Summer is approaching, and many Americans are starting to plan their summer trips.
The media and even airlines are warning customers that this summer will be a difficult one for the U.S. air travel industry, and issues such as delays, cancellations, and understaffing will most likely impact summer flight plans.
Because of this, many Americans are choosing a road trip this summer, and luckily there are endless destinations throughout the United States to choose from.
As part of their “Readers Choice 10 Best” awards, USA Today has awarded the top places for a summer vacation in the U.S. this year.
Travel experts and editors compiled a shortlist of nominees, and the top locations were selected via a reader vote.
With locations from Alabama to Connecticut and many places in between, the list offers some great options for everyone’s tastes.
These Are The Top 6 U.S. Destinations This Summer:
1. Mackinac Island, Michigan
This idyllic island’s main selling point is one that makes it very unique; there are no cars here.
You cannot drive here, nobody here has a car for personal use, and people therefore bike, walk, or even get around via horse-drawn carriages. Mackinac is a favored summer destination by many, and visitors love to visit the historic forts and explore some of Michigan’s oldest houses.
The thriving main streets offer numerous great dining options, and shoppers love to browse the many boutiques as well. Mackinac has been a holiday destination since the 19th century, and after a visit, you can see not too much has changed around this quaint island.
2. Mobile, Alabama
Alabama’s oldest city is known for being the home of America’s original Mardi Gras.
Visitors here can enjoy many museums, water sports, and great nightlife. With an up-and-coming food scene, Mobile charms visitors with its history, with visitors citing the Mobile Carnival Museum and the Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail as favorites to visit.
Being a port city, there are actually no beaches within Mobile’s city limits; however, those who are willing to drive for about 40 minutes can find the nearest one at Dauphin Island.
3. Door County, Wisconsin
If you’ve never heard of Door County, start Googling the photos and prepare to be blown away by how beautiful it is.
This lakeside vacation destination offers some serious nature, with 300 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan.
Tons of water activities from skiing to scuba are on offer here, even giving people a chance to dive among shipwrecks. It’s not all about the lake, though.
The several charming towns here are also worth visiting for their food and drink scene, as well as shopping and sampling homegrown local treats.
4. Mystic, Connecticut
For a town that most people know from the beloved 80s film “Mystic Pizza”, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that it’s now becoming a top U.S. destination for its food scene.
Mystic is a charming seaside New England village full of fun things to do, especially in the summer.
Take a sailboat ride, explore the quaint downtown shopping and restaurant options, and explore some nature and wildlife.
Or you could check out some of the town’s museums, the Denison Homestead Museum being a popular choice.
5. Chicago, Illinois
The largest city on this list, Chicago in the summertime is just so iconic.
Walk around and explore Navy Pier and Millennium Park, capture your photos with the famous bean sculpture, take in a baseball game, and take a boat ride on the vast Lake Michigan.
A summertime visit to the Windy City also allows visitors to explore some of the nearby beaches, perfect for cooling off after a walking (shopping and eating) tour of downtown.
6. Hocking Hills, Ohio
You can find this area of natural beauty in Southeastern Ohio, as a part of the Allegheny Plateau. Hocking Hills is great for nature lovers as well as outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Explore the deep gorges, rock formations, cliffs, and waterfalls, and head back to your cozy cabin in the state park when you are done adventuring.
This popular Ohio State Park is reachable in just under an hour from Columbus, making it an easy day trip if you don’t have the time to stay overnight.
To finish off the winners for USA Today’s Best Summer Travel Destinations we have the following locations:
- No. 7: Crystal River, Florida
- No. 8: Asheville, North Carolina
- No. 9: Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, New York
- No. 10: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
