Best U.S. Destinations in 2017
Best U.S. Destinations in 2017
Category
Travel & Maps
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All Regions
Lonely Planet recently came out with its annual top 10 lists, including the “Best in the U.S. – The U.S. Destinations You Need to See in 2017”, which gives an in-depth look at mesmerizing destinations right here in the United States. Here are some we selected as our "You Need to See in 2017".
- Asheville, NC: For nature lovers, Asheville, with its timeless natural beauty, offers hiking trails on the Blue Ridge Mountains, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding on the French Broad River and sites of interests by the Blue Ridge Parkway. If the arts are more your thing, it offers art, architecture and music. Downtown Asheville is an art deco-filled hub of food, shopping and entertainment in areas such as the River Arts District that showcases the work from more than 200 artists, and the Grove Arcade, a magnificent architectural landmark.
- Western Washington: While full of iconic landscapes, misty mountains and evergreen forests that welcome travelers from far and wide with a sense of adventure, those looking to visit more urban areas should travel to Seattle, home of a growing number of micro-distilleries, nano-breweries and craft cider houses. Which one your visit depends on your preference of drink. If you like whiskey, gin or rum then the Westland Distillery or the Sun Liquor Distillery might interest you. Want a nano-brewery? The Ballard and Fremont neighborhoods in Seattle are your destinations. Plus craft cider houses such as Schilling Cider House can also be found in Seattle neighborhoods like Fremont.
- Montana’s Flathead Valley: Lying between the Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, this valley contains the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Lonely Planet says, “…it’s impossible to come to the Flathead Valley and not feel like you’re a part of the wild frontier.” Visiting Glacier National Park is a must when visiting Montana where there is over 700 miles of hiking trails that have a wide variety of outdoor activities such as Logan Pass, a spectacular Hidden Lake Overlook hike or Flathead River which is great for white water rafting. The Flathead Valley also has a rich history of cowboy life, livestock wrangling and public ranches where visitors can join the experience.
- The Adirondacks, NY: This mountain range covers the majority of New York and is full of fun and exciting outdoor activities that are only a car ride away. Sleeping Beauty Mountain is great for hiking because it’s classified as a medium level hike that is very doable in a day trip, while the Black River is perfect for canoeists, kayakers and fishermen with over 100 miles of water. The Adirondacks is also family-friendly: a trip to the wild center where kids of all ages can enjoy the new outdoor exhibit, the Wild Walk; Lake George, a 32 mile long lake, for fun in the sun with its lake-based activities or several festivals happening throughout the year.
- Texas Hill Country Wine Region: Attention foodies and wine connoisseurs! This region is quickly gaining national recognition for its large number of award-winning wineries in close proximity of each other. Downtown Austin restaurants, such as Red Room Lounge and Barton Springs, are becoming better known for their bars and crafty eateries where wine is the main focus. Just outside the city limits, intimate wineries such as the Bell Springs Winery or Flat Creek Estate are within driving range and offer a scenic country setting.
- Denver, CO: Known for its spectacular hiking, rafting, skiing and camping in the Rocky Mountains, Denver is also gaining a reputation as one of the best U.S. up-and-coming cities. Due to the city’s central core re-urbanization, Santa Fe and River North (RiNo) is full of bars and cutting-edge galleries. Head down to the El Chapultepec aka “The Pec”, for some of the best jazz and blues acts around. Denver is home to the Great America Beer festival so of course they have some of the best craft breweries such Great Divide Brewing Company and Black Shirt Brewing Company located in downtown Denver.
- Florida’s Emerald Coast: This memorizing coastline stretches along the Florida Panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City that has many hidden treasures that most tourists don’t know about. Away from the main resorts beaches lies Shell Island that is a favorite among locals and a great location to see bottlenose dolphins. The Grayton Beach State Park is another fantastic place to spot wildlife while enjoying outdoor activities such as biking, hiking or kayaking. Panama City Beach is known as the “Wreck Capital of the South” which makes it a perfect place to go diving. Under the sea lies hundreds of hidden treasures that are waiting to be discovered that the Emerald Coast has collected over the years such as Panama City’s newest shipwreck dive, a 125 ft tugboat that intentionally sank in 2009.