As the weather warms, vaccinations proliferate, and pandemic-era restrictions on dining, gathering, and travel are canceled or greatly curtailed, one refrain is common throughout the country (either literally or figuratively): Let’s get out of here!!!
After a year-plus of being cooped up, Americans are ready to travel. With that in mind, 24/7 Tempo has put together a list of recommendations for great summer destinations in every state. Depending on where you live — and your tolerance for long car trips — some will be within driving distance. Others are a plane ride away, with or without some driving on the other end. These are the world’s busiest air routes right now.
Everybody has a different idea of the ideal way to spend time off. For some, it’s loafing on a beach or idly fishing in a mountain lake. Others seek more activity — hiking, mountain biking, kayaking. Some want to add an educational component to their vacation, visiting monuments and museums. Still others prefer an environment where the pleasures include charming streets, ample shopping, and good restaurants. ( If you’re visually inclined, these are most beautiful places to visit in the U.S.)
The list that follows offers something for everyone. State and National Parks are included, as are beach communities and lakeside retreats. So are venues offering nature walks, winery tours, waterfalls or wildflowers, even the chance to pan for gold.
To assemble a list of the best summer destinations in every state, 24/7 Tempo compared recommendations from a variety of travel websites and blogs, including Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Afar, Planet Ware, Only in Your State, Tripping, The Crazy Tourist, and Places You’ll See, as well as numerous official state and regional tourism sites.
Alabama: DeSoto State Park
> Attractions: Stunning waterfalls, hiking, wildflowers
Alaska: Homer
> Attractions: Fishing, flowers, art, dining
Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
> Attractions: Camping, horseback riding, Grand Canyon itself
Arkansas: Mountain View
> Attractions: Mountain vistas, caverns, folk music
California: Santa Catalina Island
> Attractions: Beaches, boating, boutique hotels
Colorado: Garden of the Gods Park
> Attractions: Hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, nature center
Connecticut: Mystic
> Attractions: Seaport museum, shopping, restaurants
Delaware: Rehoboth Beach
> Attractions: Beaches, boardwalk, festivals and concerts
Florida: Sanibel Island
> Attractions: Fishing, boating, beaches, seashell hunting
Georgia: Tybee Island
> Attractions: Beaches, kayaking, shopping
Hawaii: Hana (Maui)
> Attractions: Beaches, surfing, tropical gardens
Idaho: Thousand Springs
> Attractions: Dramatic landscapes, hiking, horseback riding
Illinois: Galena
> Attractions: Small town charm, bird sanctuary, scenic drives
Indiana: Bloomington
> Attractions: Fishing, sailing, hiking, nature preserves
Iowa: Okoboji
> Attractions: Watersports, amusement park, local products
Kansas: Lindsborg
> Attractions: Swedish architecture and culture, historic homes, parks
Kentucky: Bardstown
> Attractions: Bourbon distilleries, museums
Louisiana: Avery Island
> Attractions: Wildfowl refuge, semitropical gardens, Tabasco factory tour
Maine: Acadia National Park
> Attractions: Beautiful seascapes, moountain climbing, clean air and water
Maryland: Ocean City
> Attractions: Beaches, boardwalk, family activities
Massachusetts: Marblehead
> Attractions: New England history, pretty townscape, sailing
Michigan: Mackinac Island
> Attractions: Golf, biking, horsedrawn carriages
Minnesota: Grand Marais
> Attractions: Colorful waterfront, art galleries
Mississippi: Ocean Springs
> Attractions: Gulf Coast beaches, fishing, shopping
Missouri: Ste. Genevieve
> Attractions: Historic sites, water park, winery tours
Montana: Virginia City
> Attractions: Old West atmosphere, fishing, gold panning
Nebraska: Lake McConaughy
> Attractions: Beaches, boating, fishing, camping
Nevada: Lake Tahoe
> Attractions: Boating, fishing, walking trails, restaurants
New Hampshire: Portsmouth
> Attractions: Beaches, parks, museums
New Jersey: Frenchtown
> Attractions: Riverside walks, biking, boutiques, restaurants
New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Attractions: Summer opera festival, museums, restaurants
New York: Cooperstown
> Attractions: National Baseball Hall of Fame, museums, historic downtown
North Carolina: Highlands
> Attractions: Antiques, small theatres, restaurants, clean air
North Dakota: International Peace Garden
> Attractions: Formal gardens, hiking, biking
Ohio: Mohican State Park
> Attractions: Camping, hiking, mountain biking
Oklahoma: Lake Murray State Park
> Attractions: Floating cabins, swimming, hiking, hayrides
Oregon: Crater Lake
> Attractions: Fishing, boating, knockout vistas
Pennsylvania: Jim Thorpe
> Attractions: Romantic Victorian townscape, whitewater rafting, shopping
Rhode Island: Newport
> Attractions: Sailing, mansion tours, jazz and folk festivals
South Carolina: Charleston
> Attractions: Museums, shopping, top-rated restaurants, pro sports
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Attractions: Public sculpture, tribal arts, outdoor festivals and concerts
Tennessee: Gatlinburg
> Attractions: Mountain hiking, aquarium, chilcrens’ attractions
Texas: Matagorda Bay
> Attractions: Beaches, fishing, seafood restaurants
Utah: Moab
> Attractions: Unique rock formations, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, camping
Vermont: Montpelier
> Attractions: Nature center, mountain biking, museums
Virginia: Richmond
> Attractions: Civil War historical sites, museums, top-rated restaurants
Washington: Leavenworth
> Attractions: Bavarian architecture, rafting and kayaking, fishing, hiking
West Virginia: Summersville
> Attractions: Freshwater scuba diving, fishing, hiking
Wisconsin: Bayfield
> Attractions: Lake cruises, kayaking, restaurants and B&Bs
Wyoming: Yellowstone National Park
> Attractions: Wildlife, geysers, waterfalls and lakes, camping, hiking