50 Best Vacations in U.S. to Explore America’s Adventure Capitals
Selecting—and ranking—the 50 best vacations in the U.S. is one trippy endeavor. For the 2024 Men’s Journal Travel Awards, we’ve embarked on several other courageous quests as well, including seeking out the best hotels in the country, selecting the best ski resorts in the U.S., and nominating the 50 best golf courses in the U.S. (yep, one for every state). We also picked out the best luggage, including the best carry-on luggage, and travel accessories of the year to make your next trip as smooth as possible.
But back to our featured presentation: the 50 best U.S. vacations. No doubt, you’ll be surprised by some of the destinations on this list or wonder how in the world (insert your beloved hometown) was overlooked. But this list isn’t about any worthy destinations not making the final cut. It’s about celebrating just how tough a job it is in America to stop at just 50.
Ultimately, every featured place had to affirm a single question across our team of travel-addicted writers and editors: Would we feel good sending a friend here? This list of the best U.S. vacations elicits a resounding, yes, for a phenomenal hike in Duluth, MN; a sybaritic soak in Hot Springs, AR; a frothy pint in Bellingham, WA; a spectacular pedal or paddle in Richmond, VA; and so on.
This list will also be increasing traffic along Colorado’s stunning Million Dollar Highway to our No. 1 American travel destination of the year: Ouray, CO. Our main goal is to lead you all over the map in this diverse, spectacular country, with fresh eyes, an open mind, and a hankering for adventure.
Best U.S. Vacation Destination of 2024: NO. 1. Ouray, CO 
Grab a stool and a King Suite at The Western—Ouray’s latest design-forward boutique hotel. And buckle in for a traverse on one of three via ferratas in “America’s Switzerland.”
Courtesy of The Western/GMVF-Sunset Tour Imagery/Dean Fikar
Come to Ouray and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped foot in a live-action REI commercial. Nicknamed the “Switzerland of America” because of its snow-capped alpine scenery, itineraries here center on playing on these peaks. In the summer and fall it’s all about rock climbing and via ferrata routes, and ice picks come out in the winter for epic climbing on frozen waterfalls. The Ouray Ice Festival celebrates the sport every January. Tour abandoned mining towns on an ATV and check the events calendar at the historic Wright Opera House.
After a day of adventure, soak in Mother Nature’s hot tub. Of course, our top destination for the 2024 Men’s Journal Travel Awards includes several thermal springs bubbling around town—and a spectacular grand entrance into Ouray along an elevated, sinuous patch of Colorado Scenic Byway that will feast your eyes, fill your soul, and blanch your knuckles.
Visiting Ouray is like stepping into an REI commercial.
Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images
When to Visit: Ouray is a year-round destination. But it’s showtime for fall foliage is in early October when the San Juan Mountains are glowing gold. Play rock paper scissors for who gets the passenger seat for an autumn drive along the famed Million Dollar Highway that connects Ouray to Silverton.
What to Do: Get acquainted with Ouray’s beauty at Box Canon Falls Park for easy walking into the canyon and Cascade Falls Park for a waterfall view. For a real thrill, experience Ouray’s Gold Mountain Via Ferrata (the newest of three via ferrata routes in town) with Basecamp Ouray. Equipped with nearly 1,000 rungs, the Gold Mountain route climbs 1,300 vertical feet along a dozen pitches—featuring a 273-foot steel cable bridge (the second longest in the country) overlooking the entire valley. When autumn colors peak, the view is indescribable. No technical climbing skills are required, but you’ll have to be okay with heights.
Where to Stay: Just off Main Street, The Western is a new design-forward 16-suite boutique with Old West character. The hotel has an on-site saloon, and soon guests can book a hot shave at the basement-level Grotto Spa. Or, book one of the six rooms at The Imogene Hotel + Rooftop Bar, appointed with a fine whiskey bar and rooftop for stunning sipping during the warmer months. Hotel guests at the Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings have access to soaking pools and a hot springs vapor cave.
Where to Eat: Warm up with some spice at Thai Chili Ouray and enjoy a steak dinner at BrickHouse 737. Ouray Brewery is where you can enjoy a beer with mountain scenery in the backdrop. Grab a classic cocktail at the dim-lit Saloon inside The Western.
Best Vacations in the U.S.
Behold, 49 more incredible destinations across America to consider, whether you’re hunting for the best beach vacations in the U.S., best couple vacations in the U.S., or best family vacations in the U.S.
2. Chattanooga, TN 
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Outdoor adventure is to Chattanooga what music is to Nashville. On the banks of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga offers whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and hiking. But rock climbing is what it’s known for. High Point Climbing and Fitness’ downtown location wastes no space, with rock climbing walls planted on its exterior. Outdoors, Tennessee Wall is regarded as one of the best trad climbing spots in the Southeast. Digital nomad types on extended vacations also appreciate the super-fast internet.
When to Visit: The best weather window is September to November, which is also when the crowds taper off. Winter temps might dip into the 30s, but that’s nothing a good jacket can’t fix.
What to Do: It’s a toss up between renting a paddleboard from River Canyon Adventure and SUPing the Tennessee River or getting the adrenaline going at Lookout Mountain Flight Park, which is technically in Georgia but lets you hang glide with views of Chattanooga. If you’re here in the winter, see the sandhill crane migration from the seat of a kayak.
Where to Stay: The Read House Hotel is a glamorous stay with a lobby that whisks you away to the 1920s and a chophouse on site that’ll make you feel like Gatsby. The dopamine-inducing approach to the interiors at The Dwell Hotel makes for a fun downtown stay. Pop downstairs to Matilda Midnight for a nightcap and late-night munchies, like a pimento panini.
Where to Eat: It doesn’t get more southern than a fish fry joint that serves lunch in classic red baskets, and Uncle Larry’s delivers with four locations in Chattanooga. Alleia is an Italian spot for housemade pastas, including a seasonal ravioli. Sit in the garden at Rosecomb, where the bar team has put as much thought into its mocktail menu as its boozy drinks. And for something decidedly more chill, Pickle Barrel is a classic pub where you can pair your beer with an order of fried pickle spears or a loaded chili dog.
3. San Luis Obispo, CA 
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Tucked between Los Angeles and San Francisco on California’s sublime Central Coast, San Luis Obispo (appropriately nicknamed SLO) serves up everything you could want in a Golden State beach vacation. This stretch of the coast has great surf, a fantastic farmers market that celebrates tri tip, a growing wine scene, adventurous spoils like ATV dune riding on neighboring Pismo Beach, and one of the loveliest state parks (Montaña de Oro) in a giant state filled with them.
When to Visit: Fall’s the perfect time in town when the temps are more moderate and hiking is comfortable. But it’s pretty beautiful year-round out on California’s Central Coast.
What to Do: Let’s assume you’re not interested in visiting Bubblegum Alley (between 733 and 734 Higuera Street), where you can see 20 years of gum pressed onto the wall. Hit Highway 1 with a 100-mile-ish stretch that cuts through San Luis Obispo County with views of the Pacific. Head north for about an hour to tour Hearst Castle. Soon after that, you’re winding up the incomparable Big Sur.
Where to Stay: Offering a decidedly boutique stay, the 17 rooms at Granada Hotel & Bistro are stylish with exposed brick, steel windows, and Persian rugs. The hotel is walking distance to downtown, but you’ll want to have at least a couple meals and rounds of drinks on property at The Bistro and Nightcap. Or, book a room at San Luis Creek Lodge, where rooms were designed by Nina Freudenberger, the author of “Surf Shack.” It oozes California cool.
Where to Eat: No one does breakfast like Californians. Breakfast Buzz has the classics covered, plus biscuits and gravy and burritos. Come dinner, Buona Tavola is the place in town for killer antipasti and pasta. Explore the beverage scene at spots like Central Coast Brewing, Saints Barrel wine bar, and Rod & Hammer, where whiskey is cut with purified Pacific Ocean water and surfboards double as wall art.
4. New Orleans, LA 
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NOLA has more historic districts (21) than any other U.S. city. It’s pocketed with world-famous neighborhoods, rowdy streets named after booze, and cultural gems like New Orleans Museum of Art and Sazerac House, with its interactive cocktail exhibits. The city’s culinary scene and festivals are second to none, but the city’s wild side isn’t one-dimensional. Visitors can go SUPing with NOLA Paddleboard, kayak a swamp with New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours, choose from nearly two dozen fishing charters that’ll whisk you out onto the Gulf or neighboring marshes, and more. Warm up with a run or unlock a Blue Bike (New Orleans’ bikeshare) to ride through the ancient oaks of Audubon Park—one of nearly 250 parks in the city. There’s a reason 17.5 million annual eaters, drinkers, partiers, music fans, and adventure-seekers are drawn here.
When to Visit: Crescent City crowds swell during Mardi Gras, which can fall any time between early February and the beginning of March. December through May offers comfortably cooler temps, while summer heat is intensified by fierce humidity. A highlight of fall shoulder season is NOLA Funk Fest in October, featuring three days of partying with 21 of the city’s best local funk acts playing alongside top brass and jazz bands.
What to Do: New Orleans barkeeps invented several classic cocktails, so you could create your own drink trail that blends history and booze—say, a Vieux Carre at the Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone, a hurricane at Pat O’Briens, and a Sazerac at The Sazerac Bar in The Roosevelt Hotel (bartenders have been slinging them here since 1938).
Where to Stay: Hotel Saint Vincent is the Lower Garden District’s best bohemian boutique, featuring 75 ornately designed guest rooms, a private pool, courtyard, and lively lounge in a historic property that (you’d never guess) once housed a mid-19th-century orphanage. Kimpton Hotel Fontenont leads NOLA’s downtown renaissance with a sleek, contemporary-yet-playful vibe and full calendar of concerts and events in its flamboyant Peacock Room.
Where to Eat: French Quarter landmarks include Antoine’s (dating back to 1840), Tujague’s (1856), and the original Café du Monde (1862) on Decatur St. for beignets and chicory coffee. After, enjoy a jazzy brunch at hallowed Commander’s Palace (1893) in the Garden District, starring a Creole bread pudding soufflé with warm whiskey sauce that’s worth the wait. Speaking of whiskeys, you’ll find damn near 400 of them to choose from at Barrel Proof, a favorite local watering hole in the Lower Garden District that’s equally appreciated for its $10 beer-and-shot combos.
5. Bend, OR 
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Deschutes Brewery helped kickstart the small craft brewery trend back in 1988. Today, there are more than 30 breweries in and around Bend to quench your après-adventure thirst. Sitting on the Deschutes River with Three Sisters volcanic peaks in the backdrop, Bend is geographically spoiled. This is a place where you can ride singletrack, hike, raft whitewater, and climb in the summer, then come back with your skis in the winter to hit Mt. Bachelor. Should you want to leave the city of 100,000 (Bend residents would like to keep it that way, according to the “Bend Sucks, Don’t Move Here” bumper stickers), you can dispatch to Detroit Lake or Mt. Hood.
When to Visit: It’s not so crowded in the summer months that you can’t get around, but fall’s a great time to be outdoors here when temps are milder.
What to Do: For a kick of nostalgia, visit the last Blockbuster in Bend. Even if you don’t have a DVD to watch a rented movie on, you can get blue-and-yellow merch. If you’re here in summer, explore Lava River Cave; it offers the rare chance to walk a mile of lava tube with flashlights. If you’re with a crew, crush as much of the Bend Ale Trail brewery crawl as you (responsibly) can. The rest of the year, go for a run or hike in Tumalo State Park, or access part of the 12-mile-long Deschutes River Trail right from town.
Where to Stay: The Loge neighbors the Willamette National Forest and has an adventure vibe that mixes lodge-like styling with high-thread-count sheets. Campfire Hotel is proof motor lodges are cool again; it’s stocked with Breedlove guitars should you want to join a jam session around the fire pit. Just north of town, Riverhouse on the Deschutes is a hotel that comes with views of the namesake river. More upscale digs can be enjoyed at Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.
Where to Eat: Miyagi Ramen is named after the famous Karate Kid instructor, and the ramen shop is bright and modern, with a garage door that opens up to the street and a menu with shareables like steamed buns and skewers in addition to ramen. If it’s beef you crave, order steaks sourced from some of the best ranches in the West at Bos Taurus. At San Simón, make a bespoke charcuterie board with the cocktail bar’s medley of offerings (think black garlic sausage, délice de Bourgogne brie, and mussels in escabeche), and sip cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices, homemade syrups, and quality spirits.
6. Boise, ID 
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The secret’s out about Boise, but thankfully Idaho’s capital city still has more than enough green space inside its borders to keep it from feeling overrun. A whitewater park in the city churns out waves for landlocked surfers and kayakers and more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails thread Boise and its environs. A 25-mile Boise River Greenbelt that shoots through the city makes getting outside and on a trail a breeze. The food scene is commendable, too. Boise chef Kris Komori won the James Beard Award for best chef in the mountain region last year. Get a reservation at his artistic prix fixe restaurant and cocktail bar, KIN.
When to Visit: Come to ski in the winter or check out Boise in moderate shoulder seasons between March and May and September and November.
What to Do: Notch off a visit to the Old Idaho Penitentiary (on the National Register of Historic Places) before amping the outdoor action. The classic move here is floating the Boise River between Barber Park and out at Ann Morrison Park. You’ll need a sturdy tube, raft, or an SUP, which you can rent at Barber.
Where to Stay: Cool kids are staying at The Modern Hotel, a revamped Travelodge that’s bursting with personality and has an on-site bar and restaurant decked with art from locals. Or get your vacation out of the group chat so you and your buddies can take over the five-room Franklin House Bed & Beer, which has a seasonal beer garden.
Where to Eat: You bet you can get a bacon flight at Bacon Boise, which offers five kinds of bacon with varied sweet, smoke, and spice. The cocktail menu at Press & Pony has the classics covered, as well as some creative riffs like an Idaho Fashioned with sugar beet syrup. Get a solid introduction to Idaho beers at Bittercreek Alehouse.
7. Chicago, IL 
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Chicago is a city full of great tradition, including Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza, Second City’s improv theater that’s a pipeline for Saturday Night Live. What it lacks in access to national parks it makes up for with a magnificent waterfront and long stretches of asphalt to ride and bike. Plus, you’ve got superlative museums, fascinating architecture, and..
