US Vacation Ideas

If you've come looking for US Vacation ideas, you've come to the right place.  The United States is a goldmine for vacations and whether you're looking for cheap vacations or the luxury of a lifetime, you'll find something that meets what you're looking for.  This list has destinations and ideas sorted by state in alphabetical order.  If you are looking for vacation ideas in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean be sure to visit our North America vacations.

3-Day Roadtrip: Ithaca, NY & Pittsburgh, PA
Itinerary for 3-day vacation:

(This vacation has been completed, updates to reflect the details of the actual trip are posted in blue)


Dates of Travel

Locations Visited

Activities

24 Aug 2009
  • Boston, MA
  • Ithaca, NY

Driving from Boston to Ithaca, and spending the night in Ithaca
Keep Reading 3-day Roadtrip: Ithaca, NY & Pittsburgh, PA

Kona Coffee Festival — Celebrate the Big Island Brew
The Kona coffee festival is one of the most unique november vacations, as locals and tourists alike gather annually to celebrate the impact of coffee on the Hawaiian culture.  It is the oldest food festival in Hawaii and full of cultural, food and historical events. 


North Myrtle Beach Camping — If one is looking for a unique do-it-yourself vacation then I would highly recommend visiting the Apache Family Campground in North Myrtle Beach South Carolina. This is a great place to visit if one does not like the typical hassles of resorts and hotels. My family used to visit this campground every year from the time...

Whale Watching and More in Seattle in the Spring

Contributed By Laura Lee Winger

I clicked the shutter button, but the shot took too late. The baby orca had completed its flip and disappeared back into the deep blue waters before my camera could capture the moment. While we had been observing a family of about twenty-five killer whales for over an hour, the baby only did flips two or three times, and they were so infrequent it was difficult to stay focused on capturing the perfect image.
Continue reading Whale Watching and More in Seattle in the Spring

A Weekend at the University of Chicago
Best known for its students deeply embracing their status as nerds, geeks and dorks. You might be surprised to know that the University of Chicago is the home of modern improvisational and Sketch Comedy.  Off-Off Campus, has been around in it's current incarnation since 1986 making it the longest continuously running student improv group in the country.  
Keep reading a Weekend at the University of Chicago

Sample Travel Itinerary: West Virginia Camping
This sample travel itinerary is based on a roadtrip that Yoshi and I took to West Virginia. It was my first visit to the state, and I can honestly say that despite many biases and preconceptions that many people have about the state, it may be the most beautiful state I have been to after Alaska.  
Keep reading Sample Travel Itinerary: West Virginia Camping

Father Son Bonding Washington DC
As a World War II veteran, my father really wanted to start the monument tour with the memorial to honor the men who risked their lives in the last World War. In fact, it’s all he’d been talking about since it opened in 2004. If you haven’t been, you owe it to yourself to see for yourself this spectacular achievement. 
Keep Reading Father Son Bonding Washington DC

It doesn't matter how old you are – 6 or 66. Of all the cave systems in the country, no, in the world, Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico is one of the finest, and make for a perfect father/son vacation. Some systems are accessible only to trained spelunkers or cave divers. Still others are very hazardous, with pools of fume-spewing sulphuric and hydrochloric acid, necessitating respirators and special gear. What makes Carlsbad Caverns so great is that most of the park's caves are available to everyone.

Starting in New York, my father and I drove west through Pennsylvania, then into Ohio where we slept for the night. I was noticing that things were getting a little flat. Indiana seemed also pretty flat and it looked as though I could see the entire state on the highway, it was so flat! It boggled my mind. We drove through Illinois where I remember we stayed the night in Chicago. We saw the Chicago Cubs play against the New York Mets, which was kind of fun. I had only seen their stadium, Wrigley field, on the television. They of course lost to the Mets. I got a Cub’s baseball cap. 

This year when I asked him what he wanted to do for our upcoming vacation together he said, “I want to ride a motorcycle like Valentino Rossi.” Let me tell you, I nearly fell over in my seat. My father has been a die-hard Harley rider since he was 18 years old. He built his first motorcycle using parts from several bikes that were on their way to the junk pile. He had that bike for 15 years until he was able to afford to buy a new Harley, which he has had to this day. 

One of the things my father said that he’d always wanted to do was to see the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as the Wupatki National Monument. Right after I landed my first job out of college, to thank him for all his support (both financial and “atta-boys”, I surprised him with a trip to Arizona.
Keep reading: Father-Son Bonding Grand Canyon and Arizona

Father-Son Bonding: Shenandoah Valley
This is a journey that I made with my own dad after he retired. It was something that he requested we do because he’d always wanted to visit this area. Although when people think of Virginia, images of Virginia Beach tend to come to mind, this is an altogether different kind of vacation. Lying on a beach is nice and has its place, but after you’re done, there aren’t memories to last a lifetime. This particular trip that I took my father on, he continues to rave to his friends about, so I think that it was as indelible for him as it was for me. 

When visiting Puerto Rico, you definitely want to give yourself at least two weeks to take in all its wonder. If you can swing it, try three - yes there’s really that much to do. While the majority of tourists tend to flock to the all-inclusive resorts, I say get out there and visit the whole island. Rent a car and just drive. If you are a person who has to have an agenda, you can plan one, but then again, “riding by the seat of your pants” is best. Puerto Ricans are by nature some of the least formal people and so, you’ll see that schedules are something to adhere to at work. When it comes to fun, just do it. 

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