etraveladmin In order to offer you a small taste of some of our favorite spots to visit in the USA this year as you begin to make travel plans, we’ve put together a little month-by-month inspiration.
Southern California in January
Celebrate the start of a new year by seeking out the sun in Southern California, the global epicentre of wellness. Don’t worry, though, if spas, raw juice cleanses, and cryotherapy are not your thing. There is much to discover from your starting point in Los Angeles; move south to the beaches of Orange County and laid-back San Diego, drive inland to the desert landscapes of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley, and end your Southern California loop.
THE WINTER ADVENTURES IN FEBRUARY
The best time to pack for a winter road trip is in February. Travel to Wyoming and Montana for a wolf safari and a wilderness dog sledding excursion lead by naturalists, or head to the Southwest to see the Grand Canyon in winter splendour, followed by a luxurious stay at Amangiri and some heli-skiing in Telluride.
CHARLESTON AND THE LOW COUNTRY IN MARCH
The Wine and Food Festival in early March is a Southern culinary extravaganza not to be missed, and later in the month, as Spring flowers begin to bloom, is the ideal time to wind your way down the Lowcountry coast to Savannah and on to the Golden Isles. Charleston might just be one of our best places to visit in the USA on any day of the year. If you are travelling from Europe, stopping in Washington, D.C. on your way home would be ideal to see the cherry blossoms.
NEW ORLEANS AND ACADIA IN APRIL
Mardi Gras in February is the party that doesn’t end, but April is a great time to visit New Orleans and the adjacent Acadiana region if you want a more relaxed time (it’s all relative in Louisiana). The Festival International de Louisiane, a celebration of the distinctive cuisine, music, and culture of this Francophone region, is held in the latter, which is centred around the town of Lafayette.
Southern Utah in May
With five very diverse geological wonderlands nearby, Southern Utah has the highest concentration of national parks of anywhere, making it the ideal destination for road trips. Warm days and mild evenings in the spring are ideal for getting outside and taking advantage of the countless adventure travel opportunities available, including world-class mountain biking and whitewater rafting as well as exploring hidden slot canyons and caves studded with petroglyphs.
JUNE: SIERRA NEVADA IN CALIFORNIA
Early June is a lovely time to visit Yosemite National Park in California because the park’s famous waterfalls are still flowing, the valley floor has pleasant days on a regular basis, and dogwood, lupine, Mariposa lily, Penstemon, and other flowers are in bloom. After a long winter covered in snow, the high elevation regions of the park like Tuolumne Meadows and Glacier Point will soon be reachable. Continue north through the foothills of the Sierras towards Sacramento, stopping in historic gold rush settlements and sipping wines from the area’s burgeoning vineyards, or turn south to reach Sequoia National Park and the world’s biggest trees.
Colorado in July
Look no further than Colorado for an exhilarating summertime adventure amid some of the most breathtaking alpine scenery on earth. You’re sure to find your ideal match among gorgeous ranches like Zapata and Smith Fork, as well as opulent hideaways like Dunton Hot Springs and Taylor River Lodge. The ideal ingredients for a summer road vacation include picture-perfect mountain communities like Crested Butte, Aspen, Telluride, and Ouray that is connected by gorgeous back roads that traverse high passes.
MONTANA AND WYOMING IN AUGUST
Take a luxurious road trip through Wyoming and Montana in the middle of the summer. Before heading north into the heart of Big Sky Country and spending some time channelling your inner cowboy on a ranch, start by exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone. We’ve got enough planned to keep you occupied, from a workshop with a National Geographic wildlife photographer for a day with one of the nation’s top naturalists
NEW MEXICO in September
In September, when the summer’s “monsoon” rains have passed, the Land of Enchantment is still exactly that. The revitalised terrain and crisp, clear blue skies further serve to highlight this already multicoloured state. Start on the expansive plains southwest of Albuquerque for one of the genuinely authentic working ranch experiences in the west, then turn north to Santa Fe, and then take the high road to Taos to complete the journey.
NEW ENGLAND: October
With fewer visitors in many national parks, cooler weather returning to the south, and aspen and cottonwoods painting the Rockies a brilliant shade of yellow, red, and orange, October may well be one of our favourite months to plan a trip in the United States. Fall in New England requires no introduction, and once the summer tourists have left, we might include a vacation to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket in the late season.
WEST TEXAS IN NOVEMBER
Even though it can be challenging to reach, rural Far West Texas is all the more alluring for that reason. Before visiting Big Bend National Park, which features an incredible terrain on the country’s border with Mexico, start at the lonely outpost of Marfa, which is equal parts wild west and art hotspot. The liberal city of Austin is a hub for cuisine and music culture and a great starting point for exploring the nearby Texas Hill Country. It is located farther east over the central plains of Texas.
LUXURY WINTER HIDEAWAYS IN DECEMBER
It’s the time of year to curl up in front of a fire and welcome the arrival of winter, but you don’t have to do this at home. Instead, visit Montana’s Ranch at Rock Creek, California’s Calistoga Ranch, or Colorado’s Little Nell to cap off the year.
