The 16 Most Underrated Summer Travel Destinations in the U.S.

Time to discover them before your FYP does. BY KRISTY ALPERT

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Summer travel can be so painfully predictable sometimes. You’re either blowing your vacation budget on international airfare, fighting crowds at the latest TikTok-viral ice cream shop, or lying towel-to-towel on a beach with hundreds of people who came up with the same genius (🙃) vacation plan you did. But I’m here to let you know that you don’t actually have to feel that way on this year’s summer vacation, because there are plenty of underrated destinations in the U.S. ready to satisfy your wanderlust.

Yep, that’s right, this country is full of inexpensive spots with fascinating backstories and vibey hangouts just waiting to be discovered—no passport required. And because summer travel is about freedom and fun, not predictability and waiting in long lines for churros and rosé, I decided to list 15 of my favorites for you below. You might know a few of ’em, but some might surprise you. Just trust me. I’m a travel writer, and I stand behind every single one.

So, why not spice up your summer travels by hitting up someplace a bit more unexpected, like a party barge on the lakes of Missouri, or a remote island off the coast of Washington State? Consider this list of underrated travel ideas my gift to you, and don’t say I didn’t warn you if you end up booking your next trip before the story ends.

Touch grass in Lake Placid, New York

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This ski town might be best known for its snow sports (and hosting the Winter Olympics…twice), but it’s just as great in the summer, promise. Book a room at the historic Mirror Lake Inn for panoramic views of the lake it’s named after (you’ll want to visit the spa for a waterside massage), and use it as your home base for exploring the small village. You can hike through the Adirondacks, take a canoe out for a spin, and visit some Olympic sites during the day (I recommend the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex), then kick back with a cold one at night at one of the many breweries. Lake Placid Pub & Brewery has my heart!

Chase the midnight sun in Fairbanks, Alaska

Alan Vernon

The sun rarely goes down between mid-May and late July in this Alaskan town—but you don’t need a night sky to have fun. After sleeping beneath the midnight sun, you can walk through the frozen halls of the Aurora Ice Museum—even in the middle of summer!—before heading over to the Chena Kennel Tour to cuddle some floofy Alaskan Husky puppies. Plan your trip closer to the end of August, when the sun starts setting again, and you’ll have the chance to see the Northern Lights…especially if you’re staying in one of the rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows at Aurora Villas, an iconic resort with incredible views.

Road trip through Marina, California

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This beachside town is just outside of Monterey (yes, the place from Big Little Lies), and you can live out your coastal California dreams every night with a sunset fire on the beach at The Sanctuary Beach Resort. (Don’t worry, the hotel staff will light the firepits for you!) You’ll want a car for this trip (rent a sweet one from Monterey Touring Vehicles), so you can drive into town along Highway 1 at least a few times to grab a green juice from Happy Girl Kitchen, or pastries and garden-herb mimosas at Alta Baker.

Get outdoorsy in Acadia State Park, Maine

Michael Ver Sprill

“Summering in Maine” has a nice ring to it, right? Most days are in the low 70s near Acadia National Park, but you’ll still see plenty of tank tops and shorts…likely worn with either boat shoes or hiking shoes. If you’re the hiking shoes kind, head straight for Gorham Mountain Loop for some incredible views. Or, if you’re more boat shoes-y by nature, drive the Park Loop Road instead, but plan to stop a few times to take in the gorgeous scenery. Regardless of shoes, you should order shellfish for lunch at either The Traveling Lobster or Beal’s Lobster Pier (vegan options available) before kicking that footwear off around your fancy campfire at Terramor Outdoor Resort. Don’t forget the s’mores!

Have the quaintest summer of your life in Door County, Wisconsin

Erinn Hermsen

You don’t have to plan your trip to this Wisconsin peninsula around cherry-picking season, but why on Sydney Sweeney’s green earth would you not?! Pick your own at Lautenbach’s, or just shop all things cherry at their farmer’s market (think: cherry chutney, cherry wine, and more). Take your wares and step back in time at the retro Holiday Music Motel before grabbing a scoop or two from old-school ice cream spots like Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor, The Vault, and Door County Ice Cream Factory. If you want to get active, visit Sister Bay Beach for kayak rentals and snack huts galore, but for a quiet beach day, you’ll want to board two ferries and take a short walk to the secluded shores of Rock Island State Park.

Live the Lowcountry highlife in Hilton Head, South Carolina

MargaretW

Hilton Head is the Hamptons of the South, and—even though it’s not a secret to anyone from this area—I’m always shocked that it’s not more crowded. The beaches are incredible, but I’m all about that sweet tea-sipping cabana lifestyle by the pools at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. The entire island has a small-town feel, and after spending the day on the sand, or walking around the shops and cafés at the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, pretty much everyone ends up at The Salty Dog Café for dinner and/or drinks around sunset.

Sneak away to Sedona, Arizona

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Summer is actually shoulder season in Sedona, which means you can score some seriously sweet deals on some of the best hotels in town. The glass-walled “atrium” suites at Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel are like little luxury treehouses, perched above the desert floor with incredible views and rooftop firepits. The Sedona sacred clay wrap is the treatment to get at their on-property spa, but if you’re looking for Sedona-style relaxation, check out the menu of custom IV infusions you can order directly to your room. The hotel offers free car service into town, so there’s no need to drive to get to the mezcal cocktails and roasted guac at The Elote Café, which you absolutely must do. Down some before heading to 89Agave Cantina, one of the best bars in town, which doubles as a secret breakfast spot. They serve churro waffles and breakfast tacos so good you’ll actually want to wake up before 9 a.m. on vacation.

Island hop in the San Juan Islands, Washington

Jersey Joe / 500px

Most summer days are in the 70s on the three main islands that make up the San Juan Islands—aka San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island—and each are served by a ferry. Hop it to get to the lavender fields, fun bars, and historic lighthouses that give the area a definite nautical-cool vibe. If that’s your vibe, you’ll love slurping down local wines (pick up a few bottles or cans from Cin Cin) and fresh oysters during midday picnics at Wescott Bay Shellfish Co. I recommend booking a stay at the Friday Harbor House hotel, where you’ll want to have a cocktail in both hands while you hang out by the fire pits. You can arrive there by boat, car, or float plane (but, um, please pick the float plane).

Check out some cowboy culture in Bozeman, Montana

Rob Crandall

Most of the students have gone home by July in this college town, leaving you free to live out your mountain life dreams without backpacks or bar-hoggers. Start with a hearty breakfast at Feed Café or pastries at Wild Crumb, then spend the rest of the day on the water, either by tubing down the Madison River or hanging in the Chico Hot Springs, near the pretty city of Livingston. You definitely won’t want to leave the RSVP Motel once you check in, but just know that everyone else will be at the Rockin R Bar while you’re sipping in-room bubbly in your robe. So, honestly, no bad choices here.

Let your inner southerner out in Asheville, North Carolina

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I can relate to Asheville. She’s a city that refuses to be defined. She can be outdoorsy if needed, but she prefers sharing fries at a rooftop bar, where her “southern” will start showing after a few drinks. Long story short, Asheville can hang. The shoppable streets (check out Minx boutique on Lexington Avenue), craveable restaurants (make a reservation early for Cúrate), historic museums (the Biltmore is a must, obviously), and crazy cool art scene (anywhere in the River Arts District!) put this place high on my list of summer destinations. Pro tip: book a room at the Foundry Hotel if you plan to catch a concert at the Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club (which you should, indeed, aim to do).

Go back in time in Mackinac Island, Michigan

Laura Grier/robertharding

Michiganders treat this island like their own Midwestern Martha’s Vineyard. Only instead of Porsches blocking traffic, there are horse-drawn carriages and bicycles carrying folks around. Yep, this car-free island is a time warp, where having a favorite fudge brand is a thing (there are 13 different brands on the island!) and the chance to gossip on the rocking-chair-lined porch at Grand Hotel is one of the most exclusive seats you can score. You can pair day drinking with night biking or day biking with night drinking—but either way, you’ll want to get your bikes from Mackinac Wheels, and cocktails from the Pink Pony or Horn’s Gaslight Bar. Take it from me.

See the real Cali in San Luis Obispo, California

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Central California does “California” the right way. It has LA-style beaches without the crowds (see: Pismo Beach) and San Francisco-style restaurants without the months-long reservation list (Ox + Anchor is a winner, trust). They even put fresh facelifts (so Cali) on old-school spots, like the Sunset Drive-In movie theater, where you simply must catch a flick. The Granada Hotel & Bistro is a great spot if you want to stay on the edge of downtown but right in the heart of it all, and it’s within walking distance of several wineries (so clutch).

Catch a concert in Bristol, Virginia

The Washington Post

Everyone thinks of Nashville for country music, but the genre was actually bornin this unique city. Bristol borders the Virginia and Tennessee state lines, so you can stand in both places at once by straddling the line on the ground (look for the brass markers between the 400 and 800 blocks!). I recommend sleeping in Virginia, at the Sessions Hotel, a hotel/music venue combo with big rooms and a great rooftop bar, and hanging in Tennessee, where you can head underground and see some stalagmites in the Bristol Caverns. When you’re hungry, visit Burger Bar, where root beer floats, banana pudding milkshakes, and burgers are served diner-style (picture frosty glasses and red plastic trays lined with checkered paper). Or, if you have some dietary restrictions, try Urban Thistle Bakery & Bistro, where the entire menu is sans gluten or dairy.

Enjoy the boat life in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Perry Spring

In Missouri, it’s all about the lakes. Specifically, Lake of the Ozarks. It’s famous, of course, because of Netflix’s Ozark, but also for its “Party Cove” (real name: Anderson Hollow Cove), where boats tie up to each other to create a giant pub crawl on water. Rent a party barge through Discover Boating so you can join them, or cruise to the docks of some of the lake’s most popular restaurants, like Shady Gators and Backwater Jacks. Chances are you won’t want to go back to dry land, but when you do, post up at The Lodge of Four Seasons, a cozy lakeside retreat with a great spa and live music.

Embrace the heat in Austin, Texas

Jeremy Woodhouse

Austin? In the summer? Do not be afraid. This city is so cool, I guarantee you’ll quickly learn to champion the summer heat the way only a true Texan knows how: with an ice-cold beverage. Definitely snap a pic of the phallic neon sign above The Austin Motel (aka “the penis hotel”) but stay at the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown to be in the middle of all the Sixth Street action. You’ll want to get your tacos at Veracruz All Natural, your BBQ at Cooper’s, and your drinks from literally anywhere that serves ’em near-frozen and straight from the bottle. Extra points if they shove a lime in the top.

Pretend you’re in a storybook in Vail, Colorado

John Coletti