Are you searching for a place to unwind from your daily routine, or are you looking for an adventurous escape? Then worry not cause weโve got you covered from a tropical getaway to winter escape and fall foliage relaxation as the US has everything to offer.
Choosing and picking out the best vacation spots in the US is difficult, so we have listed some jaw-dropping locations filled with culture, history, and art. This article will teach you about the most beautiful national parks, scenic resorts, and amazing beaches.
Letโs explore some more places which are vacation-worthy. The United States is filled with world-class cities from New York and Washington DC on the eastern Seaboard and San Francisco and Los Angeles along the western Seaboard. We also have Las Vegas on the southwest front and Hawaii Islands, the tropical beaches.
12 Best Vacation Spots in the US:
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
One of the most spectacular geological hotspots and home to a variety of wildlife. Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to visit in the US. You can witness majestic geysers, unique landscapes, and scenic canyons.
The gushing grand geysers at Yellowstone National Park are a sight filled with many; the best geyser to check out is the Old Faithful; itโs the best chance of seeing a geyser erupt. The eruption of Old Faithful happens around 20 times a day, and the water can reach up to 180 feet!
Another spectacular attraction in Yellowstone National Park is Grand Prismatic, the largest hot spring in the world. Visitors can witness the vibrant colours and stunning overview of the Grand Prismatic by taking a short hike or getting an up-close view of the spring.
Yellowstone National Park is also home to around 300 species of birds, bison, and many other bigger and smaller land animals in the US. You can watch the bighorn sheep at Mount Washburn and hike along the hiking trails, can also head out to visit Lamar Valley to watch the grazing moose and bison. Some places you can stay are the Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole and Elk Country Inn.
2. Zion National Park, Utah
One of the epic locations for outdoor adventures, Zion National Park, is a prime attraction to visit in the USA for nature lovers. You can encounter spectacular wildlife, clear blue skies, grand sandstone cliffs, and slot canyons, and these are just a few amazing features at Zion.
At Zion National Park, the East Rim and West Rim offer hiking trails. These trails are 12 and 16 miles, respectively and offer gorgeous views along the way, surrounded by canyons and cliffs. You can also venture into the Virgin River by hiking The Narrows and viewing alongside Observation Point, the Canyon Point, and Watchman Trail.
Zion National Park offers around 291 species of birds like ring-necked ducks, black-chinned hummingbirds, and cooperโs hawks. There are also places near Zion Nation park where you can stay, like the Zion Glamping Adventures and Zions View Camping.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Situated in northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park is home to the most scenic topography to visit in the US. This park is filled with beautiful and thrilling hiking trails, climbing routes, and one of the countryโs highest roads to drive on.
Rocky Mountain National Park offers a 48-mile Trail Ridge Road with a gorgeous view and endless opportunities to spot wildlife like elk or bighorn sheep. You can take a car ride, which is the easiest way to visit the national park and stop at popular spots such as Forest Canyon Overlook, Fairview Curve, and Many Parks Curve.
If you have just a day or two to visit, you must not miss the drive along Trail Ridge Road to the town of Grand Lake. Some special attractions include Sprague Lake and Bear Lake. They offer stunning views and several opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. You can also go for a hike in Wild Basin.
Enthusiasts for outdoor adventures and thrill-seekers who love climbing mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park is for you. There are easy climbs to difficult climbs, and you can even ice climb in winters.
Rocky Mountain National Park has many places where you can stay, like the 4 Seasons Inn on Fall River, Blue Door Inn, and Estes Park.
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Arizona is home to hands-down one of the best places to visit in the USA, The Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon stretches over a mile deep and is one of the planetโs largest and most scenic canyons. This grand canyon offers numerous hiking trails and spectacular outdoor adventures with breathtaking views.
Grand Canyon National Park is the best place for stargazing as it is one of the darkest places in the country; you can head to Walhalla Plateau and Bright Angel Point, which are some of the best viewpoints. Reach the viewpoint at dusk and relax for a spectacular night.
Grand Canyon National Park offers admiring viewpoints and hiking trails from which you can watch sunrise and sunset and hike down to the Colorado River. You can also try rafting down the Colorado River. Hualapai River Runners offers multi-day tours, and itโs perfect for thrill-seekers. If you are planning a trip to the USA, add this to your travel bucket list.
Grand Canyon offers some places near it to stay, like the Grand Canyon Western Ranch and Zion Glamping.
5. Death Valley National Park, California
One of the places to visit in the USA is the Death Valley National Park in Eastern California. Although the name sounds spooky, it holds some of the most diverse landscapes in the USA and is home to incredible stargazing spots. You can come here for a winter getaway to escape the desert heat of the Death Valley National Park.
Head out for Highway 190 driving route to witness the photogenic points such as Zabriskie Point best place to watch sunrise and Danteโs view. There are also many famous hiking trails. The very famous one is the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes hike. Check out the hike to Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, and Badlands loop hike. These trails are right next to Zabriskie Point.
Another fun activity to explore is to visit Badwater Basin. This basin is 282 feet below sea level and is filled with white salt. This is a great spot for taking a perfect Instagram picture with tall and dark mountains in the distance.
You can also visit the devilโs golf course. Another spectacular spot to visit is Artists Drive, where the mountains are covered in pastel colours like yellow, pink, purple, and green. It is gorgeous to watch in Death Valley National Park.
Death Valley National Park is the largest Dark Sky National Park in the US so grab your blankets and head over for a night under the stars.
You can also stay near Death Valley National Park, like The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch At Death Valley.
6. Rainier National Park, Washington
Covered in unimaginable beauty, Rainier National Park has been known to be Indigenous since immemorial. Mount Tahoma is one such attraction that can be enjoyed throughout the year. You can reach out here through a 2-hour drive from Portland and Seattle too.
Visiting Rainier National Park in the summertime can get you hiking trails alongside the streams and wildflowers. In the fall, you can get ripened berries and have a great experience with nature. These hikes are just a dayโs hikes and just outside of Seattle.
For the adventurous ones, you can apply for a permit and climb up to 8000 feet to the summit but be aware that this hike is permitted to only trained mountaineers. If you want to stay overnight, you can camp or stay in a nearby lodge in the national park. You can also opt for a drive along waterfalls and lakes and a chance to spot wildlife.
Rainier National Park also offers a winter getaway when the park witnesses an average of around 55 feet of snowfall. You can also head out to Crystal Mountain Gondola to catch a great view and enjoy activities like skiing and snowboarding down the slopes. Whatever the weather is, this place has everything to offer.
Little Red Cabin and Stormking Hotel place you can stay near Rainier National Park.
7. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Homed in Southern California with 2000 miles of endless California dessert, it is one of the best places to visit in the USA. This park has unique hiking trails of over 100 miles, spectacular museums, and other holistic experiences.
There are two major scenic desserts, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, meeting somewhere in the park, which means you will see two different landscapes while exploring the park.
The Mojave Desert has plenty of popular Joshua Trees, which are tall and spindly and have many giant boulders, which are popular among hikers. The Mojave Desert has a lot of hiking trails.
Avoid hikes and leave early in the morning as the temperature reaches over 100 degrees during summers. However, if you visit Joshua Tree National Park, you should surely visit Colorado Dessert at the parkโs southern end. This dessert is hotter, filled with cacti, and lower in elevation. If you visit at the right time of the year, you can witness wildflowers too.
Joshua Tree National Park has a holistic place where you can relax called the Integratron, a white-domed structure near the park. It offers sound baths for 60 minutes, where individual notes are played on quartz bowls to give the body a holistic and healing experience.
You can also explore the environmental sculptures at the Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum. This place is 100 acres wide and filled with environmental sculptures, large-scale pieces made with materials such as brunt wood and glass fragments.
Joshua Tree National Park has many places nearby where you can stay, such as Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa and LโHorizon Resort and Spa.
8. Acadia National Park, Maine
Famously called Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast, Acadia National Park beholds the most picturesque beaches, amazing hiking routes, and scenic roads for biking. This is a perfect spot for a family vacation with various wildlife and resorts to relax.
You start your journey by taking a 27-mile drive on Park Loop Road. This road has scenic landscapes to view and the best points to visit like Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, and Sand Beach. You can also catch up on hiking tracks in Acadia National Park for outdoor adventures.
The gem of Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain, the first place where the sun touches the USA. You can hike up to the point or drive along to see the gorgeous view of the bay during sunrise.
Acadia National Park offers many places to stay, such as the Bar Harbor Inn, Spa, and The Elmhurst Inn.
9. Yosemite National Park, California
Very famous for all the tall sequoia trees and majestic waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is one of the best places to visit in the USA for perfect thrilling and adventurous experiences filled with natural beauty and culture.
Yosemite National Park offers jaw-dropping landscapes and is often featured on screensavers. It is a hub spot for nature lovers, offering camping, hiking trails, and driving. The most famous spots you should include on your visit to Yosemite National Park are Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Glacier Point, and Half Dome.
You can witness the beauty of Dorothy Lake, a glacier lake at the northern tip of the park and resides the stunning Crystal Caverns. The hidden attractions of Yosemite National Park are filled with sparkling quartz, and you can hardly spot any visitors there, so it is the perfect spot for crowd-hating people.
There are many places where you can find stay at Yosemite National Park, such as Tamarack Lodge, Curry Village, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Ahwahnee Hotel, and Tenaya Lodge.
10. Glacier National Park, Montana
One of the best places to visit if you are looking to explore the wilderness with numerous outdoor adventures like hiking, rafting, swimming, and mountain biking. A 700-mile hiking track carved through the Rocky Mountains makes Glacier National Park a perfect spot for hiking enthusiasts.
Even budding hikers can explore this place by taking up the hike along the spectacular Trail of the Cedars. This is an easy hike that leads you to a gorgeous waterfall. Another hike you should not miss is the strenuous Grinnell Glacier Trail, where you can witness floating icebergs in a lake.
Learn to fly-fish In Glacier National Park with Glacier Guides, suitable for beginners and experts. The experts will lead you to the river and teach you the fly-fishing technique, including how to read river currents and angling strategies.
Wonder stone, Meadow Lake Resort And Condos, Cedar Creek Lodge, Lodge at Whitefish Lake, and Glacier Outdoor Center are the places near Glacier National Park where you can stay.
11. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is home to scenic mountains and gorgeous lakes in northwestern Wyoming and covers over 300,000 acres of marvellous land. It is one of the best places to visit in summers and winters, offering a paradise to hikers and a winter wonderland to snow lovers.
You can enjoy a 42-mile Scenic Loop Drive that takes you along the park, and you can spot the best spots along your way through Grand Teton National Park. You can witness dramatic canyons, picturesque lakes, and amazing scenery. Also, do not miss the drive to Signal Mountain to get the best views.
You can also enjoy a raft trip down Snake River or a canoe adventure along Jenny Lake; through the waters, you can spot moose, beavers, deer, osprey, and eagles. Also, nothing can match the view you spot at Grand Teton National Park, with rugged mountains surrounded by scenic lakes.
You can spot places to stay near Grand Teton National Park, such as Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole and The Alpine House.
12. New Orleans, Louisiana
The vibrant New Orleans, also known as NOLA, is one of the top best places to visit in the USA. This place should be on your bucket list if you crave live music, delicious food, and amazing nightlife.
This famous place was also where the very famous series Originals was shot. Famous for its delicious food, this place offers jambalaya, poโboys, and beignets. The best beignets to be found in New Orleans is Cafรฉ Du Monde. You should not miss the Crawfish season. This city is also the birthplace of American Jazz and can be heard in any bar around town.
NOLA is related to magic through the Originals series, but to a surprise, this city is home to voodoo magic and has a long history. You must explore the french quarter and go for popular Ghosts, Vampire, and Voodoo Tours. This city stands out for its haunted atmosphere.
The Westin New Orleans and Courtyard By Marriott are places where you can stay in New Orleans.
I hope this guide helps you have the best vacation in the US.
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
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