| The Midwest Mount Adams neighborhood,
Cincinnati
Lively, pedestrian-friendly urban village perched on a hill overlooking downtown. Courthouse Square,
Sidney, Ohio
Classic small-town business district with a Louis Sullivan bank. Indiana Dunes,
on Lake Michigan
National Lakeshore Recreation Area with beaches and unique ecosystem. The Art Institute of Chicago
Not only world-class collections, but also front steps perfect for soaking up sun and watching the world go by on Michigan Avenue. The El,
Chicago
Extensive urban transit system connecting the whole city with ribbons of elevated train tracks. Oak Park,
Illinois
Everything you’d want in a suburb: racially integrated, walkable, prosperous, a vital downtown, good transit, and a character all its own. University of Wisconsin–Madison
Memorial Union
Student hangout with good ice cream and a great outdoor beer garden. Elroy-Sparta Bicycle Trail,
Wisconsin
One of the first and foremost rails-to-trails projects. Chain of Lakes,
Minneapolis
Four lakes that serve as an aquatic town square, bringing people together to walk, swim, canoe, ice skate, and picnic. May Day Parade and Festival,
Minneapolis
Part pagan festival, part political march that enlivens inner-city neighborhoods. Stone Arch Bridge,
Minneapolis
1889 railroad bridge that curves elegantly across the Mississippi above St. Anthony Falls, now beloved by bicyclists and pedestrians. Iowa State Fair,
Des Moines
Meeting place for all Iowans. Nebraska State Capitol,
Lincoln
Art Deco tower that attracts proud visitors from across the state. Country Club Plaza shopping center,
Kansas City
1920s version of a shopping mall that accommodates autos without sacrificing street life. International Peace Garden,
North Dakota–Manitoba border
Symbol of hope—created out of flowers, shrubs, and trees—that humanity can settle its differences without bloodshed. | The West Pearl Street Mall,
Boulder, Colorado
Lively downtown pedestrian mall filled with people of all ages. Grand Canyon,
Arizona
Saved from a dam in the 1960s, this wonder incites awe in all who visit. Taos Pueblo,
New Mexico
A multistory adobe town inhabited by Taos Indians since the 1500s. Balboa Park,
San Diego
Jewel of a city park with the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Central Public Library
Art Deco gem barely saved from the wrecking ball, now a civic focal point in a city more famous for private pleasures than for public ones. City Lights Books,
San Francisco
Literary landmark that serves as both a neighborhood hangout and a magnet for Beat pilgrims from around the world. Grace Cathedral,
San Francisco
A place of peace in the midst of a buzzing big city. Muir Woods,
Marin County, California
Just across Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, a cathedral of redwoods. Lithia Park,
Ashland, Oregon
First home of the well-known Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a green passageway leading out from the center of town in the direction of Mount Ashland. Japanese Garden,
Portland
Timeless place of peace and reflection. Pioneer Courthouse Square,
Portland
Once a parking garage, now a bustling town square ranking with the best of Europe. Pike Place Market,
Seattle
Before Pearl Jam, before Microsoft, this sealed Seattle’s status as a great city. Edison Café,
Edison,Washington
Where everybody knows your name—and how you like your eggs cooked. Kincaid Park Trails,
Anchorage, Alaska
Miles of hiking, skiing, and ocean views just outside Anchorage. |