Just any old hag can go in their own backyard and take some boring old selfie by a yard full of rusted toys and overgrown grass, right? Silly faces and bunny ears just don’t cut it these days, either. In a world full of crowded social media and everyone looking for a few seconds of fame, it can be quite hard to take that perfect pic that gets the whole school or office chatting about you. Fame whores, I’ve got an idea or two that will help get those Instagram likes well into three figures. Just take a snapshot at one of the destinations below and I promise your number of likes are sure to skyrocket. Give it a try, what do you have to loose (well, besides your dignity)?!

Here’s your selfie bucket list to destinations from all across these great states! 😉

1. Madame Tussauds – Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington D.C.

While it may sound a tad cliche to those familiar with this place (or any celebrity wax museum of its kind), but there just isn’t another destination that offers the uniqueness that Madame Tussauds provides. In all likelihood, you’re probably never going to meet your favorite celebrity in real life. I’m sorry, but there it is..especially if you don’t live in a large city and especially if they don’t perform or make club appearances or the like. Luckily, you can pretend by posing with as many faux famous people as you like at one of the 14 Madame Tussauds wax museums around the globe, or one of 6 in America. Hopefully you won’t get quite so tongue-tied chatting to a statue either.

Will the real Katy Perry Please stand up! For those wondering, the tall gal with the black wig is the real Katy. I bet it tricked you, huh? They make these things VERY authentic looking and they even let you touch them, too. Just try not to make them too inappropriate–they have security cameras, ‘ya know?!

2. The Empire State Building – New York City

For 360-degree views out across the Big Apple, this is the place you want to be. It’s been visited by over 110 million people since first opening. Head to the 86th or 102nd floor observatories for the ultimate view, just be sure to hold on to that camera of your. The 102nd floor observatory is completely enclosed and often closes on highly trafficked days (it was actually closed from 1999 to 2005, so it’s a real treat to see it back reopened).

Many NYC observation deck goers are anxiously awaiting the opening of the new deck atop One World Trade Center, which was formerly called the Freedom Tower, is scheduled to be completed in early 2014, with the observation deck opening in 2015. The 104-story skyscraper at the northwest corner of the World Trade Center site will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere when it is completed and has been the tallest in New York for a year.

Vanessa Hudgens sure does know how to make one hell of a selfie!

3. Washington Monument, Washington, DC

This obelisk on the National Mall was actually built to pay one of our founding fathers (George Washington) a little bit of respect. And respect is just what he has received, just take a glance through some of the images below and you’ll see just that!  Reaching the top of this 555.5-foot-tall structure, you’ll be standing in the highest tip of the world’s tallest free-standing work of masonry.

Real classy, hun. I don’t advise you to post a selfie like this, ladies. But at all costs, just please, don’t make a YouTube or Instagram video of you stroking or gagging this thing. Doing anything perverted here ought to be against the law, have some respect! That’s a real no, no, babe.

But guys, this on the other hand is much more appropriate. Then you can help weed out all the ladies and the ones that truly like you will “like” this pic. Give it a whirl, it’ll be a great conversation starter to those who are brave enough to like it! Respond with things like “Yeah Becky, you would like this, wouldn’you?” or “Becky, I always knew you had a little crush on me.” Come on guys, embrace your inner player with this one.

4. The Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, USA

This much-imitated landmark (we’re looking at you, Mosgiel) sits high on the side of Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills and has been a photo backdrop for those with stars in their eyes since the 1920s. While first time LA visitors may envision seeing it the minute the plane lands on the ground, what surprised me most was that the airport is actually quite a ways from the Hollywood area, especially in highly trafficked times. So when you finally do see this magnificent sign, I guarantee you that you’ll instantly fall in love with it. There’s actually cool outdoor shopping centers that are built entirely around leaving room to showcase this lovely landmark. Better yet, go hiking and see how close you can get to the sign itself.

Don’t forget to take one of these goofy little pics while here!

5. The Grand Canyon, Arizona

You can look at images and videos of the place all day, but until you’ve actually seen it for yourself, you’ll never truly understand it. One of the world’s seven natural wonders, it’s so beautifully familiar and iconic you can’t take your eyes off it. The canyon’s immensity, the sheer intensity of light and shadow at sunrise or sunset, even its very age, scream for all your love. At about two billion years old, the layer of Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the canyon is some of the oldest exposed rock on the planet. And the means by which it was exposed is of course the living, mighty Colorado River, which continues to carve its way 277 miles through the canyon as it has for the past six million years.

I know, I know, if this wouldn’t be the epic profile pic then I don’t know what would be. Just whatever you do, don’t risk your life and blame US City Traveler for getting you into this! But, with that said, if you do see a super safe place to pose one of these pictures then more power to you! Tweet it to me (@USCityTraveler) and I’d love to share it with my fans! 😉

6. Zion National Park, Utah

Cliffs in cream, pink, and red will serve as the backdrop at the 229-square-mile national park, which happens to be Utah’s very first. Hikers, bikers, and climbers can all find their own heaven within the park’s sweeping views, like at the half-mile-deep Zion Canyon. Then use one of those super cool filters to really help bring out those pinks and reds. Hashtag it #perfection, will you?!

Zion National Park

7. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

As cool as the Grand Canyon may be, this place really gives it a real run for it’s money in terms of uniqueness. Traipse through the miles of colorful rock formations, created from the rivers and streams eroding the sandstone.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

8. Brooklyn Bridge, New York

Show some love to two of New York’s best boroughs with a selfie in between them.

Perfect picture spot!

9. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

America’s first national park, and often considered to be the very best. The home of geriatric geyser Old Faithful is in good company with most of the rest of the country’s geysers. Get a snap while snowshoeing or taking in the incredible scenery, which stretches for 3,468 miles.

Prepare to spot a few yellow stones here at Yellowstone! They call it that for a reason, duhh!

10. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Often considered to be one of the man-made wonders of the world, Mount Rushmore is as much a work of art as it is an engineering marvel. Its creator, sculptor Gutzon Borglum, wanted to symbolize in stone the very spirit of a nation and, through four of its most revered leaders — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt — the country’s birth, growth, preservation, and development. All told, the monument was completed at a cost of about $1 million during 6 1/2 years of work over a 14-year period. Today pranksters like to show off their sense of humor by getting a picture where they look like the fifth president, or better yet, just try patting old Abe on the head!

Pinch that little chin of his for some real comedy! If this isn’t “cheesy,” I don’t know what is! 

11. St. Louis Arch, Missouri

America’s tallest national park monument, this 630 foot mammoth creature sits high above downtown and the Mississippi River, commemorating westward expansion in the 1800s. Tram rides to the top (with great views on clear days) can involve lengthy waits in summer and on weekends, so be sure to arrive early! Or save a few bucks and spent a couple hours snapping away with this thing until you run out of space on your device.

Though it is a strange shape, it sure fits the head perfectly! Get the right photographer behind the cam’ and let them align it perfectly. Make it shapely for us, will ‘ya?

That’s the money shot right there. Hashtag it #winning, okay?!

12. The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

America’s favorite bridge is, hands down, the ultimate photo op! It actually opened in 1937 and had until 1964 thelongest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet. Selfies with this thing are a little tough, but perhaps you should try wearing all red and sort of blending in with the thing! Spray paint, anyone? Now that would be a killer selfie.

Or just take a good look over. Or even pretend like you’re about to fall over. Or make it look like your head is coming through one of it’s towers.. The options are basically endless!

So that’s our guide to taking the epic selfie at tourist hot spots from all across America. Try one of these poses or come up with a cool one of your own and send it to me on Twitter. I’d love to see it!

Happy photographing 😉

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