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Right now, travellers are exploring close to home, finding the beauty in their own backyards. Where that ‘backyard’ is varies by traveller, but for me, it’s the USA – and I’ve had the privilege of truly diving into its wonder throughout my travel career. With a decade spent in product development, it was literally my job to adventure the world, design tours, and uncover the hidden gems (in addition to the must-sees, obviously) of every destination. When I explore my home country, I definitely bring my adventuresome side with me.
As the world rebounds, travellers looking to explore right here in the USA are often trying to figure out when is the best time to go – and where! From New England to the Pacific coastline and everything in between, the season can definitely complement your tour. I’ve created a seasonal list to get you started!
WHAT STATES TO VISIT IN SUMMER
All of New England! It’s a must in summer. Fresh lobster, coastal villages, great beaches, stately lighthouses – you’ll find all the charm and warmth in this region at this time of year. Check out our Islands of New England tour, which features Newport, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island.
Utah! On our Painted Canyons of the West tour, you get a lot of the Utah parks in their glory in summertime – Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion. Summer is a great time to explore these parks and be outdoors.
Montana! Summer is the ideal season for our Montana: Exploring Big Sky Country tour. Snow comes early here so the season is short – just late June through September, and there’s so much to do. Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Visit Going-to-the-Sun. Spend two full days in Yellowstone – America’s first national park. Our travellers asked for this tour and it’s been completely “in demand” since it launched.
WHAT STATES TO VISIT IN FALL
Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina! On our Bluegrass Country & the Smoky Mountains tour, you can spot some colourful foliage – a bit later than in New England as it’s further south – and especially in the Smoky Mountains. This is the perfect tour for fans of Horse Country, Dolly Parton and/or bourbon.
All of New England (yes, again)! After all, New England has been a place that brings “leaf peepers” from all over the world to check out its famous foliage – hues of amber, red, green, gold and oranges mingling on the horizon. Combined with the covered bridges and old country roads (and the cider, of course), this charming region is everything Fall should be. On our Colours of New England tour, you can see how the colours change from Massachusetts to Vermont to New Hampshire to Maine.
STATES TO VISIT IN WINTER
Texas! On our San Antonio Holiday tour, walk along the famous River Walk as 120,000 lights illuminate it during the holiday season. The warmer temps are welcome for anyone who lives in states that are colder this time of year.
New York! “Start spreading the news” – New York City is a must for the holiday seasons. Our New York City Holiday tour does it all – the tree at Rockefeller, Broadway Shows, but nothing compares to the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes. It’s definitely something not to be missed in winter.
Hawaii! It’s the ideal place to escape the winter blues. From Oahu to Maui, the hula dance to the coffee farms of Kona, our Hawaiian Adventure tour is definitely worth saying “Aloha!” to in wintertime.
Alaska! This is such a fun place to go in winter, with dogsledding, a glacier cruise, yummy salmon, and a train journey through the snowcapped landscapes, seeing the peak of Denali from afar. And between February and March, look for the northern lights. Fun fact: if you spend 3+ days in Fairbanks (which we do on our Alaska's Northern Lights tour), you have a 90% chance of seeing the northern lights. I’ll take those odds!
STATES TO VISIT IN SPRING
Michigan! Escaping to Mackinac Island in spring is so idyllic. There are no cars here, and the famous porch of the stunning Grand Hotel invites you to just laze on the rocking chairs and soak up the relaxation of this season of new beginnings. In May, the Tulip Festival takes place in Holland, Michigan and is a huge draw to this lovely area.
California! Spring is a great time to hit the pacific coast of California. On our California Dreamin' tour, check out the unspoiled beauty of Monterey and Yosemite… and sip wines in Napa.
Louisiana and Tennessee! Hum along to the music of New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville on our America’s Music Cities tour. These musical cities really sing in the springtime, with cooler temps and a more laid-back atmosphere.
Washington, D.C.! Marvel at the lovely cherry blossoms that are celebrated for 4 weeks, between March 20 – April 17, throughout the city. The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo City to Washington, D.C. As they blossom in spring, there is truly no better time to explore this amazing city on our Spotlight on Washington, D.C. tour.
So – where will you go and when? There are so many options, and these are just a few of my own suggestions by season. I’d love to hear your ideas as well! No matter where (and when) you go – unplug, take it all in and appreciate the wonder that travel brings.
