Top 10 places to visit in the U.S. this summer Part #1

San Francisco

San Francisco has been listed as the best place in America to visit, according to U.S. News & World Report. Top tourist attractions include Chinatown, which is the oldest Chinatown in North America, and the Golden Gate Bridge, which has been the backdrop for numerous films, including Superman (1978), Star Trek (2009), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

Travel site Kayak.com offers flights from New York in mid-August for $432, from Miami for $410, and from Chicago for $398. Travel website Expedia.com has flights from New York for $472, from Miami for $380, and from Chicago for $357. (For reference, the prices we checked reflect roundtrip airfare departing Aug. 18, with an Aug. 23 return.)U.S. News & World Report used a user and expert score system to come up with the rankings; it includes readers' votes, travel guides, articles and interviews.

Washington, D.C.

The capital of the United States is second on the top ten list of cities to visit this summer, which is no surprise considering the number of historical sites and landmarks. For those who want to check out fine dining restaurants and visit museums, check out DuPont Circle; if you want to shop, head to Friendship Heights, which has stores such as Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale's. Flights from New York are available in mid-August for $130 on Kayak, from Miami for $232, and from Chicago for $258. Flights are $150 on Expedia from New York, $232 from Miami, and $258 from Chicago

 

San Diego

San Diego, Calif., was listed as the number three U.S. city to visit. The city boasts 33 beaches. After you hit the beach, you can check out a free car show featuring vintage cars in La Mesa Village, which will be taking place every Thursday night during the months of June through August. In addition to the car show, visitors can go shopping, listen to live music, and eat at the many local restaurants. Flights from New York in mid-August cost $412 on Kayak, $470 from Miami, and $372 from Chicago. Flights cost $384 on Expedia from New York, $477 from Miami, and $371 from Chicago.

This photo offers a view of the Coronado Bridge Nov. 2, 2001.

New York

It is no surprise that this global city made the top ten list of places to visit in the U.S. This urban business center drew around 50 million tourists last year, with attractions such as Madison Square Garden, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park, just to name a few. Even for New York residents, there are endless activities to take part in, from dining at new restaurants to attending a Broadway play. From Los Angeles, flights to New York cost $410 on Kayak, $186 from Chicago, and $269 from Miami. Using Expedia, flights from Los Angeles cost $406, from Chicago flights are $245, and from Miami, $269.

Yellowstone

The first national park in the world, Yellowstone, is a renowned tourist spot and made it to number five on the list of places to visit in the U.S. Established in 1872, this park has three million visitors annually, due in large part to the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which is 20 miles long and one of the most scenic highlights at Yellowstone. On Kayak, flights from New York in mid-August will cost $617, $531 from Miami, and $532 from Chicago. On Expedia, flights from New York cost $513, $714 from Miami, and $515 from Chicago. The nearest airports are Jackson Hole (JAC) and Yellowstone Airport (WYS).

In this photo, a view of the "Sunset Lake" hot spring can be seen in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. on June 1, 2011.