Top St. Patrick's Day Destinations
It takes more than the luck of the Irish for a city to be designated as one of the top U.S. St. Patrick's Day destinations. A place has to pull out all the stops, usually by starting the day with a phenomenal parade, Irish music, food, green beer, and a city-wide party. On this list, you'll find the oldest, strangest, and liveliest St. Paddy's day bashes in North America. You won't want to miss it - and that's no blarney!
Boston, Massachusetts
This is the oldest and grandest St. Paddy's celebration you'll find anywhere in the U.S. Bean Town first celebrated the holiday in 1737, and it's been improving on its Irish party every since. About 850,000 people attend the festivities in this town that's about 16 percent Irish.
New York City
With the third-oldest St. Patrick's celebration (New York started its in 1762), the Big Apple truly paints the town green. Around 2 million people line the streets for the largest and oldest St. Pat's parade in the United States. The parade has over 150,000 marchers, bagpipes, and plenty of green beer, but no motorized vehicles.
Chicago, Illinois
In Chicago, they even dye the Chicago River green! The Windy City puts on two terrific parades, on in South Side and one downtown. About 300,000 people attend each. The Chicago celebration is relatively young - it's only been going on annually since before the Civil War.
Savannah, Georgia
In Savannah they celebrate this Irish holiday by adding a southern twist - green grits for breakfast before the big city parade. Join the crowd of 400,000 and see the city fountains run green for the day. This grand party has been going on since 1825.
San Francisco, California
This is the biggest St. Patrick's day on the west coast. The family-friendly San Francisco parade follows the trolley tracks through the city, drawing millions of people.
New London, Wisconsin
Visit the only town in the nation that changes its name just for St. Patrick's Day - to New Dublin. The town party includes a grand parade, corned beef and cabbage, Irish music, dancing, and more. You won't want to miss the reenactment of Finnegans Wake before the parade.
Dublin, Ohio
It isn't the only American city named Dublin, but it's the one that puts on the best St. Patrick's Day celebration. The parade is filled with clowns, floats, and bands, and there are plenty of great parties going on before and after. Don't miss the fabulous Irish music in the Blarney Bash Tent.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The second-oldest St. Patrick's Day event includes a showing of Finnegans Wake, a fabulous parade, and superb neighborhood festivals. Thousands of people don the green to cheer on the floats and bands at this massive parade.
Top National Parks Ever since their inception in 1872, the national parks have been the pride and joy of campers all over the country. Visited by millions of people each year, these amazing parks protect some of the United States' finest wild spaces, from the Everglades to the Grand Tetons and Alaska's Glacier Bay. The park system got its start with the creation of Yellowstone in 1872 and today boasts 58 parks, the newest of which is Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. On your next camping trip, head to one of these phenomenal national park destinations. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Yosemite National Park, California Not just a great Valley, but a shrine to human foresight, strength of granite, power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. Acadia National Park, Maine People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. This coastal park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.
Everglades National Park, Florida Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and boasts a number of rare and endangered species. It has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, significant to all people of the world. Don't miss the roseate spoonbills, crocodiles, wild orchids, and flamingos.
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, lakes, forest, and shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four season outdoor opportunities abound. The Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit of adventure amid stark volcanic landscapes, sub-tropical rain forest and the unforgettable experience of hiking the back-country. Big Bend National Park, Texas Sometimes considered "three parks in one," Big Bend includes mountain, desert, and river environments. An hour's drive can take you from the banks of the Rio Grande to a mountain basin nearly a mile high. Here, you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude. North Cascades National Park, Washington Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness. Denali National Park, Alaska Denali's dynamic glaciated landscape supports a diversity of wildlife with grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and moose. Summer slopes are graced with birds and wildflowers. Visitors enjoy sightseeing, backpacking, mountaineering, and research opportunities. Whether climbing or admiring, the crowning jewel of North America's highest peak is the awe inspiring 20,320 foot Mount McKinley.
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Top Beach Destinations
Nothing feels more like a vacation than a trip to the beach! This year, why not plan and sand-and-shore getaway to one of these terrific locations? Whether you’re after water sports like sailing, body surfing, jet skiing, and paragliding or are just hoping for some quiet time on the sand, listening to the rushing waves, you’re sure to find your heart’s desire at these superb beach camping destinations.
Matagorda Island State Park, Texas
The warm seas of the Gulf Coast make this a fabulous family destination. Matagorda is a barrier island that’s seven miles off the Texas coast. This car-free area is only accessible by walk-on ferry (bikes and park shuttles are also permitted). You’ll find world-class fishing, tons of sand dollars and sea shells, and stunning island scenery. Cannon Beach, Oregon
If you’re willing to put up with cooler temperatures on your beach vacation, you won’t find a better spot than Cannon Beach. This is where you’ll find Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-tall plinth that dominates the sandy shore near town. The top of the rock is a protected National Wildlife Refuge. On the sand down below, you can enjoy whale watching, three wheeling, beachcombing, and long hikes. Don’t miss the annual Sandcastle Day in early June! St. George Island State Park, Florida
Set on the glorious Florida panhandle, this sunny island is linked to the mainland by a 29-mile long bridge. The eastern side of the island is a 2,000-acre state park with miles of beaches and fishing spots. Be sure to watch for loggerhead turtles and shiny seashells! The water is warm and the seafood is always fresh in St. George.
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Top Forest Destinations - Fall Color
Kancamagus Scenic Byway, New Hampshire
Head to New Hampshire during the first two weeks of October for breathtaking fall color. You’ll have an excellent view of the hills and trees from the Kancamangus Byway, a three-hour long route that winds through the notches of the White Mountains. Don’t miss a view of the famous "Old Man of the Mountain" in Franconia Notch.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
This 469-mile scenic route is one of the most famous drives in the country. Running from the southern Appalachian Mountains of Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, the parkway takes you high into the mountains, so you’ll have unmatched views of the hills and valleys below. This area has the biggest concentration of hardwood trees in the U.S. Visit in late September and October to see red maples, yellow poplar, red sassafras, and crimson oaks. Chautauqua and Allegheny Country, Pennsylvania and New York
The western edge of New York and Pennsylvania offers some of the best fall color anywhere. These lush woods are a fun place to explore in spring and summer, and in the fall they pop with color as the oak, cherry, yellow poplar, ash, and maple trees turn red and orange. A great way to view the trees is from the 29-mile long Longhouse Scenic Byway. Green Mountains, Vermont
For serious fall color, nothing compared with a trip to Vermont. The gorgeous Green Mountain National Forest is 100 miles long, running all the way from the Appalachian Gap to the Massachusetts border. For a good view of the trees, take Route 100 across the width of the state from Wilmington to Stowe. The best color show runs from mid September through the second week in October. Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, or “UP,” is a camper’s paradise. With hundreds of miles of Great Lake shoreline, rivers and trout streams, and endless hiking trails, this is a great place to camp during any season. But in the fall, the UP puts on a special show when the leaves change. You can wander through the forests, hiking to one of the region’s 150 waterfalls or watching for wildlife like deer, moose, wolves, bears, eagles, and charming chipmunks.
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Top RV Destinations
