There are so many vacations to take and places to see without a passport!
1. Grand Canyon
Definitely on the top of my bucket list of places to go. Located in Northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon formed over 6 million years ago around the Colorado River. The Canyon attracts over five million visitors a year, 83 percent of which are American.
2. Mount Rushmore
Though Mount Rushmore is one of America's most recognizable landmarks, many people do not get to check this off on their bucket lists. Commonly part of cross-country road trips, Mount Rushmore is visited by over two million people annually. It is located in South Dakota and contains the faces of four presidents: Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson.
3. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Located on the island of Hawaii, this national park attracts over a million and a half visitors annually and contains Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano located above Earth's surface.
4. Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of California's most popular tourist destinations but is often overshadowed by Disneyland, Hollywood and San Francisco attractions. Located about an hour north of San Francisco, this wine region contains over 400 wineries and attracts almost four and half million visitors annually.
5. Key West
The southernmost city in the continental United States, Very popular for tourists visiting Florida, Key West is located at the end of the Florida Keys. After a little more than three hours on U.S. 1 from Miami, tourists can visit naval bases, the pristine beaches or houses of famous authors such as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.
6. Niagara Falls
With over twenty million visitors to the falls every year, Niagara Falls is one of America's most popular attractions. A collective name for three waterfalls, two of which are in America, Niagara Falls offers visitors numerous attractions that include Maid of the Mist, where a boat tour takes visitors to all three falls but very close to Horseshoe Falls and Cave of the Winds, in which an elevator and wooden walkways take thrill-seekers extremely close to Bridal Veil Falls.
7. White House
Many people pose for pictures outside the White House with the fence right behind them. But did you know you can go inside the White House on a tour? I did when my government class took a trip to our nation's capital. We met members of the Secret Service and got to take a tour of many rooms in the building.
8. Yellowstone National Park
Our nation's first national park is located mostly in Wyoming but parts of it stretch to Montana and Idaho. Attracting over four million annual visitors, Yellowstone has become famous for its Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts between one and four times every two hours. Yellowstone has become a popular destination for camping, fishing, and boating as well.
9. Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is home to numerous hotels and casinos. With 15 of the world's 25 largest hotels (by room count) located on the Strip, it's no wonder it's so popular with tourists. Las Vegas has countless performances at night and is less than an hour drive to the Hoover Dam, another popular landmark.
10. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Liberty Island and Ellis Island, both located in the New York Harbor, are very popular destinations for people who live in the New York metro area but also for people elsewhere. The Statue of Liberty attracts over three millions visitors annually. It is one of America's most recognizable landmarks, but its neighbor, Ellis Island, is far less popular. I personally like Ellis Island better (maybe because surprisingly, I have never climbed the Statue of Liberty!) because I think it's amazing that you can find your ancestors on the wall of immigrants that came through Ellis Island.
