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Taking a trip for Memorial Day? Try one of these 10 spots

From Palm Springs to Quebec to South Carolina, these destinations don't require extensive travel — or an extensive budget, but they will help you have a great weekend to kick off the unofficial start of summer.
Image: Travel Trip Yellowstone Trip
Looking for a Memorial Day weekend getaway? Consider Yellowstone National Park, which has about 300 geysers and 10,000 hot springs, bubbling mudpots and steam vents. Daniel Harpaz / AP
/ Source: Sherman's Travel

Even though summer doesn’t officially start until a month or so after the Memorial Day weekend, most of us treat this three-day holiday as if it does mark the onset of the season. Of course, it helps that it’s often the first warm long weekend in months, which means barbecues in the back yard, al fresco concerts, picnics in the park, hitting the links — you name it, so long as it’s outdoors! Our top 10 Memorial Day getaways won’t require extensive travel — or, an extensive budget, for that matter — but will definitely help you have a most memorable weekend.

1. Austin, Texas
Austin has made a name for itself that extends far outside of Texas. Largely enriched by the dynamic energy of the homegrown University of Texas, this up-and-coming city manages to offer not just the Lone Star State’s best cultural offerings, but also the finest in all of the Southwest. Indeed, the city has numerous galleries, museums, and music venues (the latter number nearly 200 in all!), but maintains an appealing Southern flair. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, you could easily visit this Texan capital any time, but we particularly like it for a relaxed, cultural-filled, Memorial Day getaway; what’s more, you’ll be able to see Austinites racing up and down historic Congress Avenue as part of the weekend’s annual Capital of Texas Triathlon.

2. Bermuda
While often touted as a Caribbean island, Bermuda is actually an Atlantic one, with a location that’s closer to Washington, D.C., than it is to tropical points further south. As a result, like much of the northern United States, this balmy British isle is only kicking into high-season now — while other islands of its ilk are becoming too hot to bear. With its fantastic golf, gorgeous bougainvillea, splendid pink-sand beaches, and endearing pastel-colored houses, Bermuda makes a terrific Memorial Day getaway on the beach — if you can afford the price tag. Indeed, it’s one of the priciest islands to visit, but, at a mere 2-hour plane ride from NYC, Bermuda is a quick-and-easy way to get a solid dollop of British culture (with some very un-British beach time) without having to cross the pond.

3. Charleston, S.C.
Where better to pay remembrance to fallen heroes and days gone by than in the history-rich capital of the Old South — Charleston, S.C.?! Saturated with history, this colorful city’s streets are lined with wonderfully preserved architectural remnants, like plantations and stately homes, hundreds of which were built prior to 1850 — 70 alone date back to the pre-Revolutionary War era. You can even hire a horse-and-carriage for a tour of the historic cityscape via the cobblestone streets. This unique feel of days of yore, coupled with the legendary hospitality of the South, makes Charleston a great bet for a Memorial Day getaway.

4. Chicago
Head off to the fast-paced and ultra-cool Windy City, where your first glimpse of the dramatic city skyline is just a harbinger of monumental buildings to come. Architectural gems abound in this lakefront city, housing renowned museums, dynamic theaters, first-rate restaurants, and bars and music venues that spill over with the sounds of blues and jazz. Enjoy the urban montage while taking in the city's Memorial Day Parade on the 28th, and try and nab tickets for a Cubs' home game at Wrigley Field.

5. Hilton Head, S.C.
May is an ideal time to visit Hilton Head Island, what with near-perfect weather, burgeoning apple blossoms, and an annual art-and-cultural festival, BRAVO, in full swing by month’s end. What’s more, this island off the coast of South Carolina is known for its splendorous natural beauty of unspoiled marshlands, pristine beaches, dense woodlands, and flowering meadows. While sun worshipers can bask on warm shores, superb golf courses provide havens for golfers, and seafarers find solace in picturesque marinas and harbors. The island’s other charms include world-class resorts, historic plantations, succulent seafood, and upscale shops — making Hilton Head a hard-to-resist Memorial Day getaway.

6. New York City
Some cities commemorate the weekend with fireworks, others with concerts, but New York does it with Fleet Week (May 25 to June 2 in 2011), an annual event that brings hundreds of sailors and marines to the city to participate in parades — and to show off their classy white uniforms on Manhattan’s avenues. While seeing these men and women in uniform is reason enough to make this one of the best Memorial Day getaways, other pleasures are also to be had, from the greenery of Central Park — just the place to have a first summer picnic — and alfresco activities like sidewalk dining, street fairs, rooftop drinks and river cruises, many with spectacular city vistas. And, if you’re a first-time visitor, standing at the feet of Lady Liberty or seeing the Empire State Building lit up in red, white, and blue are just the things to make you feel patriotic.

7. Palm Springs, California
A desert oasis with a glamorous past, Palm Springs has been attracting Hollywood glitterati for decades. In its heyday, this California hot spot was a playground for the stars, touting glitzy resorts and leisurely pursuits like golf, swimming, and tennis. Today, you no longer have to be rich and famous to enjoy its abundant greens and posh resorts, which has made the Springs more accessible to everyone. There’s more than just swanky pastimes here, though, and nature buffs can easily spend their time enjoying desert vistas, canyon tours, and hikes. As expected, however, this desert outpost tends to heat up in summer months, so Memorial Day getaways reign supreme, as they're one of your last chances to enjoy Palm Springs' lush offerings with equally lush weather.

8. Quebec City
With its cobblestoned streets, quaint 17th-century houses, stone fortifications, and French language, Quebec City is about as far away as one can get for a three-day weekend without having to deal with jet lag. This French-inspired Canadian city by the majestic St. Lawrence River won’t disappoint, either — you’ll easily be able to pretend you’re in a small European capital by exploring its magnificent architecture in Basse Ville (Lower Town), dining at fine French restaurants, and sipping a café au lait at a sidewalk café. If things get chilly, head indoors to the magnificent St Laurent Bar & Lounge at the imposing Château Frontenac, and order a martini — try the hotel’s signature Winston Churchill, F.D. Roosevelt, or Maurice Duplessis varieties — while overlooking the river. Fantastique!

9. Washington, D.C.
With its plethora of monuments commemorating our countrymen’s historical service and sacrifices, there’s no more memorable Memorial Day getaway than Washington, D.C. Make the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery your first stop, where a morning wreath-laying ceremony pays tribute to the unidentified soldiers interred here. Next up, catch the National Memorial Day Parade (www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com) of veterans, military units, floats, balloons, and marching bands as it makes its way from the National Mall to the White House. A slew of additional afternoon ceremonies are held at the Vietnam Veterans, U.S. Navy , and World War II memorials, often capped by a mournful rendition of "Taps." You can even kick off the holiday the night before by attending the annual free National Memorial Day Concert, complete with celebrity emcees and the National Symphony Orchestra, on the Capitol's West Lawn.

10. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is just about as American as apple pie. Designated as the nation’s very first national park in 1872, this vast preserve of wilderness and wildlife is the perfect place to enjoy a Memorial Day getaway. The park’s surreal natural landscapes, which stretch across the state lines of Montana and Wyoming, are marked by long plateaus that gloriously unfold between verdant, forested mountains. More than 300 steam-spewing geysers, 300-foot towering waterfalls, and an immense gorge known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not to be confused with the Grand Canyon) join up here, as well, for a dizzying compilation of natural wonders. Aside from the grizzlies, elk, and otters that call the park home, perhaps Yellowstone’s most famous resident is Old Faithful, a steam-spewing geyser that predictably erupts every 90 minutes or so. Note that temperatures are famously variable in the park, but they’re likely to be in the comfortable 60s on a late May day (be sure to bring a jacket, just in case).

This story, s, originally appeared on ShermansTravel.com.