Coming to America as an au pair doesn’t just mean you’ll be providing childcare for your host family. Many au pairs come for educational purposes and to experience American culture, too. And there’s no shortage of places to visit when you come to the U.S. We’ve compiled 100 places in America to visit with your au pair that cover the entire country, so you’ll have plenty of destinations to explore with your international house guest.
Northeast
The northeast is the oldest part of the country, and home to many notable and historic landmarks. Whether you live in the northeast or just take your au pair there to visit, consider visiting these 20 places.
Cape Neddick, ME lighthouse. Tour this original Maine lighthouse that dates back to 1874 and enjoy the surrounding coastal area while you’re there.
Times Square in New York City, NY. Times Square is a must-see when you’re in New York.
Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls, NY. One of North America’s natural wonders, the falls are a destination that can’t be missed.
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, PA. The liberty bell has long been the symbol of freedom for the United States and is currently residing in Liberty Bell Center, close to its original hanging place in Independence Hall.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Take a step back in time when you visit this museum, which is home to the bones of prehistoric dinosaurs and much more.
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Take in the awe inspiring statute of former President Abe Lincoln when you visit the Lincoln Memorial.
Statue of Liberty in New York, NY. This huge monument was given to the United States by France in 1886, and its tour is a worthwhile attraction for tourists and locals alike.
White House in Washington, DC. Explore the home of our current president and read about all of the past presidents and their families.
Washington Monument in Washington, DC. This impressive 555 foot monument memorializes the first president of the United States.
Empire State Building in New York, NY. This landmark, which has made an appearance in many movies, is known for its 102 floors and two observation decks that give tourists an amazing view of the city.
Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, MA. More than just a rock, visiting this area will take you back to the Colonial times where you can learn about the struggles that the early settlers had to endure.
Martha’s Vineyard near Cape Cod, MA. Stay at one of this island’s exclusive inns and enjoy the beach.
Charleston, WV. This city has been rated the #1 tourist site for three years in a row by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, largely because of its beaches, historical sites and attractions.
Faneuil Hall Market Place in Boston, MA. The bustling marketplace on the ground floor of this historic marketplace has been there since 1742, and you’ll enjoy free admission when you visit
Cape Cod, MA. Enjoy the beaches and historical sites by day and feast on seafood by night when you visit Cape Cod.
Fallingwater, PA. Only 50 miles from Pittsburgh, this historic town is home to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most beautiful houses.
Mount Washington in North Conway, NH. If you find weather intriguing, you may want to visit this observatory that specializes in weather research.
Grand Central Station in New York, NY. When you visit New York make sure to tour this famous train station, eat at one of its restaurants and shop around its many stores.
Wall Street in New York, NY. Take a tour and learn all about the history of Wall Street and how this street became such a financial mecca.
Ground Zero and the new World Trade Center in New York, NY. Visit the site memorializing the people that lost their lives on 9/11 and the single 104 story tall building that replaced the fallen twin towers.
Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is home to everything from beaches to mountains to national parks, making it a breathtaking area to visit. If you’re planning on touring the PNW with your au pair, be sure to check out these 20 places.
Space Needle in Seattle, WA. Ride to the top of this landmark and check out the views or eat at the Sky City Restaurant.
The Egyptian Theater in Boise, ID. Take in a show at this historic theater that has been around since 1927.
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA. You can walk across this enormous bridge or take pictures of it from the shore – either way it’s an architectural phenomenon that can’t be missed.
Yellowstone National Park in WY. Most of the 3500 square miles of this park are in Wyoming, with a small percentage extending to Idaho and Montana.
Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, CA. If you like seafood and sea life and are in the San Francisco area, you have to go to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, CA. Check out your favorite celebrities as you tour the Walk of Fame.
Las Vegas, NV. From the stage shows to the Hoover dam, there are tons of things to see and do in Vegas.
Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, ID. They may not be as well-known as Niagara Falls, but these falls are actually taller.
Universal Studios in Universal City, CA. You may be able to watch the filming of a movie when you visit this attraction.
Pike’s Place Market in Seattle, WA. If you are in Seattle, you have to check out this enormous farmer’s market.
Crater Lake in OR. Visit the clear blue waters and high cliffs in Crater Lake while visiting Oregon.
Kerr Dam in Polson, MT. At a staggering height of 204 feet, the Kerr Dam is 54 feet taller than Niagara Falls and generates green electricity.
Mount St. Helens in Skamania County, WA. The landscape may have changed since the huge volcanic eruption in 1980, but this natural landmark is still worth visiting.
Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, WA. Explore the extensive exhibits at the aquarium and enjoy learning about the research being done on the aquatic life of the Puget Sound.
Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, OR. Watch how cheese is made and get some samples at this famous factory.
Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, OR. Hike to the Multnomah Falls in this beautiful, scenic area.
Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT. Take a look at the real bones of a T-Rex or Triceratops dinosaur along with American Indian artifacts at this museum.
Mount Hood Outside of Portland, OR. Mount Hood is a great winter vacation spot known for its popular ski slopes.
Sea Lion’s Cave in Florence, OR. This cave is 12 stories high and you can see a colony of sea lions all year round.
Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, WY. Visit this park that is home to an abundance of wildlife, including bears, moose and many others.
South
If you’d like to travel someplace warm and full of southern charm, look no further than these 20 southern locales.
Disney World in Orlando, FL. Young and old alike will love going to Disney World and seeing all of its attractions.
River Walk in San Antonio, TX. Enjoy a boat ride down the river, then spend the afternoon browsing the shops along the river walk.
Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL. Visit this amusement park for thrilling rides and attractions the whole family is sure to love.
Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Home of the Kentucky Derby and mint juleps, visiting this destination is a must if you like horses.
Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA. Visit the charm of Bourbon Street and take a tour of the city by streetcar.
Key West, FL. If you like beaches, history and tasty food, this may be the place for you!
Graceland in Memphis, TN. Take a step back in time when you tour the home of Elvis Presley.
Corpus Christi, TX. This port may be the 6th largest in the country, but its beaches still maintain a laidback feel.
6th Floor Museum in Dallas, TX. John F. Kennedy was one of America’s most beloved presidents and the 6th Floor Museum provides a lot of details about how he lived and died.
Fort Worth Stock Yards Rodeo in Ft. Worth, TX. The excitement of this rodeo is unlike anything else you’ve ever seen and well worth the trip.
Lone Star Park in Dallas, TX. If you enjoy horses, taking a trip to watch the horse races at Lone Star Park might be just the trip for you.
Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Learn all about NASA astronauts, space travel and landing on the moon at this southern attraction.
Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL. Explore this unique space center to learn all about the space shuttle missions and the building of the space station.
Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, GA. Visit the home of the 1996 Olympic Games while enjoying many other free events held in the park.
Charleston Tea Plantation in Charleston, SC. If you enjoy tea steeped in history, then you’ll love visiting the only tea plantation in the U.S.
Ft. Sumter on Sullivan’s Island, SC. For fans of Civil War memorabilia, Ft. Sumter was where the first shots were fired against the Union.
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. Owned by country music singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, this amusement park will give you a feel for the Smoky Mountains.
Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN. This attraction will hold much appeal for country music fans.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, AL. Learn about the civil rights struggles in America during the 1950’s and 60’s.
Dockery Farms in Cleveland, MS. Take a look at a real cotton plantation and learn a bit more about why Cleveland claims that Delta Blues music started there.
Southwest
The Southwest is home to a little bit of everything, whether you want to visit a natural landmark like the Grand Canyon or something more other worldly like the UFO museum in Roswell. No matter what you want to do, one things for sure, these 20 locations aren’t to be missed.
Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, AZ. This 277 foot canyon is another one of North America’s natural wonders and is a sight to behold.
Biosphere 2 in Oracle, AZ. You can learn about the research that was done regarding colonizing the moon on one of their daily tours.
The Real Warehouse 13 in Carver City, CA. This unique museum contains both paranormal items and historical items.
UFO Museum in Roswell, NM. Venture into the unknown and far-fetched by taking a tour of this curious museum.
Salvation Mountain in Niland, CA. Created by one man trying to share the message of God’s love, this mountain is a sight to behold.
Geronimo Trail in Winston, NM. Visit this old west dude ranch to ride over the same land that Geronimo did when the west was just being settled.
City of Rocks State Park in Deming, NM. Walk on 30 million year old volcanic rocks that have been shaped by the winds of time.
Fiery Furnace of Sandstone Arches of Moab,UT. Fit climbers can traverse narrow trails leading to sandstone arches at this destination.
Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, NM. There are 119 caves you can visit, including the ‘big room’ cave that can fit 14 football fields inside of it.
Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, UT. You don’t have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to be awed by the size and beauty of this temple.
Heber Creeper Railroad in Heber City, UT. If you’re in Utah, you’ll definitely want to take a ride on this historic train.
Utah Olympic Park in Park City, UT. Love the winter Olympics? Then be sure to stop into the home of the 2002 winter Olympics.
Snow Basin in Huntsville, UT. Utah is known for its skiing, and Snow Basin resort is the perfect place to hit the slopes.
Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, CO. One water fall leads into the next as these seven falls travel down the mountain.
Garden of the Gods in Colorado Spring, CO. Visit the beautiful vistas of this natural treasure.
Fashion Square in Scottsdale, AZ. If you love unique clothes and gifts, you’ll enjoy walking up and down the streets of this shopping area.
Camelback Mountains in Phoenix, AZ. Take in the beauty of desert plants and blooming cacti as you hike around the Camelback Mountains.
Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. Hike or boat around this unique, horseshoe-shaped feature in the Colorado River.
Meteor Crater in Winslow, AZ. At almost a mile in diameter, this is one of the largest and best preserved meteor craters in America.
Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ. If you enjoy star gazing, this may be the spot for you to visit.
Midwest
If you are looking to spend some time in the heart of the country, then the Midwest is where you need to head. There’s something for everyone, especially when you travel to these 20 spots.
Navy Pier in Chicago, IL. This 3,300 foot long pier not only receives large cruise ships, but also has shops, restaurants and a Ferris wheel to enjoy.
Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. Standing at 630 feet tall, the arch is the tallest man-made monument.
Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Plan to spend several days shopping the largest mall in North America and don’t forget to take a break to ride the roller coaster.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. Take a walk through musical history when you tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Mt. Rushmore in Keystone, SD. This amazing work of art is a must see in America.
Willis Tower in Chicago, IL. Formerly known as the Sears tower and formerly the tallest building in the world, this landmark is one you shouldn’t miss.
Indianapolis Speedway in Indianapolis, IN. If you are into racing, you’ll definitely enjoy visiting the home of the Indianapolis 500.
The Dells in WI. Come and spend the day playing in the go karts or riding on a Duck, which is a restored WWII amphibious vehicle that can travel on both land and water.
Branson, MO. Enjoy any number of musical shows in Branson, along with boat tours, amusement park rides and much more.
Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, MO. You’ll have a blast on the rides and other attractions at this Midwest amusement park.
Kemper Museum of Modern Art in Kansas City, MO. If you like contemporary art, you’ll love roaming the halls of this museum.
Orpheum Theater in Wichita, KS. The Orpheum opened in September of 1922 and is an architectural example of atmospheric style that still hosts performances today.
Joslyn Castle in Omaha, NE. If you want to see what a real castle looks like, take a tour of Joslyn Castle.
Omaha Children’s Museum in Omaha, NE. Enjoy being a kid again by bringing the entire family to this museum.
Amana Colonies in Amana, IA. Step back in time to a period where hearth and home came before anything else when you tour and shop in this area.
Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA. Visit the actual farm where the movie Field of Dreams was filmed. Don’t forget to bring along your baseball glove!
Ledges State Park in Madrid, IA. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy exploring the cliffs and trails of this state park.
Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, MI. Come spend the night on the island and enjoy the coastal views by day and the hopping nightlife by night.
Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, OH. Camp and explore the caves in this area of Ohio where 7000 year old human bones have been found.
Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, AR. While there’s much more to see and do in Hot Springs, the park is known for its waters that bubble up through the ground at a toasty 147°F.