100 Reasons to Love America in 2023

Photo:DISNEY; Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock; Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty; FilmMagic; Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage; Cheesecaked

DISNEY; Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock; Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty; FilmMagic; Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage; Cheesecaked

Harrison Ford tops the listof PEOPLE’s 100 Reasons to Love America in 2023. As for theother99 reasons: a mix of summer fun, natural beauty, inspiring moments and opportunities for celebration.Check out the full list of 100 Reasons in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

Harrison Ford tops the listof PEOPLE’s 100 Reasons to Love America in 2023. As for theother99 reasons: a mix of summer fun, natural beauty, inspiring moments and opportunities for celebration.

Check out the full list of 100 Reasons in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

01of 14The Summer’s Hottest Tour Swiftly Rolls OnScott Eisen/TAS23/GettyTaylor Swift’sEras Touris shattering attendance records, thrilling audiences with surprise guests (Ice Spice! Maren Morris!) and bridging the generation gap (So. many. Swiftie Dads). Future dates include stops in Denver, Seattle and L.A.More can’t-miss summer concerts:Madonna- TheCelebration Tour marks four decades of the Material Girl’s stranglehold on pop music—and popular culture. U.S.dates begin July 18and run through Jan. 20.Pink- The North American leg of the “Trustfall” singer’s Summer Carnival tour starts July 26 in Cincinnati. “I’m dumb lucky I get to do all of these things,”she toldPeoplein February.Beyoncé- Among Queen Bey’s backup dancers on the European leg of her Renaissance World Tour:her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. The party comes stateside on July 12.

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The Summer’s Hottest Tour Swiftly Rolls On

Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty

Taylor Swift’sEras Touris shattering attendance records, thrilling audiences with surprise guests (Ice Spice! Maren Morris!) and bridging the generation gap (So. many. Swiftie Dads). Future dates include stops in Denver, Seattle and L.A.

More can’t-miss summer concerts:

Madonna- TheCelebration Tour marks four decades of the Material Girl’s stranglehold on pop music—and popular culture. U.S.dates begin July 18and run through Jan. 20.

Pink- The North American leg of the “Trustfall” singer’s Summer Carnival tour starts July 26 in Cincinnati. “I’m dumb lucky I get to do all of these things,”she toldPeoplein February.

Beyoncé- Among Queen Bey’s backup dancers on the European leg of her Renaissance World Tour:her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. The party comes stateside on July 12.

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The One-of-a-Kind Coach Beard, a.k.a. Brendan Hunt

03of 14America the BreathtakingMoore Manor Lavender in Newport, Maine.Doug Moore/Moore Manor LavenderFrom spacious skies to purple mountain majesties, our natural wonders never cease. Check out the intoxicating bloom atMoore Manor Lavenderin Newport, Maine. It kicks off in June and peaks in early July, and the farm is free to visitors.Other sights to see:Texas’s Big Bend National ParkKayak the Rio Grande, hike the 14.5-mile South Rim Trail, or just gaze at the stars: According to the National Park Service, Big Bend has the least light pollution of any park in the Lower 48.The Alaska Railroad’s Centennial CelebrationThe nation’s last full-service railroad, which turns 100 this year, spans 470 miles, connecting Seward to Fairbanks—and its passengers to the timelessness of the Last Frontier.California’s SuperbloomRecord winter rainfall has sparked an explosion of colorful wildflowers in the Golden State (as in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, below), the first since 2019.Arizona’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal ParkFifty million years of Mother Nature’s hard work have left sandstone mesas and buttes that can be neither adequately described nor suitably photographed. You’ll try anyway.Georgia’s Toccoa FallsNestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the free-falling waterfall, which cascades from a stunning 186-ft.rock face, is one of the tallest east of the Mississippi.

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America the Breathtaking

Moore Manor Lavender in Newport, Maine.Doug Moore/Moore Manor Lavender

Doug Moore/Moore Manor Lavender

From spacious skies to purple mountain majesties, our natural wonders never cease. Check out the intoxicating bloom atMoore Manor Lavenderin Newport, Maine. It kicks off in June and peaks in early July, and the farm is free to visitors.

Other sights to see:

Texas’s Big Bend National ParkKayak the Rio Grande, hike the 14.5-mile South Rim Trail, or just gaze at the stars: According to the National Park Service, Big Bend has the least light pollution of any park in the Lower 48.

The Alaska Railroad’s Centennial CelebrationThe nation’s last full-service railroad, which turns 100 this year, spans 470 miles, connecting Seward to Fairbanks—and its passengers to the timelessness of the Last Frontier.

California’s SuperbloomRecord winter rainfall has sparked an explosion of colorful wildflowers in the Golden State (as in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, below), the first since 2019.

Arizona’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal ParkFifty million years of Mother Nature’s hard work have left sandstone mesas and buttes that can be neither adequately described nor suitably photographed. You’ll try anyway.

Georgia’s Toccoa FallsNestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the free-falling waterfall, which cascades from a stunning 186-ft.rock face, is one of the tallest east of the Mississippi.

04of 14We Have the Best MilkshakesThe Cereal Bowl Bamboozled Shake from Shakes and Buns in Las Vegas.Holstein’s Shakes and BunsWe searched far and wide for the top shake-makers in the U.S.A. These are the cream of the crop.Holsteins Shakes and Buns(Las Vegas) Try the Cereal Bowl Bam-Boozled shake (above): vanilla ice cream and vodka (!) topped with Cap’n Crunch, Froot Loops, Pocky sticks and vanilla frosting.The Bus Stop(Upperco, Md.) Try the Chippy Berry Extreme: strawberry and chocolate chip ice cream topped with a cookie sandwich, chocolate flakes, a fresh strawberry and a wafer.S’Moreology(West Covina, Calif.) Try the double-scoop strawberry milkshake topped with Marshmallow Fluff and a cherry.The Crazy Mason(10 locations across the South) Try the How the Cookie Crumbles: Milk & Cookies ice cream and crushed Chips Ahoy!, topped with a cookie bar, hot fudge, whipped icing and another cookie.Cheesecaked(Norcross, Ga.) Try the Unicorn Milkshake: birthday cake ice cream and cheesecake topped with whipped cream, rainbow candy, marshmallow, lollipop and sprinkles.

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We Have the Best Milkshakes

The Cereal Bowl Bamboozled Shake from Shakes and Buns in Las Vegas.Holstein’s Shakes and Buns

Holstein’s Shakes and Buns

We searched far and wide for the top shake-makers in the U.S.A. These are the cream of the crop.

Holsteins Shakes and Buns(Las Vegas) Try the Cereal Bowl Bam-Boozled shake (above): vanilla ice cream and vodka (!) topped with Cap’n Crunch, Froot Loops, Pocky sticks and vanilla frosting.

The Bus Stop(Upperco, Md.) Try the Chippy Berry Extreme: strawberry and chocolate chip ice cream topped with a cookie sandwich, chocolate flakes, a fresh strawberry and a wafer.

S’Moreology(West Covina, Calif.) Try the double-scoop strawberry milkshake topped with Marshmallow Fluff and a cherry.

The Crazy Mason(10 locations across the South) Try the How the Cookie Crumbles: Milk & Cookies ice cream and crushed Chips Ahoy!, topped with a cookie bar, hot fudge, whipped icing and another cookie.

Cheesecaked(Norcross, Ga.) Try the Unicorn Milkshake: birthday cake ice cream and cheesecake topped with whipped cream, rainbow candy, marshmallow, lollipop and sprinkles.

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Damar Hamlin’s Improbable Comeback

Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock

06of 14Pedro Pascal is Owning His MomentFilmMagicWhether walking theMet Gala red carpet in red Valentinoor having hisStarbucks order scrutinizedon TikTok (iced quad espresso with six shots!?), theLast of UsandMandalorianstar, 48, is leaning into our collective fascination and relishing his role as “the Internet’s daddy.” “Iamhaving fun with it,”he toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

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Pedro Pascal is Owning His Moment

FilmMagic

Whether walking theMet Gala red carpet in red Valentinoor having hisStarbucks order scrutinizedon TikTok (iced quad espresso with six shots!?), theLast of UsandMandalorianstar, 48, is leaning into our collective fascination and relishing his role as “the Internet’s daddy.” “Iamhaving fun with it,”he toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

07of 14We Help Our NeighborsVolunteers from Samaritan’s Purse help a homeowner recover in the aftermath of a tornado on March 28, 2023 in Silver City, Mississippi.Scott Olson/GettyWhen catastrophic tornadoes hit the South and Midwest in late March, Americans’ sense of compassion was on full display. Right: Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse help rebuild a home in Silver City, Miss., after an EF-4 stormdecimated the townand killed 26.

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We Help Our Neighbors

Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse help a homeowner recover in the aftermath of a tornado on March 28, 2023 in Silver City, Mississippi.Scott Olson/Getty

Scott Olson/Getty

When catastrophic tornadoes hit the South and Midwest in late March, Americans’ sense of compassion was on full display. Right: Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse help rebuild a home in Silver City, Miss., after an EF-4 stormdecimated the townand killed 26.

08of 14Shonda Rhimes’s Reign ContinuesAlan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImageShonda Rhimesminted another certified hit withQueen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a spinoff loosely based on the early life of the monarch. Fans call it even sexier than the original series. As Atlanta native Arsema Thomas (who plays Young Lady Danbury)toldPeople: “It’s a departure. What a beautiful experiment to be a part of."

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Shonda Rhimes’s Reign Continues

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

Shonda Rhimesminted another certified hit withQueen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a spinoff loosely based on the early life of the monarch. Fans call it even sexier than the original series. As Atlanta native Arsema Thomas (who plays Young Lady Danbury)toldPeople: “It’s a departure. What a beautiful experiment to be a part of."

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Five Ways to Get Your Culture Fix

The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. -Themuseum, which seeks to recognize female artists, reopens on Oct. 21, following a transformative $67.5 million renovation.

Rooftop Films’ 2023 Summer Series in New York City -The popularfilm festivalreturns for its 27th season, showcasing shorts, docs and features at unique outdoor venues across the five boroughs. Eva Longoria premiered her directorial debut,Flamin’ Hot, this year.

The International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C. -The long-awaitedIAAM— which celebrates the extensive cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans — opens on June 27 on the location at which 45 percent of enslaved Africans entered the country.

Duke Riley’s “Death to the Living, Long Live Trash” Exhibit at Brooklyn Museum -Fishing lures created with detritus collected from Northeastern beaches are just one highlight of this eco-consciousexhibit that runs through July 16.

The Airstream Heritage Center in Jackson Center, Ohio -Calling all glampers: Celebrate the iconic aluminum travel trailer — and how it still conjures the urge to pack up and explore — at thischarming museum dedicated to the RV lifestyle.

10of 14The Bear is Back!FXThe FX favoriteThe Bear, which offers an unsentimental look at Chicago restaurant life through the eyes of damaged chef Carmen Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, above, with Ayo Edebiri) drops10 new episodeson June 22.

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The Bear is Back!

FX

The FX favoriteThe Bear, which offers an unsentimental look at Chicago restaurant life through the eyes of damaged chef Carmen Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, above, with Ayo Edebiri) drops10 new episodeson June 22.

11of 14SVU Turns 25!Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesThey’re a credit to the force! (From left) Kelli Giddish, Mariska Hargitay and Ice T ring in a landmark25th seasonofLaw & Order: SVUthis fall.

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SVU Turns 25!

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

They’re a credit to the force! (From left) Kelli Giddish, Mariska Hargitay and Ice T ring in a landmark25th seasonofLaw & Order: SVUthis fall.

12of 14Flounder and Sebastian Get (Too) RealDisneyReaction toThe Little Mermaid’s realistic-looking sea creatures has beenmixed —and hilarious.“Everyone wants a photorealistic live actionLittle Mermaiduntil it comes time to reckon with what a true flounder looks like,“tweeted one fan.

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Flounder and Sebastian Get (Too) Real

Disney

Reaction toThe Little Mermaid’s realistic-looking sea creatures has beenmixed —and hilarious.

“Everyone wants a photorealistic live actionLittle Mermaiduntil it comes time to reckon with what a true flounder looks like,“tweeted one fan.

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Ben Platt and Noah Galvin head to Theater Camp

Searchlight Pictures

Thedelightful mockumentaryabout an upstate New York drama camp—starring real-life couple Ben Platt and Noah Galvin—hits theaters July 14.

“In 2017, Molly, Nick, Ben and I wanted to make something together,” Galvin explains in a video posted to the Sundance Institute’s YouTube page in December, sharing the years-long journey from concept to fully realized film.

“I think at the core…it’s really about how theater is a place where you can fully be yourself and kind of really find your people,” Gordon adds.

14of 14Bob Barker Nears a Milestone!Sonja Flemming/CBS via GettyThe legendaryPrice Is Righthost will turn 100 on Dec. 12.“I’m the old man they watched all these years doing fun games with people of all colors cheering each other on,”BarkertoldPeoplein 2007. “It’s an atmosphere that hardly exists anyplace else.”Other brands and American institutions hitting the century mark in 2023: the Hollywood sign, Russell Stover, Crystal hot sauce, Hasbro and the Walt Disney Company.

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Bob Barker Nears a Milestone!

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

The legendaryPrice Is Righthost will turn 100 on Dec. 12.

“I’m the old man they watched all these years doing fun games with people of all colors cheering each other on,”BarkertoldPeoplein 2007. “It’s an atmosphere that hardly exists anyplace else.”

Other brands and American institutions hitting the century mark in 2023: the Hollywood sign, Russell Stover, Crystal hot sauce, Hasbro and the Walt Disney Company.

source: people.com