31. Shelburne Farms: Shelburne, VT
It’s all about sustainability at Shelburne Farms in Vermont—from school field trips to teachers’ continuing education courses. The farm holds programs about historic preservation, natural resources, and naturally, farming practices.
32. Fox Theatre: Detroit, MI
The Fox Theater isn’t your run-of-the-mill cinema chain. When it opened in 1928 it had the second largest seating capacity in the world and seats more than 5,000. Of “movie palaces” of the era, it’s now the largest surviving.
33. Spring Grove Cemetery: Cincinnati, OH
Why is a cemetery on a list of must-sees? History and beauty, of course. It has 450 acres developed of 733. There are lakes, islands, footbridges, and protected wooded areas just ripe for a peaceful stroll. It was chartered in 1845.
34. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
People have been touring Mammoth Cave for 200 years. The cave system along the Green River Valley is the world’s longest.
35. West Baden Springs Hotel: West Baden Springs, IN
Another luxurious historic hotel is on this road trip list. Besides having an atrium that’s a feast for the eyes, the West Baden Springs Hotel hosts special events, entertainment, and historic tours, for those staying or not.
36. Abraham Lincoln’s Home: Springfield, IL
Former President Lincoln’s home first opened for tours in 1887. If you’ve seen Washington’s home and the White House (also on this list), you can’t ignore Lincoln’s!
37. Gateway Arch: St. Louis, MO
No, you don’t have to take the stairs. The Gateway Arch’s tram will take you to the top for some incredible 360-degree views.
38. C.W. Parker Carousel Museum: Leavenworth, KS
The 1913 carousel has been restored by volunteers and first ran again in 2005 after being purchased in 1997. There are also the Liberty Carousel and a Primitive Carousel, from the mid-1800s.
39. Terrace Hill Governor’s Mansion: Des Moines, IA
Tours in the Iowa governor’s mansion are available seasonally; it also hosts special events such as the “Tea & Talk” series and the annual garden party and the piano competition.
40. Taliesin: Green Spring, WI
Step into a time capsule and see what made Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes so influential and distinctive.
41. Fort Snelling: Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN
If you’re interested in the history of this country, the tension between the new arrivals and the folks already here affected it for centuries. Fort Snelling is located near the Mississippi and the state’s cemetery for its veterans and is just a few train stops from the Mall of America.
42. Ashfall Fossil Beds: Royal, NE
More than 200 fossil skeletons have been recovered from a pit in Nebraska. You need no other reason to go and see the Ashfall Fossil Beds.
43. Mount Rushmore: Keystone, SD
It was a massive feat of engineering that extended over decades to carve the presidents’ heads into a granite bluff at Mount Rushmore. The drama and politics behind its construction are just as fascinating. Just down the road is Crazy Horse, which is still under construction and also has been for decades. Don’t miss either one.
44. Fort Union Trading Post: Williston, ND
Built in a region where 10 Northern Plains Tribes lived, the Fort Union Trading Post was the most important post in the Upper Missouri region until smallpox decimated the people there.
45. Glacier National Park, MT
You can’t put a boat in waters there because of the invasive zebra mussels, but there’s still much beauty to enjoy in Glacier National Park.
46. Hanford Site: Benton County, WA
Yep, on this road trip, you can even explore cleanup of a former nuclear site, which has been going on for three decades, but you’ll want to confirm the dates for public tours in advance.
47. Columbia River Highway, OR
Lots of hiking, biking, and walking opportunities exist on the Columbia River Highway, and portions of the old road are being turned into trails.
48. San Francisco Cable Cars: San Francisco, CA
Ride a streetcar (probably not named Desire) in the place where they were invented, San Francisco, and scratch another iconic activity off your U.S. travel to-do list.
Continue to 49 of 50 below.
49. San Andreas Fault, CA
Many sections of the San Andreas Faultare easy to visit because they reside in National Parks, National Forests, or on Bureau of Land Management Land.
50. Hoover Dam: Boulder City, NV
Sources:
1. Science Says This Is the Perfect U.S. Road Trip, TripSavvy
2. This Map Shows the Ultimate U.S. Road Trip, Mental Floss
