The one downfall of Wailea Beach Resort is that it’s not located directly on a beach. However, it does offer easy access to both Wailea and Ula beaches via a short walk. Whether you’re looking to lounge in the oceanfront infinity pools, splash in the massive kids’ water complex, or explore the Shops of Wailea, you’ll find almost everything you need here.
This is one of the pricier hotels on Maui, but it’s worth it. You can check out their rates and availability here.
This is my favorite national park. It’s home to gorgeous snow-topped mountains, a beautiful lake from which to admire said mountains, large glaciers, and hiking trails galore. It is one of the most mind-blowing places I’ve seen on my adventures and I can’t recommend it enough! (If you plan to visit multiple national parks while traveling throughout the United States, it’s worth it to get the America the Beautiful Park Pass, which costs just $80 USD and provides entry to all the national parks for a year.)
The Pacific Coast is considered one of the most scenic landscapes in the world, offering sheer cliffs, forests descending to the shoreline, miles of beaches, and giant redwoods. The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is part of California State Route 1, one of the longest historic state highways in the country. Be prepared to make slow progress as you’ll be pulling over frequently to stop, hike, and admire the view. While the route takes 10 hours to traverse without stopping, I recommend dedicating at least several days to enjoy all that the area has to offer.
NOTE: There’s a lot to do in the United States and you can spend months traveling around the country. I could write an entire book on the places to visit! This is just a list to give you some ideas. Be sure to check out some of my other blog posts (scroll to the bottom of this guide for links) for more suggestions.
San Diego’s weather is almost always perfect, leading to a permanently happy population that’s friendly and outgoing and that loves the outdoors. From hiking, days at the beach, or running, people here love to get out and enjoy the sun. The downtown Gaslamp area — as well as the famous Pacific Beach — is full of trendy restaurants, bustling bars, and some seriously life-changing taco stalls. I love San Diego. It’s an underrated city!
California is home to some of the best wine in the world, and a visit to the Sonoma or Napa Valley shouldn’t be missed. While Sonoma is cheaper than Napa, these are destinations meant for splashing out. Take a tour, book a cozy vineyard Airbnb, and enjoy a relaxing few days learning about the region’s wines. Tastings usually cost between $15-20 USD.
Location & Information: 10 miles east of Las Cruces, there are several trails for mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian use, with beautiful views of the Organ Mountains and Southern Mesilla Valley.
From the glossy lakes of Minnesota, to the endless mountains in the Pacific Northwest, the United States of America has it all. We are so thankful to call the “Land of the Free” our home. And though we might be biased, we believe it’s a country that deserves to be explored by foreigners and nationals alike.
Most people travel to the US for a short vacation and end up hitting one or two cities, but there is so much more to be discovered here! Each state is unique and has something special to offer, from the national parks to the streets of New Orleans, our country boasts a diversity of geography, culture, food and experiences that travelers would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
One of the best ways to see this massive country (and our personal favorite method of travel!) is to take a road trip. Come along with us as we share our USA travel tips, road trip advice, and vanlife stories.
Gritty and industrial, Memphis appears like its best days are behind it. But don’t let the rough exterior fool you — the city is home to some killer food and a vibrant blues music scene. Additionally, there’s Graceland (Elvis’s home) for fans of the King, a big waterfront for walking, and the phenomenal Museum of Civil Rights (it’s huge, so don’t rush it!). I enjoyed the city more than I expected and was disappointed when I had to leave. To use a cliché, it’s a hidden gem!
Asheville is full of tasty craft beer, great food, and plenty of hipsters. I liked the area a lot, including its proximity to scenic mountain hikes like the Carolina Mountain Trail. The beautiful Smoky Mountains are a short drive away and the gigantic Biltmore estate (the largest privately-owned home in the U.S. and once home to George Vanderbilt) is on the outskirts of the city. If you’ve ever seen Downton Abbey, that’s what the house is like! Moreover, the town has a lot of parks for those wanting something closer. Be sure to check out the Ashville Botanical Gardens near the university campus too.
Along the Pacific Coast is Redwood National Park, a huge expanse of towering redwood trees filled with picnic areas, places to camp, and miles upon miles of hiking trails. Trails range from easy to strenuous, and there are many loops that head out to nearby beaches. The trees range from 200-240 feet tall. It’s utterly beautiful, awe-inspiring, and humbling in every way. Admission is free, though the three adjoining state parks (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park) each charge $5 USD.
Known as the Mile High City (the city is one mile above sea level), Denver offers a mix of outdoor ruggedness and big-city living. It has a huge craft beer scene, excellent restaurants (including, Sushi Sasa, one of my favorite sushi restaurants), a large international airport with lots of connections, and proximity to the mountains. It’s clean, lively, and the locals are incredibly friendly. There are few cities in the U.S. I want to live in, but I love Denver enough to say that it’s one of them.
Sitting on Georgia’s coast, Savannah escaped the wrath of the Civil War, allegedly because General Sherman thought it was too pretty to be destroyed. With streets lined with Spanish moss-covered oaks, large and inviting parks, and a bustling waterfront, Savannah is a wonderful place to experience the slow pace of the Old South. I visited this city years ago and its tranquil beauty and tasty Southern comfort food have stuck with me since.
A little bit country, a little bit tech, Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. It’s got a wonderful music scene (duh), a growing cocktail bar scene, and some down-home Southern restaurants. There’s not a lot of “touristy stuff” to do here, but what makes this city one of my favorites are the music, the food, the wildly friendly people, and the positive energy the city seems to exude. When you’re here, plan to spend a few hours at the Tennessee State Museum. It goes into detail about the state’s history (and it’s more exciting than you might think!).
USA at a glance: Each region of the US has its own culture that can feel as different as if you’d hopped on a flight to the other side of the world.
There’s the Pacific Northwest with its mountains and driftwood-strewn beaches, California is a vibe all its own with a geographical diversity to rival entire countries.