VS bezienswaardigheden
Er zijn maar weinig plekken ter wereld waar je echt lang naar lamantijnen kunt kijken. Deze zeer ongebruikelijke zeedieren met vinachtige poten zouden model hebben gestaan voor de mythologische zeemeerminnen. Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, langs de Golfkust van Florida, is waarschijnlijk de beste plek op aarde om deze dieren te zien. Dit toevluchtsoord van bijna 19 hectare is opgericht om lamantijnen te beschermen die hier tijdens de wintermaanden in grote getale naar toe komen. De unieke locatie heeft een netwerk van ondergrondse bronnen die uitkomen in de hoofdwateren van de Crystal River. Een serie van negen eilanden biedt perfecte beschutting voor de langzaam bewegende dieren, die gewond of gestrest kunnen raken van motorboten.
Sitting on Rainbow Harbor you’ll find one of Long Beach’s top attractions: Aquarium of the Pacific. Home to more than 11,000 aquatic animals and approximately 500 species, there is much to see throughout their 32 exhibits. In fact, many people arrive at opening time and don’t leave until closing. Get up close to playful seals and sea lions, visit a lagoon with more than 150 sharks, see ultraviolet sea animals against a black light, take in otherworldly jellyfish of all shapes and sizes and roam the numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Many of the exhibits are also interactive, allowing you to pet fish, manta rays and even small sharks; feed birds in the Lorikeet Forest; and partake in tropical reef feedings. Check the schedule when you arrive to see what shows and lectures are going on for the day. If you’re traveling as a family, stop at the desk to pick up special worksheets and scavenger hunt-like tasks for kids to fill out while exploring the museum.
The city of Scottsdale sits adjacent to Phoenix, attracting visitors by the bus-load to Scottsdale Old Town. This older section of town is also its main cultural hub, thronged with dining, drinking, shopping and nightlife options.
Native American crafts, jewelry and artworks are sold in this downtown arts district, and galleries and outdoor sculptures add to the cultural feel. It’s also where you’ll find museums like Scottsdale’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the city’s historical museum.
Walking tours highlight the old town’s Old West character, with hitching posts from the days when horses were ridden through town and quaint stores selling Western gear.
Encompassing 1,047 square miles (2,711 square kilometers), the Kenai Fjords National Park is named after the many glacial-carved fjords, or glacial valleys that sit below sea level. These fjords run down the mountains and into the iconic Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States with 40 glaciers flowing into it.
There are many ways to experience the park’s beauty, like taking an aerial tour, kayaking on the fjords, hiking to the top of the Harding Icefield Trail or exploring the trails around Exit Glacier. You can also fish for salmon and Dolly Varden within the park’s backcountry. For those interested in wildlife spotting, the parks icy waters and dense woodland are home to a number of creatures like mountain goats, black bears, bald eagles, Steller sea lions, puffins, Dall's porpoises, and humpback and orca whales.
At more than 6 million acres (2.5 million hectares), Denali National Park is a breathtaking wilderness area, which includes North America’s highest mountain. A single road curves 92 miles (148 kilometers) through the heart of the park, leading to off-trail hiking opportunities, abundant wildlife, and stunning tundra panoramas.
Wildlife in Denali National Park, including mammals such as marmot and moose, is easy to spot. Caribou, wolves, and brown bears are crowd favorites. The park is also well known for its bird population, especially during late spring and summer. Birdwatchers may find waxwings, Arctic Warblers, and the majestic tundra swan. Predatory birds include a variety of hawks, owls, and the striking golden eagle. Ten species of fish, including trout, salmon, and arctic grayling share the waters of the park.
De Hoover Dam (ook bekend als Boulder Dam) is een van de grootste van Amerika. Deze werd gebouwd tussen 1930 en 1936 ter hoogte van de Black Canyon in de machtige rivier de Colorado. Het is een opvallend element in het landschap met prachtige vergezichten op de Colorado-rivier, stuwmeer Lake Mead en de rotspartijen en valleien die eromheen liggen. Hoover Dam is een attractie die u gezien moet hebben!
De dam is genoemd naar Herbert Hoover, de Amerikaanse president die akkoord ging met de bouw, zodat de staten Nevada, Californië en Arizona beter controle kregen over het water in droge en natte seizoenen en daarbij stroom konden opwekken met waterkracht. De bouwtijd was slechts 5 jaar, wat opmerkelijk snel is als je beseft dat er genoeg beton in is verwerkt om er een weg van New York naar Californië mee aan te leggen.
You’ll find it hard not to be impressed at the opulence of The Breakers, the crown jewel of the Newport cottages. The 70-room four-story mansion was the summer estate of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the grandson of railroad tycoon Commodore Vanderbilt. The grand structure, built in 1895, was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, who modeled it after 16th-century Italian Renaissance palaces.
Vanderbilt spared no expense in designing this lavish Guilded Age temple, installing a high entrance gate that weighs over 7 tons, using gold leaf and rare marble, and bringing in painters from Europe to create mural-size baroque paintings. Inside, all the furnishings on view are original. Outside, open-air terraces give way to breathtaking ocean views.
The Preservation Society of Newport County purchased the house in 1972, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Meer dingen om te doen in VS
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Marilyn Monroe? 6774 Hollywood Boulevard. James Dean? 1719 Vine Street. Elvis Presley? 6777 Hollywood Boulevard. Nee, dit zijn niet hun laatste woonadressen, maar de plaats waar deze sterren hun afdruk hebben in de Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Deze sterren worden dag in dag uit bezocht, aanbeden, gefotografeerd en overlopen op de stoep van dit gedeelte van de Hollywood Boulevard. Meer dan 2000 artiesten, van legendes tot al lang vergeten figuranten, zijn hier geëerd met een roze marmeren vijfpuntige ster in de straat.
Volg dit hemelse pad langs Hollywood Boulevard tussen La Brea Avenue en Gower Street en langs Vine Street tussen Yucca Street en Sunset Boulevard.
Tongass National Forest
Encompassing 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is the largest forest in the United States. Originally the Alexander Archipelago Forest Reserve, a project of Theodore Roosevelt started in 1902, the park was developed and renamed in 1908 to pay homage to the Tongass Clan of the Tlingit Indians. Visitors to Tongass National Forest have an enormous array of activities and experiences to choose from: bird-watching, trekking, fishing (there are five species of salmon here, among other fish), camping, visiting glaciers, lake canoeing, off-roading and just relishing pure fresh air and pristine natural beauty. In fact, there are 17,000 miles (27,359 kilometers) of lakes, creeks and rivers to enjoy within the forest. Wildlife is also prevalent, with chances to view otters, brown and black bears, wolves, eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer.
Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain is an iconic mountain visible throughout most of the phoenix metropolitan area. Towering over the city at 2,704 feet (824 meters) above sea level, the mountain was named after its very obvious resemblance to a resting camel. The mountain features unique sheer red sandstone cliffs as well as a variety of desert wildlife. Some of its more popular desert animals include Rock Squirrels, Gila Monsters, Javelinas, Coyotes, and Grey Foxes. These natural wonders make the mountain a very popular hiking and rock climbing location.
Although it is possible to hike to the top of Camelback, both trails are a strenuous undertaking and are only recommended for advanced hikers. Echo Canyon Recreation Area does, however, offer two easier hiking options for those less advanced hikers. All trails offer the ability to experience desert wildlife up close, as well as admire Camelback’s unique geological formations.
Na Pali Coast
Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is famous for its seaside beauty, marine life and water sports.
The 15-mile (24 km) length of coast is lined by cliffs, white-sand beaches and turquoise sea.
Come here to whale watch or spot dolphins and monk seals on an eco-cruise or sailing adventure. Follow the Kalalau Trail to go hiking across the cliff tops to Hanakapiai beach and waterfalls.
Say hello to the local marine life on a snorkeling excursion, with the opportunity to see tropical fish and green sea turtles.
Coney Island
Coney Island in het zuidelijk deel van Brooklyn is vooral bekend vanwege de hot dogs, attractieparken en populaire stranden en promenades. Er komen al bezoekers sinds 1830 – vooral inwoners van Manhattan die er snel naar toe konden en toch het idee hadden er even uit te zijn.
Bijzondere bezienswaardigheden zijn de vele attracties, circusacts en spelletjes als Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Scream Zone, McCullough's Kiddie Park, Eldorado Bumper Cars & Arcade en Coney Island Arcade & Games.
De meest opvallende attractie is zonder twijfel de Luna Park Cyclone Rollercoaster, een ruige houten achtbaan, die volgens Charles Lindbergh in Time Magazine spannender was dan zijn eerste solovlucht over de Atlantisch Oceaan. Naast de attracties heeft Coney Island ook een promenade met winkels en eetgelegenheden langs bijna 5 km zandstrand.
Texas Capitol
The Texas State Capitol building and its stunning presence on the Austin landscape earns its place on the National Register of Historic Places with ease. An extraordinary example of stonework and 19th-century architecture, the Texas State Capitol is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most “stately” state capitols with its elaborate limestone work and impressive dome, which reaches 15 feet above its Washington counterpart.
Offering a panoramic view over all of Austin from the capitol dome, the 1888 Texas State Capitol has the largest square footage of any state capitol in the Unites States, and is only seconded by the National Capitol in Washington D.C. A tour through these beautiful grounds will do more than expose you to the history of Texas legislation, but will tell “a true Texas story.
Mauna Kea
Of u nu een beginnend astrofysicus bent of gewoon een liefhebber van de Big Bang Theorie, een bezoek aan het Mauna Kea-observatorium op Hawaii hoort er zeker bij.
Met 4.138 meter is Mauna Key de hoogste berg van Hawaii en voorzien van allerlei apparatuur voor astronomisch onderzoek van over de hele wereld.
Het bezoekerscentrum is te vinden op 2.790 meter, van waar een ruig wandelpad richting de top loopt. U bent ongeveer 5 uur onderweg en het pad is alleen geschikt voor geoefende wandelaars die op alle weersomstandigheden zijn voorbereid.
Het bezoekerscentrum heeft interactieve schermen en video’s, interactieve telescopen en rondleidingen. Ook worden er tochten met gids naar de top georganiseerd.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza
Simple but profoundly moving, the open-air John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza focuses on the granite slab bearing the assassinated president’s name etched in gold.The granite memorial is surrounded by soaring concrete walls, creating a roofless space for private contemplation and reflection, free from outside distractions.
The Memorial was dedicated in June 1970, and was envisioned by architect Philip Johnson as an open tomb or cenotaph. The plain white walls appear to be free-floating, capturing the feeling of loss felt around the world following Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963.
By day, the floating white walls are reflected on the monument’s gilt lettering. At night, the monument is a beautifully floodlit city landmark.
Vrijheidsbeeld
Het Vrijheidsbeeld is een van de meest tot de verbeelding sprekende attracties van Amerika in het algemeen en New York in het bijzonder. Het monument was een geschenk van Frankrijk ter ere van het eeuwfeest van de Onafhankelijkheidsverklaring in 1886. Het beeld is 46 meter hoog en heeft een passende plek op Liberty Island, bij de toegang naar de haven van New York. Lady Liberty verwelkomt bezoekers en immigranten met de bekende woorden "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”, afkomstig uit het gedicht The New Colossus van Emma Lazarus.
Baltimore Inner Harbor
Baltimore’s focus for visitors is the revitalized, pedestrian-friendly Inner Harbor, with its waterfront promenade and surrounding central business district.
On the water is Baltimore’s gleaming pyramid-shaped National Aquarium, one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Nearby Harborplace, a former power plant on the harbor’s north-west corner, is the focus of the pedestrian promenade, lined with restaurants and shops.
To get a sense of Baltimore’s centuries of seafaring history, visit the Maritime Museum on the harbor for a cruise on a historic submarine, sloop or coast guard cutter.
Navy Pier
De meest bezochte toeristische attractie van Chicago, Navy Pier, is zeker een geliefde plek voor kinderen onder de twaalf. Het Chicago Children’s Museum zorgt er, samen met een aantal hoogwaardige attracties, fonteinen, leerzame tentoonstellingen voor kids, fastfoodrestaurants en hebbedingetjes, voor, dat uw kind de dag van zijn of haar leven heeft.
Voor volwassenen zijn de uitzichten over het meer, de koele wind en een rit in het enorme reuzenrad een belevenis. De draaimolen is ook een klassieker, met hobbelende versierde paarden en orgelmuziek. U kunt ook mee met een middag- of avondboottocht.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
Taking a ride on the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Railroad is a fun way to see spectacular historic scenery from a train inching up steep tracks that were carved out of the side of the mountains. A number of routes take you through White Pass, which travels from Alaska to Canada on historic trains.
You begin your journey on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad in Skagway. The summit excursion takes you 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Skagway to the White Pass Summit, 2,865 feet (873 meters) high. Another trip takes you up to the summit, then down to British Columbia. The historic cars are more than 100 years old, and you’ll definitely get a sense of how travelers in the late 19th century got around. While you’re traveling you’ll see breathtaking mountain and forest vistas – you may even see a bear or caribou frolicking about.
Liberty Bell & Independence National Historical Park
Few places in the United States offer as much historical and cultural legacy as the Philadelphia Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Located across the street from one another, the two landmarks serve as the most potent symbols of the American revolution and the birth of the young nation.
Independence Historical National Park is the home to both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. While the Bell was rung at several key moments of the American independence movement, today it is more famous for its symbolic message of universal liberty than its functional purpose.
In addition to the two main attractions, Independence National Historical Park is also the home of several other sites associated with the American Revolution. This 45-acre park comprises much of the historic downtown area of Philadelphia.
Fort Lauderdale Beachfront
Featuring over 23 miles (37 kilometers) of pristine beach, visitors will have plenty of opportunities to swim and sunbathe. The Fort Lauderdale beachfront offers a wide number of experiences, like wind surfing, jet skiing, boating, snorkeling, deep sea fishing and scuba diving. If you’d rather stay on land, jogging, cycling, rollerblading and beach sports like volleyball and Frisbee are worthwhile beachfront options.
Spend some time in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, known for its scuba diving offerings and pier where you can watch fishermen reeling in fresh catch. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is another top experience when exploring Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront, and can be accessed via the pedestrian tunnel under A1A. This park has a tropical-feel and offers chances to kayak, fish and cycle. And of course, visiting the beaches themselves is a must, like the family-friendly Deerfield Beach, trendy Fort Lauderdale Beach and adventure-focused Hallandale Beach.
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