The One Thing You Have to Do in Every State
The One Thing You Have to Do in Every State
GRPimagery/iStock
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/experiences/news/photos/the-absolute-best-thing-to-do-in-every-state
The ultimate USA Bucket List.
PART II
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, events examining and celebrating our history abound, but we’re focused firmly on the present and on where a traveler should go today to see the absolute best this country has to offer. From national parks and gorgeous beaches to history trails and iconic landmarks, here is the best of what each of the 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) has to offer.
And for even more of the best to see, do, and eat in each state, be sure to check out our Bucket List USA guidebook, available everywhere books are sold.
Edited by Amanda Sadlowski.
PHOTO: EDWARD FEATHER, FREEDOM TRAIL® FOUNDATION
21 OF 51
The Freedom Trail
WHERE: Massachusetts
Walk in the footsteps of America’s forefathers and pay tribute to renowned figures like Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Ben Franklin as you follow the red stripe marking the 2½-mile Freedom Trail through Boston’s most historic neighborhoods. The pedestrian trail connects 16 of the city’s most historic sites related to the American Revolution, laying out Boston’s colonial history on the very streets where some of the country’s most important events unfolded several hundred years ago. In one day, you can visit Faneuil Hall; the site of the incendiary Boston Massacre, and the Old North Church, where lanterns hung to signal Paul Revere on his thrilling midnight ride. Faneuil Hall adjoins Quincy Market, a good spot to grab a bite to eat, with its three block-long annexes filled with international food stalls and souvenirs.
PHOTO: MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, VISITMT.COM
22 OF 51
Glacier National Park
WHERE: Montana
With its 1 million acres of glacier-carved peaks and valleys, pristine turquoise lakes and streams, and dense ancient forests, Glacier National Park—a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site—is a true ecological wonder. It’s also one of the few national parks that still offers a true wilderness experience, with more than 700 miles of hiking trails and the chance to spot grizzly bears, cougars, gray wolves, moose, and bighorn sheep, among many other animals. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the nation’s most beautiful drives, connects Lake McDonald on the western side of Glacier with St. Mary Lake on the east.
PHOTO: PURE MICHIGAN
23 OF 51
Mackinac Island
WHERE: Michigan
Located in Lake Huron in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island is a classic Midwest summertime destination. Cars aren’t allowed, so the island has a leisurely pace. Spend your days biking around the island, riding horses, eating fudge, or exploring Mackinac Island State Park. With striking limestone bluffs and Arch Rock (a natural rock bridge), the park is a beautiful spot to hit the beach, go hiking, kayaking, or sailing.
PHOTO: EXPLORE MINNESOTA
24 OF 51
Voyageurs National Park
WHERE: Minnesota
Choose your own aquatic adventure at Voyageurs National Park, located at the very top of Minnesota near the Canadian border. With 84,000 acres of water, there’s no shortage of enjoyment on and offshore with options for boating, paddling, fishing, swimming, camping, stargazing, birding, hiking, and more. Named for the French Canadians who traveled the waterways to trade furs, the park has no roads but does have 30 lakes and 1,200 miles of canoe routes, which you can explore with your own vehicle or on a tour through Recreation.gov.
PHOTO: VISIT MISSISSIPPI
25 OF 51
Clarkesdale and the Mississippi Blues Trail
WHERE: Mississippi
At an intersection of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarkesdale, marked by a blue pole affixed with electric guitars called the “Crossroads,” musician Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil so he could play guitar. It’s no surprise then that this Mississippi Delta town is home to several iconic blues landmarks commemorating area musicians like Ike Turner, Muddy Waters, and Sam Cooke. Today’s Clarksdale is a mix of commemorative Blues Trail plaques, small museums, sleepy streets, “eat places” (casual traditional Delta restaurants), and a few still-active music joints. The Delta Blues Museum provides a deep understanding of the blues and is home to some impressive pieces of music history, including the remnants of the cabin where Muddy Waters lived when he was a sharecropper at Stovall Farms.
PHOTO: GATEWAY ARCH
26 OF 51
The Gateway Arch
WHERE: Missouri
The 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch broke several records the day it opened in 1965. The St. Louis landmark instantly became the world’s biggest arch, easily beating the 220-foot-tall Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City. It’s the tallest monument in the Western Hemisphere, and the tallest building in Missouri. Once you reach the top via the four-minute tram ride, you’re treated to views that stretch up to 30 miles to the east and west. The Gateway Arch was built to celebrate Thomas Jefferson and his idea of Manifest Destiny, since St. Louis was a major point of departure for settlers headed west. Since the arch’s 50th anniversary, its story has broadened to include the Indigenous peoples who were displaced by westward expansion.
PHOTO: OMAHA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
27 OF 51
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
WHERE: Nebraska
The 130-acre Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha showcases animals and ecosystems from around the globe. It includes the world’s largest indoor desert representing vegetation and wildlife from deserts in the United States, Africa, and Australia, all contained within an 80,000-square-foot dome; America’s largest indoor rain forest and the jungle creatures that inhabit them, from monkeys and macaws to gibbons and hippopotamuses; and an outdoor orangutan forest with a 20-foot waterfall.
PHOTO: F11PHOTO/ISTOCK
28 OF 51
The Las Vegas Strip
WHERE: Nevada
A neon glow electrifies the 4.2 miles of 24/7 entertainment in the Las Vegas strip, the center of action for the 40 million people a year who come for glittering casinos, theaters, restaurants, rides, shows, shops, and everything over-the-top. The Strip disorients and delights; when you’re here, you’re all-in, and the “real world” seems far out. More than a dozen hotel-casinos are on the strip, including the MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, and the Bellagio. Professional football, hockey, and women’s basketball franchises now play on the Strip alongside big-name concert acts, but there are still resident performers of all kinds, including acrobats, magicians, and comedians.
PHOTO: ZRFPHOTO/ISTOCK
29 OF 51
Mount Washington
WHERE: New Hampshire
At 6,288 feet, Mt. Washington is a land of superlatives. It’s the tallest peak in the northeastern United States, and some of the world’s strongest winds, 231 mph, were recorded here in 1934. You can take a guided van tour, a drive, or a hike to the summit—a number of challenging trails circle the mountain and access other peaks in the adjoining Presidential Range. The drive to the top, along narrow, curving Mt. Washington Auto Road—which climbs 4,600 feet in about 7 miles—is truly memorable.
PHOTO: MS_PICS_AND_MORE/SHUTTERSTOCK
30 OF 51
Liberty State Park
WHERE: New Jersey
The 1,212-acre Liberty State Park has one of the most spectacular views anywhere. Located along the mouth of the Hudson River in Jersey City, it offers unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. The waterfront walking paths through the park wind through the picnic areas, playgrounds, and moving memorials. On the western edge of the park is Liberty Science Center, which has plenty of hands-on exhibits that will keep kids occupied for hours. Oh, and any real NJ-er will tell you that the Statue of Liberty is technically in New Jersey. To get to Ellis Island, take a ferry operated by Statue Cruises. They depart from Liberty State Park and usually are less crowded than their counterparts in New York City.
United Passenger Says Pro-Palestine Shirt Nearly Got Him Kicked Off Flight
Courtesy United Airlines
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/united-passenger-says-pro-palestine-shirt-nearly-got-him-kicked-off-flight
A United passenger says he was ordered to change a T-shirt reading "Bombing kids is not self-defense" before boarding.
A passenger traveling on a recent United flight says he was asked to change out of his T-shirt. Sam Saadeh, who is of Palestinian descent, was flying on June 4 from Atlanta to Newark wearing a T-shirt with the message: “Bombing kids is not self-defense.” A flight attendant found the clothing to be offensive, and he nearly got kicked off the flight, he alleged.
Saadeh told CBS News that a supervisor pulled him aside after boarding and told him to change. “He was like, ‘Hey, the flight attendant finds your shirt offensive,’ and I was like, ‘Why?’” Saadeh said. Confused by the remark, he was given two options: change his shirt, or he would not be allowed to fly.
The passenger chose not to escalate the situation and changed out of his T-shirt. But even after landing, airline staff could not explain why the shirt was considered offensive. “Do you think kids shouldn’t be bombed, or kids should be bombed? Like, what are you offended by?” he asked an airline employee after landing.
The message may be related to the bombing and killing of children in Gaza. A U.N. report recently stated that Israel has deliberately targeted Palestinian children, including after the ceasefire, and killed more than 20,000 while injuring more than 44,000. An independent inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide, allegations the country has repeatedly rejected following similar reports by Amnesty International and other scholars.
A United spokesperson told CBS that the passenger flew as scheduled after changing his shirt. The matter may be over for the airline, but Saadeh is consulting lawyers and has filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation. “At the end of the day, this shirt, to me, is very clear that I think bombing kids is wrong … regardless if you’re Palestinian or if you’re from Mobile, Alabama.”
Meanwhile, Wear the Peace, the nonprofit behind the shirt design, posted about the incident on Facebook, arguing that the word “bomb” was being used in context and that the shirt did not say, “I have a bomb.” “By that logic, someone couldn’t wear a TNT Wrestling shirt because it contains the word ‘TNT,’ or a shirt from the brand Killer Acid because it includes the word ‘Killer,'” it said.
The organization also said that one of its team members recently flew while wearing an Israeli Defense Forces shirt without any issues.
Dress Code
When passengers buy an airline ticket, they agree to the airline’s contract of carriage, which specifies that they can be removed from a flight for failing to comply with its code of conduct. Passengers cannot be intoxicated, have a strong body odor, travel barefoot, or have bare torsos.
Additionally, airlines can penalize passengers for wearing offensive or inappropriate clothing. Because those rules are not specifically defined, the policy is open to interpretation. In the past, female passengers were often policed for their clothing choices, drawing criticism that airlines were slut-shaming women. More recently, political statements, particularly those related to support for Palestine, have become a source of controversy.
Last year, a man was detained at London’s Heathrow Airport for wearing a sweater featuring a map of Palestine, one of several incidents that drew media attention. It’s also not just passengers who have come under scrutiny for their clothing choices. Last year, a passenger on an American Airlines flight accused a flight attendant of being antisemitic for wearing a watermelon pin, a symbol of solidarity with Palestine.
In fact, several U.S. airlines have also banned employees from wearing pins with political messaging following altercations with passengers. United adopted the rule in 2024 after a social media backlash in which a passenger criticized flight attendants for wearing Palestine pins, which the passenger referred to as “Hamas badges.”
Hilton extends, expands ResortPass partnership
https://hotelsmag.com/news/hilton-extends-expands-resortpass-partnership/?
Hilton announced a three-year expansion of its partnership with ResortPass, a provider of day-access experiences, scaling access to Hilton properties across the Americas.
The expanded partnership provides day access to pools, spas, fitness centers, private cabanas and curated resort experiences at Hilton properties without requiring an overnight stay.
As part of the expansion, Hilton and ResortPass introduced the “Off Hours Event Series,” a poolside series featuring DJs, local vendors and food and beverage offerings. The series debuts across Fla. properties, including Hilton Orlando, Hilton West Palm Beach, Beach House Fort Lauderdale, A Hilton Resort, Hilton Tampa Downtown and Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort.
Participating properties also offer day experiences highlighting individual amenities. Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead provides access to an indoor 60-foot saline lap pool, vitality whirlpool, dry saunas, steam rooms and spa treatments, including HydraFacials and floating sound bath therapy. Hilton Orlando offers access to an 892-foot lazy river, a splash pad, an adults-only pool area with a whirlpool, cabana rentals, a Topgolf Swing Suite and spa treatments. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort offers day access to pickleball courts and pool amenities. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills offers day access to La Prairie Spa. Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort in Puerto Rico offers access to a lagoon-style pool, hot tub and children’s pool. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country offers day access to pickleball courts with equipment rental and food and beverage packages.
“Hilton has long been a leader in spa and wellness innovation,” said Jessica Shea, vice president of wellness, retail & leisure operations, Americas, Hilton. “The success of our ResortPass partnership has encouraged us to expand our offerings and accelerate how we approach wellness across our portfolio. We can now better connect our properties more meaningfully to the communities around them, offering flexible access to world-class wellness experiences.”
“ResortPass and Hilton are setting a new standard for how hospitality innovates on well-being beyond the traditional stay. The expansion of this partnership reflects a shared commitment to redefining how people rest and recharge,” said Michael Wolf, CEO of ResortPass.
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