There are so many US icons and landmarks that look fantastic in photos. Not sure if you've seen them all? Search for them online or on social media and check them out. There are famous spots in every state, from historic buildings to cultural landmarks and dramatic landscapes. Here’s our pick of highly photographed landmarks in some of our favourite USA destinations. Which one do you think is the most iconic?
Iconic kicks on Route 66
The iconic Route 66, which stretches from California to Illinois was named the most Instagram-worthy road trip in the world, according to a study commissioned by Hertz in the UK. Discover the route on
Hertz’s Road Trip Planner and the
@HertzRoadTrip Instagram channel. The road takes in some highly picturesque spots including Santa Monica Pier in California, Arizona’s Grand Canyon and Sunset Crater Volcano, Albuquerque, New Mexico with its historic architecture, and even the McDonald’s Museum.
Gemstone shimmer at Havasu Falls, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, and one of the most spectacular spots in the Canyon is Havasu Falls. These breathtaking waterfalls take on sapphire and emerald colours, creating a striking contrast to the red desert rock. Translated as ‘people of the blue green water’, Havasupai is the name of a centuries old tribe who call this sacred corner of Arizona home.
Cultural icons in Washington DC, Capital Region
The US capital is packed with truly iconic landmarks. The epicentre for selfies has got to be the The National Mall. Search for shots of the Washington Monument which lends itself to a weird angle, or a snap of an instagrammer with the giant, seated President Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, or wandering the marble columns of the Jefferson Memorial, in front of the Washington Monument or outside the White House. For a more unusual shot, instagrammers have hunt down the stunning murals around the city. There are the intriguing murals in DC’s arty heart, Blagden Alley, the striking brightly-painted
Culture House and the Watermelon House, 1112 Q St NW, with its massive watermelon mural. [photo credit: Joe Shymanski]
Go for Ivy League at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut
One of the USA’s prestigious Ivy League universities, Yale University in New Haven, Connecticutwas founded in 1701 and it’s the country’s third-oldest higher education institutions. Check shots of the university to tick ‘Connecticut landmark’ off your Instagram to-do list.
Seek six-toed cats and the Southernmost Point in Key West
The Florida Keys are packed with iconic backdrops for a selfie. Key West is home to the Southernmost Point landmark that marks the continental USA’s southernmost city. Find a shot of the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge stretching above the azure waters. It’s the longest bridge in the Florida Keys. Looking for some #catsofinstgram? The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is home to 40-50 unique polydactyl (six-toed) cats that roam the grounds. Many of them are direct descendants of the writer’s own cat Snow White.
Bright lights on Beale Street, Tennessee
With its buildings flashing bright with neon lights, Beale Street is one of the most instagrammed locations in Tennessee. This street in downtown Memphis is home to three blocks of nightclubs and bars where soul and blues music stars including B.B King, W.C Handy and Isaac Hayes have played for more than 150 years.
Enormous billboards on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California
Known for its bright lights and lively nightlife, the Sunset Strip runs through the city of West Hollywood. This vibrant stretch of Sunset Boulevard is full of spots to snap, from flashing neon signs to the giant, colourful billboards that line the road.
Record-breakers in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Looking for record-breaking landmarks? How about Virginia Beach’s Boardwalk, which is the world’s longest pleasure beach. Or the Roanoke Star, the largest free-standing, man-made, illuminated star in the world. It's in Mill Mountain in Roanoke, VA it's set high up with incredible views over the region. [Credit: Sam Dean Photography]
Go big in Las Vegas, Nevada
The larger than life city of Las Vegas is a paradise for instagrammers. The landmarks here offer amazing shots - there's the Paris for the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck or the High Roller big wheel at the LINQ Promenade. For some bling, look for the famous casino and hotel, Caesars Palace, whose glitzy marbled-lined interiors are full of regal gold Caesar statues to snap.
Iconic skylines in New York City
This city is so full of famous landmarks. How about the iconic
Empire State Building. Look for shots of the views from the 86th and 102nd floor Observation Decks, two of the highest vantage points in the City with beautiful views over Manhattan. Or look for shots of the building itself from Front Street, in Dumbo, Brooklyn, for the perfect shot of it Empire State Building framed inside the
Manhattan Bridge’s base. Other iconic shots to add to your collection include the lights of
Times Square, the
Brooklyn Bridge at dawn or the Statue of Liberty - from a boat ride.
Sublime natural settings in Utah
Natural backdrops don’t come more dramatic than the landscapes in Utah. This state is packed with spectacular national parks, with russet-coloured rocks carved into curious towers and arches. At
Canyonlands National Park, for example, is the Mesa Arch, on the edge of a 500-foot cliff, part of a 1,200-foot drop into Buck Canyon. Through the arch you can see White Rim country and the La Sal Mountains. For an equally out of this world landscape, there's the
Bonneville Salt Flats, a 30,000 acre expanse of white salt crust on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake basin in Utah. The flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles.
Vertiginous shots over Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Colorado
The highest suspension bridge in America is an extraordinary sight. The wooden Royal Gorge Bridge dangles at 956 feet over the Royal Gorge and rushing Arkansas River below and gives fabulous views over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. For an even bigger adrenaline rush, check out the video of the country’s highest zip line or climb the new Via Ferrata course.
Stars and murals in Minneapolis
Pay homage to music star Bob Dylan, who was born and raised Minnesotan, in Minneapolis. Make an impression with selfies taken in front of the eyecatching, vast mural of the artist on Hennepin and 5th St. in downtown Minneapolis, designed by artist Eduardo Kobra. Dylan's song ‘Along the Watchtower’ is said to be written about an old Minneapolis water tower, now referred to as the Witches Hat Tower. Other
Minneapolis instagram hotspots include the pedestrian Stone Arch Bridge, which gives great views of the city and Mississippi River, and the fun Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture created by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen, which you’ll find at the
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Cross that bridge in Pittsburgh
There are 446 bridges to pose on in Pittsburgh, the ‘City of Bridges’. The most distinctive are the three identical, gold-coloured bridges that link Downtown to the North Shore neighbourhood – the Three Sister Bridges. They’re all named after famous Pittsburghers: artist Andy Warhol, pioneering ecologist Rachel Carson and Roberto Clemente, who played 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city’s major league baseball team. Shoot them from the North Shore, just across the Allegheny River, to get the Pittsburgh skyline as a backdrop.
Cadillac Ranch, Texas
If you’re looking for a quirky landmark, then how about a series of 10 vintage Cadillacs half buried in the desert? The Cadillac Ranch is an art installation located near Amarillo, in North Texas. It features 10 Cadillac models dating from 1949 to 1963, with bonnets in the dirt, each set at an identical, specific angle, said to reflect that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Visitors can spray paint them so the colours and designs change constantly.
Snaps street art in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina is home to some awe-inspiring works of art - but they're not found in an art gallery or a museum, they're on walls across the city. Local street artists have painted inspiring murals on many historic buildings on every block of the neighbourhood.
Find falls in Ithaca
There are
150 waterfalls within 10 miles of the city of Ithaca, in New York State. Find out about Taughannock Falls State Park, or Robert Treman State Park, home to the sparkling Lucifer Falls.