12: Comprised of 50 states, the USA occupies an area that's only just marginally smaller

17: than Europe.

18: It's in this vast country that you will find an unbelievably diverse array of natural

24: landscapes, cityscapes, people and cultures.

27: From the tropical islands of Hawaii to the desert landscape of the Grand Canyon, as well

32: as the multicultural cities such as Chicago and New York City, you'll never be stuck

38: for destinations to discover.

39: Here's a look at the best places to visit in the USA:

57: Number 25.

58: Aspen.

59: Aspen, Colorado, is the place to go for skiing in the USA.

63: Four separate skiing areas – Aspen Highlands, Ajax Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass further

69: down the valley – make it a frosty playground for winter sports.

73: Aspen exploded as a silver mining town in the late 19th century; something reflected

78: in the architecture from this time.

80: Summer is a good time for heading to the hills and there are hiking opportunities galore

85: nearby.

119: Number 24.

120: Atlanta.

122: The capital and largest city of Georgia, Atlanta is a sprawling city with three urban skylines

127: rising up from the picturesque scenery of rolling hills, pine forest, magnificent old

132: oak trees and charming magnolia trees.

136: Established as a railroad terminus in 1837, Atlanta has emerged as the leader of the New

141: South.

142: The city's top attractions are the CNN Center, World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium,

148: which features the world's largest indoor aquarium.

181: Number 23.

182: Yosemite National Park.

185: World-famous Yosemite National Park has become the iconic hangout for keen wilderness hikers,

190: who enjoy spending weekends attempting the many trails that crisscross the parks.

195: Yosemite is high on many bucket-lists, with people drawn to its dramatic scenery and beautiful

200: wildlife, powerful waterfalls, impressive sequoias and jaw-dropping cliffs.

206: Iconic and photogenic centerpieces include the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half

211: Dome as well as the imposing Bridalveil Fall.

242: Number 22.

243: Zion National Park

244: Even among America's National Parks, few can match the stunning beauty of Zion National

250: Park.

251: Situated near Springdale in southern Utah, the park protects a series of incredible rock

256: formations and high sandstone cliffs, and is a favorite spot for hiking, canyoneering

261: and climbing.

263: Unlike many other parks in the American Southwest, where visitors look down from the rim of a

268: canyon, visitors to Zion walk on the canyon floor and look up.

272: In addition to the magnificent monoliths and cliffs, the park is known for its desert landscape

277: of sandstone canyons, mesas, and high plateaus.

308: Number 21.

310: San Antonio.

311: The jewel of Texas, San Antonio is a city steeped in both rich history and modern day

317: appeal.

318: Located in south-central Texas, the city is one of the largest in the United States and

323: best known as the home to the Alamo.

325: Another of San Antonio's most visited attractions is the Riverwalk, a vibrant pedestrian scene

331: of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues stretching along both sides of the San Antonio

336: River right in the middle of the downtown area.

374: Number 20.

375: Savannah.

376: The quintessential Southern city, Savannah draws millions of tourists every year to its

380: charming scenes of Victorian architecture, cobbled streets and moss-draped oaks.

386: Lying on the Atlantic Coast in eastern Georgia, Savannah is the state's oldest city, rich

391: in history, hospitality and natural beauty.

395: A walk around the Historic District's cobbled streets allows views of beautiful old mansions

400: from the 19th century and historic sites.

403: When you've had enough of old buildings, a stroll through the tree-lined paths of leafy

407: Forsyth Park is bound to refresh you.

437: Number 19.

438: Philadelphia.

439: Commonly referred to by locals as “Philly,” Philadelphia is major US city in southeastern

445: Pennsylvania and home to the iconic Liberty Bell and the Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

451: Regarded as the “Birthplace of America,” Philadelphia is known as the city in which

456: the country's founding fathers signed the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the US

462: Constitution.

463: There's a host of interesting art museums to visit in the city, including the Philadelphia

467: Museum of Art, which is not only one of the largest in the world, but also famous for

473: its long flight of steps which were featured in the 1976 film “Rocky”.

506: Number 18.

507: Sedona.

508: Located in the north-central part of Arizona, the town of Sedona is known for its vibrant

513: art scene and spiritual retreats.

515: However, Sedona's most popular attraction is the breathtaking array of red sandstone

520: formations that create a striking red and orange backdrop to the town.

525: Attracting artists, spiritual seekers and outdoor lovers alike, Sedona's brilliant

530: landscape offers much to see and do.

534: Incredible natural landmarks like Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock present excellent

538: photograph opportunities.

567: Number 17.

569: San Diego.

570: Centered around a natural harbor, the coastal Californian city of San Diego is located on

575: the border with Mexico.

576: It's rich in Mexican culture, delicious seafood and blessed with a year-round mild

581: climate.

583: Visitors are attracted to the city for its laid-back mindset, and opportunities to soak

587: up some beautiful sun, sea, and sand.

590: Then there's also the bustling Balboa Park, where you can find San Diego Zoo, among dozens

596: of museums and botanic gardens.

632: Number 16.

633: Denali National Park.

635: Covering a massive expanse of mountainous land in Alaska, Denali National Park is the

640: third largest national park in the United States.

643: The piece de resistance of this incredible slice of wilderness is Denali.

648: Once known as Mount McKinley, this is the tallest mountain not just in the USA, but

653: the whole of North America.

655: Bike, hike or mountaineer yourself through this region for stunning scenery and sights

660: of grizzly bears, wolves, and moose.

690: Number 15.

691: New Orleans.

693: Regarded as one of the most unique cities in the USA, New Orleans is widely known for

698: its distinctive French Creole culture, cuisine, and architecture as well as jazz music and

704: the annual Mardi Gras celebration.

707: Situated in southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans is the state's largest city and a major

712: US seaport.

713: Devastated by heavy flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans is now mostly

719: recovered and remains one of the best places to visit in the USA.

762: Number 14.

763: Niagara Falls.

764: The world-famous Niagara Falls straddle Ontario in Canada and the American state of New York.

771: Located on the Niagara River, the falls are a culmination of the flow of water that gushes

776: out of the Upper Great Lakes and are actually made up of three falls – Horseshoe Falls,

781: the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.

784: Six million cubic feet of water cascades over the ridge every second, making for an incredibly

791: impressive site which draws an estimated 30 million tourists a year.

830: Number 13.

831: Boston.

832: One of the oldest cities in the USA, Boston is best known for its wealth of American history,

838: architecture and academic institutions.

841: The capital and largest city in New England, Boston is spectacular sight in spring and

846: autumn with flowering trees and fall foliage.

850: As the setting of many historic events that led up to the American Revolution, Boston

854: is steeped in early American history.

898: Number 12.

899: Miami.

900: One of the most vivacious cities in the USA, Miami is best known for its sunny beaches,

905: Latin culture and sizzling nightlife.

908: Located in southeastern Florida off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is also a major

913: port city managing the world's largest number of passenger cruise ships.

917: Across the bay from Miami on a barrier island is Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco architecture

923: and glamorous South Beach.

967: Number 11.

968: Seattle.

969: Home to global giants like Boeing, Starbucks and Amazon, Seattle is the largest city of

974: the USA's Pacific Northwest region.

977: Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City due to its lush scenery resulting from a rainy

982: climate.

983: The skyline of Seattle is a thicket of towering skyscrapers.

987: The crowning glory is the futuristic 605-foot tall Space Needle, built in 1962.

993: The city is well-known for it's seafood, which you can try at the historic Pike Place

998: Market.

999: What's more: the surrounding pine forests make for perfect hiking.

1036: Number 10.

1038: Hawaii.

1039: The Polynesian archipelago of Hawaii is a veritable paradise that's spread across

1043: hundreds of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

1046: With its tropical climate, famously pristine beaches and wealth of natural scenery, Hawaii

1051: has been promoted as a tropical destination since the end of WW2.

1056: The islands are also a prime destination of surfers from around the world.

1060: Despite the steady influx of visitors, indigenous Hawaiian culture still thrives and can be

1066: seen in ceremonies, traditions and folk music.

1106: Number 9.

1107: Orlando.

1108: Home to world famous theme parks like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios,

1113: Orlando is no doubt a favorite destination for family vacations.

1118: Located in central Florida, Orlando is a place where dreams and magic become reality.

1124: With several amusement parks, visitors to Orlando can meet their favorite storybook

1128: characters, reenact live famous movie scenes, ride thrilling roller coasters and watch dolphins

1134: performing marvelous tricks.

1170: Number 8.

1171: Washington DC.

1173: The capital of the United States and seat of the federal government, Washington D.C.

1177: is located on the country's East Coast.

1180: A cosmopolitan city that is home to many diverse cultures, Washington is widely known by its

1185: many iconic landmarks like the White House, Capitol Building, the Washington Monument

1190: and the Lincoln Memorial.

1192: Many of these monuments are all located within the beautifully landscaped parkland known

1197: as the National Mall.

1242: Number 7.

1243: Los Angeles.

1244: The second-largest city in the USA, Los Angeles is located in southern California surrounded

1249: by the Pacific Coast, mountains and valleys.

1253: Often regarded as the “Entertainment Capital of the World”, LA is awash with celebrity

1258: culture.

1259: You can see the handprints of film stars on Hollywood Boulevard or go on a tour to see

1264: stars' homes in Beverly Hills.

1266: For laid back days there's the bohemian neighbourhood of Venice Beach, home to Muscle

1270: Beach and a rambling promenade that doubles as a stage for all sorts of quirky street

1276: performers.

1303: Number 6.

1304: Chicago.

1305: Nicknamed the “Windy City” and best known for its towering skyscrapers, sports teams

1309: and unique style of hot dogs and pizzas, Chicago is the third-largest city in the USA.

1316: Located on Lake Michigan in the heart of the Midwest region in northeastern Illinois, Chicago

1320: is a major hub for finance, industry, and commerce.

1324: The city's numerous sites range from the futuristic Millennium Park and the iconic

1328: Sears Tower to the Navy Pier with its parks, restaurants, and amusements.

1333: Numerous genres of music such as Jazz, Blues, and House music have roots in the live music

1338: venues around Chicago.

1377: Number 5.

1379: Yellowstone.

1380: Established in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for being the very first national park in

1385: the world.

1386: There are numerous geysers to watch here – notably Old Faithful, which is practically legendary;

1392: it never fails to erupt on schedule.

1395: And then there's the multicolored Grand Prismatic Spring, ringed by rainbow colors

1400: thanks to different bacteria that live in the cooler sections of this boiling body of

1405: water.

1406: Yellowstone National Park is also home to more wild animals than just about any place

1410: in the United States.

1448: Number 4.

1449: Las Vegas.

1450: You wouldn't think a city in the middle of the desert in Nevada would be as popular

1454: as it is, but it's thanks to the cavalcade of casinos here that Las Vegas is so famous.

1459: The most well-known casinos themselves are practically household names: Caesar's Palace,

1464: MGM Grand, the Bellagio.

1467: In addition to gambling, show girls and lavish performances, Las Vegas offers plenty more

1472: to suit people of all ages and interests.

1475: On the main street called the Strip, there are the Bellagio's impressive fountain shows,

1480: a replica of the Eiffel Tower and an Egyptian pyramid, amongst other landmarks.

1523: Number 3.

1524: San Francisco.

1525: Set on the tip of a peninsula, San Francisco is a beautiful city in northern California

1530: that is famous for a lot of things.

1532: Undoubtedly, the Golden Gate Bridge is the city's number one attraction.

1537: Tourists can drive, bike ride or walk across this famous suspension bridge to admire and

1543: photograph stunning views.

1545: There's also the bustling Chinatown, the seafood at the ever-popular Fisherman's

1549: Wharf, the notorious island prison of Alcatraz and the famously steep and winding Lombard

1555: Street.

1556: You'll be hard pressed to get bored in this fascinating city.

1567: Number 2.

1583: Grand Canyon.

1585: Attracting millions of visitors every year, the Grand Canyon is one of those bucket list

1589: destinations in the USA.

1591: Located in northern Arizona, this massive natural wonder was carved by the Colorado

1596: River over a period of several million years.

1599: It is not the deepest or the longest canyon in the world but the overwhelming size and

1605: colorful landscape offers visitor vistas that are hard to match.

1609: Simply find a viewpoint and peer over the edge, or fly over it in a helicopter.

1614: If you want a really long hike, go for the Rim-to-Rim Trail but don't forget to pack

1619: plenty of water, this is an unrelenting desert climate, after all.

1643: Number 1.

1644: New York City.

1646: The jewel in the crown of the USA when it comes to urban areas, New York is a megacity

1651: that is absolutely packed full of iconic places, areas, and buildings.

1656: In fact, sometimes it feels like you're walking through familiar territory, thanks

1660: to how often the city features in Hollywood films.

1663: There's Central Park, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Times Square – even

1668: the “Five Boroughs” that make up NYC are famous.

1671: Then there's the culture: Koreatown, multiple Chinatowns, the remnants of Little Italy,

1676: and communities from Jewish to African American make New York a true world city made rich

1682: by the people who've flocked here from all over the world.