The ancient city of Memphis, Egypt, was the country’s first capital and remained such for most of the Pharaonic period. When John Overton, James Winchester, and future President Andrew Jackson founded Memphis, Tennessee, in 1819, they looked to the historic Egyptian city — and its location on the banks of the mighty Nile — for the inspiration for their own new city, itself located on the Mississippi River.

Throughout its history, Myrtle Beach has also been known as Long Bay, Withers, and New Town, but in 1900, the name Myrtle Beach emerged. It was determined by a local contest, with the winning name inspired by the wax myrtle, a plentiful local shrub. The name Edgewater came in second place.

Phoenix may be known for its scenic desert landscapes, but it's surrounded by several watery oases. Less than 100 miles away in almost every direction, Phoenix visitors and residents alike can enjoy lakes such as Canyon, Apache, Pleasant, Saguaro, Apache, and Bartlett year-round. Four of these lakes are located within Tonto National Forest, which stretches for 600,000 acres.

Orlando's history traces back to the Seminole Wars in 1838. The area was known then as Jernigan after the pioneering Jernigan family. It eventually grew into a community with a post office and officially became Orlando in 1857. Although the origin of the name remains uncertain, possibilities include honoring a former employee of Judge James Speer or being inspired by a character in Shakespeare's play "As You Like It."

Jose Marti Park, located in Tampa Bay’s Ybor City neighborhood, was donated to the Cuban government in 1956 in honor of the Cuban poet and revolutionary’s time in the area. The tiny park — which contains plaques and soil from each Cuban province — remains property of the Cuban government, despite tensions between the U.S. and Cuba over the years, and is the centerpiece of the Cuban neighborhood.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in an Atlanta neighborhood along Auburn Avenue that’s known locally as Sweet Auburn. Today, the historic neighborhood preserves its legacy through landmarks such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which contains the civil rights leader’s birthplace, tomb, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Towering above Albuquerque, New Mexico’s vibrant and diverse city life is the Sandia mountain range. The name Sandia, the Spanish word for watermelon, is believed to have come from the pinkish hue of the granite peaks. Others, however, believe it came from the valley's Indigenous peoples, who grew abundant crops of squash and named the mountains for their bounty.

Measuring in at just over six feet wide, Treasury Street, located in historic St. Augustine, Florida, is the narrowest street in America. According to local legend, the street was built wide enough to carry chests of gold to and from docked ships, but too narrow for a horse and carriage to get through and make off with the money. However, the narrow feel of the street more likely just reflects the area’s early Spanish architecture.

McDonald’s is as famous for their golden arches as they are for their fries, but in Sedona, Arizona, the arches are green. When the fast-food giant came to Sedona in 1993, the city required that the arches take on a teal color instead of the bright yellow so the signage wouldn’t distract from or clash with the famous red rocks that surround the area.

The world's first and only solar-powered Ferris wheel is located on the Santa Monica Pier. The Pacific Wheel first opened in 1996 and was switched to 100% solar power in 1998. The Ferris wheel also received a visual upgrade in 2018, when it was outfitted with 174,000 eco-friendly LED lights, now used for stunning light show displays. The unique attraction offers riders a view of the California coastline from 130 feet in the air.

In 1950, radio announcer David Cobb coined Nashville’s well-deserved name “Music City, USA.” The broadcaster said it during country music artist Red Foley’s WSM radio show, and given the city’s already rich and influential music scene at the time, it stuck. Today, Nashville still fosters some of the world’s biggest country music artists, writers, and producers.

First established in 1926 and completed by the late 1930s, Route 66 was one of the original highways in the United States’ numbered highway system. The iconic route — dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in his novel “Grapes of Wrath” — started in Chicago and went all the way to Santa Monica, California, where a traditional “end of the trail” sign still stands on the city’s pier.

With its mind-boggling array of resorts, casinos, restaurants, and theaters, Las Vegas has dubbed itself the "Entertainment Capital of the World.” The city is also in close proximity to a number of natural landmarks, including the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, to name a few. Though its reputation is legendary, Las Vegas itself is relatively young, having only been established in 1905.

Avocados are native to Mexico and Central America, but in the U.S., San Diego is hailed as the avocado capital. The California city is home to 90% of the nation’s crop, making the popular green fruit a significant economic driver for the state. Avocados are in season year-round and have been celebrated at San Diego’s annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival since the 1960s.

The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition was held in New Orleans from May to November of that year. The exhibition faced several challenges: low attendance, lack of sponsors, and financial difficulties (it was the only world’s fair to ever go bankrupt). But in the long run, many claim its lasting legacy was a much-needed revitalization of parts of New Orleans that remain vibrant areas today.

Originally erected in 1923 as a promotional sign for a real estate development, sunny Los Angeles' now-iconic Hollywood sign once said Hollywoodland. Over time, the sign fell into disrepair — the “H” fell off and the "land" portion of the sign badly deteriorated. In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce rebuilt the “H,” but removed the “land” entirely.

Dallas is home to the largest contiguous urban arts district in the United States. Spanning 19 city blocks across 118 acres, the vibrant cultural hub houses renowned institutions such as the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The district also boasts more buildings designed by Pritzker award-winning architects than anywhere else in the world.

Thanks to its location in the abundantly sunny Salt River Valley, Phoenix is often referred to as the "Valley of the Sun." It’s one of the sunniest cities in the U.S., enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. It also has the distinction of having more days with a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit than any other city.

The Sun Belt refers to 15 states across the southern United States, many of which border Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico. Seven of the 10 most populous cities in the U.S. are located in the Sun Belt, including Los Angeles. With a population just over 4 million people, Los Angeles is the most populous Sun Belt city and the second-most populous city in the entire U.S., just after New York City.

Miami is often referred to as the "Magic City," not because of its glitzy lifestyle, but because of the rapid growth the city experienced q after its incorporation in 1896. The nickname originated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Miami experienced a remarkable transformation from a small, undeveloped area to a bustling metropolis. This was thanks in large part to the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s, which was rife with real estate opportunists.