By: Frayed Passport
Summer is coming up, and if you’re someone who lives for long days, cold drinks, and spontaneous road trips that turn into core memories, you already know summer is a whole mindset.
Here’s a mix of fresh ideas and classic favorites to build your best summer vacation yet!
Lay Around on a Beach
There’s a reason the words “beach vacation” have never gone out of style. Some summers call for hammocks, novels, sunscreen, and the sound of waves washing away every worry in your head.
Whether you go for boardwalks and people-watching or prefer a more tucked-away stretch of coast, the US has plenty to choose from. Outer Banks, Cannon Beach, Anna Maria Island, Ocracoke, and Block Island all have loyal fans, and it’s easy to see why once you start exploring! Pick your coast, find your beach, and don’t schedule a single thing.
Explore the Great Outdoors
Summer begs you to leave the AC behind and get your feet dirty. You don’t have to hike a whole mountain to answer that call – find a trail, a river, a lake, or a view that makes you pause, and you’re there.
Set up camp in the woods, kayak through a state park, or stay at an RV park with access to bike trails, lakes, and quiet star-filled nights. Being outdoors reminds you that summer is the perfect time for a reset.
Take a City Break
Some cities are unbearable in summer. Others come alive! If you look past the mega-hubs, you’ll find incredible places with music in the streets, food trucks on every corner, and locals who want to talk to you.
Places like Asheville, Santa Fe, Madison, and Providence offer a unique blend of culture and low crowds. And if you time it right, you’ll hit their summer festivals, farmers markets, and rooftop patios in full swing!
Follow a Festival
Speaking of festivals: you don’t need to rough it at Coachella if that’s not your thing. Consider smaller or more niche options, such as the Calgary Stampede, the Sziget Festival in Budapest, or the Montreal International Jazz Festival. You get the travel thrill and the energy of a shared experience with thousands of strangers under the same sky.
Take a Train Trip
Amtrak might not sound sexy until you’re sipping wine and watching mountain ranges roll by from your own roomette. Train travel is slower, and that’s part of the charm – it’s the journey and the destination.
Routes like the California Zephyr, Floridian, and City of New Orleans (to name a few) give you cross-country or multi-state views with zero gas stops and zero stress about parking. It’s ideal for solo travelers, introverts, writers, readers, or anyone looking for that old-school travel experience.
Go Island Hopping
You don’t need a passport to have an island summer! Consider a trip to the San Juan Islands in Washington, Mackinac Island in Michigan, Catalina off the California coast, or the Dry Tortugas by ferry from Key West.
Each spot offers a micro-world of food, habits, and pace. And there’s just something romantic about hopping on a ferry and watching the mainland disappear behind you that feels like you’re finally on vacation.
Head North
Everyone goes south for the summer – so flip it! Take advantage of long daylight hours and mild weather in places that feel like forgotten escapes: coastal Maine, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, or the wild beauty of Montana.
Even cities like Minneapolis or Boise turn into festival-filled wonderlands in July. Less humidity, more bonfires, and better sleep. Love it!
Enjoy the National Parks
Are you worried about the crowds at Yellowstone? Fortunately, the US has over 60 different National Parks that you can visit! If you’re not keen on hiking elbow-to-elbow with other travelers, head to lesser-known national treasures like Lassen Volcanic in California, Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota, or Great Basin in Nevada. There are fewer crowds and shorter lines, with the same big energy.
Take an End-of-Summer Road Trip
You know that moment in late August when the air starts to shift, and you realize summer’s coming to an end soon? That’s the perfect time to grab snacks, make a playlist, and hit the road with no set return date.
Pick a few small towns on the map. Drive through national forests and detour when you see a “World’s Largest” sign. The best road trips are made up of gas station conversations, wrong turns that turn out right, and meals you still dream about years later.
Ready to Travel?
Some of the best summers start in your backyard and spiral outward.
And hey, if you don’t have time to plan a trip? Put your phone on airplane mode, lay in the sun, and pretend you’re somewhere else entirely. It’s summer. It still counts!
Featured image by Irena Kefala on Unsplash
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