Perhaps you’re putting international travel on a back burner and concentrating more on exploring what the U.S. has to offer. You’ll be surprised to know how many historical and adventurous getaways our country has waiting to be discovered by more travelers.
Forbes shared a list of 25 best places to visit in 2020 and they’re all based in the U.S. The writer, Laura Begley Bloom, spoke to travel experts and influencers to compile this incredible list.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Not only is New Orleans a great destination to visit during Mardi Gras, but it has an abundance of festivals, delicious foods, and music to get you on your feet all night long.
This year, the city will be hosting the Women’s Final Four games and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship — so if you’re a sports fan, New Orleans is the place to be this year.
Foodies should head to Bourbon Street where in addition to great food, there’s plenty of drinks and jazz music.
If you’re into admiring beautiful homes, head to the Garden District where you can also find boutiques and antique shops.
Vail, Colorado
Vail is perfect for family travel because everything can be found in one central location. Vail Village is a great town to visit and has heated cobblestone streets, coffee shops, eateries, and bars.
The largest free transportation system in the country runs frequently here so you can travel from Vail Village to Lionshead Village and anywhere in-between seamlessly.
If you’re into skiing, head to Vail Mountain which is open from November 15, 2019, until April 19, 2020.
Hudson Valley, New York
New Yorkers love getting away from the hustle and craziness of the city to Hudson Valley for fresh air and relaxation. Located less than two hours away from NYC, Hudson Valley is comprised of small towns located east of the Hudson River.
For amazing food, head to Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, where the chef-owners secured a nomination for the Best Chef: Northeast James Beard Awards last year.
Legoland New York Resort will be opening this year for travelers to enjoy 50 rides and the New York City skyline made out of Legos.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a great city to visit if you’re an avid music lover. Visit the Stax Museum which honors artists who created music that current artists are influenced by.
This year, the Hattiloo Theater, known as the only freestanding Black repertory theater in five surrounding states, will open for its 15th season.
Greenville, South Carolina
Although the U.S. has 35 Greenvilles, residents don’t want you to be confused. Greenville, South Carolina’s residents have so much pride and its home to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It is also home to the only BMW museum in North America and delicious homemade sourdough bread at Topsoil restaurant.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando, the home of Walt Disney World, is amazing to visit no matter what age you are. There will be new attractions debuting in 2020 and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge just opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last month.
Other than visiting this epic theme park, head to Sixty Vines, a wine bar offering over 60 wines on tap.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is known as the first ski resort in the U.S. and has been open since 1936. The town is still known for skiing today with the addition of restaurants, hotels, art galleries, and music festivals.
Indiana
Indiana Dunes National Park will be opening this year, making it the newest national park in the U.S. Travelers will be able to discover beaches and the sand dune mountain, Mount Baldy.
If you’re traveling with young ones, check out the Children’s Museum. The Madam Walker Legacy Center is another great museum to visit and honors Madam C.J. Walker, the first female African-American millionaire.
Martha’s Vineyard
Hop on a 30-minute ferry from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and you’ll be transported to the beautiful town of Martha’s Vineyard. A hot spot for celebs like Spike Lee and the Obamas, the town is filled with high-end boutiques, art galleries, and fresh seafood.
Key West, Florida
With a nickname like “America’s Caribbean”, Key West is perfect for a laid back getaway.
Embark on a 90-minute sail to the Great Florida Reef with FuryWatersports where you can snorkel and experience the third-largest coral barrier reef system on the planet.
You can also take a tour of the first legal rum distillery in Key West which is located in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant.
St. Louis, Missouri
Besides Nelly, the most known landmark is the 630-foot arch which can be spotted above the Mississippi River.
Travelers should visit the recently renovated Gateway Arch National Park, which recently went under a $380,000,000 renovation.
For bomb food, try Rooster, whose brunch will satisfy your tastebuds. Clementine’s Creamery has delicious handcrafted ice cream and you can even try some of their spiked flavors.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Although the U.S. Virgin Islands were hit with hurricane Irma and Maria, they have made enormous strides to make a comeback.
Head to the swim-up taco bar located off the coast of St. John or head to Navy Beach in St. Thomas.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is the perfect location for art lovers with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the free experience of ArtWalk being recently opened.
For ultimate self-care, head to Royal Palms Resort and Spa which just opened an 11,000-square-foot spa.
Redding and the Shasta Cascades, California
Redding and the Shasta Cascade region are located in Northern California and is commonly referred to as “California’s Last Frontier.”
While here, you can experience 50 waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains, six national forests, and active volcanoes. Best of all, the sites are either totally free or inexpensive.
Denver, Colorado
In 2019, there were 32 million visitors to Denver. The city is known for its food truck culture, street art, and live music.
It also is in close proximity to hiking trails and bike paths.
If you’re a beer lover, there are hundreds of breweries and more pop up every day.
Southern Utah
Zion National Park has recently celebrated 100 years of being open and is the gem of Southern Utah. Another great place to visit in this are is Bryce Canyon National Park, the second oldest national park in the state of Utah.
Southern Utah is only a few hours away from Salt Lake City and is close to Las Vegas so you can travel to multiple places while vacationing here.
Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe was the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics and known for its top of the line ski resorts and relaxed mountain culture.
Lake Tahoe is perfect for those who love nature and also has luxury resorts, casinos, camping, fishing and golfing.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee has been put on the map recently because of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and it’s placement on Airbnb’s top destination to visit in the world for 2020.
Milwaukee is also home to Summerfest, the largest music festival in the world, Milwaukee Art Museum and Harley-Davidson Museum.
McCall, Idaho
The state of Idaho has everything you can ask for: nature, adventure, and great beer. Located about an hour away from Boise, McCall has about 3,200 residents and is great for biking and zip-lining.
Luckily, McCall isn’t a common area for tourists yet, so you can truly enjoy the authentic essence of this charming city while visiting in 2020.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia was one of only two locations in the U.S. picked for the National Geographic’s Best Trips of 2020 list.
Philly is a great city for art, fashion, eateries, and history.
Miami, Florida
Miami has been a hot spot for years but this year the Raleigh Gardens will be hosting an art experience by the beach, making it the largest-ever outdoor public show by artists Claude Lalanne and Francois-Xavier Lalanne (Les Lalanne). Admission is free and you’ll see over 40 sculptures and objects by the artistic duo.
Another art space is El Espacio 23 which has thousands of paintings, sculptures, videos and photographs collected by billionaire Jorge Perez on his travels around the world.
The Museum of Grafitti recently opened in the artsy area of Wynwood and it’s the first museum to honor the pioneers of graffiti.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 will be the continuation of the celebration of the 5000th anniversary of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.
El Distrito will be opening this year and will offer a multi-sensory experience. Spoon Food Tours will offer travelers a foodie experience through Old San Juan or around the countryside on a party bus.
Head to the Ron de Barrillito Visitor Center to sample the oldest rum in Puerto Rico.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
There will be festivals and events this year to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing at the Plymouth.
You can tour the Plimoth Plantation and see a replica of the Mayflower, which brought the colonists to the U.S. in 1620.
Today’s Plymouth is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and views of the harbor where pilgrims once lived.
Los Angeles, California
Known for the infamous Hollywood sign is the city of LA.
Don’t sleep on the food scene in LA, 12 restaurants in West Hollywood were given Michelin awards in 2019. It is also home to Gilles @ Montage Beverly Hills, a restaurant opened by the youngest chef to receive a Michelin star.
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of LA Pride, honoring the LGBTQ community.
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are surprisingly becoming one of the fasting areas in the country for Americans to vacation.
Silver Dollar City is a theme park which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020.
Travelers can also visit the Aquarium at the Boardwalk, WonderWorks (science indoor amusement park) and Big Air Trampoline Park.