Danielle HornLooking for summer travel inspiration? These 10 epic US adventures belong on your 2025 summer bucket list!
From national parks to city adventures, this list of amazing summer destinations in the USA has something every kind of traveler.
Summer is the best time to travel for many, and these are several great ideas to get you started as you plan your summer vacation.
I’m so excited to share my US summer bucket list with you! Without further ado, let’s jump into the first destination on my 2025 US summer bucket list: San Francisco.
#1. Drive over the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
While I’ve been to California many times to visit my family, I have never visited San Francisco. Can you believe it?! It’s about time I make my way there!
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic travel destinations in the United States, and that’s why I’m starting off my summer travel bucket list with this renowned landmark. There’s plenty of hiking and walking trails near and around the bridge, but just driving over all 1.7 miles of it would be epic enough for me!
#2. Get a tan on the white sand beaches of Miami.
Another destination on my US summer bucket list is Miami, Florida. With all the snow and cold weather of the winter, I’ve definitely been craving some Florida sunshine.
Miami is known for its beautiful, white sand beaches, and I’m ready to get my tan on (with plenty of sunscreen, of course). South Beach is probably Miami’s most iconic, but North Beach might be a more family-friendly option. Even though you’re in Miami, you can also find more secluded, uncrowded beaches, like at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
No matter what, I’m definitely planning to end my beach day with some delicious Cuban food in town.
#3. Spend the night at The Plaza Hotel in NYC.
I subscribe to the belief that every travel bucket list should have a little luxury on it. Nothing crazy – just spending a night in one of the most iconic hotels in New York City: The Plaza.
If you’re a movie-lover, you might recognize The Plaza as a prime location for many films: Home Alone 2, Eloise, Almost Famous, The Way We Were, Bride Wars, etc. I too would like to have my iconic movie moment by galavanting through the halls of the Plaza lobby, staying in one of their elegant suites, and strolling through Central Park (which is right across the street).
Budget-Friendly Tip:
If you don’t want to spend the money to stay the night, you can just visit the beautiful shops and boutiques at The Plaza instead! At the Plaza stores, you can find the perfect NYC souvenir and snap some cute pictures.
Or, you can enjoy Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court. It’s the best way to enjoy the glamour of The Plaza on a budget!
#4. Eat some signature Creole dishes in New Orleans.
What would be a US summer bucket list without some delicious foodie options? Honestly, a US foodie summer bucket list could be its own post – I might just write that next.
Lately, I’ve really been craving some delicious Louisiana Creole cuisine, and New Orleans is the ultimate place to find it! New Orleans-style gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, and beignets – everything makes my mouth water!
There are so many restaurants in the French Quarter that do these Creole dishes right – Mr. B’s, Galatoire’s, Brennan’s, and more! I’m ready to visit New Orleans and try them all.
We can’t forget about New Orleans’ delicious Cajun food as well. It has a lot of crossover with Creole cuisine, but the culture and flavors are slightly different. I can’t wait to enjoy some spicy Cajun seafood too!
#5. Hike to a waterfall in Chattanooga.
I’ve driven through Tennessee many times in the past few years, and I’ve just fallen in love with the incredible Great Smoky Mountains.
That’s why I’m hoping for a visit this year to Chattanooga, Tennessee. While there’s plenty of fun outdoor activities to do and historical sites to visit, I’m most excited to explore Chattanooga’s hiking scene.
There seems to be an endless amount of trails in this area of the mountains, where you’ll find the Smoky’s most amazing waterfalls. It’s an easy hike to the beautiful Falling Water Falls, and Lookout Mountain also hosts Ruby Falls, a really unique underground waterfall. Another cool location to check out is Lula Falls, which is on a beautifully-kept land trust just 30 minutes outside of Chattanooga.
#6. Walk the historic Freedom Trail in Boston.
We’re taking it back up North with this next US summer bucket list item: Boston, Massachusetts. I’m a big history nerd, so I love adventures like the Freedom Trail. Still, even people who aren’t that into American history can enjoy this tour around Boston.
Not only does this 2.5-mile trail feature 16 iconic locations significant to United States history, but it is also an amazing way to see the city of Boston, with plenty of fun shops and eateries to stop by along the way.
You can sign up for a guided tour, download an audio guide, or just walk the trail yourself! For the latter, you may want to download a map or brochure of the historical sites first.
#7. Watch Old Faithful erupt at Yellowstone National Park.
I’ve been dying to revisit Yellowstone lately. My family took us on a big vacation to Yellowstone National Park when I was little, but I don’t remember much. (Just the bison blocking the road we were driving on once. That was an exciting/scary experience for a 6 year old.)
I think it’s time to return to Yellowstone this summer, and there’s one iconic site in particular that I’m excited to see again: Old Faithful. This famous geyser erupts about 20 times a day, and these eruptions have a 90% accurate prediction rate. So, it’s pretty easy to catch Old Faithful going off when you’re visiting Yellowstone!
#8. Enjoy a night of outdoor theatre at the MUNY in St. Louis.
Maybe you’re not super into the natural or historical sites, and you’d rather dive into the art scene instead! Theatre is a great way to do that, and outdoor shows are the best way to enjoy musicals in the summer.
The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre is America’s oldest and largest outdoor theatre, and they put on some stellar shows each summer. Their outdoor seats can hold up to 11,000 people, with 1,500 of those tickets offered for FREE on a first-come, first-serve basis. Way to make art accessible, MUNY!
The MUNY has an exciting 2025 season, including smash hit musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, Disney’s Frozen, Jersey Boys, and more! Single tickets are on sale NOW!
#9. Sip some wine in Napa Valley.
I don’t think anyone is surprised that California is on this US summer bucket list twice. There’s just so much to do there! Maybe you can visit Napa Valley after stopping by the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you’re looking for a relaxing US vacation spot, Napa Valley in Northern California is the perfect option. These world-famous hillside vineyards are some of the best places to enjoy a wine tasting. I’m particularly excited to try out the region’s Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as their Chardonnay.
The region also boasts of their amazing restaurants and lavish resorts. This could be an amazing destination for a couples vacation or girls weekend!
#10. Cool off in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Biltmore in Asheville.
I love escaping to the mountains in the summer. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors without the extreme heat. And the Blue Ridge Mountains are spectacular in the summer time!
One such place to enjoy the mountains is the grand Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore is the largest privately-owned house in the United States, and its gardens and grounds are almost as beautiful as the mansion itself.
And, they sure know how to do summer right! The Biltmore Gardens are stunning in summer, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to do, such as biking, hiking, and visiting the animals at the farmyard!
Budget-Friendly Tip:
While tickets are a bit on the pricey side, the Biltmore has some great summer deals:
- Kids age 16 and under get FREE admission in the summer!
- You can get two FREE tickets to the Biltmore House with the “Estate Escape” package
And that’s all for my 2025 US summer bucket list!
What destinations would you add to your own US summer bucket list? Have you been to any of these places? Let me know in the comments!
