I do have to admit, seeing the cherry blossoms in D.C. during March-April is a beautiful sight. But September would be another grand time to take a trip to the capital of the United States. You will never get bored exploring this city, with the free museums, as well as the national zoo! You can easily spend a day there, at attractions such as the botanical gardens and taking a tour of the White House during the day, then attending a concert at one of the many venues at night!
Yellowstone National Park
As it is off-season, September may be a good choice for taking a road trip to Yellowstone. It is an enjoyable time for fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, and wildlife sightings. The best-known locations are the Old Faithful geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Prismatic Spring. Some moderate trails to hike would be Elephant Back Mountain Trail or Mount Washburn.
Chicago, Illinois
Having visited Chicago during September, I can say it is a good time to go! Though I attended for the North Coast Music Festival, I also got the chance to experience the Chicago Riverwalk, The Bean/Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park, eating deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s, and getting drinks at Howl at the Moon. The Windy City Wine Festival and World Music Festival are note-worthy, and the Navy Pier or Skydeck Chicago are other popular attractions to try out.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
The temperature here in September is in the 70s and 80s, making it nice for swimming at Rodanthe Beach and climbing the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Interesting events include the Outer Banks Kite Festival and the ESA Easterns Surfing Championship. Water sports available are jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and surfing. Dolphin tours, tiki boats, and sunset cruises are offered too!
San Francisco, California
You won’t want to miss out on the Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival that takes place in San Francisco during September. I have learned that it is also the best time to go, due to fewer crowds and great weather. At Presidio Tunnel Tops, you will have fantastic views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Important points of interest may be Pier 39, right down from Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquarium of the Bay, or a tour of Alcatraz Island.
Seattle is full of festivals during the month of July, including the West Seattle Summer Fest, Timber Outdoor Music Festival, and Kirkwood Wine Festival. Besides that, a visit to the top of the Space Needle is recommended, along with the Olympic Sculpture Park, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and tickets to Dining in the Dark at the Lotte Hotel.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Photo by Domenico Convertini
Though summer may be peak season in Bar Harbor, Maine, it is still a great time to visit! Acadia National Park, Bar Island, and Cadillac Mountain are popular stops for hikers. Meanwhile, Agamont Park is home to movie nights on Wednesdays in July right on the water. The Bar Harbor Music Festival takes place during this month as well, hosting more than 2,300 aspiring instrumentalists, singers, and composers.
Glacier National Park, Montana
July is peak time for visiting this location too. However, the days are warm and the nights are cool, which is a bonus. Even with that being the case though, there’s always still a chance of snow any time throughout the year! As for trails, Hidden Lake, Lake McDonald, and Iceberg Lake are all beautiful. Plus fishing, camping, and bus tours are available throughout the park if you want to do more than just hike.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photo by Doug Kerr
The waterfalls, wildlife, and sunshine are three great reasons to go to the Great Smoky Mountains in the midst of summer. White-water rafting, ziplining, and horseback riding are all fun-filled activities, other than visiting sites such as Clingman’s Dome or The Chimney Tops.
Anchorage, Alaska
Photo by Luke Jones
Anchorage is a good option during the summertime, with various locations to visit and numerous activities to partake in. You could try the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, Anchorage Trolley Tours, Alaska Botanical Garden, Crow Creek Historic Gold Mine, paddleboarding in Mirror Lake, or the beach at Point Woronzof. Or, visiting during the 4th of July will allow you to catch the fireworks, carnival, and parade in downtown.
If you need a getaway but also would like to maintain social distancing, a road trip might be the perfect solution for you. There are alternatives to staying in a hotel that may be safer. You can rent an RV/camper, rent a private cabin or Airbnb, or go tent camping. Here is a list of amazing spots that you can take a road trip to throughout the United States:
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Yellowstone is located in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, consisting of almost 3,500 square miles. It contains geysers, canyons, rivers/lakes, hot springs, forests, and hiking trails, all scattered throughout. The most well-known destinations located within the park are the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Old Faithful Geyser.
The Canyons of Arizona
Grand Canyon, South Rim, Arizona
The famous one that everyone should already known about is the Grand Canyon. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has the greatest views and is the most suitable path for hiking. Much further north is the Antelope Canyon, which is described as a slot canyon with upper and lower sections. The Upper Antelope Canyon is easily accessed, as it is located on ground level. Meanwhile, Lower Antelope Canyon is a more difficult hike, even with the stairs for visitors to walk down, but draws people in due to the beauty of the spiral rock arches.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
These mountains get the name from their blue tint that is seen from a distance. It is located in the eastern part of the United States, from Pennsylvania, down to Georgia. The highest peak of the mountains is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. In this range are the popular national parks, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, and has trails leading to waterfalls, mountains, and limestone caves like Luray Caverns. From the overlooks, you can get gorgeous views of the sunrise or sunset. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a mountain range along the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee. It has scenic valleys, nature trails, rivers, and waterfalls.
Appalachian Trail
Clingmans Dome
From Maine to Georgia, there are countless places to start hiking on the Appalachian Trail. It has various types of scenery on this 2,200 mile path. Hikers have arguably ranked McAfee Knob, Mount Katahdin, and Clingmans Dome as some of the top places to visit.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier & Eunice Lake, Washington
Mount Rainier itself is an active stratovolcano located in the state of Washington. Besides mountains, the park is filled with waterfalls, glaciers, blue lakes, and wildflower fields (only in July and August). Scenic gondola rides are offered with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Tipsoo Lake Loop and Snow Lake Trails are must-sees while you are there.
Glacier National Park
Upper Grinnell Glacier, Montana
This national park is located in Montana, right on the United States/Canadian border. It has over 700 miles of trails for visitors to hike on, as well as, part of the Rocky Mountains. Glacier National Park is filled with hundreds of lakes and waterfalls. The largest lake in it is Lake McDonald. In it is an abundance of naturally colored rocks that can be seen from Apgar Village. Some recommended paths are Hidden Lake Trail or Grinnell Glacier Trail.
Acadia National Park
Jordan Pond, Maine
Acadia is on the coast of Maine, consisting of rocky beaches, ponds, and forests. Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountains, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse have excellent views of the sunrises and sunsets. The best time to visit would be September to November if you are interested in colorful fall foliage.
Zion National Park
Angels Landing, Utah
Located in Utah is Zion National Park. The red cliffs, waterfalls, hanging gardens, and emerald pools are what draws visitors in. You will want to see the Lower Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, and The Narrows while in that recreation area.
Arches National Park
Delicate Arch, Utah
Arches National Park is in Grand County, Utah. It is such a unique location with over 2,000 natural red arches. The Delicate Arch Trail is rated the #1 in the park.
Olympic National Park
Hoh River Trail, Washington
The beautiful national park is found in Washington state. Inside it are alpine areas, rainforests, and the coastline. If you are looking to explore a temperate rainforest, Hoh River Trail is a great option. If you take the Third Beach Hike, you will end up on the pacific coast.
Silver Falls State Park
Middle North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
In Oregon is Silver Falls State Park. If you love waterfalls, like myself, you will really enjoy this recreation area. Along the Trail of Ten Falls is 7.9 miles of 10 incredible waterfalls.
There are so many breathtaking parks to choose from all over the United States. I would love to visit them all!
A Sweet Paradise 
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