The best U.S. landmarks to add to your bucket list

Raise your hand if you have a favorite U.S. landmark or monument. I do. It's the Statue of Liberty and all that she represents. My grandmother and great-grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Italy in the late 1800s. Once they arrived, they settled practically in the shadow of the statue in Brooklyn, New York.

For me, visiting this landmark is a way to reconnect with my family's past. I recently took my son there as well. We made a day of it, starting with a ferry ride from Battery Park. (The ride alone is a treat if you're traveling with a curious child who loves boats.) We hopped off at the Statue of Liberty and walked all around, taking in her grandeur on a bright summer day. After that, we rode the ferry to Ellis Island to explore the National Museum of Immigration. We even searched for my grandparents' last name in the ship manifests. The entire day was a memorable way for my son to learn about the waves of immigration that helped shape this country's identity.

The Statue of Liberty is, of course, just one of many well-known U.S. landmarks across the country. Some are man-made, while others are awe-inspiring natural wonders. Read on for the best U.S. landmarks to add to your bucket list.

Mount Vernon, Va.

The home of the first U.S. president and one of the nation's Founding Fathers, the Mount Vernon estate offers an in-depth look at life in the late 18th century. The property includes a mansion, farm, distillery, gardens, museum and the president's tomb.

Exploring this landmark helps bring history to life, says travel expert Michelle Jensen, editor of Travel HerStory . "Mount Vernon provides a lot of context for what life was like for the Founding Fathers," says Jensen. "History can sometimes feel very distant, but being in the home of the first president of the United States and his wife, Martha, grounds that time period."

Visitors to the estate can tour Washington's home and peruse a museum that traces Washington's life, starting with his first job as a land surveyor. There are also numerous guided tours available, covering everything from the gardens and landscape to Washington's visionary farming techniques, as well as a new exhibit that delves into the lives of the enslaved people who lived on the estate.

"All of this is very family-friendly, and the best time of year to visit is outside the summer [when it's] super hot and overrun with school groups on end-of-year trips," says Jensen. "Show up earlier in the morning for fewer crowds and also to enjoy the entire estate."

Women's Rights National Historic Park, N.Y.

The struggle for women's equality has been a defining part of this country's story, and continues to be so today. And at the Women's Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, you can explore this important subject in great detail.

The park includes a visitor center, the Wesleyan Chapel, where the First Women's Rights Convention was held in 1848, and the homes of a few of the well-known women involved in the Suffrage Movement, including that of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. An author, lecturer and philosopher, Stanton (along with Susan B. Anthony) helped shape the women's Suffrage Movement and is credited with drafting the Declaration of Sentiments, a document widely believed to be one of the most important artifacts in the history of women's rights in this country.

There are 45-minute ranger-led talks at Stanton's home from late May through late August on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, during which visitors can learn about her life and what led her to champion the fight for equal rights.

Explore even more at the park's visitor center and museum (open from late December through August). Exhibits include interactive videos, life-size bronze sculptures of the five women who organized the first Women's Rights Convention and a detailed timeline of women's history in the U.S. There are also special events, talks and tours at the park during the year , including events focused on the intersection of Suffrage and science.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is another bucket-list-worthy U.S. landmark dedicated to an individual who had a profound impact on the country's trajectory. Located along the National Mall's tidal basin, the memorial was created to recognize King's struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.

The centerpiece is a 30-foot-tall granite sculpture of the man who's often described as one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in history. This striking outdoor landmark also includes a 450-foot-long Inscription Wall featuring 14 famous quotes from King's life. There are also ranger programs throughout the day and site tours (just look for signage at the memorial with details about timing and availability). And if you visit during spring, the landscape around the memorial will likely be awash in blooming cherry blossom trees.

The Washington, D.C., memorial dedicated to King is merely one location in the U.S. where you can immerse yourself in his life and legacy. The Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., is another that deserves a mention. It's where King was assassinated on a balcony in front of his hotel room. Today, the hotel is home to the important National Civil Rights Museum , which houses exhibits that cover not only King's life but also the entire U.S. Civil Rights Movement.

Like the Lincoln Memorial, this entire space is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and there's no fee to visit.

Crazy Horse Memorial, S.D.

Long before white settlers arrived from across the ocean, the U.S. was inhabited by Indigenous communities. In fact, archaeological and genetic research has established that people have been in what is now the U.S. for at least 23,000 years — and maybe even as long as 30,000 years — according to the National Park Service .

One of the most memorable ways to explore some of this country's Indigenous history is by visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. This landmark preserves and showcases the cultures, traditions and heritage of Native American communities, but the highlight here is the colossal mountainside carving of Crazy Horse.

A warrior and  Oglala Sioux leader,  Crazy Horse is famous for his fierce fight to protect his people's way of life and his effort to prevent their forced relocation to reservations during the late 1800s. The enormous mountain carving in Crazy Horse's honor (which is a work in progress) features a face that's more than 87 feet tall, a 263-foot outstretched arm and a finger that's 29 feet long.  

The memorial is also home to the Indian Museum of North America , which showcases the art and artifacts from more than 300 Native Nations. While visiting, be sure to catch one of the daily live performances by Native American storytellers and dancers, which take place from mid-May through the end of September. The Crazy Horse Memorial website provides performance schedule information.

Grand Canyon, Ariz.

One of the most recognizable and awe-inspiring landmarks in the U.S., the Grand Canyon is a geologic wonder and an iconic representation of the American Southwest. At 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide in some places, the sheer size of the canyon is jaw-dropping. It's also remarkable to think that this canyon took anywhere from 3 to 6 million years to form, according to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center .

"The scale is hard to wrap your head around," says Annie Schlegel , a travel adviser with Envoyage Travel. "You're looking out over layers of red rock that just keep going, with the Colorado River winding through the canyon almost a mile below."

Visitors to the Grand Canyon can explore both its north and south rims. But it's the south rim that's most accessible and family-friendly with paved walking paths, scenic viewpoints and a free shuttle system to get around. There's also a visitor center on the south rim and a theater showing two engaging, educational films about the canyon. One of the films takes you on a "rim to river" journey of the canyon, while the other features the 11 tribal communities that have lived in and around the canyon for thousands of years. 

More adventurous visitors can also hike into the canyon to gain an entirely different perspective on this stunning natural creation. For an especially memorable moment, try visiting the canyon around sunrise or sunset. (Or both.)

"The light changes everything throughout the day, and sunrise and sunset are when it really shows off, with deeper colors and a completely different feel," says Schlegel. "Plan dinner in Grand Canyon Village and take a walk after dark on the paved walkways. The stars over the canyon are remarkably clear and it catches most people completely off guard."

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. 

This list would hardly be complete without the Lincoln Memorial ,a site commemorating one of the most towering figures in American history, literally and figuratively, and a man who's credited with saving the Union. 

The larger-than-life landmark was inspired by ancient Greek temples, and its sheer size and grandeur are a sight to behold. The memorial includes 36 enormous columns, each representing one of the 36 states that existed at the time of Lincoln's death. The statue of President Lincoln, meanwhile, is an imposing 19 feet tall and weighs a staggering 175 tons.

Inside the memorial, the north and south walls feature carved inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches in their entirety — his second inaugural address and his most well-known speech, the Gettysburg Address, which included the famous words "a government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."  

It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and free to explore without tickets or advance reservations. 

Biltmore Estate, N.C.

A landmark that sprang from a formative chapter of U.S. history, the Gilded Age and the rise of industrialists, the Biltmore Estate reflects one of the most opulent periods in the country's past. This man-made wonder is famous for being America's largest home, though describing it as "large" hardly does this opulent mansion justice.

Constructed for George and Edith Vanderbilt and sitting on 8,000 acres of land, Biltmore includes 250 rooms across more than four acres of floor space (with 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms, but who's counting?) The stunning property was built between 1889 and 1895 and is a symbol of the excessive wealth generated during the Gilded Age by industrialists, bankers and politicians.

With so much ground to cover, it's hard to decide where to begin. Consider starting with a self-guided tour of the house, which takes visitors across three floors and the basement. Throughout, you'll see displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, and furniture. Additional tour options include a backstairs tour of domestic staff areas, a rooftop tour, a tour of the home's artwork, and there are even a few exclusive tours that take you into rarely accessed areas of the home.

There's also all manner of outdoor activities here, ranging from garden tours to guided bike rides, guided trail rides on horseback, carriage tours and bird watching tours. With so much to see and do, you could even book a room and stay the night, as the Biltmore estate now also includes three lodging options on its grounds that range in price from moderate to luxury.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Hawaii

On a Sunday morning in 1941, the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Imperial Japanese Navy, killing more than 2,400 Americans. It was an attack that precipitated the U.S. entry into World War II, triggering profound changes in nearly every aspect of American life.

Today, the site of the attack in Honolulu is the Pearl Harbor National Memorial , which includes a visitor center, the USS Arizona Memorial, and memorials for the USS Oklahoma and the USS Utah.

For many visitors, exploring the USS Arizona Memorial is the most moving part of a visit to Pearl Harbor, as it floats directly above the sunken battleship and the bodies of sailors and Marines who died in the attack.

A white concrete building, the USS Arizona Memorial stretches 184 feet and was built to look like it's sagging at the center but standing strong at both ends. This design is meant to convey American pride before the war, followed by defeat, and the far end symbolizes subsequent victory.

To learn the full story of this hallowed site, be sure to spend time at Pearl Harbor Memorial's visitor center, where exhibits include personal narratives, historical artifacts and multimedia presentations.