5 Bridges in The US You Must See

Bridges may just be a way to get from Point A to Point B, but to travelers, some bridges are the Point B.

Some are actually so amazing and awe inspiring that they have become a reason for travel. Sure, they may not be natural wonders, but as far as man-made structures are concerned, some bridges certainly quality as must-see, bucket list items.

The bridges mentioned below, all in the United States, fit the bill. Avid travelers have got to take some time to not just drive across, but experience, these five bridges.

5. Lake Pontchartrain/Causeway Bridge

The Lake Pontchartrain/Causeway bridge is notable because it's the longest bridge over water in the world. It spans an impressive 24 total miles and has been open since 1956.

What it lacks in height, sheer size and gravity, it makes up for the fact that it crosses such a massive body of water. Seriously, it's built just like a highway would be, with more than 9,000 pilings holding it up over the water, but instead of looking to your right and left and seeing land, all you can see is water.

Lake Pontchartrain, located in Louisiana, has an area of about 630 square miles and it's about 40 miles long. The Causeway bridge basically cuts it in half, so you better hope you don't get stuck in the middle for some reason.

At that point you may as well call a boat.

4. Brooklyn Bridge

Connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge is almost instantly recognizable. It's synonymous with Brooklyn and sometimes even New York, which has basically made it synonymous with American culture and pop culture.

The Brooklyn bridge has been around since 1883, and it has a ton of history behind it. It actually took 14 years to build and it was the world's first steel suspension bridge. Multiple people died in the construction of the bridge, including John Augustus Roebling, who was its creator and designer.

It's estimated that about 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians cross the bridge every day, and with an iconic view of the New York Skyline to boot, it's definitely one of the top attractions for tourists visiting the New York area.

With its solid granite towers, steels cables, construction and design, the Brooklyn bridge is as beautiful as it is iconic.

3. Mackinac Bridge

The Mackinac Bridge is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world, and it connects Michigan's lower peninsula (The Mitten) with the upper peninsula (also known a the U.P.)

The "Mighty Mac" is easily one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, and it's definitely an impressive structure as far as the numbers are concerned. In total, it's five miles long (26,372 feet), with the suspension part of the bridge checking in at 8,614 feet. The main cables are made of over 42,000 miles of wire and the bridge as a whole weighs 1,024,500 tons.

With the highest point of the towers a whopping 552 feet above the chilly intersection of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, driving the Mackinac Bridge is as much an experience as it is a commute.

Depending on the Michigan weather, which can be unpredictable, you could be driving through a nasty Northern Michigan rain and wind storm (yes, the bridge does sway), trudging through the snow and ice or sight-seeing the beauty of Northern Michigan in spring and summer.

The U.P. is one of the hidden gems of beauty in the United States, but the same can be said for the bridge that gets you there.

2. Royal Gorge Bridge

If heights and stunning views of depth and expanse aren't for you, well, you may just want to avoid this bridge all together.

The Royal Gorge Bridge also comes with a theme park, with the suspension bridge (built in 1929) acting as the main attraction Well, that is, if you can take your eyes off the gorge.

The gorge itself is about 10 miles long with red granite walls of over 1,000 feet.

The Arkansas River is the main contributor to the canyon, and the bridge suspends and impressive 956 feet above it.

The bridge and gorge are worth the trip to Cañon City, Colorado alone, but attractions at the park also include a children's play land, aerial gondolas, a zipline, a skycoaster and more.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is perhaps the most iconic bridge in the world, not just in the United States.

It's instantly recognizable for its International Orange color as well as its scenic placement. It connects the city of San Francisco to the County of Marin, which features beautiful cliffs that overlook the bay and the bridge.

From Alcatraz to the Pacific ocean, the views are plenty on the Golden Gate, but that's only when it's not foggy. Situated right on the bay mouth, the famous advection fog of San Francisco often rolls into the bay and passes through the Golden Gate Bridge. It directly impacts the movement of the fog, which can sometimes be a sight to see -- especially when it pushes the fog up or down.

Opened in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, checking in with a 4,200-foot long suspension span.

It's certainly worth the No. 1 spot on this list.

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