The Best Place to Visit in Every U.S. State
The best places to visit in the U.S. are as beautiful as they are diverse: Alaska's glaciers, Arizona's canyons, Arkansas's Ozarks...and that's only the first letter of the alphabet. Add to that a fascinating (albeit complicated) history, world-class museums, and a wealth of resorts and restaurants, and you have yourself a list of must-visits that's nearly impossible to cap off.
Picking our favorite things to do across the country wasn't easy, but we managed to distill the country's many sights into just out standout experience, per state (plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.). Of course, we’ve only begun to scrape the surface of what this country has to offer—so consider this your starting point for exploring. Read on for the 52 best places to visit in the U.S.
(Note: Not every item on this list is currently an option due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you plan to hit the road in the coming months, make sure to check the website of the attraction you want to visit for up-to-date info, and read up on travel restrictions for that state. Or, simply bookmark your favorite activities for the future—this list will give you plenty to look forward to.)
This gallery was originally published in June 2015. It has been updated with new information.
Alabama
Best thing to do in Alabama: Pay respects to Montgomery’s history
Traveling to the South is complicated. It’s a region of the United States with plenty of attractions for tourists (not to mention some of the best food in the country), but, like much of the U.S., it hasn’t always owned up to its ugly past. But Montgomery is one city that is starting to find a balance between tourism and history, with cultural institutions like the Legacy Museum opening their doors among the chain restaurants and riverboat tours. “My time in Montgomery was a reminder of how crucial it is to cling to sacred remembrance and confront those ghosts of a troubled past,” writes Nneka M. Okona, an Atlanta-based travel writer, of her visit to the museum. “It’s a difficult space, but it’s also one where the act of remembering honors the struggles of the past—while leaving room for transformation and healing in the present.”
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Best thing to do in Alaska: Go cruising for glaciers
Cruises to Alaska offer many of the same sights as Arctic tours in northern Europe—icebergs, whales, snow-capped peaks—but with slightly more forgiving temperatures (highs can reach the 60s on a good day from April to October). For a higher chance of some wildlife spotting, get on board the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel for a seven-night southbound cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage. You’re all but guaranteed to see some bald eagles and grizzly bears from the comfort of your ship deck.
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Best thing to do in Arizona: Photograph the lesser canyons
Not to discount the grandest of canyons, but just look at the colors of Antelope Canyon in northeastern Arizona: It's a painter’s palette of rust red, ochre, and orange. A trip to this corner of Navajo Nation delivers the kind of up-close discovery of the state’s slot canyons that isn’t as easily experienced at the Grand Canyon. Take a 4x4 tour of Antelope Canyon, where you can photograph patterns as the sunlight filters through the striated stone, followed up with a boat ride in nearby Lake Powell.
Courtesy of the Momentary / Stephen IronsideArkansas
Best thing to do in Arkansas: Seek out modern art in the Ozarks
Bentonville probably isn’t the next Chelsea, but art lovers have had a new reason to visit Northwest Arkansas since the 2011 opening of the blockbuster Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Bankrolled by billionaire Alice Walton, it’s stocked with works from names like Thomas Hart Benton, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol. In early 2020, a satellite of Crystal Bridges called The Momentary also opened in downtown Bentonville, complete with 24,000 square feet devoted to the visual, performing, and even culinary arts.
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Best thing to do in California: Drive the Pacific Coast Highway
We'd argue that no American road trip is as iconic as taking Highway 1 south from San Francisco along California’s coast. A drive along the Pacific Coast Highway feels like a Springsteen song come to life—expect to see weekenders at the wheel of rented Ford Mustangs, accelerating out of hairpin curves like a runaway American dream. Throughout the nearly 500-mile-drive south to Los Angeles, the views rarely disappoint, especially if you take the 17-Mile Drive detour at Carmel, Bixby Bridge, and Big Sur.
AlamyColorado
Best thing to do in Colorado: Catch an outdoor concert
The next time you find yourself in Denver, namely during the warmer months, head 16 miles west to the almost 900-acre Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which has miles of hiking trails, sandstone cliffs, and a geologically formed amphitheater that's hosted everyone from The Beatles to Stevie Nicks. While most concerts scheduled for 2020 have been canceled due to COVID-19, the venue is still hosting yoga sessions every weekend morning, and as of publication, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s September show is still a go. (See the entire calendar here.)
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Best thing to do in Connecticut: Take a fall foliage-themed river cruise
Connecticut often plays second fiddle to Vermont and Massachusetts when it comes to fall foliage, but don’t write off this New England destination quite yet. The state’s northwest is filled with state parks and hiking trails just begging to be photographed, like Mt. Tom State Park and the Deer Pond Farm Sanctuary in Sherman. Even procrastinators can get in on the action around coastal Connecticut, where the leaves change color about two weeks later than the north. if hiking isn’t really your thing, take a foliage-themed cruise down the Connecticut River with River Quest. (Pro tip: Make Winvian Farm, a luxurious 18-chalet retreat, your home base.)
Courtesy Hotel du PontDelaware
Best thing to do in Delaware: Get a heady dose of Italian Renaissance design
Who knew Delaware houses one of the best examples of Italian Renaissance architecture in the country? Located in the northern city of Wilmington (just 30 minutes south of the Philadelphia International Airport), Hotel du Pont is a 12-story building from 1913, complete with 11 luxury suites and a playhouse theater. Design features like European chandeliers and frescoed ceilings almost make you think you’re in Florence, but the hotel’s location in the Brandywine Valley is one-hundred percent Delaware. Ascend the grand double staircase to take a long soak in your oversized bathtub, then drop in for a pre-opera dinner at the oak-paneled Green Room.
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Best thing to do in Florida: Drive 127 miles for a slice of pie
When you type in directions from Miami to Key West on Google Maps, it looks like the route sends you straight into the ocean. In reality, the 127-mile drive though the Florida Keys will send you on the Overseas Highway, with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic on the other. It's a great way to pay a visit to all of the Keys in one day—the drive from Miami to Key West takes just over three hours, which allows plenty of time to stop periodically for some memorable meals (try the key lime pie at Blond Giraffe in Key Largo). You could do a round-trip in one day, but we suggest staying the night at one of Key West’s best hotels.
AlamyGeorgia
Best thing to do in Georgia: Get spooked in Savannah
Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the South, with Spanish moss and porched houses around every turn. Yet there's no denying the town's eeriness—even daytime tours point out the deaths that allegedly occurred at mansions as you pass by. Take one of the many available ghost tours at night to see some of the creepier spots, like Colonial Park Cemetery, Bonaventure Cemetery (a setting for the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), and the Mercer Williams house. Bonus: Your inevitable goosebumps will be a welcome respite from Georgia's heat and humidity.
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Best thing to do in Hawaii: Take a helicopter tour of Kauai
Kauai might be home to some of Hawaii’s best hidden beaches and tropical rainforests, but a whopping 70 percent of the island is inaccessible by land. The best way to appreciate the breadth and beauty of the island is via helicopter (arrange a ride with tour companies like Blue Hawaiian and Sunshine Helicopters). Only by air can you truly appreciate the emerald valleys, jagged cliffs, and cascading waterfalls that cover the island. For truly epic views, go the Na Pali Coast route, and peer down at the impossibly deep chasms of Waimea Canyon.
GettyIdaho
Best thing to do in Idaho: Enjoy pure, unobstructed stargazing
Nearly 80 percent of North Americans live in areas where light pollution obscures most of the night sky. If you fall into that category, you may want to consider heading to central Idaho. In December 2017, the state became home to the U.S.'s first-ever dark sky reserve, a designated area that provides a pristine view of the cosmos. The reserve is 300 miles southeast of Boise, spanning 1,400 square miles of Blaine County, Custer County, and surrounding areas.
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Courtesy Chicago Pizza ToursIllinois
Best thing to do in Illinois: Spend 3.5 hours eating Chicago’s best pizza
Chicago Pizza Tours are a fun and informative way to explore the city's most famous culinary export—and no other tour in town will leave you as well-fed. The activity typically consists of ten people (nine guests and one guide) getting into a van and visiting four of Chicago’s best pizza joints. Expect to eat somewhere around six slices of pizza, varying from the city’s signature deep-dish pie to the surprising thin-crust options at Pizano's.
AlamyIndiana
Best thing to do in Indiana: Visit one of the country's newest National Parks
In February 2019, the 15,000-acre Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was upgraded to the Indiana Dunes National Park, making it America's 61st national park—and the first-ever national park in the state of Indiana. The Indiana Dunes stretch for 15 miles along the shores of Lake Michigan, making it a popular spot for swimming (and even surfing) during the summer. It's also one of many beloved day trips from Chicago, reachable by car and the South Shore Line train from the city.
Courtesy Historic Park InnIowa
Best thing to do in Iowa: Stay in a hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
In the heart of Mason City, Historic Park Inn is the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed and -built hotel in the world. Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, the design is pure Prairie School-style—especially the dramatic lobby. The building originally served as both a bank and an inn when it opened in 1910, but competing hotels and financial crises in Mason City caused the Park Inn to decline over the next several decades, and it eventually closed down in 1972. Luckily, some 30 years later, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, certified an extensive renovation of the interior and exterior of the building, which reopened to guests in 2011. We'd say "historic" is an understatement.
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Best thing to do in Kansas: See sunflowers the size of your head
Who says you have to go to Tuscany to see endless fields of sunflowers? You can find equally gorgeous fields—without needing a passport—in Kansas, the Sunflower State herself. Every year from around August to September, Grinter's Sunflower Farm in Lawrence (about 30 miles west of Kansas City) attracts thousands of visitors to its grand sunflower farm. The 40 acres of blooms look incredible from every angle, but get up close to really marvel at the flowers, which you'll find are roughly the size of your own head—and nearly as tall as the average traveler, stretching between five and seven feet high.
GettyKentucky
Best thing to do in Kentucky: Shop for massive hats before the Derby
Unlike our cousins across the pond, Americans don’t have many opportunities to sport enormous, ornate hats. That’s why the Kentucky Derby isn’t just a horse race—it’s a one-of-a-kind fashion show with millinery at the forefront. Between juleps, hit the shops in Louisville and pick out a brightly colored topper of your very own, then work your way through the downtown area (especially between Main and Broadway) and find an outfit to match.
GettyLouisiana
Best thing to do in Louisiana: Take a drag tour in New Orleans
Anyone with an interest in cultural studies—especially drag and burlesque—will have a field day with NOLA Drag Tours. The tours show the history of New Orleans through a queer lens, exploring the French Quarter and its immediate environs. While the guides are funny and fabulous, they don’t sugar-coat anything, retelling tragic events alongside inspirational stories. Information spans from the birth of Jazz to Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, to an entertainingly damning history of Andrew Jackson.
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Best thing to do in Maine: When in doubt, eat lobster
Maine is rife with small lobster shacks serving fresh-off-the-boat product, local charm, and quaint harbor views. But it's tough to top the drama of Cape Elizabeth's Two Lights area in all its Downeast glory, with its lighthouse, rocky shore, wave-chopped sea, and an old-school lobster shack that still makes everything by hand despite the summer crowds. Anything from the ocean is good here, but start with the classic lobster roll and fries. Grab a table near the water and wash your meal down with a local beer, followed by a homemade pie—blueberry, if it's August—and a stroll on the rocks.
Maryland
Best thing to do in Maryland: Watch baseball at the country’s most beautiful stadium
When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992, it set a new bar for baseball stadiums around the country, with beautiful architecture, modern amenities, and a better experience for fans—and by that we largely mean roomy seats, at least by MLB standards. More than 25 years later, it remains one of the best places to see a ball game in the country (according to Ballpark Digest) even when the O’s aren’t at the top of their game. Grab a BBQ pork sandwich from Boog’s Barbecue and a National Bohemian (call it Natty Boh to fit in with the locals), and don’t forget to shout a hearty “Oh!” during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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Best thing to do in Massachusetts: Become a cranberry farmer for a day
If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to harvest cranberries, Mayflower Cranberries in Plympton has you covered. Paul Rubio describes the experience for Traveler: "You’ll put on a pair of overalls, grab a rake, and wade through the flooded cranberry bogs of rural Massachusetts, harvesting several tons of vitamin-rich red berries. This isn’t just for show—all locations are working farms and part of the Ocean Spray cooperative." Have any of your friends done that yet?
GettyMichigan
Best thing to do in Michigan: Experience a world without cars
A speck of land where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan, Mackinac Island is one of the best (and cutest) little islands in the U.S. Motorized transportation is banned, so tourists and locals alike travel by horse and carriage or bicycle. It's anchored by the stately columned porch of the historic Grand Hotel, which is looking great for 131 years old. Hop on a bike and check out the natural rock formations, forests, and Victorian village, and don't you dare leave without filling your suitcase with fudge. (You can pretend it's a souvenir for your friends back home—we won't tell.)
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Best thing to do in Minnesota: Take a North Shore road trip
Minnesota is the 12th-largest state in the country in terms of landmass, but ranks only 21st in population. That means the state is full of wide-open spaces perfect for a leisurely road trip, specifically along the picturesque North Shore. Plan a trip for spring, summer, or autumn (skip winter—it really is as cold as people claim) that starts in Duluth, stretches across Lake Superior, and ends in Grand Portage National Park just south of Canada. During the four-day drive, you can expect stunning views, quaint hotels, and some of the best donuts you’ll ever eat.
AlamyMississippi
Best thing to do in Mississippi: Explore the movement that changed the nation
Open since December 2017, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson sheds light on the state's history, ranging from prehistoric times to the modern age. The museum's primary focus is the Civil Rights Movement, though, displaying objects like the mug shots of every freedom rider who was arrested in Mississippi, and monoliths engraved with the names of known lynching victims.
Courtesy Q39Missouri
Best thing to do in Missouri: Eat your body weight in BBQ
Kansas City has been known across the country as a bona fide BBQ destination long before the Fab Five took to its streets. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue will celebrate its 41st anniversary this September, but you don't have to wait until then to fill your bellies with pulled pork and brisket. Devote a weekend trip to hopping among some of the city's best BBQ joints, from Joe's KC to Jack Stack to Gates. If you only have time for one meal, go to Q39 and order the sliced burnt ends, tender and flavorful cubes of beef which Q39 waiters are known to (perfectly) describe as "meat marshmallows."
Courtesy The Resort at Paws UpMontana
Best thing do in Montana: Get a taste of dude ranch life—celebrity-style
Western-inspired comforts, world-class cuisine, and secluded accommodations normally akin to five-star resorts: This is what dude ranch life looks like in 2020. As Jordi Lippe-McGraw reported for Traveler, guest ranches in Big Sky Country are the next luxury getaway, drawing the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and members of Taylor Swift's squad in recent years. See what all the fuss is about at Montana resorts like The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, with 6,000 acres of rugged wilderness and horseback riding mixed with spa treatments and chef-created meals; or The Resort at Paws Up (Gwyneth's fave), where you can choose between luxury cabin rentals and glamping tents.
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Best thing to do in Nebraska: Travel the actual Oregon Trail
For many, an Oregon Trail experience involves pixelated pioneers dying of dysentery on the namesake computer game. But you can get a real-life taste of the pioneer experience by taking a drive through western Nebraska. The Cornhusker State is perfect for summer road trips, with the average temperature hovering around 87 degrees in July and August and plenty of roadside attractions worthy of lengthy pit stops. Among them is Scotts Bluff National Monument, once a stop on the actual Oregon Trail, that now welcomes visitors with vast plains, covered wagons, and epic landmarks like Chimney Rock.
GettyNevada
Best thing to do in Nevada: Get an aerial view of Sin City
The most awe-inspiring experiences in Vegas are those that let you truly see the feat that is Las Vegas. Sundance Helicopters offers a number of scenic tours, but the evening one, which takes you high above the lit-up Strip, is the absolute best. If you can, book a trip that circles The Strip right as it gets dark, so you're in the air at the moment when all the lights come on; it's incredibly dramatic, even in a city that is no stranger to over-the-top performances.
GettyNew Hampshire
Best thing to do in New Hampshire: Try your hand at winter surfing
Not for the faint of heart, winter surfing has replaced skiing as the state’s trendiest cold-weather sport. “It isn’t as consistent as some places out west, and it definitely isn’t as warm as Hawaii,” writes Todd Plummer for Traveler, “but from hurricane season in the fall through March (and whenever a blizzard pummels the coast), the surfing here can be as good as or even better than anywhere else in the U.S.” Sure, you have to wear a thick suit and Vaseline on your face, but you’ll be rewarded with six- to ten-foot surf that pros swear is among the best they’ve ever experienced.
AlamyNew Jersey
Best thing to do in New Jersey: Order a "regular sub" in Atlantic City
Hoagie, hero, sub: In New Jersey, the sandwiches have as many names as toppings. In Atlantic City, be sure to order the "regular sub" (an Italian hero) at a booth in the White House Sub Shop—where everyone from The Beatles and Frank Sinatra to Mohammed Ali and Shakira have come for what is possibly the world's best sandwich. The Daily Meal ranked the Italian hero #11 in a round-up of America’s best sandwiches in 2017, describing the sub as follows: “Genoa salami, provolone, ham, and capicola are piled onto a soft and chewy Italian loaf, topped with lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, chopped roasted peppers, Italian seasonings, oil, and vinegar...There’s almost always a line around the block at this place, but the wait is well worth it.” Sign us up.
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Best thing to do in New Mexico: Wave to a seven-story-high Darth Vader
Known as “the most photographed event in the world,” the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta does not disappoint, offering families and travelers the chance to get up close with hundreds of seven-story balloons ranging from cute animals to Darth Vader. Editor Meredith Carey offers the following advice for travelers: "The key to making the most of the balloon festival? Waking up before dawn. Events start at 5:45 a.m., with the first balloons lighting up the still-dark sky to show other pilots what the wind conditions are like. We'd recommend leaving your hotel or Airbnb even earlier (or take an Uber), as parking lines can get hairy, even at 5:00 a.m."
GettyNew York
Best thing to do in New York: Cruise the Hudson
The term "river cruise" usually conjures up images of the Danube and Amazon, but some of the best routes are right here in the good old U.S. of A. New Yorkers, in particular, luck out with their proximity to the Hudson. Operator American Cruise Lines offers weeklong sailings from the city up to Albany, showing passengers the kaleidoscopic natural beauty of the Hudson River Valley and Catskill Mountains. Book a room to view sites like the Vanderbilt Mansion and Sleepy Hollow from your spacious stateroom balcony. (Voyages are planned annually in September and October.)
GettyNorth Carolina
Best thing to do in North Carolina: Head to the Outer Banks
North Carolina’s Outer Banks (or OBX, according to many a bumper sticker) are some of the most gorgeous beaches in the U.S. And there’s still plenty to do if you take a break from sunbathing, including the North Carolina Aquarium in Roanoke, the memorial commemorating the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight in Kitty Hawk, and a series of iconic lighthouses, including the famous barbershop pole-style swirled one at Cape Hatteras. End the day with fried oysters in Nags Head—this is the South, after all.
Richard CumminsNorth Dakota
Best thing to do in North Dakota: Experience the magic of The Enchanted Highway
Street art has another meaning in North Dakota, where 32 miles of otherwise unremarkable highway has become an art gallery. Driving The Enchanted Highway, from the town of Regent to just east of Dickinson, means spotting a collection of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures, by local artist Gary Greff. The many roadside artworks date back to 1991, with more still in progress.
GettyOhio
Best thing to do in Ohio: Eat burgers in Columbus
Known widely as the home of Ohio State University, Columbus has plenty to share—especially when it comes to burgers (it's where Wendy’s first got its start, after all). Stop by the rustic Thurman Café, serving over-the-top burger masterpieces dripping with egg yolk and melted cheese. For a neater option, there’s the Columbus-based chain, Northstar Café, where the superstar is (surprisingly) the beet-and-bean veggie burger. On the other end of the spectrum is dive bar Johnnie’s Tavern, where the greasy bar burger has been perfected.
AlamyOklahoma
Best thing to do in Oklahoma: Search for Art Deco treasures
Tulsa has one of the country’s densest concentrations of Art Deco buildings, including the stunning Boston Avenue United Methodist Church (completed in 1929), 11th Street Arkansas River Bridge (1917, renovated 1929), Gillette-Tyrell Building (1930), and the Oklahoma Natural Gas Building (1928). The Tulsa Foundation of Architecture offers guided tours of downtown’s most impressive structures at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month.
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Best thing to do in Oregon: Drink the best wine outside of Burgundy
An easy day trip from Portland, Willamette Valley is a wine collector's paradise set in a beautiful rolling countryside setting. Get a taste of the Old World at Domaine Serene—the least "Oregon" winery in Oregon. The clubhouse has big windows affording incredible views of the green landscapes, and the wines exude Tuscan and French influences. Another option is Stoller Family Estate, a must for all lovers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
AlamyPennsylvania
Best thing to do in Pennsylvania: Eat your way through Reading Terminal Market
For more than 100 years, this food market in Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood has catered to the gustatory whims of both locals and tourists. It remains one of the best places in the city to grab a bite, like the roast pork and broccoli rabe sandwich at DiNic’s, or a hearty plate of eggs and scrapple (a local pork delicacy) at the Amish diner Dutch Eating Place. And be sure to load up on only-in-Philly specialties, like Famous 4th Street cookies, or an apple fritter from Beiler’s Bakery.
GettyPuerto Rico
Best thing to do in Puerto Rico: Explore Old San Juan
More than a year after Hurricane Maria made landfall, Puerto Rico has not only recovered—it’s been reborn. You can find world-class beaches all over the island, but PR is perfect for architecture lovers as well: Old San Juan remains one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the Caribbean, with brightly painted buildings and cobblestone streets that have inspired a thousand Instagram shots. When you’re ready to take a break from the streets, stop by La Factoría for a perfectly crafted cocktail in a speakeasy setting. The signature drink, the Lavender Mule—a mix of vodka, ginger beer, and homemade lavender infusion—is the perfect way to transition from afternoon sightseeing to a night out.
GettyRhode Island
Best thing to do in Rhode Island: Sail like you're in the America's Cup
Take a two-day private charter on a historic America’s Cup yacht, sailing from Newport to Block Island (with a clambake and overnight stay on land) and back. 12 Meter Charters owns two boats: The Columbia, first winner of the race in Rhode Island in 1958, and the beautiful, wooden-hulled Heritage from 1970. The company will hook you up with a sailing crew (you can either participate in hoisting the sails and steering the boat, or enjoy the views while the staff takes care of everything), and they’ll even arrange beverages and catered breakfast, lunch, or hors d’oeuvres to customize your day on the water.
Courtesy Haig PointSouth Carolina
Best thing to do in South Carolina: Visit an island with no street lights
Daufuskie, a car-free historic island off Hilton Head, was once considered the Martha’s Vineyard of the South. Now it’s far more accessible than in the past, and you can stay right on one of its beautiful beaches in either a converted mansion or an old lighthouse. It's also an outpost of the Gullah community, a well-preserved, African-derived culture cultivated by emancipated slaves who moved to the remote barrier islands more than two centuries ago. One such community member is Sallie Ann Robinson, a cookbook author and tour guide, who takes visitors down bumpy dirt roads to show them old schoolhouses and restored Gullah homes, some of which now serve as vacation rentals. You can even book a cooking class with Robinson (info on her website) to make local specialties like smuttered shrimp and grits and Lowcountry ox-tail stew.
Caitlin MortonSouth Dakota
Best thing to do in South Dakota: Experience the beauty of the Badlands
With stiff competition like Yosemite and Yellowstone, the Badlands of South Dakota may not be your first choice when it comes to camping in a national park. But its two campgrounds (Cedar Pass and Sage Creek) are open year-round, offering regular access to the largest stretch of prairie wilderness in the country—home to roaming bison and sheep—and one of the most spectacular night skies you may ever see.
Courtesy Blackberry MountainTennessee
Best thing to do in Tennessee: Treat yourself at Blackberry Mountain
Situated in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Mountain is our current favorite place in the country for a spa weekend. The newly-opened resort brings new meaning to the term "wellness retreat" with forest bathing excursions, produce-forward dishes, and bathtubs overlooking surroundings that could launch a thousand John Denver songs.
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Best thing to do in Texas: Trade bird watching for bat watching
Every evening from March through November, crowds line up along Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge for a spectacle that perfectly sums up the city's quirky, only-in-Texas vibe: 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats flying out from under the bridge during sunset, a show that lasts for nearly 45 minutes. If you can, pair your viewing with another activity downtown—not difficult, as this part of town is packed with BBQ joints and delightfully divey bars—it's even more worth making the time to watch.
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Best thing to do in Utah: Tour the Mighty Five
No road trip in the U.S. is more visually mind-blowing than a tour of the Mighty Five—the tight cluster of national parks in Utah that include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. Whether you start in Salt Lake City and work your way south, or head east from Las Vegas, it's possible to hit all the parks in three days. But if you can, we suggest taking off work for two weeks and really going for it, knocking around the Mars-like formations of red rocks and hitting as many little museums and restaurants as you can between each park.
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Best thing to do in Vermont: Go dog sledding (with a clear conscience)
There’s no shortage of mushing activities throughout New England during winter, but at northern Vermont's Eden Ethical Dogsledding in Eden Mills, the welfare of the dogs is top priority. Meet and cuddle the “Un-chained Gang”—a group of more than 35 sledding dogs—before they whisk you along an extensive, private trail network paved exclusively for sledding. Eden Mills is a scenic drive and a reasonable distance from all of northern Vermont’s principal winter destinations, like Stowe, Jay Peak, Smuggler's Notch, and Burlington.
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Best thing to do in Virginia: Get out of the city and into nature
Getting out of D.C. to the Shenandoah National Park is a special treat. This part of Virginia extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains, with Skyline Drive running its length. There are natural wonders, like caverns and natural bridges and lookouts along the way, but make time for a few stops in this welcoming part of the state. In charming towns like Luray or Staunton you'll find cute places to stay, eat, and shop, and in all, this drive—ideal for leaf-peeping in fall—isn't so long or arduous to wear you out.
James Randklev/GettyWashington
Best thing to do in Washington: Stand in the middle of a rainforest
Honestly, you'll be happy anywhere in Washington's Olympic National Park—but we do suggest you make it a priority to walk through the Hoh Rain Forest. It's one of the only rainforests in the U.S., complete with lichen-shrouded trees and fungus-covered logs that make you forget which country you're in for a moment. Even better? The Hoh River Valley is home to the quietest spot in the contiguous 48 states, according to Gordon Hempton, an expert acoustic ecologist.