1

Grand Canyon

Image: Tim Hart

The Grand Canyon: Every angle seems worthy of a picture! This Arizona landmark is truly awe-inspiring, and very few would be able to visit without wanting to take home endless photos of it.

Whether you capture shots from the rim, hike to the bottom, or take a mule ride, the views are simply unforgettable. Hoover Dam is the second most photographed spot in Nevada—a worthy opponent!

2

Central Park

Image: Jermaine Ee

Not only is New York’s gem the most filmed park, but it’s also the most photographed in the state!

A stroll through the oasis that is Central Park always merits a picture or two. Scenic green spaces, bike and boat rides, flower gardens, and even a zoo—there’s no shortage of photo-worthy spots. That’s enough to surpass the number of pictures taken from the Empire State Building and even Niagara Falls upstate.

3

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Image: Nico Smit

Picture this: you, a Mai Tai, and the sparkling Pacific Ocean. That’s the vibe at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, the most photographed spot in the Aloha State.

A paradise on Oahu’s famous Waikiki Beach, this resort—featuring its iconic Rainbow Tower, lush gardens, and multiple pools—certainly has no shortage of social-media-worthy corners.

4

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Image: Connor Gan

This one wasn’t hard to guess. South Dakota’s most photographed spot is Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a truly awe-inspiring sight: the 60-foot faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved into the granite mountainside.

Did you know it took 14 years to complete and involved over 400 workers? Arguably, it deserves all the attention it still gets.

5

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Image: Brian McGowan

Another easy guess: the most magical place on Earth! Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots for tourists—and that’s in a state known for its paradisiacal beaches, like those in Miami and Key West!

It seems that castles, parades, fireworks, and timeless characters are enough to win the hearts of most Florida visitors.

6

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1701919747996-1e9531dde0a9?

A one-of-a-kind outdoor venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado undoubtedly takes home the prize. Nestled among stunning red rock formations, this dramatic landscape looks even more breathtaking at sunrise.

Imagine an epic rock concert there—or simply the joy of standing at its center and hearing your voice naturally amplified.

7

Wrigley Field

Image: Blake Guidry

Whether you're a Chicago fan or not, the unwritten rule for tourists is simple: if you walk by Wrigley Field, you snap a picture. It’s a baseball lover’s dream and a must-see for any visitor to the Windy City.

Home to the Chicago Cubs, this historic ballpark has witnessed its share of legendary moments, from Babe Ruth’s called shot to the Cubs’ unforgettable 2016 World Series win. It even appears in more pictures than The Bean or Navy Pier!

8

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Image: Chang Ye

Is the movie Rocky to blame? Maybe. The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of masterpieces from around the world. But let's be honest—most people just want to photograph or film themselves conquering the "Rocky Steps."

In the famous movie, the protagonist climbs those stairs daily as part of his training before his big triumph. His fists-up gesture is so famous that they even added a statue of him nearby! After your triumphant run and snapshots, take some time to explore the museum’s galleries and admire its stunning architecture.

9

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Image: Daniel Halseth

Sun, sand, and surf! Virginia Beach Oceanfront is the perfect destination for a classic beach getaway.

A scenic boardwalk, fresh seafood, and a towering 12-foot bronze statue of King Neptune are all frequent subjects of photos taken in this area. Even the occasional seagull makes for a popular portrait choice!

10

Brown University

Image: Keming Tan

Several universities rank among the most photographed spots in their states, and Brown University is no exception! This Rhode Island Ivy League school boasts a beautiful historic campus, complete with Gothic architecture and an intellectual atmosphere that captivates visitors.

Brown’s campus is so popular and charming that online tours are available for people to explore from the comfort of their own computers!

11

Disneyland

Image: Brandi Alexandra

Did you see it coming? Another Disney win! The original theme park, located in Anaheim, California, appears in more photos than the Santa Monica Pier, Golden Gate Park, or Hollywood’s Universal Studios. Walt Disney, who personally oversaw the park’s construction, would surely be proud!

1

Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s Jaws forever changed the way people looked at sharks. The story of a rogue great white terrorizing the fictional town of Amity Island became the first true summer blockbuster and remains one of the most influential thrillers ever made. Ironically, the film showed surprisingly little of the shark because the mechanical model, nicknamed Bruce, kept malfunctioning during production.

The movie’s impact stretched far beyond the box office. Many people began viewing sharks as bloodthirsty predators, even though attacks on humans are extremely rare. Author Peter Benchley, who wrote the book on which the film is based, later became a passionate shark conservation advocate and admitted he regretted helping reinforce that stereotype after learning more about these remarkable creatures.

2

King Kong (1933)

Long before computer-generated creatures (unfortunately) ruled Hollywood, audiences were amazed by King Kong , the giant ape brought to life through stop-motion animation . The film introduced one of cinema’s greatest icons, but it also reinforced the old idea that gorillas were savage monsters lurking in mysterious jungles.

Modern science tells us a very different story. Real gorillas are intelligent, gentle, highly social animals that spend most of their time eating plants and caring for family groups. Conservationists helped transform public understanding of great apes, showing that they’re far more vulnerable to humans than humans are to them.

3

The Birds (1963)

Alfred Hitchcock proved that almost anything could become terrifying, even pigeons and seagulls . The Birds imagines a scenario in which ordinary birds suddenly begin attacking people — without any explanation. That uncertainty became one of the film’s greatest strengths.

In reality, birds rarely attack humans, except when defending their nests or chicks during breeding season. The movie helped define the "nature strikes back" genre, but outside the theater, your neighborhood flock is much more likely to steal a French fry than launch a coordinated assault.

4

Cujo (1983)

Few movie dogs have inspired as much fear as Cujo , the enormous St. Bernard whose rabies transforms him from a lovable family pet into a relentless killer . Based on Stephen King’s novel, the film left many viewers unfairly suspicious of one of the world’s gentlest breeds.

Actual St. Bernards earned their reputation in a completely different way. For centuries, monks at Switzerland’s Great St. Bernard Pass bred these dogs to rescue stranded travelers crossing the snowy Alps. They’re famous for patience, loyalty, and calm temperaments, not aggression.

5

Arachnophobia (1990)

For people who already disliked spiders, this movie certainly didn’t help. Aracnophobia mixed horror with comedy as a deadly fictional spider species spread terror through a quiet California town , turning every corner of the house into a potential danger zone.

The truth is much less dramatic. Scientists have identified roughly 50,000 spider species, but only a tiny percentage can seriously harm humans. Most spiders spend their lives quietly eating insects and avoiding people whenever possible, making them surprisingly helpful roommates.

6

Anaconda (1997)

The Amazon rainforest became home to one of Hollywood’s biggest reptilian villains in Anaconda . The enormous snake hunts humans with impossible speed, intelligence, and appetite , creating a memorable creature feature starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight.

Real green anacondas are certainly impressive; they’re among the heaviest snakes on Earth, but humans aren’t on their menu. Their natural diet consists mainly of fish, birds, capybaras, caimans, and other wildlife. The movie’s giant snake was far larger than anything scientists have ever documented.

7

The Grey (2011)

After surviving a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, the characters in The Grey face another nightmare: a relentless pack of wolves that seems determined to hunt every survivor . The tense survival story became one of Liam Neeson’s most memorable performances.

Wildlife biologists, however, were quick to point out that wolves almost always avoid people. Fatal attacks in North America are extraordinarily uncommon, and healthy wolf packs generally prefer staying as far away from humans as possible.

8

Orca (1977)

Released only two years after Jaws , Orca offered another giant marine predator, this time driven by revenge after humans kill its mate . Unlike many monster movies, the whale is portrayed with emotion and intelligence, yet it’s shown relentlessly attacking people.

Today’s marine researchers describe orcas as highly social animals with complex family relationships and remarkable communication skills. Despite the nickname "killer whale," there are no verified records of a wild orca killing a human.

9

Willard (1971)

Before audiences feared sharks, they feared rats. Willard tells the story of a lonely man who commands an army of rodents , turning one of humanity’s oldest urban fears into a classic of psychological horror. Its success even inspired the sequel Ben , featuring a theme song sung by a young Michael Jackson.

Real rats are much more impressive than their reputation suggests. They’re highly intelligent mammals capable of solving problems, learning complex tasks, and even detecting diseases in scientific research. Many people today happily keep domesticated rats as affectionate pets.

10

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Unlike many entries on this list, this film is rooted in a real historical event. During the construction of the Uganda Railway in Kenya in 1898, two male lions attacked railway workers near the Tsavo River , creating one of history’s most famous wildlife mysteries.

Scientists still debate exactly how many people the lions killed, and the preserved animals remain on display at Chicago’s Field Museum. Although the true story was extraordinary, man-eating lions are exceptionally rare, and healthy wild lions generally avoid human contact whenever possible.

11

Monkey Shines (1988)

George A. Romero traded zombies for primates in this psychological horror film about a helper capuchin monkey whose protective instincts spiral into something much darker . The story blurred the line between companionship and obsession, leaving viewers uneasy about intelligent animals.

Capuchin monkeys really are among the smartest New World primates and have even been trained to assist people with disabilities. At the same time, experts strongly discourage keeping monkeys as pets because they remain wild animals with complex social and behavioral needs.

12

Frogs (1972)

Despite its title, Frogs is surprisingly unfair to amphibians. While frogs appear throughout the movie, most of the actual attacks are carried out by snakes, insects, turtles, and other wildlife during a bizarre uprising against environmentally destructive humans.

Outside Hollywood, frogs are among nature’s most valuable allies. They consume enormous numbers of insects and serve as important indicators of environmental health. If frogs begin disappearing from an ecosystem, scientists often see it as an early warning that something is seriously wrong.

1

Don’t question the author

Image: Amaan Ali

In his usual sarcastic style, Mark Twain wrote in the opening "Notice" of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn : "Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot." It’s an unforgettable way to open a classic.

2

What you don’t know…

Image: Markus Spiske

In the book This Boy’s Life, Tobias Wolff wrote: "My first stepfather used to say that what I didn’t know would fill a book. Well, here it is."

It’s a dark but funny recounting of his turbulent youth in this memoir, so the line is a perfect setup for what’s to come.

3

About loyalty

Image: Niranjan V S

In her book Dark Places , thriller writer Gillian Flynn wrote: "What can I say about a man who knows how I think and still sleeps next to me with the lights off?"

The author of Gone Girl tipped her hat to her husband, Brett Nolan, here. Who doesn’t want a partner who accepts us fully—even if we spend our days writing about murky crimes?

4

Cosmic love

Image: Jayshree Sharma

If you’re a romantic, try not to swoon over Carl Sagan’s dedication in Cosmos : "In the vastness of space and the immensity of time, it is my joy to share a planet and an epoch with Annie."

This beautiful line of cosmic love was dedicated to his wife and collaborator, Ann Druyan. And the book that follows is a science classic.

5

A touch of fantasy

Image: Ali Müftüoğulları

Ken Kesey’s famous book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , set in a psychiatric ward, wouldn’t be cataloged as fantasy at all. And yet, its memorable dedication reads: "To Vik Lovell, who told me dragons did not exist, then led me to their lairs."

6

The inclusive take

Image: Andrew Neel

John Cheever had a good idea in his dedication of The Wapshot Chronicle : "To M with love, and with best wishes to practically everybody else I know." A playful and inclusive way to make sure you leave out no one who matters! It was his debut novel, and it won the National Book Award.

7

The vengeful one

Image: Gaspar Uhas

This one is dark but packs a memorable punch. The dedication of No Thanks , by E. E. Cummings, is simply a list of names—the 14 publishers who turned his work down. But here’s the unforgettable bit: the words are arranged on the page in the shape of an urn.

8

Thanking the parents

Image: Lucas George Wendt

Comedian Judd Apatow dedicated his book Sick in the Head to his loving parents: "For Mom and Dad. Your support—and the mental health issues you gave me—made all of this possible." Tongue in cheek, just as fans would expect from him.

9

Chilling and sobering

Image: Isaac N.

Powerful: Toni Morrison’s dedication in Beloved is simply the phrase "Sixty million and more," referring to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. No verbs, no explanations—just five heavy, sobering words to leave readers thinking.

10

About undying love

Image: Girl with red hat

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is, after all, a story steeped in undying love. His dedication was fitting: "Once again, to Zelda." It’s a brief but heartfelt nod to his wife and muse.

11

An offering

Image: Jouwen Wang

John Steinbeck’s East of Eden opens with a sort of letter. It’s longer than this, but it begins with an anecdote in which "Pat" asked him to give him a box to fill with things. The dedication reads:

"Dear Pat… Well, here’s your box… Nearly everything I have is in it… all the gratitude and love I have for you. And still the box is not full. JOHN."