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.)
Click here to see the best summer destination in every state
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
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Alaska: Homer
> Attractions: Fishing, flowers, art, dining
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Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
> Attractions: Camping, horseback riding, Grand Canyon itself
Arkansas: Mountain View
> Attractions: Mountain vistas, caverns, folk music
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California: Santa Catalina Island
> Attractions: Beaches, boating, boutique hotels
Colorado: Garden of the Gods Park
> Attractions: Hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, nature center
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Connecticut: Mystic
> Attractions: Seaport museum, shopping, restaurants
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Delaware: Rehoboth Beach
> Attractions: Beaches, boardwalk, festivals and concerts
Florida: Sanibel Island
> Attractions: Fishing, boating, beaches, seashell hunting
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Georgia: Tybee Island
> Attractions: Beaches, kayaking, shopping
Hawaii: Hana (Maui)
> Attractions: Beaches, surfing, tropical gardens
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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
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Iowa: Okoboji
> Attractions: Watersports, amusement park, local products
Kansas: Lindsborg
> Attractions: Swedish architecture and culture, historic homes, parks
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Kentucky: Bardstown
> Attractions: Bourbon distilleries, museums
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Louisiana: Avery Island
> Attractions: Wildfowl refuge, semitropical gardens, Tabasco factory tour
Maine: Acadia National Park
> Attractions: Beautiful seascapes, moountain climbing, clean air and water
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Maryland: Ocean City
> Attractions: Beaches, boardwalk, family activities
Massachusetts: Marblehead
> Attractions: New England history, pretty townscape, sailing
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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
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Missouri: Ste. Genevieve
> Attractions: Historic sites, water park, winery tours
Montana: Virginia City
> Attractions: Old West atmosphere, fishing, gold panning
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Nebraska: Lake McConaughy
> Attractions: Beaches, boating, fishing, camping
Nevada: Lake Tahoe
> Attractions: Boating, fishing, walking trails, restaurants
New Hampshire: Portsmouth
> Attractions: Beaches, parks, museums
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New Jersey: Frenchtown
> Attractions: Riverside walks, biking, boutiques, restaurants
New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Attractions: Summer opera festival, museums, restaurants
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New York: Cooperstown
> Attractions: National Baseball Hall of Fame, museums, historic downtown
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North Carolina: Highlands
> Attractions: Antiques, small theatres, restaurants, clean air
North Dakota: International Peace Garden
> Attractions: Formal gardens, hiking, biking
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Ohio: Mohican State Park
> Attractions: Camping, hiking, mountain biking
Oklahoma: Lake Murray State Park
> Attractions: Floating cabins, swimming, hiking, hayrides
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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
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South Carolina: Charleston
> Attractions: Museums, shopping, top-rated restaurants, pro sports
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Attractions: Public sculpture, tribal arts, outdoor festivals and concerts
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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
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Vermont: Montpelier
> Attractions: Nature center, mountain biking, museums
Virginia: Richmond
> Attractions: Civil War historical sites, museums, top-rated restaurants
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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
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Wyoming: Yellowstone National Park
> Attractions: Wildlife, geysers, waterfalls and lakes, camping, hiking
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