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Where to go

U.S. destinations

Primary: contiguous United States. Secondary: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hawaii and Alaska are U.S. trips too — they are listed at the bottom so they do not swallow the index.

Manhattan skyline across the East River at blue hour

City weekend

New York CityA two- or three-night walk: one borough well, not five badly.

French Quarter balconies and gas lamps at dusk in New Orleans

City weekend

New OrleansMusic, food, and a river city that still rewards getting lost on purpose.

Pastel historic houses and palmettos in Charleston, South Carolina

Coastal city

CharlestonA walkable peninsula, barrier islands, and a food town that is no longer a secret.

Virginia Beach oceanfront pier at sunset with the Atlantic and hotel strip

Coastal city

Virginia Beach, VAA working Atlantic beach town: boardwalk, pier, and a navy-town downtown you can walk.

Overseas Highway over turquoise water in the Florida Keys

Beach & highway

Florida KeysOne road, many keys. Pick a stretch and stay put overnight.

Grand Canyon South Rim at golden hour with the Colorado River far below

Parks

Grand CanyonThe South Rim is the classic U.S. park weekend. The view does the work.

Pacific Coast arch bridge over a steep cove in Big Sur, California

Road trip

Pacific Coast (Big Sur)Highway 1 between Carmel and Cambria — slides, vistas, and nights that book out.

Misty blue ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains at sunrise

Parks

Great Smoky MountainsThe busiest U.S. national park, still worth it if you leave the main drag at dawn.

Chicago River lined with towers in late-afternoon light

City weekend

ChicagoA lake city that still feels like a U.S. downtown: trains, architecture, neighborhoods.

Pink granite Maine shoreline and spruce trees at sunrise

Parks & coast

Maine coast (Acadia)Granite, spruce, and a park loop that still feels like a getaway from the megalopolis.

Pastel Old San Juan street opening toward the Atlantic

Islands

Puerto RicoA U.S. island trip with no passport for U.S. citizens — Old San Juan, rainforest, and the west coast.

Turquoise cove and white sand on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Islands

U.S. Virgin IslandsSt. Thomas for the hub, St. John for the park beaches, St. Croix if you want a slower island.

Also U.S. — not the center of this map

Search stays if you are going. We do not pretend a Honolulu card is a full guide.

Hawai‘iDomestic flight, island-specific. Use the booking search with Honolulu or a neighbor island — then read an island guide that is actually about that island. AlaskaSeason and daylight are the plot. Anchorage is a hub, not the whole state. Search stays; pack like weather matters.