Looking to experience the full diversity of cultures and landscapes in the United States on your next vacation? If you are seeking a tl;dr: style summary of vacation ideas in the United States based on my personal travel experience, this post has got you covered.
Read a 1-2 sentence summary of holiday ideas organized by region and see which U.S. destinations catch your fancy. Then, check out the links to more detailed posts about each of these amazing destinations and deep dive on some cool activities to do once you're there.
Inspire your USA bucket list travel itinerary with these fun travel prompts.
Vacation Ideas in the Southern U.S. (from East to West)
- Embark on a Florida Gulf Coast road trip and experience fantastic beaches and wildlife. Did you know that you can see manatees in the Florida Everglades?
- If you prefer cities and architecture, get yourself to Art Deco Miami Beach!
- Get a little crazy and maybe even experience a Louisiana-style shark attack with these fun things to do in New Orleans.
- Find yourself deep in the heart of Texas on a Houston to Austin drive and then try some amazing Austin food once you get there. Why not book yourself on an Austin Detours tour of the Texas Capital?
- Discover the mystical and awe-inspiring American Southwest with these 10 fun things to do in Arizona.
U.S. West Coast Vacation Ideas
- Appreciate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest when you spend a day in Seattle especially on a sunny day. Why not discover the best coffee in Fremont while you're there?
- Discover the best things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area like sipping some of the best margaritas in the country. Take a stairway walk in scenic Potrero Hill or hike the Barbary Coast Trail. Is architecture your thing? Why not embark on an Art Deco San Francisco walking tour?
- Go birdwatching in the San Francisco Bay Area, find out what to see at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, or take the ferry to Alameda.
- Why not take a day trip from San Francisco to Lodi to taste local wines or plan a classic wine country weekend in Calistoga instead?
- Drive from San Francisco to Moss Landing to discover Monterey wildlife and then continue south along the California Coast to discover the best things to do in Venice Beach. While you're there, pay a visit to Disneyland and find out why this classic theme park is better now than it was when I was a kid.
- Test your luck with 2 days in Las Vegas!
Vacation Ideas in New York State and Pennsylvania
- Walk the High Line and discover the colors of New York City on a vibrant photo walk. Spend one day in Brooklyn and then head upstate to discover things to do around Poughkeepsie in the Hudson River Valley or spend a weekend in Saratoga Springs.
- Keep heading west on the New York State Thruway. Check out Buffalo architecture including plenty of historic buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright. Take a Buffalo River cruise to explore.
- Western New York's industrial past, and then try all the famous Buffalo foods you've heard about like chicken wings and beef on weck.
- Keep going west and then turn south for a relaxing weekend on Lake Erie in Westfield NY, the land of concord grapes.
- Continue driving to discover a myriad of things to do in Pittsburgh. Explore the CMU and Pitt campuses, seek out Pittsburgh birds at the National Aviary, and take a photo walk in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood. Don't forget to seek out the best coffee in Pittsburgh around Bakery Square.
- See where America was born with a weekend in Philadelphia.
New England Vacation Ideas
- Discover some of the best things to eat in Boston, take a self-guided walk around Mount Auburn Cemetery, and then embark on a scenic road trip from Boston to Maine in New England.
Midwest Vacation Ideas
- Explore the U.S. Midwest with a day in Chicago or Cleveland. Did you know that Downtown Ann Arbor Michigan is a fantastic midwest college town to visit no matter what the season?
Did you enjoy this short and sweet resource covering cool vacation ideas in the United States?
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