America Snapshots

Thor’s Well, Oregon

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Thor’s Well located near Cape Perpetua in Oregon. Photo by John Fowler. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Thor’s Well Fun Fact: Thor’s Well, also known as the “Drainpipe of the Pacific,” is an optical illusion! While it appears to be a bottomless pit sucking in seawater, Thor’s Well is actually only about 20 feet deep. It’s a collapsed sea cave, and during high tide, waves crash into it from below, creating dramatic, fountain-like bursts of water that give it the appearance of endlessly draining the ocean.

You can book your Oregon tours at Viator.com.

Statue of Liberty, New York City

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Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York City. Photo by William Warby. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Statue of Liberty Fun Fact: The Statue of Liberty wasn’t always green! When France gifted it to the United States in 1885, the statue was actually a shiny, reddish-brown color because it was made from copper. Over the next 30 years, oxidation turned Lady Liberty green as a natural patina formed, which now protects the statue from further corrosion.

You can book your New York City tours at Viator.com.

Millennium Park, Chicago

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Cloud Gate aka “The Bean” at the Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Shelby Bell. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Cloud Gate Fun Fact: Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean”, was inspired by liquid mercury! Created by artist Anish Kapoor, the sculpture’s mirrored surface captures and distorts Chicago’s skyline and the surrounding scenery, making it a favorite spot for unique reflections and photos. It’s made from 168 stainless steel plates seamlessly welded together, which gives it that smooth, otherworldly look.

You can book your Chicago tours at Viator.com.

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

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Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Photo by National Park Service. This photo has been released to the public domain.

Denali National Park and Preserve Fun Fact: Denali National Park and Preserve is home to North America’s tallest mountain, Denali, which rises to 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). Amazingly, Denali creates its own weather patterns due to its sheer height and size, often with clouds or snow swirling around the peak even when the surrounding areas are clear. So, if you visit, you may find that the mountain has a mind of its own when it comes to weather!

You can book your Denali National Park tours at Viator.com.

Yosemite National Park, California

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Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Moppet65535. This photo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Yosemite National Park Fun Fact: Yosemite National Park has some of the tallest waterfalls in North America! Yosemite Falls, the tallest in the park, drops a total of 2,425 feet (739 meters) from the top to the base. It’s made up of three distinct sections: the Upper Fall, the Middle Cascades, and the Lower Fall. When it’s at peak flow in the spring, it creates a powerful and stunning display that can be seen from miles away!

You can book your Yosemite National Park tours at Viator.com.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Beautiful historic building in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Photo by Asaavedra32. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Santa Fe Fun Fact: Santa Fe, New Mexico, is actually the oldest capital city in the United States! Founded by Spanish colonists in 1610, it was established even before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. This makes Santa Fe over 400 years old, and the city’s historic architecture and distinct adobe buildings reflect its rich blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cultural influences.

You can book your Santa Fe tours at Viator.com.

Space Center Houston, Houston

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Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas. Photo by John Cummings. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Space Center Houston Fun Fact: Space Center Houston houses a real Saturn V rocket, the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever launched successfully. It’s one of only three remaining Saturn V rockets in the world, and visitors can walk right up to it in its giant hangar!

You can book your Houston tours at Viator.com.

Asheville Pinball Museum, Asheville

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Asheville Pinball Museum in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo by Stilfehler. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Asheville Pinball Museum Fun Fact: Asheville Pinball Museum has over 80 playable pinball machines and classic arcade games, ranging from vintage machines from the 1960s to more modern ones. Visitors can play as much as they like on all machines with a single admission fee – so it’s both a museum and an arcade paradise!

You can book your Asheville tours at Viator.com.

Portland Head Light, Maine

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Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Photo by Rapidfire. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Portland Head Light Fun Fact: Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, commissioned by George Washington himself! Completed in 1791, it has guided ships along the rugged Maine coast for over 230 years, and it’s said that the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired by it, as he often visited the lighthouse and even wrote a poem titled The Lighthouse.

You can book your Maine tours at Viator.com.

Big Sur, California

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Big Sur in California. Photo by Diliff. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Big Sur Fun Fact: Big Sur is home to Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in California. This iconic structure, completed in 1932, spans a deep canyon and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The bridge’s unique design and stunning location have made it a star in countless movies, TV shows, and car commercials!

You can book your Big Sur tours at Viator.com.