Celebrity Chip & Joanna Gaines! 'This Is Us' ! Unicorn Frappuccinos! 100 Reasons to Love America Right Now In honor of our nation's birthday, we're celebrating some of our favorite people (like Chip and Joanna Gaines!) plus the places, things and ideas that make our country great By People Staff Published on June 23, 2017 10:41 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 100 CHIP & JOANNA GAINES Perry Hagopian The HGTV stars are experiencing a wave of popularity like no others. "Sometimes I wonder, 'Why us,' " says Chip. "What was it that we did that was interesting and unique. The fact that people watch our show, buy our products and come to Waco to visit our store. It's still sometimes a bit like a dream." 02 of 100 THIS IS US Art Streiber The show that makes us think about how we got to be the way we are. Missing it? Enjoy these hot pics of Papa Pearson until the series returns for season 2 in September. 03 of 100 WONDER WOMAN Clay Enos/Warner Brothers When girl power collides with box office power! The feel-good film earned more than $100 million in its first weekend, a record for a movie directed by a female — Patty Jenkins. "I think Wonder Woman has thrived for 75 years because she is filled with greatness and strength but also love, beauty, kindness and truth," says Jenkins. "She is purely good and deeply lovable." 04 of 100 BOOMER PHELPS Boomer Phelps/Instagram Cutest baby alive? We think so. 05 of 100 MELISSA MCCARTHY AS SEAN SPICER & ALEC BALDWIN AS DONALD TRUMP Will Heath/NBC/Getty Their impressions helped raise SNL's ratings bigly. McCarthy credited the prosthetics for getting into character. "You mess with your ears, and it really changes the shape of your head," she told Ellen DeGeneres. To inhabit Trump, Baldwin told Stephen Colbert, "left eyebrow up. Right eyebrow down. Shove your face like you're trying to suck the chrome off the fender of a car." 06 of 100 COKE'S PATRIOTIC BOTTLES & CANS Courtesy Coca-Cola For every patriotic or USO logo bottle sold on ShareaCoke.com, The Coca-Cola Company will donate $1 to the USO. 07 of 100 TRADER JOE'S Karen Desjardin/Getty As much religion as a grocery store. 08 of 100 FEARLESS GIRL Mark Lennihan/AP Initially installed for one month facing the Wall Street Charging Bull statue, the bronze figure by Kristen Visbal has been granted a yearlong extension. There's been push-back by the sculptor of the bull — and brief harassment from a peeing dog statue. Still, she persists. 09 of 100 THE GOLDEN GIRLS CAFÉ Jessica Lehrman/The New York Times The upper Manhattan eatery pays homage to Rue McClanahan with wall-to-wall memorabilia and personal effects — including her 1987 Emmy — and her ashes, cemented under a star-of-fame in the entryway. Try Sophia's 16-hour lasagna al forno. 10 of 100 UNICORN FRAPPUCCINO Starbucks Love it or hate it, the limited-edition crème drink that changed colors and flavors sold out fast. But not to fear: there are many items on the Starbucks secret menu to quench your thirst. 11 of 100 THE SIMPSONS FOX ¡Ay caramba! America's longest-running sitcom turns 30 this year. 12 of 100 ADIDAS STAN SMITHS Courtesy adidas More than 40 million pairs sold since 1971. 13 of 100 ARIANA GRANDE Kevin Mazur/Getty Her kindness, compassion and courage in the wake of the terrorist attack at her Manchester concert showcased her beauty inside and out. 14 of 100 SNAPCHAT VOICE CHANGER Snapchat If only it had existed for Kevin in Home Alone. 15 of 100 NEON MUSEUM IN LAS VEGAS Courtesy Neon Museum Where iconic signs go to live. 16 of 100 CHRISSY TEIGEN & JOHN LEGEND Chrissy Teigen/Instagram Couple goals. So much so, we've covered their love story extensively. 17 of 100 THRIVE MARKET Griffin Bower This site will ship healthy groceries at wholesale prices; if you buy a year membership, another is given to a family in need. 18 of 100 MERRIAM-WEBSTER TWITTER Twitter/Merriam-Webster It trolls politics brilliantly, though it couldn't explain "covfefe." 19 of 100 THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Rick Bowmer/AP Now open to transgender boys. 20 of 100 FRONT PORCHES Joanna McCarthy/Getty A place for your chair and your flag. 21 of 100 MELINDA GATES Prashant Panjiar/Bill & Gates Foundation The philanthropist has mastered the art of giving back. "One of the things I love most about America is that we're a nation of optimists," she says. "We're always striving to invent a better future." 22 of 100 PINTEREST COOKING FAILS Pinterestfails.com When you want to feel better about yourself. (Psst: check out some of our favorites.) 23 of 100 DEAR EVAN HANSEN Ben Platt performing in Dear Evan Hansen. Matthew Murphy The Tony-winning treasure, starring Ben Platt in a breakthrough performance, recognizes those on the outside looking in. Celebrities can't get enough. 24 of 100 KISS CAMS Noah Graham/Getty They capture the love — except when they don't. Thankfully, these celebrities have generally been ready for their moments on the jumbotron. 25 of 100 NUGGET GUY Meredith Ulmer Carter Wilkerson, 16, of Reno scored a year of Wendy's chicken nuggets for the most retweeted tweet of all time. 26 of 100 APRIL THE GIRAFFE'S LIVE-STREAMED PREGNANCY Animal Adventure Park The webcam at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York, registered more than 232 million live views. You can still check out April, her mate, Oliver, and their calf Tajiri at aprilthegiraffe.com. 27 of 100 WAFFLE HOUSE Chrissy Teigen/ Instagram Satisfying breakfast cravings 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 1955. Stars are in on the secret, too. 28 of 100 CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES Children's Hospital Los Angeles and USC The nonprofit institution has saved thousands of children, including Jimmy Kimmel's baby Billy, born on April 21 with congenital heart disease. Kimmel used the platform of his late-night show to praise CHLA and to advocate for health care for all children, regardless of financial need or preexisting conditions. 29 of 100 PUPPY BOWL Damian Strohmeyer A big serving of stress relief, complete with a kitty halftime show and bunny cheerleaders. It airs right before the Super Bowl. 30 of 100 AZIZ ANSARI Rob Latour/Variety/Rex/Shutterstock A gentle voice of reason in a harsh world. If you're not watching his Netflix hit Master of None, you should be. 31 of 100 EMPIRE STATE BUILDING iStockPhoto It's an Art Deco landmark in a city full of them and lights up in honor of all sorts of holidays and celebrations every night. 32 of 100 MAUI'S HALEAKALĀ NATIONAL PARK SUNRISE Mark Earey/Getty Prepare to arrive early — sunrise occurs between 3 and 7 a.m. — and shiver at an altitude of 10,023 ft. to see what Mark Twain called "the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed." 33 of 100 SCOTT HAMILTON Carrie Simons The Olympic gold medalist and cancer survivor puts life in perspective in his PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly Network docuseries: "A day is a day. I want more of those." 34 of 100 SPAM Kevin Britland/Alamy The canned mystery meat turns 80 this year. Try the Spam musubi in Hawaii. 35 of 100 JEEP Jeep A model of Yankee ingenuity. 36 of 100 HUNTER MCGRADY David Livingtson/Getty Sports Illustrated's curviest swimsuit model isn't afraid to talk about her journey — and the societal pressures on women today. 37 of 100 FIVE GUYS BURGERS Courtesy Five Guys It recently unseated In-N-Out as the best burger chain in a Harris poll. And don't even get us started on the fries. 38 of 100 BARRY JENKINS Barry Jenkins. Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage His film Moonlight, about growing up black and gay, won Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards — in dramatic fashion. 39 of 100 KEITH MORRISON'S NARRATION ON WAZE Courtesy Waze Uh-oh. Policeman ahead. 40 of 100 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Richard Dobson/Newspix/Getty The seven-time Grammy winner, activewear designer, wife and mother of a 2-year-old calls herself "a normal person with a really cool job." 41 of 100 DOUGHNUTS From coast to coast and everywhere in between, we have the best: Whether it's cake or yeasted, glazed or bacon-topped, there's a flavor made just for you. Try Federal Donuts in Philadelphia, Glazed and Infused in Chicago, Shipley Do-Nuts in Houston or Astro Doughnuts in D.C. if you have a hankering. 42 of 100 MEGHAN MCCAIN Charles Sykes/Bravo/Getty The cohost of Fox News Channel's Outnumbered has her own list of what makes America great: "Freedom, the men and women who serve in the military, country music, Kentucky bourbon, the Grand Canyon, blackjack in Las Vegas and barbecue." 43 of 100 FLYING CAR Courtesy Darah Roslyn Google cofounder Larry Page's electric vehicle operates over water and promises to be available by the end of the year. 44 of 100 HOME TOWN Courtesy of HGTV HGTV's Erin and Ben Napier rescue homes in the South. 45 of 100 AMERICAN CHEESE Shutterstock A slice of heaven to add to your barbecue spread. 46 of 100 THE GEORGE BUSH-MICHELLE OBAMA FRIENDSHIP ZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Crossing party lines with a shared sense of humor. "Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like," the former president told PEOPLE. 47 of 100 TAKE YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY Getty It's an easy way to spend quality time. (Almost as good? June 23, a.k.a. take your dog to work day.) 48 of 100 SHARK TANK Patrick Ecclesine/ABC The show that can change your fortune; after all, it turned a sponge called the Scrub Daddy into a $50 million sensation. 49 of 100 HOUZZ Houzz A home-improvement app where you can find anything from inspirational photos to interlocking pavers. 50 of 100 DARCI LYNNE FARMER Vivian Zink/NBC The 12-year-old singing ventriloquist is charming viewers with her talent and overall adorableness. America's Got Talent for sure. 51 of 100 PEGGY WHITSON Courtesy NASA The 57-year-old astronaut from Iowa broke the record in April for the most accumulated time in space — 534 days and counting — aboard the International Space Station. 52 of 100 MAPTOTE Maptotes Show your city pride with a customizable, eco-friendly tote bag. 53 of 100 PROMPOSAL GUY Jacob Staudenmaier Arizona teen Jacob Staudenmaier didn't get the girl — Emma Stone — but his epic La La Land-inspired video raised the bar for high school seniors everywhere. 54 of 100 2020 PRESIDENTIAL TICKET: DWAYNE JOHNSON AND TOM HANKS Will Heath/NBC As announced on the season finale of SNL. Bring it on! 55 of 100 MILLENNIAL PINK This sweet hue has been everywhere — from decor to dresses — this year. 56 of 100 STRANGER THINGS Ben Trivett The unique mystery series — starring Winona Ryder and one very cool cast of kids — puts the Original in Netflix Original. 57 of 100 HOMEGOODS Philip Scalia/Alamy Where to go for everything you never knew you needed. We've done a deep dive into the obsession (don't worry, you're not alone). 58 of 100 DRIVE-THRUS Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Fast food, even faster. 59 of 100 NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON Heather Perry/National Geographic The host of StarTalk on National Geographic fell in love with astrophysics at age 9 and has learned how to ignite a passion in the public. "With the issues that we have before us like climate and energy, science literacy is urgent," he says. "I try to always connect science to elements of pop culture that I know people care about." 60 of 100 AIRBNB Airbnb Go global, stay local. Celebrities do it, too. 61 of 100 VIOLA DAVIS Frazer Harrison/Getty The Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner has mastered the arts of acting and the acceptance speech. 62 of 100 MAGIC MIKE LIVE Erik Kabik Photography Conceived and codirected by Channing Tatum, this striptease revue has taken up residence in Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel. 63 of 100 ANCESTRY DNA Courtesy Ancestry Don't you want to know where you came from? This company makes it easy — for just $99. 64 of 100 WILL AND GRACE REVIVAL Heidi Gutman/NBCUniversal It returns to NBC this fall — and we haven't been this excited in a while. 65 of 100 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ON INSTAGRAM US Department of the Interior Spectacular photos from more than 400 national park sites. 66 of 100 JACK SCHLOSSBERG Ryan McBride/AFP/Getty JFK's grandson weighs in on his country. "I love that America represents a beacon of hope and opportunity in a world of uncertainty. I love that I am free to say that I don't love the new trajectory of American leadership. I am horrified by our government's proposed immigration ban, I'm embarrassed that the United States pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and I'm frustrated that our government is attempting to take away health care for millions," he writes for PEOPLE. "I love how many Americans are speaking out against these developments that are antithetical to the values that have made America the greatest nation on earth." 67 of 100 GLOSSIER Courtesy Glossier The no-makeup makeup has achieved cult status. 68 of 100 KATHRINE SWITZER John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty The first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967 completed it again 50 years later. 69 of 100 APPLE CAMPUS 2 Courtesy Apple A 2.8 million-sq.-ft. vision of the future designed by architect Norman Foster. 70 of 100 LA CROIX Courtesy LaCroix Don't let the fancy name fool you: The trendy sparkling water comes from La Crosse, Wisconsin. 71 of 100 S-TOWN Valero Doval The spellbinding story of Alabama clock restorer John B. McLemore was the podcast of the year. 72 of 100 THE PIONEER WOMAN Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Food Network star Ree Drummond makes us all feel at home at the range with her cooking show and hot new magazine. 73 of 100 AMAZON ECHO Courtesy Amazon Alexa has more than 10,000 skills, is a good listener and asks for nothing in return. 74 of 100 FINAL FIVE David Ramos/Getty The Olympics Dream Team — Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Raisman and Gabby Douglas — that we still can't get enough of nearly one year later. 75 of 100 MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM Beyonce/Instagram With a sprinkle pool and a chocolate chamber, it's the hottest ticket in L.A. Open through August. 76 of 100 FIREWORKS Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe/Getty Celebrating Independence Day with a bang since 1777. 77 of 100 MARTHA STEWART & SNOOP DOGG Piotr Sikora for VH1 America's odd couple first bonded during a Comedy Central roast of Justin Bieber in 2015. "It was like, 'We've got to get back together again,' " says Snoop, 45. Their show Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party began last year on VH1. When it comes to cooking, Stewart, 75, says, "His fried chicken was very good, not as good as mine." But Snoop gets his just dessert. "She makes the better cakes," he says, "but brownies? That's my land right there, man." 78 of 100 'MARCH' MADNESS Mario Tama/Getty Standing up for women, science and more to exercise our rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. 79 of 100 MEGHAN MARKLE Paul Morigi/WireImage Once upon a time, an American TV star fell in love with a handsome prince. Before she knew it, Markle, 35, was jetting to London for cozy stays at Kensington Palace — while a smitten Prince Harry, 32, was secretly flying thousands of miles just so they could spend a weekend together in her Toronto home base. Not since Grace Kelly has an American captured the heart of a true prince — and this time Markle is flipping the royal script. Proudly ambitious and independent, she is no fairy-tale princess. She's better. 80 of 100 THE CHICAGO CUBS Ezra Shaw/Getty The curse reversed for the World Series champs after a 108-year drought. 81 of 100 GRACELAND Radharc Images / Alamy What better time to visit? There's a new hotel, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis's wedding to Priscilla and the 40th anniversary of his death. 82 of 100 BETTER MIDLER IN HELLO, DOLLY! Julieta Cervantes The queen of Broadway now has a Tony Award for her latest role (and could've won another for her speech). 83 of 100 DISNEY WORLD'S PANDORA — THE WORLD OF AVATAR David Roark Opened in May, it's a whole new world. "It's really pretty magical," Avatar director James Cameron told PEOPLE. "It's wildly exceeded my expectations for what was possible in the physical world, from floating mountains to all the exotic plant life faithfully reproduced and of course getting to fly on a banshee." 84 of 100 MAHERSHALA ALI Steve Granitz/WireImage An overnight sensation (and Oscar winner) after 17 years in the business! 85 of 100 SWEETGREEN Courtesy Sweetgreen A fast-casual chain with a mission as fresh as its salads: to source locally, cook from scratch and create healthy communities. 86 of 100 FAITH & TIM'S SEXY SUMMER TOUR Courtesy Kristen Foster The country superstars smolder on their first joint road trip in 10 years, Soul2Soul: The World Tour 2017. 87 of 100 BUTTERBEER Amy Brothers/The Denver Post/Getty Now available hot, cold, frozen, soft-serve and other ways at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Sweet! 88 of 100 ANDY COHEN Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Intrepid, irreverent, irresistible. His Watch What Happens Live on Bravo has become a veritable confessional for all sorts of celebs. 89 of 100 ANTELOPE VALLEY CALIFORNIA POPPY RESERVE Minden PIctures/Getty After a winter of record storms, a superbloom. 90 of 100 BACKSTREET BOYS VEGAS RESIDENCY AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD Denise Truscello The '90s never sounded better than in the guys' show, Larger Than Life, which was recently extended into 2018. 91 of 100 KODE WITH KLOSSY Kode with Klossy. Kode with Klossy Karlie Kloss, 24, is a supermodel on a mission. Since starting her nonprofit Kode with Klossy in 2015, she has provided 300 career scholarships and hosted nearly 400 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 at two-week intensive coding camps. "This summer we are expanding to 15 camps in 10 cities," says Kloss. "Our goal is not just to teach code," she says. "We want to instill confidence and a belief that you can take on any challenge." 92 of 100 CHRISTIAN SIRIANO Gary Gershoff/WireImage The former Project Runway winner recognizes the importance of dressing women of all shapes and sizes. "My goal is to hopefully change people's perceptions of what's beautiful and what women should wear," he says. "I don't go after the young, new It Girl. They're fabulous, but what's exciting to me is seeing someone different on the carpet looking amazing, like Danielle Brooks, whom I love so much." 93 of 100 BUSY PHILIPPS' INSTAGRAM STORIES Busy Philipps/Youtube Surviving a creepy Uber ride and other must-see slices of celeb life, straight from the actress's mouth. 94 of 100 BIG LITTLE LIES HBO An addictive soap with scenery as A-list as the stars (Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern among them). 95 of 100 THE WADE QUADRUPLETS Suzanna H. Davis Ohio brothers (from left) Nigel, Zach, Nick and Aaron, 18, were accepted to many top schools, but all decided to attend Yale. "I'm looking forward to the challenge," Nigel says. 96 of 100 JANELLE MONÁE CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty A singular talent who calls herself "a storyteller who wants to tell untold, meaningful, universal stories in unforgettable ways." 97 of 100 GATEWAY ARCH Getty St. Louis's tribute to westward expansion. 98 of 100 CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY Brent Knepper The ultimate non-PC party game. 99 of 100 DR. EVAN ANTIN Courtesy Evan Antin PEOPLE's Pet Vet — who loves chasing exotic animals around the globe but can also show you how to brush your dog's teeth — is fearless and fit. 100 of 100 DAIRY-FREE ICE CREAM THAT TASTES LIKE REAL ICE CREAM The secret is almond, soy, coconut or cashew milk.