The United States packs a lot into three classic stops. In New York you can ride a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, walk the Brooklyn Bridge and spend a day at the Met. San Francisco adds cable cars, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Las Vegas pairs fountains and neon with the desert: Red Rock Canyon is about 30 minutes from the Strip, Hoover Dam about 30 miles away, and the Grand Canyon's South Rim 278 miles by road.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing or booking. Below them you will find every sight we cover in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, and then answers to common questions.
The 18 best things to do in United States
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- 1New YorkBook ahead
Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated on October 28, 1886, and holds a tablet dated July 4, 1776. Ferries leave from The Battery in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and every ferry ticket includes the Statue of Liberty Museum, home of the original torch, and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Over 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924, most of them inspected in its Great Hall. The climb to the crown is 162 steps with no elevator, and both crown and pedestal tickets are limited.
Tip: Buy tickets only from Statue City Cruises, book crown or pedestal access well ahead, and take an early ferry, since security lines can run an hour or more at peak times.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official)Ferry ticket: $26 · Book a ferry timeLast verified
- 2New York
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn
Designed by John A. Roebling and built between 1869 and 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened. It links Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn Heights across the East River, and with its approaches it runs 6,016 feet. Walking it is the classic way to see its granite towers and stone arches up close, with the Manhattan skyline around you. On the Brooklyn side, Brooklyn Bridge Park stretches along the waterfront for 85 acres, with rolling lawns, gardens, riverside promenades and wide city views.
Tip: Stay on the pedestrian promenade and leave the cycling to the separate two-way protected bike lane, which has run along the bridge's roadway since 2021.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: NYC Department of Transportation; Brooklyn Bridge Park (official)Free to visit - 3San Francisco
Walk the Golden Gate Bridge from the Welcome Center
The Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937, after four years of work, and to cars the next day. It runs 1.7 miles including its approaches, its two towers rise 746 feet above the water, and its International Orange color was picked by consulting architect Irving F. Morrow to suit its setting. Start at the Welcome Center at the south end, which has exhibits on the construction and the original 1933 test tower, then walk out on the east sidewalk, the side facing the city. Golden Gate Transit buses from downtown stop at the Toll Plaza.
Tip: Come by bus or rideshare, since the bridge parking lots close to cars from 11 AM to 5 PM on weekends and holidays, and note the sidewalk closes at 6:30 PM from early November to early March.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (official); Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (official); Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (official); Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (official); Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District; Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (official)Free to walk - 4San FranciscoBook ahead
Explore Alcatraz, from fort to federal prison
Alcatraz sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay and has been a Civil War era fort, a military prison and, from 1934 to 1963, a maximum security federal penitentiary. It also holds the first lighthouse on the West Coast, and in 1969 the Indians of All Tribes occupied the island for 19 months in the name of Native American rights. Today it is a National Historic Landmark run by the National Park Service, with exhibits, audio tours and daily ranger talks. The only way there is the park's contracted ferry from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero, and you should plan on at least a few hours on the island.
Tip: Book the ferry well ahead, since Alcatraz often sells out in advance, and bring a warm layer and your own food, as nothing but snacks is sold on the island.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official)Day tour ferry: $47.95 · Book a ferry timeLast verified
- 5Las Vegas
Watch the Fountains of Bellagio after dark
The Fountains of Bellagio fill the lake in front of the resort with more than a thousand water jets, set to music and light. The show spans more than 1,000 feet, and the highest jets shoot water up to 460 feet into the air. It is free for anyone to watch, and each performance is different, so it is worth staying for a second or third song. Inside, next to the hotel lobby, the 14,000-square-foot Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is replanted for each season and for Lunar New Year, which makes it an easy add-on before or after the fountains.
Tip: Shows run every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes from 8:00 PM to midnight, so come after dark for more shows, and check the Conservatory's dark dates between displays before you go.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Bellagio (MGM Resorts); Bellagio (MGM Resorts)Free to watch from the sidewalk - 6Grand Canyon
Stand on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is a mile deep, carved by the Colorado River, and lies entirely in Arizona on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities. The South Rim is open all year and gets about 90 percent of visits, with the main visitor center, the historic district around El Tovar Hotel, built in 1905, and viewpoints linked by park shuttle buses along the rim. Further east, the Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932, looks over the river. Las Vegas is a common starting point, but the South Rim is 278 miles (447 km) away by road, so it makes a very long day trip. The Skywalk is a separate site on Hualapai land.
Tip: Aim to reach the entrance before 10 AM, since lines can reach two hours between 10 AM and 4 PM during spring break, summer and fall weekends.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official) - 7New York
Spend a morning in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue covers more than 5,000 years of art from around the world, in a building on the edge of Central Park. Its collection is so large that a first visit works best with a short list: the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, completed by 10 CE, Emanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware, Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, a Rembrandt self-portrait and Van Gogh's self-portrait with a straw hat. Your ticket also covers same-day entry to the Met's second location. The museum is closed on Wednesdays and stays open until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tip: Buy tickets online even though they are not required, so you can skip the ticket desk and walk straight to any gallery entrance.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: The Metropolitan Museum of ArtAdult: $30 · Buy tickets onlineLast verified
- 8San Francisco
Ride a cable car up Powell Street
Andrew Smith Hallidie tested the first cable car on Clay Street on August 2, 1873, and the cars have climbed San Francisco's hills ever since. In 1947 the mayor wanted them gone, but voters saved the Powell Street lines, and the system became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Three lines run today. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines start at Powell and Market and run over the hills to the Fisherman's Wharf area, and the California line runs from Market Street to Van Ness Avenue. At the ends of the Powell lines, the single-ended cars turn around on turntables.
Tip: Buy your fare first on the MuniMobile app or load a Clipper card, since you must pay before boarding at Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach from 8 AM to 8 PM.
Sources: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA, official); San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA, official)Single ride: $9 · Pay per rideLast verified
- 9New York
Pause at the 9/11 Memorial pools
The 9/11 Memorial honors the 2,977 people killed on September 11, 2001 in New York, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. Opened in 2011, it fills about half of the former World Trade Center site with two reflecting pools, each nearly an acre, with the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. The names of the victims are cut into the bronze parapets around them. Look for the Survivor Tree, a pear tree that endured the attacks. The Museum lies seven stories below, at bedrock.
Tip: The Memorial is free and open every day, but the Museum needs a ticket bought in advance, and you should plan at least 45 to 90 minutes inside.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: National September 11 Memorial & Museum (official); 9/11 Memorial and MuseumFree to visit - 10New York
Stroll Central Park to Bethesda Terrace
Bethesda Terrace sits in the heart of Central Park, at the north end of the tree-lined Mall, overlooking the Lake and the Ramble. Park co-designer Calvert Vaux planned it as the park's grand formal space, and his assistant Jacob Wrey Mould carved its staircases and piers with birds, fruit and flowers for the four seasons. The lower Arcade has a ceiling of nearly 16,000 Minton tiles, the only encaustic tile ceiling in the world. At the center stands the Angel of the Waters by Emma Stebbins, dedicated in 1873, which made her the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City.
Tip: Walk up the Mall from the south, then take the stairs at its end down under the drive, which bring you into the Arcade and its tiled ceiling.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Central Park Conservancy; Central Park Conservancy (official)Free to visit - 11New York
Walk the High Line above the West Side
The High Line is a park built on an elevated freight railway that was fully running by 1934, carrying meat, dairy and produce to factories on Manhattan's West Side, sometimes running straight through buildings. After the trains stopped, a local campaign saved the structure, and the first stretch of park opened in 2009 from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street. Today it is a 1.45-mile greenway that ends near Hudson Yards, with more than 500 species of plants and trees, gardens and public art. You can join or leave it at stairs along the route, and elevators serve four points.
Tip: Check the seasonal opening hours before you go, and look out for the free docent-led tours offered on select days.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Friends of the High Line (official); Friends of the High LineFree to visit - 12New YorkBook ahead
See Manhattan from the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building took just 13 months to build and opened in 1931 as the tallest building in the world. Its 102 floors of Art Deco limestone and granite still tower over the heart of Midtown. There are two observation decks. The 86th floor is open to the air at 1,050 feet, where you can step outside and hear the city below, and it stays open every day of the year, with heaters in winter. The 102nd floor is enclosed behind floor-to-ceiling glass at 1,250 feet. Exhibits on the way up cover the building's construction and its place in American history and culture.
Tip: Reserve a time in advance, aim for a dry day just after rain for the clearest views, and leave large bags at your hotel, since they are not allowed and there are no lockers.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Empire State Building (official); Empire State Realty Trust86th floor, from: $46 · 86th and 102nd floors, from: $81 · Book a time slot; prices vary by date and timeLast verified
- 13Las VegasBook ahead
Tour the old signs at the Neon Museum
Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum collects the signs that once lit up Las Vegas casinos, motels and shops. Its outdoor Neon Boneyard, on a 2.27-acre campus, holds signs from names such as the Stardust, the Dunes and the Flamingo, and 31 of them light up again. The Visitors' Center is the lobby of the old La Concha Motel, a shell-shaped building by architect Paul Revere Williams, the first Black architect to become a member of the American Institute of Architects. Museum guides lead tours through the Boneyard and the city's history.
Tip: Book a night tour, when the electrified signs are lit, as soon as your date opens 60 days ahead, and leave the camera at home, since only phone snapshots are allowed.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: The Neon Museum (official); The Neon Museum (official)Daytime adult: $25 · Evening adult: $35 · Book a time slotLast verified
- 14Las Vegas
Stroll under the lights on Fremont Street
Fremont Street is where Las Vegas began as an entertainment district, and the five blocks of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown still hold some of the city's best-known casino hotels. A giant light canopy covers the street, there are free live concerts on three stages every night, and the SlotZilla zipline sends riders flying overhead. It is open 24 hours and mixes vintage Las Vegas charm with modern shows. Several signs restored by the Neon Museum also stand as public art around downtown.
Tip: Come after dark, when the canopy lights are on and the free stage shows run every night.
Sources: Fremont Street Experience (official); The Neon Museum (official)Free to visit - 15Las Vegas
Drive the scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area lies 17 miles (27 km) west of the Las Vegas Strip, about 30 minutes away, and in 1990 it became Nevada's first National Conservation Area. Its Scenic Loop Drive passes nine stops, viewpoints and trailheads, most of them on paved roads. Short walks lead to a sundial viewpoint near the visitor center, to the Sandstone Quarry, worked from 1905 to 1912, and to the Petroglyph Wall near Willow Spring, where rock art left over hundreds or possibly thousands of years is still clear. It is a quick escape from the casinos into open desert.
Tip: From October 1 to May 31, book a timed entry reservation on Recreation.gov before you drive out, and carry plenty of water in the warmer months.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Bureau of Land Management (official); National Park Service (official) - 16Muir Woods
Walk among redwoods in Muir Woods
Muir Woods, protected as a National Monument since 1908 and named for the naturalist John Muir, keeps 550 acres of old-growth coast redwoods, the tallest type of tree in the world, on the homelands of the Coast Miwok people. Six miles of trails and boardwalks follow Redwood Creek under the tall trees, with easy loops of about 30 minutes, one hour and 90 minutes. It lies across the Golden Gate from the city, and the roads in are narrow and winding. Without a car, you can take the Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco and connect to the seasonal Muir Woods Shuttle.
Tip: Book parking or the shuttle in advance at GoMuirWoods.com and download your reservation before you leave, since there is no cell service in the woods.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official) - 17San Francisco
Graze your way through the Ferry Building Marketplace
The Ferry Building opened on July 13, 1898, and for decades its 245-foot clock tower at the foot of Market Street greeted almost everyone arriving in the city by boat. After the bridges opened its traffic faded, its interior was turned into offices, and a freeway blocked it from the city. That freeway came down after the 1989 earthquake, and in 2003 the building reopened after a four-year restoration that turned its 660-foot skylit nave into the Marketplace. Today it holds mostly local, independently owned shops, restaurants and producers, a good place for a long lunch on the Embarcadero.
Tip: Pair it with Alcatraz or Fisherman's Wharf: the historic F Line streetcars run along the Embarcadero waterfront past the Alcatraz ferry landing at Pier 33.
Sources: Ferry Building Marketplace (official); National Park Service (official)Pay as you go - 18Hoover Dam
Go inside the Hoover Dam powerplant
Hoover Dam stands in Black Canyon on the Colorado River, on the border of Nevada and Arizona, about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Work began in April 1931, the last concrete was placed in May 1935, and the dam rises 726.4 feet from its foundation rock to the road along its crest. At the Visitor Center, narrated exhibits tell the story of its building, and an observation deck gives 360-degree views of the dam, the river, Lake Mead and the bypass bridge. The guided Powerplant Tour goes through original construction tunnels to a 30-foot penstock and 8 generators in the Nevada Powerhouse.
Tip: Allow time for the vehicle security checkpoint and screening at the Visitor Center, and aim for the quieter tour times of 9:00 to 11:00 AM or 2:30 to 3:45 PM.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Bureau of Reclamation (official); Bureau of Reclamation (official); Bureau of Reclamation (official)
Every sight, city by city
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Glass-roofed garden inside Bellagio, replanted with a new seasonal display several times a year.Entry: Check seasonal changeover closures: Nov 8-13, 2026 and Jan 3-8, 2027Search tickets and tours on TiqetsDowntown Container Park
Open-air plaza of shops and small eateries built from shipping containers on Fremont Street.Entry: Pay as you goEataly Las Vegas
Italian food hall in Park MGM with pasta, pizza and gelato counters, open from morning to late.Entry: Pay as you goFamous Foods Street Eats, Resorts World
Food hall at Resorts World on the north Strip, with many counters under one roof.Entry: Pay as you goFountains of Bellagio
Water and music shows on the lake in front of Bellagio, every 15 to 30 min.Entry: Free to watch from the sidewalkSearch tours on TiqetsFremont Street Experience
Downtown pedestrian mall of old casinos under a giant video canopy, with a zip line overhead.Entry: Free to visitGrand Canal Shoppes
Venice-themed shopping streets inside the Venetian, with indoor canals and gondolas.Entry: Free to visitLas Vegas Arts District (18b)
Downtown district of galleries, vintage shops, murals, cafés and breweries around Main Street.Entry: Pay as you goThe Mob Museum
Museum of organized crime and law enforcement in a historic downtown federal building.Entry: Buy tickets online; evening arrival is discountedSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsThe Neon Museum
Outdoor yard of restored casino and motel signs, the best place to see old Vegas neon.Entry: Book a time slotSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsThe STRAT Tower
Observation tower at the north end of the Strip, with indoor and outdoor decks above the city.Entry: Buy tickets, $[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsWelcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
The neon welcome sign designed by Betty Willis in 1959, at the south end of the Strip.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on Tiqets9/11 Memorial
Two reflecting pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the 9/11 Museum beside them.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsBethesda Terrace, Central Park
Two-level terrace with an arcade and fountain at the heart of Central Park, beside the lake.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsBrookfield Place
Waterfront shopping and dining complex in Battery Park City, with food counters by the Hudson River.Entry: Pay as you goBrooklyn Bridge
The 19th-century suspension bridge with a walkway between Manhattan and Brooklyn and skyline views.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsBrooklyn Bridge Park
Waterfront park on old Brooklyn piers, facing the Lower Manhattan skyline and the bridges.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsChelsea Market
Indoor food hall and shops in a former factory building in Chelsea, open from early morning.Entry: Pay as you goChinatown
Busy downtown district of dumpling shops, bakeries, noodle houses and food markets.Entry: Pay as you goEataly Flatiron
Large Italian food hall on Fifth Avenue with counters, restaurants and a market.Entry: Pay as you goEllis Island
The former immigration station, now a museum telling the story of millions of arrivals.Entry: Included in the ferry ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsEmpire State Building
The 1931 Art Deco skyscraper, with observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors.Entry: Book a time slot; prices vary by date and timeSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsEssex Market
Lower East Side public market with more than 30 vendors selling food, produce and coffee.Entry: Pay as you goLittle Island
Small park raised on concrete piers in the Hudson River, with lawns and lookouts.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsMuseum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Modern and contemporary art museum in Midtown, from Van Gogh and Monet to Warhol.Entry: Buy tickets onlineSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsStatue of Liberty
The copper statue on Liberty Island, with a museum, pedestal and crown reached by ferry.Entry: Book a ferry timeSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsTenement Museum
Restored Lower East Side tenement apartments showing how immigrant families lived, seen on guided tours.Entry: Book a tour; online orders add a service feeSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsThe High Line
Elevated park on a former freight rail line, running from Gansevoort Street to Hudson Yards.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the world's largest art museums, on Fifth Avenue at the edge of Central Park.Entry: Buy tickets online. Closed WednesdaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsTime Out Market New York
Dumbo food hall with many kitchens under one roof and rooftop views of the bridges.Entry: Pay as you goTimes Square
The neon-lit crossroads of the theater district, busiest and brightest after dark.Entry: Free to visitWashington Square Park
Greenwich Village park known for its marble arch, fountain and street performers.Entry: Free to visitAlamo Square and the Painted Ladies
Hilltop park facing a row of Victorian houses, with the downtown skyline behind them.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsAlcatraz Island
The former federal prison island in the bay, visited by ferry with a cellhouse audio tour.Entry: Book a ferry timeSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsBalmy Alley
Short Mission alley where murals cover the walls and garage doors from one end to the other.Entry: Free to visitChinatown
The oldest Chinatown in North America, with tea shops, temples, bakeries and markets.Entry: Free to visitClement Street
The Richmond District's main street, lined with bakeries, family-run restaurants and produce shops.Entry: Pay as you goCoit Tower
The 1930s tower on Telegraph Hill, with murals of California history inside and bay views from the top.Entry: Daily from 10 AM; closes 5 PM Nov-Mar, 6 PM Apr-Oct. Tickets end one hour earlier. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.Search tickets and tours on TiqetsDolores Park
Sloping Mission park popular for picnics, with wide views over the city skyline.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsFerry Building Marketplace
Food hall in the historic ferry terminal on the Embarcadero, with a farmers market outside.Entry: Pay as you goFisherman's Wharf
Waterfront area of seafood stands, sourdough bakeries and piers, busiest around Jefferson Street.Entry: Pay as you goGolden Gate Bridge
The orange suspension bridge across the Golden Gate strait, with a sidewalk open to walkers.Entry: Free to walkSearch tours on TiqetsHaight-Ashbury
The birthplace of 1960s flower power, now known for vintage clothing and record shops.Entry: Free to visitJapantown
The oldest Japantown in the US, with ramen, sushi and sweet shops around the Peace Pagoda.Entry: Pay as you goLombard Street
The steep block of eight hairpin bends between Hyde and Leavenworth streets on Russian Hill.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsMission District taquerias
Long-running taquerias around 24th and Mission streets, home of the Mission-style burrito.Entry: Pay as you goMission Dolores
The adobe Old Mission and basilica where San Francisco began, with a small museum and cemetery.Entry: Self-guided visit, $[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsNorth Beach
The city's Italian quarter along Columbus Avenue, full of cafés, bakeries and old-school restaurants.Entry: Pay as you goPalace of Fine Arts
Classical rotunda and lagoon, the only structure left from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsTwin Peaks
Two hills near the center of the city, among the highest natural viewpoints over San Francisco.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in the United States for a first trip?
Start with the classics in the three big cities. In New York, take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, walk the Brooklyn Bridge and spend a morning at the Met. In San Francisco, walk the Golden Gate Bridge, ride a cable car and visit Alcatraz. In Las Vegas, watch the Bellagio fountains and see the Neon Museum by night. If you have more time, add Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon's South Rim from Las Vegas, or Muir Woods from San Francisco.
Sources: National Park Service (official); NYC Department of Transportation; Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District; National Park Service (official); Bellagio (MGM Resorts); The Neon Museum (official); Bureau of Land Management (official); Bureau of Reclamation (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official)How many days do you need for New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas?
Plan at least a week for all three, plus flying time between them. New York deserves three or four days: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island alone fill most of a day, and the 9/11 Museum needs 45 to 90 minutes. San Francisco suits two or three days, with at least a few hours for Alcatraz. Las Vegas needs two days, or three if you add the Grand Canyon, which is 278 miles from the city by road, too far for a relaxed day trip.
Sources: National Park Service (official); 9/11 Memorial and Museum; National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official)What is the best time to visit the United States for sightseeing?
Spring and fall suit all three cities best. New York has warm to hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters with snow, and it is windier out on the harbor. San Francisco's fog rolls in through spring and summer, its rain falls mostly from November to March, and September and October are usually its warmest months. Around Las Vegas, spring is pleasant, while July to September brings highs of 89 to 103°F (32 to 40°C), and in the Grand Canyon the inner canyon can pass 110°F (43°C).
Sources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official)Which US attractions should you book in advance?
Book the big ones as soon as your dates are fixed. Alcatraz often sells out a week or more ahead. Statue of Liberty crown and pedestal tickets are limited and sold online only. The 9/11 Museum and the Empire State Building need advance reservations. Muir Woods requires parking or shuttle bookings, and Red Rock Canyon needs a timed entry reservation from October 1 to May 31. The Neon Museum releases tickets 60 days ahead. Most parks, bridges and markets need no booking.
Sources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); 9/11 Memorial and Museum; Empire State Realty Trust; National Park Service (official); Bureau of Land Management (official); The Neon Museum (official)How do you get around New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas?
In New York, the subway is the quickest way around: tap a contactless bank card, phone or OMNY Card at the turnstile when you enter, and a weekly fare cap applies if you use the same card. In San Francisco, use a Clipper card or the MuniMobile app for Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars, and buy cable car fares before boarding at the busy end stops. In Las Vegas, the monorail runs along the Strip with seven stations and trains every 4 to 8 minutes.
Sources: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA, official); San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA, official); Las Vegas Monorail (official)How do you stay safe in the desert heat around Las Vegas?
Take the heat seriously from late spring to early fall. Near Las Vegas, summer highs reach 103°F (40°C), and some trails close for safety. At the Grand Canyon, rangers urge caution from May to September and advise against hiking below the rim between 10 AM and 4 PM. Carry more water than you think you need, plus salty snacks, and plan outdoor sights like Red Rock Canyon for early morning. Even the Neon Museum's outdoor tours can be cancelled in excessive heat.
Sources: National Park Service (official); National Park Service (official); Bureau of Land Management (official); The Neon Museum (official)