With many European destination being overcrowded, people are now searching for different places to visit. This has now led to many Americans pivoting in their leisure travel plans and taking staycations and exploring the cities where they live and visiting remote wilderness areas and national parks to enjoy nature. Also popular are biking, golf or hiking trips, glamping or glamorous camping with amenities and resort-style services, summer camps for adults, renting cabins and vacation homes and taking nostalgic road trips in the US along with camping and RV trips like they did as children. This is an excellent time to explore our home country!
According to a recent article in the New York Times, “in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, as the Interstate Highway System developed, driving became the norm for family trips. Some 85 percent of Americans vacationed by car in 1963 — or “hit the road to vacation fun,” as the trend was described in a Times article that year. In turn, road trips became a cultural rite of passage for American families.” This past trend is coming back rapidly, with many people driving and staying within 100 miles of home. Lower gas prices, peace of mind and the flexibility that comes with being in your own car, makes road trips especially appealing today! You can explore Route 66 and celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 2026.
National Parks like Glacier, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the Grand Tetons are still very popular. Be aware that recent staff cuts at the National Park Service may cause entry delays and lack of some services.
The trend of seeking out more remote, off the beaten path destinations or growing neighborhoods in our larger cities. Throughout the US, in the past several years, we have seen an emergence of many cities, with major gains in the quality of their restaurants with the farm-to-table movement. There are now great distilleries, food halls and microbreweries that have totally transformed once economically challenged neighborhoods into booming neighborhoods. There are wineries now in many states that you never would have thought could produce wines. It is all about having great experiences!
Some ideas on where to explore include:
Travel to Marfa, TX to see the amazing art, galleries, eat great food and stay in new boutique hotels in addition to classic spots. Don’t miss Prada Marfa, the fake Prada store in the middle of the desert just outside of town.
I love Traverse City, MI. There are wonderful wineries, great restaurants and beautiful scenery particularly in the fall. You can visit Petoskey where Hemingway spent his summers growing up, along with Harbor Springs and the amazing Mackinac Island.
I went back again to Denver, CO. The Highlands neighborhood and River North or RiNo have new boutique hotels, restaurants, food halls, breweries and distilleries where you can explore after visiting Denver’s great art museums.
Detroit, MI has an incredible art museum with many new boutique hotels and a great food scene.
I was in Buffalo, NY for the first time a few years ago and was so impressed with the emerging neighborhoods, food scene, art museums, historic architecture and parks.
I was also in Pittsburgh, PA and was blown away by the Strip District, Shadyside, Point Breeze, East Liberty and Lawrenceville. It has reinvented itself from its industrial past to be a hub of innovation, creativity, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife.
Other places high on my list include, the Chicago, IL neighborhoods of Logan Square, Pilsen and Wicker Park; Madison, WI, Ann Arbor, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Columbus, IN with its modern architecture; Kansas City, MO for the best barbecue; Boulder, CO; Moab, UT and the Bourbon Trail in KY from Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown.
An article I read recently recommended that you visit the smaller cities of Asbury Park, NJ; Taos, NM; New Hope, PA; Paso Robles, CA; Flagstaff, AZ and Lawrence, KS. I have visited all of them and was back in Lawrence in December 2024 and in Asbury Park and New Hope in July 2025. have featured my top recommendations on the website. Others mentioned include Santa Cruz, CA; Park City, UT; Greenville, SC; Ashland, OR and Durango CO, which are all high on my list to visit.
So stay in the US and explore! There is no jet lag, you can explore many locations over a long weekend plus find cheap air fares or drive.
If you missed out on a trip to Europe due to cancelled flights, concerns about flying and government restrictions, there are many destinations in the US with a European vibe and influence. These include Holland, MI; Newport, RI; Solvang, CA; Vail, CO and New Glarus, WI to name a few.
Or if you do go to Europe, I recommend that you visit the less popular destinations. As an example, Rotterdam and The Hague or Den Haag are excellent alternatives to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has announced that it will now place an emphasis on areas like these that are less well-known and could do with an increase in local tourism.
One more point, become a flâneur where the intent is to wander with intention. Drop all pretense. Lose your map. Turn off your phone. And just go. It’s a great way to explore any city, whether it’s new to you or very familiar, like Chicago, IL or San Miguel de Allende, MX are to me. I have read several articles that suggest that simply exploring your own neighborhood can be beneficial for your mental health and emotional well-being and that having new and diverse experiences on a daily basis, even close to home, is linked to positive emotions!
In summary, I recommend that you explore smaller, less-visited cities and towns. Also, think about reading old travel journals and find time to start writing again. Even go through your old travel guides that before the internet, used to give us inspiration in the past. Though they might be possibly out of date, you might get some ideas on where to go and where to explore!