Even though summer doesn’t officially start until a month or so after the weekend, most of us treat this three-day holiday as if it did mark the onset of the season. Of course, it helps that it’s 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 10 best picks for a Memorial Day getaway won’t require extensive travel – or an extensive budget, for that matter – but will definitely help you make the most of a memorable weekend.
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.
While often touted as a Caribbean island, Bermuda is actually an Atlantic one, with a location that’s closer to Washington DC than it is to points 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.
Where better to pay remembrance to fallen heroes and days gone by than in the history-rich capital of the Old South – Charleston, South Carolina?! 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.
Hold onto your hats – and head 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.
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.
Some cities commemorate the weekend with fireworks, others with concerts, but New York does it with Fleet Week, 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.
A desert oasis with a glamorous past, Palm Springs has been attracting Hollywood glitterati for decades. This desert outpost tends to heat up in summer months, so a Memorial Day getaway reigns supreme, as it’s one of your last chances to enjoy Palm Springs' lush offerings with equally lush weather.
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 jetlag.
Kick off the unofficial start to summer in style, and head south to this Florida hotspot where white-sand beaches, sunny skies, and beautiful people converge.
Yellowstone 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 celebrate Memorial Day weekend.
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