USA TODAY 10Best
Springfield History Museum on the Square named Best New Attraction
Best New Attraction (2020)
From waterparks and theme parks to museums and performance spaces, travelers were treated to a host of new attractions in 2019.
The top 10 winners in the category Best New Attraction are as follows:
- Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum - Napa, Calif.
- ArtsWorcester - Worcester, Mass.
- Otherworld - Columbus, Ohio
- Tidal Cove Waterpark - Aventura, Fla.
- SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland - Nashville
- J. Rieger & Co. - Kansas City, Mo.
- Allianz Field - St. Paul
- The Hunger Games: The Exhibition - Las Vegas
- American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog - New York
- Springfield History Museum on the Square - Springfield, Mo.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum
No. 10:
More than 4,000 artifacts — specialty cookware, culinary tools and tableware — are on display at the new Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum at the Culinary Institute of America. The rotating exhibit might feature items like a vintage duck press, elaborate decorative rolling pins or a tureen shaped like a boar’s head.
Photo courtesy of iStock / shotsstudio
No. 9:
ArtsWorcester celebrates contemporary art by exhibiting the work of some 300 emerging and established artists. The new gallery space on Portland Street, opened in March of 2019, features 2,000 square feet of exhibition space.
No. 8:
Otherworld, an immersive art experience in Columbus, occupies a 32,000-square-foot space with 47 rooms of interactive art, secret passageways and mixed reality playgrounds. More than 40 artists contributed to the project, with backgrounds in everything from creative writing to digital fabrication.
Photo courtesy of Tidal Cove Waterpark
No. 7:
There’s a new way to cool off in Miami, thanks to the new Tidal Cove Waterpark in Aventura. The park features seven water slides, a Triple FlowRider surf simulator, lazy river and Kids Cove for younger visitors.
Photo courtesy of SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland
No. 6:
SoundWaves is a new indoor/outdoor resort waterpark experience at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort. The park is a balmy 84 degrees year round with a custom roof that allows the sun to shine through. Attractions include a mega raft slide, tubing bowl, body slides, a double FlowRider surf simulator, lazy river and activity pools designed for smaller children.
Photo courtesy of J. Rieger & Co.
No. 5:
While J. Rieger & Co. was founded in 1887, the famed whiskey distillery opened the doors to its new distilling facility in the Heim Brewery’s old bottling house this summer. Visitors can tour the distillery, learn about the history of the company in a 3,000-square-foot exhibit and sample spirits from several onsite bars.
Photo courtesy of Allianz Field
No. 4:
Allianz Field is the new home of Minnesota United FC, St. Paul’s Major League Soccer team. The $250 million stadium can accommodate 19,400 spectators, with no seat further than 125 feet from the pitch.
Photo courtesy of The Hunger Games: The Exhibition
No. 3:
Fans of The Hunger Games trilogy will want to visit this new exhibition in Las Vegas. Immersive experiences take visitors into the world of Katniss Everdeen; see props and costumes close cup, practice your archery skills at Beetee’s Lab and snap photos in 11 set recreations.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Rawpixel
No. 2:
New York’s AKC Museum of the Dog celebrates the role of man’s best friend in society at its new home on Park Avenue. The collection features some 1,700 pieces, displayed in rotating exhibits, as well as a 4,000-volume library. Interactive experiences explore dogs at work help match visitors with their ideal breed.
Photo courtesy of Springfield, Missouri, Convention & Visitors Bureau
No. 1:
The history of Route 66 comes alive at the new Springfield History Museum on the Square, where six galleries tell the stories of Springfield’s founders, the Mother Road, the Civil War in the area and regional Native American culture.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning attractions!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel... Read More
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
