1

Yellowstone National Park

Image: Meina Yin

Yellowstone National Park, created in 1872, is a vast natural forest of 3,500 square miles that spans the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. More than half of the world's geothermal phenomena can be observed here , with some 10,000 different examples. It also has more than 300 geysers, which is about two-thirds of all the geysers on the planet.

This location, the first national park in the United States, has been a World Heritage Site since 1978. It is also known for protecting abundant and diverse wildlife —such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and wapiti— and for drawing millions of visitors from all over the world each year. And you, have you ever been?

2

Independence Hall

Image: Rdsmith4, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The Independence Hall, located in historic Philadelphia, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979. This location, far more than just a building, is considered the birthplace of America’s political foundation . The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. And just 11 years later, the United States Constitution was also debated and signed here.

This Georgian-style red brick structure was designed by Scottish lawyer Andrew Hamilton and completed in 1753 to house the colonial assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was then renovated several times. In 1966, the building was recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. government and is currently the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park.

3

Statue of Liberty

Image: Anthony DELANOIX

Installed in 1886 at the gate of New York’s harbor, the Statue of Liberty has since welcomed millions of immigrants who have come to populate the United States. This colossal neoclassical 305-foot-tall effigy enlightening the world with its torch was made in Paris by the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel. It was a gift from France to our country on the occasion of the centenary of our independence.

To visit this historic monument, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, tickets must be purchased in advance. Or you can always ride the fare-free Staten Island ferry and admire it from afar in all its splendor!

4

Mesa Verde National Park

Image: Alec Krum

Located in the southwest of Colorado, the Mesa Verde Plateau reaches an altitude of over 8,500 feet. The National Park was established in 1906 and was added to the list of American World Heritage Sites in 1978. This location hosts a large number of Pueblo Indian dwellings built between the 6th and 12th centuries. Some 4,400 settlements have been found , including villages built high up on the plateau and imposing stone-built homes on rocky outcrops, with more than a hundred rooms in some cases.

The Mesa Verde National Park, which nowadays protects these invaluable archaeological sites, is a testament to the ancient cultural traditions of Native American tribes and is among the best preserved in the United States. If you haven’t visited yet, you must! We guarantee you a spectacular window into the past!

5

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Image: Zongnan Bao

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the southernmost Hawaiian island and was founded in 1916. It is best known for its extraordinary biodiversity spread over more than 340,000 acres, and it is in fact thanks to this natural richness that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987.

The park, as you would have guessed, is home to several volcanoes . Although many of them are currently inactive, two are very much alive: Mauna Loa , which last erupted in 1984, is known to be still active and is considered the world's greatest volcanic mass; Kīlauea is more than 200,000 years old and has been erupting since 1983, the most recent occurring on June 3, 2024.

If you are considering visiting the park, exploring the volcanoes, and enjoying a unique experience, we also recommend a museum tour , where you can learn all about the history of these fascinating fiery peaks.

6

Monticello and the University of Virginia

Image: Richard Hedrick

The Monticello Residence in Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is one of the finest examples of American neoclassical architecture . Since 1987, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Jefferson created Monticello as his plantation mansion and envisioned the university as the ideal ‘academic village’ . His vision of architecture, based on classical antiquity, reflects not only his aspirations for a new American republic heir to the European tradition but also the degree of cultural experimentation that could be expected of a country in the process of democratic evolution.

7

Papahānaumokuākea

Image: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Pacific Region's, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Papahānaumokuākea, made up of a series of 583,000 square miles of small islands, atolls, and surrounding marine wilderness, is located in northwest Hawaii. This particular location has enormous natural value as one of the largest marine protected areas in the world . It is equally important for its Native culture. Two of its islands, Nihoa and Makumanamana , bear archaeological remains that attest to the presence of human settlement even before the arrival of Europeans . For Hawaiians, this site has cosmological significance , as it represents the bond between humans and nature.

Papahānaumokuākea was designated a World Heritage Site in 2010, and although it’s not currently open to the general public, it continues to be accessible for research, habitat restoration, and cultural and educational purposes.

8

Grand Canyon National Park

Image: Isadora Neto

Grand Canyon National Park is known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Located in the state of Arizona, this park is divided by a gigantic steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River, which, at more than 6,000 feet deep, is the most spectacular gorge in the world . This site is so relevant that all the geological history of the last two billion years can be found in its horizontal strata. And across its 277 miles, there are even traces of prehistoric man's efforts to adapt to a particularly inhospitable environment .

If you haven’t visited it yet, you should soon join the more than 5 million people traveling each year!

9

San Antonio Missions

Image: USA-Reiseblogger

This 2015 World Heritage Site, built on what was once the border of New Spain along the San Antonio River, constitutes five mission complexes that reflect the history of the region.

Founded by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century, San Antonio includes architectural structures, archaeological remains, churches, dwellings, farmland, silos and water supply systems .

This site, located in Texas, is a living testament to the Hispanic monarchy's enterprise to colonize, evangelize, and defend the northern frontier territories of New Spain. These missions are also an example of the mixture of Hispanic and Coahuila culture , as can be seen in the ornamental elements of the churches that mix Catholic symbolism with native naturalist aesthetics.

10

The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright

Image: Yuhan Du

This series of eight Frank Lloyd Wright works recognizes the famous architect's influence on modern design . The most relevant buildings included in the 2019 Unesco designation are Fallingwater House in Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Unity Temple Church in Oak Park, Illinois; Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York City, among others.

These sites are a great example of the ‘organic architecture’ conceived by Wright, characterized by open plan design, the blurring of the boundaries between inside and outside, and the highly original use of materials such as steel and concrete . Wright's innovative conception of architecture, whether in residential, work, cultural, or religious buildings, greatly influenced the evolution of modern architecture in Europe and the United States and is still a point of reference for designers today.

1

Pictionary

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Who hasn’t played Pictionary at least once in their life? The whole gameplay boils down to drawing a picture so that others can guess what it is. It’s like "charades" with drawings instead of actions.

While this is a board game, the board itself is the least important part of the game. The only things that matter are the drawings and how people guess what they are. Anybody of any age can get into the game and have a good time.

2

Game of Life

Image: Jaciel Melnik

One of the most popular board games of all time, the Game of Life, was created in 1960. The idea is that you want to end the game with more assets than anyone else. The basic gameplay involves spinning the spinner and making a handful of key decisions at intersections. It is in those moments that you influence which way your "life" will turn out.

The whole game is, like life itself, very luck-driven and not very strategic. This game laid the groundwork for many modern, narrative-driven games.

3

Clue

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Clue was the first mass-market game to make bluffing and deduction an explicit part of the game. During gameplay, you’re always trying to analyze your opponents’ moves and react accordingly.

A game that spawned a million more games, Clue takes its participants on a journey to solve a murder using a series of clues given throughout the session. Even if you never played it (and chances are that you have), you know it.

4

Chutes And Ladders

Image: Biao Xie

Chutes and Ladders was inspired by an ancient Indian board game that originated around the year 200 BC. The game is luck-driven; there is no strategic element to either the ancient or the modern version.

Just like in The Game of Life, the gameplay involves spinning a spinner and advancing the specified amount of spaces it indicates. Ladders move you up higher on the board, and chutes drop you down to lower spaces.

5

Risk

Image: Dave Photoz

Risk has one of the most recognizable boards of any board game, with its colorful map divided into strange countries. The focus is set on one of the oldest of human ambitions: to conquer the world.

It is not the kind of game you want to play if you only have a few minutes to spare, since the entire gameplay can take up to a few hours. But, if you have the time and at least one other player, it is well worth it.

6

Trivial Pursuit

Image: Claudia Wolff

If answering questions about different topics of general human knowledge is your thing, then Trivial Pursuit is definitely your game. The board itself is not the center of the game. It serves the purpose of marking which theme must be answered in each turn and where each player is in the gameplay.

Some prefer the questions about sports, while others hope to get the questions about culture. But there is always something for everyone.

7

Scrabble

Image: John Benitez

Another well-known board game, Scrabble is the foundation of just about every word-based tabletop game that has come since its first appearance in 1948. In this game, the pieces you work with are thrown into a bag and doled out by random chance.

You can make maneuvers to benefit yourself and to block others, but the real advantage is in the hands of those with a strong vocabulary and a good memory to recall the words at the right time.

8

Checkers

Image: Gabriel Meinert

A game so simple that it can be played and enjoyed by children, Checkers is a very straightforward strategy game, similar to Chess in some aspects (especially the board) but simpler in many others.

The gameplay, intended for two players, involves forward movements of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces.

9

Monopoly

Image: Joshua Hoehne

Another all-time modern classic, Monopoly shares a similar objective as the previously mentioned The Game of Life: finishing the game with the most properties and money possible.

Monopoly has many themed versions and variants, including popular culture themes, and digital versions. But the gist in all of them is: roll the dice, buy properties, pay rent to other players, and pray not to land on Boardwalk or Parkway Avenue, especially if there are hotels (unless you own those two).

10

Chess

Image: Randy Fath

Let us finish this list with the Game of Kings itself, Chess : the best-selling game of all time, played by countless generations across the globe. Learning the basic moves is simple; mastering them is something different altogether.

Whether you are an advanced player, an aficionado, or someone who is considering learning it, Chess is good for you. It provides excellent exercise for your brain, infinite hours of fun, and can be played at any age.

1

McDonald’s

Image: Jurij Kenda

We’ll start with probably the most popular fast-food brand in the world. Few logos are as intently recognizable as McDonald’s "golden arches", to the point that they are present in virtually every single country in the world. But before it became an international behemoth, this fast-food chain began as a single restaurant in San Bernardino, California, founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.

We could probably fill this entire article with McDonald’s fun facts, like how an astronaut smuggled a cheeseburger onboard a space shuttle. However, we’ll end this entry with the fabled Big Mac index: Since, as we previously mentioned, McDonald’s restaurants are virtually everywhere, economists have used the price of a Big Mac burger as a global indicator of each country's economic strength.

2

Burger King

Image: Alexis AMZ DA CRUZ

While Burger King is often and unfairly considered to be playing second-fiddle to McDonald’s, the truth is that this chain is definitively fast-food royalty. First founded as Insta-Burger King in 1953, this restaurant offers a selection of burgers, fries, and other delectable products.

Burger King is perhaps most well-known for its signature burger, the " Whopper ". Created in 1957, this iconic product was the very first of its kind, causing competing franchises to develop their very own signature burgers. The Whopper’s legacy resulted in Burger King proudly adopting the nickname "Home of the Whopper".

3

Taco Bell

Image: Ömer Haktan Bulut

You might be surprised to learn that Taco Bell , synonymous with one of Mexico’s most treasured culinary delicacies, was actually founded in America. Not only that: Did you know that the Bell in Taco Bell’s name comes from the founder’s last name?

When Glen Bell started his company in 1953, he didn’t know that this little taco stand would eventually grow into a massive chain serving over two billion satisfied customers each year. Taco Bell is known for a myriad of delicious meals, including its iconic "Crunchwrap Supreme".

4

Domino’s

Image: Miroslav Denkov

In 1960, brothers Tom and James Monaghan bought a small pizza chain close to Eastern Michigan University called "DomiNick’s". Little did the brothers know that they would turn this $1400 investment into one of the biggest pizza chains in the world , with approximately 15,000 locations all around the world.

Known for its 30-minute guarantee, Domino’s offers delicious and affordable pizza delivered with pinpoint accuracy. Over 60 years have passed since its founding, but this pizza chain remains a beloved American icon.

5

Wendy’s

Image: Batu Gezer

Who said that hamburgers need to be round? Wendy’s is a living testament that burgers will always be delicious, no matter what shape they are in. This iconic chain’s burgers are particularly famous for their two main characteristics: Their legendary square shape and the fact that their meat is always fresh and never frozen.

You might be curious as to who the titular Wendy featured in every restaurant is. Well, the restaurant’s founder Dave Thomas named it after his fourth daughter, Melinda Lou, who was known as "Wendy" from an early age. Not only that, Melinda’s likeness was used as the company’s logo, and she continues to serve as its official mascot.

6

KFC

Image: Aleks Dorohovich

Just like Dave Thomas modeling his company’s logo after his daughter, KFC chose to honor its founder by making him an instantly recognizable icon. After all, this iconic fast-food chain’s history starts with Colonel Harland Sanders’ will and determination to drive his family out of their humble beginnings.

In the 1930s, Sanders took the cooking skills he learned from his mother as a child and founded a small restaurant called "Sanders Court & Café". By the 1950s, he saw the potential that franchising provided and opened the very first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" in Salt Lake City. Nowadays, KFC operates thousands of locations all over the world, all of which serve the Coronel’s legendary chicken seasoned with his "11 herbs and spices".

7

Starbucks

Image: Athar Khan

We’ve been dealing with burgers and fried chicken for a while now, so how about a nice cup of Joe instead? While we were hesitant to add Starbucks to the realm of fast food, the truth is that this international company has grown into the world’s largest coffeehouse chain , all the while optimizing the process of delivering a hot and delicious cup of coffee to the hands of the consumer.

Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks was named after a character from Herman Melville’s classic novel "Moby-Dick": In that sense, the twin-tailed mermaid that serves as their iconic logo was also inspired by Melville’s masterpiece. Starbucks is world-famous for its innovative drinks, including the revolutionary cold coffee brew known as the "Frappucino".

8

Subway

Image: Ola Mishchenko

If you are looking for a healthy yet equally accessible fast-food restaurant, then Subway is the place for you. This company was first founded in 1965 by friends Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck, hoping to save enough money to pay for medical school tuition. By the start of the new millennium, Subway became one of the world’s most profitable franchises, as well as one of the fastest growing.

Known for their world-famous slogan "Eat Fresh", Subway’s main appeal is the fact that you can select which ingredients you want in your sandwich. While products like the "B.M.T." or the "Italian Hero" keep their distinctive identity, being able to add your favorite flavors onto your sandwich truly provides a tailor-made customer experience.

9

White Castle

Image: Valeria Boltneva

While it might seem smaller compared to other international juggernauts in this list, White Castle holds the remarkable distinction of being the world’s very first fast-food hamburger chain . Just like many other restaurants, the humble beginnings of White Castle started in 1916 when a cook named Walt Anderson opened his first diner in a converted streetcar. Five years after that, Anderson partnered with Billy Ingram to found the very first White Castle restaurant in Wichita, Kansas.

Over a hundred years after this first location, White Castle is still a beloved destination for all burger lovers. Their most famous product is probably their iconic "sliders", complete with square patties and steamed onions.

10

Pizza Hut

Image: Alan Hardman

We’ll end with another pizza institution. Founded in 1958 by two Wichita State students, Pizza Hut locations are instantly recognizable by their distinctive architecture, which features a red rooftop resembling a hut. Moreover, while their pizza is certainly delicious, Pizza Hut holds the distinction of owning one of the most groundbreaking achievements in pizza delivery history.

While Domino’s prides itself on its 30-minute delivery policy, Pizza Hut holds the record of the very first outer-space delivery in history. In 2001, the company designed a vacuum-sealed pizza suitable to be delivered to the International Space Station. This interplanetary pie literally reached the stars, where it was happily enjoyed by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov.