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Best architecture destinations in North America

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New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
The Chrysler Building in New York City was completed in 1930 and rises 319 metres. It is an Art Deco skyscraper with a crown of stainless steel arches. Gargoyles shaped like eagles jut out from the upper floors. The spire was secretly assembled inside the building and lifted into place.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Tikal National Park
Lost Mayan City in the Jungle
7.8
Temple IV at Tikal rises about 70 metres above the rainforest and was built in the 8th century. It is one of the tallest ancient structures in the Americas. Visitors climb wooden stairs to the top. Other Maya pyramids poke through the jungle canopy in the distance.
Highlights:
  • 🐒 Discover wildlife including monkeys and colorful toucans
  • 🏛️ Explore the Great Plaza surrounded by towering pyramids
  • 🌳 Climb Temple IV for a breathtaking jungle canopy view
Chicago
Skyline, Deep-Dish and Jazz Nights
8.2
Willis Tower in Chicago opened in 1973 and rises 442 metres with 110 floors. Architects at Skidmore Owings and Merrill designed it as nine square tubes bundled together. The tubes stop at different heights to give it a stepped outline. A glass ledge on the Skydeck lets visitors stand over the city.
Highlights:
  • ⛴️ Take an architecture boat tour on the river
  • 🚶‍♀️ Stroll along the scenic Chicago Riverwalk
  • 🏙️ Admire the skyline from the Willis Tower Skydeck
Havana
Vibrant Streets, Timeless Rhythms
7.3
Havana Cathedral was finished in 1777 and has a curved Baroque facade of coral limestone. Two unequal towers rise on either side of the entrance. It faces a small square in the old town. Pastel colonial houses and arcades line the narrow streets around it.
Highlights:
  • 🗼 Visit the historic José Martí Memorial tower
  • 🌅 Watch sunset along the famous Malecón promenade
  • 🏘️ Stroll through colorful streets of Old Havana
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
8.8
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington has 36 Doric columns that stand for the states at the time of Lincoln's death. It opened in 1922 and is built of white marble. Inside a seated statue of Lincoln looks out over the Reflecting Pool. Words from his speeches are carved on the walls.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Explore the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall
  • 🕊️ Visit the Lincoln Memorial and reflect by the Reflecting Pool
  • 🏛️ Tour the U.S. Capitol and see American democracy in action
San Francisco
Iconic bridges, rolling hills and vibrant culture
8.5
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened in 1937 and is painted a colour called International Orange. Its Art Deco towers rise 227 metres above the water. The main span stretches about 1,280 metres between them. Fog often wraps the towers and gives them a dreamlike look.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Explore Alcatraz Island and tour the former prison
  • 🚋 Ride a classic cable car through steep hills
  • 🌉 Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
7.4
The Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City opened in 1893 and looks like a French castle above the river. Its green copper roofs and turrets tower over the old town. Architect Bruce Price designed it as a railway hotel. A wide boardwalk runs in front with views of the Saint Lawrence.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Walk along Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk with river views
  • 🏰 Admire Château Frontenac’s iconic castle-like architecture
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll through historic Old Quebec’s charming streets
Palenque (city)
Lively Jungle Gateway Town
7.2
The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque rises in nine steps above the jungle. Its long hieroglyphic panels tell the history of the rulers. In 1952 archaeologists found the tomb of King Pakal inside. The nearby Palace has a tower and courtyards with carved stucco.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Walk behind the spectacular Misol-Ha waterfall
  • 💧 Visit stunning turquoise Cascadas de Agua Azul
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
8.3
The Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City was built with white Italian marble and finished in 1934. Its exterior mixes Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Inside a huge glass curtain by Tiffany shows a volcano landscape. Murals by Rivera and Siqueiros cover the upper walls.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit Frida Kahlo’s Blue House in Coyoacán
  • 🏛️ Wander through the historic center and Zócalo Square
  • 🏯 Explore the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán’s pyramids
Mesa Verde National Park
Ancient Cliff Dwellings and Rich History
7.5
Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde has about 150 rooms and 23 kivas built into a huge sandstone alcove. Ancestral Puebloans built it in the 1200s using stone and mortar. Towers rise in tiers above small courtyards. Visitors climb ladders on ranger led tours during the summer season.
Highlights:
  • 🧗 Tour Balcony House with its ladders and narrow passages
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic Soda Canyon Overlook Trail
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient cliff dwellings of Cliff Palace
Chichen Itza
Unravel the Mysteries of the Maya
El Castillo at Chichen Itza is a stepped Maya pyramid about 24 metres tall. Four staircases climb its sides with 91 steps each. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes shadows form a snake on the north stairway. Builders aligned the temple with the sun and the seasons.
Highlights:
  • 🔭 Visit the Observatory (El Caracol) for ancient astronomy insights
  • 🏟️ Explore the Great Ball Court and ancient Mayan ruins
  • 🪜 Climb El Castillo pyramid and witness equinox serpent shadow
Teotihuacan
Ancient Pyramids, Timeless Mystique
The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan is about 65 metres tall and was built around 100 AD. It stands beside a long road called the Avenue of the Dead. Visitors climb 248 steps to the top. Smaller temples and palaces with painted walls fill the ancient city.
Highlights:
  • 🚶 Walk the historic Avenue of the Dead, ancient city's spine
  • 🌙 Explore the Pyramid of the Moon and surrounding plazas
  • 🌞 Visit the massive Pyramid of the Sun, iconic landmark
United States Capitol
Heart of American Democracy
The cast iron dome of the United States Capitol was completed in 1866 during the Civil War. It is topped by the Statue of Freedom. The dome weighs about nine million pounds and is painted white. Inside a painting called the Apotheosis of Washington covers the ceiling of the rotunda.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the Capitol Visitor Center and see Freedom’s original model
  • 🗽 Explore National Statuary Hall with statues from all states
  • 🎨 Tour the iconic Rotunda with historic frescoes and sculptures
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