1

Block Island, Rhode Island

Image: John Angel

One of the "Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere, as declared by the Nature Conservancy, Block Island has done a great job at preserving its natural beauty, with 40% of its territory being devoted to wildlife refuges.

32 miles of coastline and inland trails, along with beaches, biking, and trekking provide ample opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors. And, when the sun goes down, a healthy scene of bars and restaurants with an easy-going atmosphere and great food welcomes visitors.

2

Alamosa, Colorado

Image: Shelby Cohron

Colorado is not just about ski resorts and mountains, as Alamosa proudly demonstrates. If you head down south in the Centennial State you will find this high-altitude agricultural community mainly known to UFO sightings chasers and birdwatchers.

The town, packed with antique shops and craft breweries, is near the Great Sand Dunes National Park, a surreal place that makes visitors feel as if they were in the Sahara desert. The San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo mountains, also near, provide ideal spots for hiking and exploring during the summer months.

3

Ice Age Trail, Wisconsin

Image: Dave Hoefler

Hiking trails might not look like the most crowded places but they can be—the popular ones, at least. Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail offers 1,200 miles of scenic hiking paths without the heavy foot traffic of places of most known trails.

The trail can be thoroughly enjoyed without the need to traverse it in full, as it has many segments that can be discovered individually. Wooded hills, gorgeous glacial lakes, and plenty of trailside camps and small communities to rest make this trail a great spot for a holiday in nature.

4

Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts

Image: Larry Ferreira

There is much more to Massachusetts than Boston, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires—for example, the Pioneer Valley . Carved by the Connecticut River, this peaceful area is home to several vintage mill cities turned into modern towns full of restaurants and one-off shops.

Hikers can walk the north woods on the New England Trail and Springfield visitors can discover the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where the sport was born in 1891, as well as the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum & Sculpture Garden.

5

John Day Region, Oregon

Image: Anna Vineyard

While it has managed to avoid massive crowds for all of its existence, it's hard to believe that a natural wonder as picturesque as John Day Region will remain a calm place for much longer in this day and age. Take a moment to Google-search John Day Region’ s Painted Hills and you will get the idea.

And if that is not enough reason to make you plan a visit, the region is packed with old-growth rainforests, canyons, high desert plains, and undammed rivers complete with sandy beaches and gorgeous meadows, all in an easy-to-move-around area.

6

Pennsylvania Wilds

Image: Lera Kogan

When considering the abundance of wildlife and untamed mountain creeks, ancient trees of the Forest Cathedral, and Pine Creek’s own version of the Grand Canyon, it becomes clear that the Pennsylvania Wilds is a region that lives up to its name.

Sprawling across a vast expanse of the rugged Allegheny Plateau, the region boasts 29 state parks, two national wild and scenic rivers, a world-class stargazing center at Cherry Springs, and human relics like the Kinzua Bridge.

7

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Image: Drew Harbour

A city that has a ton of amazing things to offer but never appears on those glamorous Top-Cities-To-Visit lists, Tulsa is a hidden jewel of the Midwest. Its beautiful Art Deco architecture, impressive museums and cultural institutions with collections rivaling those of major cities, lively music scene, and craft breweries make it a great long weekend destination.

The best time window to visit would be from September to November when the temperate weather is ideal for walking tours and bike rides in the historic neighborhoods. The Tulsa International Airport has nonstop flights from all over the country, all year long.

8

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia

Image: Parker Hilton

Combining beach fun and outdoor adventure with copious wildlife, Cumberland Island National Seashore receives visits that usually stay for the day. But staying overnight at beachside campgrounds or the Greyfield Inn is a fun adventure as well.

Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island is full of wild horses, sea turtles, wild turkeys, and infinite birds everywhere to be seen along the island’s 18-mile-long beach.

9

Western Tennessee

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

An enticing blend of nature, history, music, and food tells us that there is so much more to Tennessee than the tourist magnet that is Nashville. From the cradle of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll that is Memphis to the historical sites of Shiloh National Military Park and Fort Donelson National Battlefield to the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park that conserves nearly 13,000 acres of rare hardwood bottomland along the Mississippi River, including eerie bald cypress swamp. Western Tennessee is a place to explore.

10

Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas

Image: Oliver Graham

The few visitors who venture past Hot Springs National Park, and into the highlands of west-central Arkansas are rewarded with a haven of solitude and natural wonder in the form of the Ouachita range.

These mountains are ideal for those who like their hiking, camping, and fishing in a peaceful environment. And, if that proves to be too calm, Magazine Mountain is a regional hang-gliding mecca that also boasts amazing mountain biking routes.

1

The first toll

Image: Barry A

When the bridge first opened to cars, the toll was 50 cents each way, $1 for a round trip, and an additional 5-cent charge for cars carrying more than three passengers. While this may not seem like much today, that money was crucial in covering the construction costs. In today’s terms, the toll would be equivalent to about $11 .

2

The Half-Way-to-Hell Club

Image: Rasmus Gundorff Sæderup

Building this massive suspension bridge was no easy task, and the story of the "Half-Way-to-Hell Club" members proves just how dangerous it was. These 19 workers were on the job when they slipped and fell from the bridge . But in the midst of their fall, something saved them : a safety net placed under the bridge, an ingenious and innovative safety measure for the 1930s.

3

A different picture

Image: Leo_Visions

While it's hard to imagine the Golden Gate Bridge without its iconic "International Orange" color, the original plan was actually quite different. During construction, they considered painting the bridge black and yellow to give it visibility. However, when the architects saw the beautiful reddish-orange hue of the primer, they decided to keep it. We have to say we're glad they didn't go with the original idea!

4

Good citizens

Image: Zoshua Colah

San Franciscans redefined what it meant to be good citizens when, during the Great Depression, they helped fund the Golden Gate Bridge by putting up their homes and farms as collateral to make the project a reality. This incredible show of faith during one of the nation's toughest economic times is truly inspiring.

5

Really heavy

Image: Leo_Visions

With its immense size and structure, it’s no surprise that this imposing bridge is incredibly heavy. Even so, the number might still shock you: The Golden Gate Bridge weighs around 894,000 tons! That's nearly the equivalent of 2.5 Empire State Buildings!

6

5,000 - 10,000 gallons

Image: JOSHUA COLEMAN

Its weight goes hand in hand with its size: the bridge is about 1.7 miles long from end to end, and its towers rise 746 feet above the water. This means the amount of paint required to cover it is anything but small. To repaint the bridge, between 5,000 and 10,000 gallons of its iconic color are used.

7

Dangerous challenges

Image: Anastasia R.

The completion of the Golden Gate Bridge had its challenges. In 1935, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the area, causing the entire San Francisco Bay Area, including the bridge under construction, to shake violently. One worker reportedly recalled that the south tower swayed 16 feet in each direction while several of his colleagues stood on it!

8

200,000 pedestrians

Image: fan yang

The grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 27, 1937, was far from low-key. Before it was opened to cars, a "Pedestrian Day" event took place, where an extraordinary 200,000 people walked across the city's brand-new bridge, each paying 25 cents to do so.

9

Once the tallest of its kind

Image: Casey Horner

As a suspension bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge is impressive not only for its size but also for its engineering. In fact, when it opened in 1937 and until 1964, this San Francisco landmark held the world record as the tallest suspension bridge in the world!

10

800,000 people

Image: Kiko Camaclang

Yes, the 200,000 people who attended the bridge's opening made for a huge crowd. But 50 years later, that number quadrupled! That's right; during the 50th anniversary of its opening, around 800,000 people walked across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It's hard to even imagine what such a giant crowd would look like!

1

The Everest

Image: Martin Jernberg

James Whittaker made history as the first American to achieve one of the most difficult things in the world.

In 1963 , Whittaker, then 34 years old , became the first American to reach the summit of the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest , as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth.

Facing challenging weather and low temperatures, Seattle-born Whittaker conquered the summit of the Himalayan giant, which stands at 29,035 feet high! Can you picture yourself on such an expedition?

2

The astronauts

Image: NASA

The 1960s definitely transformed history, marking a period when humanity first traveled into outer space. The first American to reach space was Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961 . After a successful flight of 15 minutes and 22 seconds, Shepard's spacecraft splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. Shepard didn’t complete an orbit of Earth on that trip, but John Glenn arrived and became the first American to orbit our planet on February 20, 1962 .

Of course, these amazing achievements were necessary for Neil Armstrong to take his historic step onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969 , becoming the first American -and the very first human- to do so.

Want to know who was the first American woman in space ? The title went to Sally Ride , who reached outer space in 1983 .

3

The Skyscraper

Image: Pedro Lastra

Yes, skyscrapers dominate the skyline of many cities in our country today. However, there was a time when there were none. And the title of America's first skyscraper went to the Home Insurance Building in Chicago.

Designed by architect William Le Baron Jenney and completed in 1885 , it was the first to use a structural steel frame. Although iconic and unique in its time, it was demolished in 1931 to build what is now the Bank of America Building.

4

The Nobel

Image: caleb weiner

You'll be happy to know that the first Nobel Prize won by an American was in the Peace category. It was awarded to none other than Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 for his role and contribution to ending the Russo-Japanese War.

Roosevelt stood out precisely for inviting representatives from Russia and Japan to a peace conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1905. Of course, the task was not an easy one, but Teddy was determined. His efforts ended in a historic peace agreement known worldwide as The Treaty of Portsmouth.

5

The flight

Image: History in HD

The Wright brothers ' story is one of the most famous. Coming from Dayton, Ohio , these two brothers are credited with inventing the first powered airplane and making the world's first successful flight with it.

But which of them was the first American to fly? Well, it seems Wilbur Wright, the older of the two, gave the honor to his younger brother. So, it was Orville who made history as the first to pilot the successful aircraft.

Orville piloted the first sustained flight of a powered aircraft in December 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina . His flight lasted 12 seconds and flew a distance of 120 feet. True pioneers!

6

The University

Image: Somesh Kesarla Suresh

388 years is a really long time, right? Well, that's the amount of time that has passed since the first university was founded in the territory of what would eventually become the United States of America.

We are talking about the prestigious Harvard University , born in 1636 in what was then the Massachusetts Bay Colony , with the aim of training clergy. Originally called "New College," the institution was later renamed Harvard College in honor of John Harvard , its first major benefactor.

7

The baseball team

Image: Caitlin Conner

Whether you prefer football, ice hockey, baseball, or basketball, it's undeniable that these four sports best represent our nation.

But only one has earned the title of "America's pastime." Of course, we're talking about baseball . One of the most popular sports today, it was also the earliest to establish a professional team.

The Cincinnati Red Stockings , established in 1869 , were the first professional baseball team in our country. When all the teams were still amateur, the Red Stockings became the first team with paid players, leading the way for the rest of the teams and for the eventual establishment of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1871.

8

The Flag

Image: Samuel Branch

Every independent country needs a flag to symbolize its identity and ideals. The US flag , in particular, has gone through a series of changes that show the nation's journey through history. First hoisted by George Washington on January 1, 1776 , at Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts , our first National Flag was born during the years of the Revolution .

Known as the "Continental Colors," this unofficial flag was adopted in 1775 as a symbol of the Continental Army . Its design had 13 red and white stripes , symbolizing the 13 original colonies, and the Union Jack in the upper left corner.

As the Revolutionary War progressed, the Continental Congress considered a series of changes to our flag to better represent the united colonies and their desire for independence. Thus came the "Stars and Stripes" new design on June 14, 1777 , which replaced the Union Jack with 13 white stars, initially often arranged in a circle.

9

The Oscar

Image: Mirko Fabian

If you are a movie enthusiast , this fact is probably already in your memory. And if you're not, it's still a good fact worth knowing.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929 , and featured nominations for classic films like The Racket and Seventh Heaven , both released in 1927.

But the movie that stole the show was Wings , also from 1927 , directed by William A. Wellman and starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, and Richard Arlen. This silent film about WWI was the very first to win the category then known as "Outstanding Picture," which today we call "Best Picture." It was notable for its realistic aerial battles and special effects of excellent quality for its time. If you haven't seen it yet, this is your cue to do so!

10

The National Park

Image: Austin Farrington

From expansive deserts to dense forests, and from delightful beaches to impressive mountains, our country's landscapes and biodiversity are truly amazing.

Many of these natural sites have earned the title of National Parks , which guarantees their protection and conservation for the joy of locals and tourists. And while today we have many national parks to visit, there was once a first.

The very first was the great Yellowstone National Park , designated by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872 . Located in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, this natural site set a precedent for the conservation of our land's natural areas. Have you already visited it?