Featured guide
Top 10 Vacation Destinations in the USA
From the Manhattan skyline to the geysers of Yellowstone and the beaches of Maui: ten trips worth planning, with when to go and what to do.
- 10 destinations
- Cities, parks & coastlines
- Best time to visit for each
- Practical tips
The list
Ten trips, ten very different vacations
Pick a destination to jump straight to it in the guide.
1New York
New York City
Museums, food and neighborhoods to explore on foot.
2Arizona
Grand Canyon
Rim viewpoints, sunsets and trails below the edge.
3Wyoming
Yellowstone
Geysers, hot springs and bison in open valleys.
4California
Yosemite
Granite cliffs, waterfalls and giant sequoias.
5Hawaiʻi
Maui
Beaches, the Road to Hana and a volcano summit.
6California
San Francisco
Cable cars, hills and the Golden Gate Bridge.
7Louisiana
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole cooking and the French Quarter.
8District of Columbia
Washington, D.C.
Free museums and monuments along the National Mall.
9Tennessee & North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains
Misty ridges, waterfalls and fall color.
10Florida
Miami Beach
Art Deco streets, warm water and winter sun.
Plan by season
When to go where
Spring
Washington, D.C. in cherry blossom season, Yosemite’s waterfalls at full flow, and New Orleans before the summer heat.
Summer
Yellowstone with all its roads open, and San Francisco as a cool break from the heat inland.
Fall
Fall color in the Great Smoky Mountains, clear skies over the Grand Canyon, and crisp walking weather in New York.
Winter
Sunshine in Miami Beach and whale-watching season around Maui.
About Xeloranet
Travel ideas, written to be useful
Xeloranet is an independent travel blog about vacations in the United States. We write practical, easy-to-scan guides that help you choose where to go and plan the trip: when to visit, what to see and what to know before you leave.
We don’t publish paid rankings or fake reviews. Rules, opening times and prices change, so we always point you to official sources to check the latest details.
More about us- Original writingEvery guide is written for this site.
- Honest photosOpenly licensed images, credited on our disclaimer page.
- Official sources firstWe link to park services and tourism offices for current rules.
Ready to pick your next trip?
Read the full guide, with the best season, highlights and a practical tip for each destination.
Read the Top 10 guide