses, cows, and pigs, all of which played an important role in maintaining the plantation. But his true love was for horses. He loved riding and spending time with them, both at his home in Virginia and even during his presidency.

It’s also said that he had a soft spot for birds. One of his most beloved pets was a mockingbird named Dick, who, according to historians, was allowed to fly around the house. Cute, isn't it?

10

The astronomer

Image: Matthew Ansley

Jefferson's interests and passions were not limited to earthly matters. In fact, he was an amateur astronomer. The stars and the cosmos sparked a deep curiosity in him.

In line with this interest, he developed a taste for telescopes, through which he could approach that mysterious object of study. He had several telescopes in his house and would spend hours and hours observing the night sky.

This inclination played a key role in the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), as it’s believed that Jefferson provided precise astronomical guidance and instructions to the two explorers.