The Dalai Lama once said, once a year, go someplace you have never been before! Let’s face it the USA is a vast country with a broad spectrum of places to visit. With so much to see, it’s difficult to know where to start choosing to go. Your personal choices and interests will also influence where you visit. Let’s get inspired! Here is a choice of 20 of the best vacation destinations in the USA.
- Washington DC, the Best Vacation Destinations
Let us start with the capital of the USA. It has many monuments and history with diverse suburbs, making this city a unique place. It offers a myriad of museums to cover almost any person’s interest. Plan your trip to the capital by finding out all the things to do and places to eat.
- Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles’ top attractions are the USA’s film and television industry. These include Paramount, Universal, Warner Brothers Studios, and the Walk of Fame.
Apart from the film industry, you have Disney Land Park, the famous Rodeo Drive and last but not least the beautiful beaches. There are far too many things to mention.
- San Francisco
San Francisco is on the west coast of California. It is the home of the famous Golden Gate Bridge and has steep streets with cable cars, the alluring Fisherman’s Wharf, and the infamous Alcatraz!
It also offers world-class museums, a zoo, aquariums, and a mish-mash of neighborhoods.
- The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a must-see bucket-list destination. It offers vast views over the canyon walls and beyond, it takes your breath away. This is one of the highlights of visiting the USA.
The Grand Canyon National Park offers beautiful hiking trails, campgrounds, and white water rafting.
- Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is a historic city. The Freedom Trail takes you through some of the city’s most historic and famous sites.
It combines large modern skyscrapers with old historic buildings. All these combined, together with the arts and culture provided, give the city a myriad of things for visitors to do.
- Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is set on the shore of Lake Michigan and a walk along the Magnificent Mile, along Michigan Avenue, is a must. This has high-end fashionable and luxurious stores where you can shop until you drop!
It also has many historic famous buildings with amazing architecture.
- Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado is situated 8,000 feet high in the Rocky Mountains. It has 4 huge skiing resorts. This is the go-to for the skiing society who flock here from all over the world.
It also has many high-end restaurants and boutiques, just to end off that exhilarating day of skiing!
- Seattle, Washington State
Seattle is a port city on the West Coast. It is also known as the Emerald City. Seattle is famous for being the home to the first Starbucks Coffee house. Let’s do coffee!
Music and food fairs are an iconic feature of this town together with its famed music and entertainment scene.
- Miami, Florida
Miami is famous for its beautiful beaches. It has a vibey atmosphere. Places to visit are Little Havana with its rich Cuban feel and the Everglades National Park. You can also take a walk along Ocean Drive to admire the parade of sports cars.
- Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a city steeped in history where you can take a horse-drawn carriage drive around the gas lamp streets. Although Charleston may have the look and feel of the old South, it boasts many new restaurants serving different foods, shops, and art galleries.
The movie “Gone with the Wind” was based and filmed in this beautiful city.
- Historic Route 66
Route 66 is the most famous east to the west road in America. This is a particular favorite of bikers throughout the world. Its iconic status is founded by its unparalleled offering of music, books, and art forms that depict America’s highway culture of freedom and openness of space.
- Yellowstone Park
Yellowstone Park is an outdoor enthusiastic destination. It has a vast amount of unspoiled land covered with mountains, canyons, its famous geysers, and waterfalls. You may see living creatures such as grizzly bears, buffalo, and elk, amongst others.
- Key West, Florida
Key West is situated in the southernmost point in the U.S. Key West is an island that offers everything one would expect in the Florida Keys. Activities include relaxing on beautiful clean beaches, with deep-sea fishing, as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing, but, Duval Street is where the action is offering an eclectic mix of people, bars, and restaurants.
- Santa Fe
Santa Fe is an artistic and colorful city. It is also has a deep history and is known for its abundant festivals. It has a mix of cultures with Spanish and Chili influences, amongst others.
It has an interesting architecture influenced by the Spanish with buildings dating back to the 16th Century.
- Houston, Texas
“Houston, we have a problem.”! No, it doesn’t. Houston is home to the wonderous NASA’s Space Center Houston. You could get lost in the stars visiting more than 400 space artifacts including the moon rocks. You can take part in educational programs and even have lunch with an astronaut!
It is a family-friendly town, serving some of the best food in the US, full of culture, many children-friendly activities, and offering some professional games to watch.
- Glacier National Park
As the name depicts, the main draw is the glaciers. It has more than 700 lakes with two mountain ranges and a ton of waterfalls which are all impressive.
Hiking is the main attraction although fishing and canoeing are also available. A plus is seeing wild animals such as bears, elk, and moose which are frequently seen in the area.
- Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Waikiki is a top beach destination. It is situated in Honolulu and is a beautiful tropical island.
It boasts beautiful golden beaches offering one of the best surfing spots in the world! It is a perfect destination to unwind in for families, couples, or singles.
- New Orleans
New Orleans has a unique cultural fusion. It is also the music capital of the US. Listen to anything from jazz, rock ‘n roll, and of course the blues!
Foodies will find a vast mix of cuisine to feed on, and after eating, why not head on over to Bourbon Street’s nightlife or go on a frightful ghost tour!
- Orlando
Orlando is one of the most favorite family holiday spots. It is known as the theme park city, with the famous Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, and of course, Sea World. This town is definitely on most children’s bucket list! Mind you, a lot of adults too!
- New York, New York
New York also known as the Big Apple offers so many different things that it would take a book to name them all!!! It is also known for different cultural influences. Why not catch a Broadway show or try the famous New York-style pizzas, you will never be bored in this city! Go to the top of the Empire State Building at night for a gorgeous view of the city.
Don’t miss out on a visit to the famous Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York harbor!
Go Forth and Conquer!
During these troubled times, we all need a little inspiration to plan one of the best vacation destinations. This list of the 20 best vacation destinations in the USA is just a starting point. When the time is right to plan your next vacation I hope the above will give you some extraordinary memories in unforgettable places.
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