40 of the Most Underrated Summer Destinations in the United States
Need some fresh ideas? We've got you covered.
Ever heard about Florida's undersea park or a surf spot in Alaska? Buckle up because we're going to speed-intro you to 40 off-the-beaten path spots that could be the right match for your summer vacation. While most of our suggestions are hidden gems, none are particularly hard to reach. Many even lend themselves to a road trip, which is shaping up to be the "it" vacation this year.
The Good Housekeeping team has been checking out some of these mind-blowing, crowd-free parks, smaller cities and nature-focused attractions for our annual Travel Awards research. Our verdict so far: They're affordable and relaxing. Shake up your summer plans and get out there with us!
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Isle Royale, on Lake Superior, is one of the least-visited national parks in the country, so you won't find crowds here — even during the beautiful summer season. But you will find miles of hiking trails, scenic coves to explore via kayak and some pretty spectacular moose.
Stay Nearby: Rock Harbor Lodge is the only full-service place to stay on the island.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Key West is a perennial favorite vacation destination, but did you know there's a national park about 70 miles offshore? The 100-square-mile park is primarily made up of water and there are amazing coral reefs, so pack your bathing suits and snorkels. If you'd like to stay on land, explore the 19th-century Fort Jefferson.
Stay Nearby: Check into the Isla Bella Beach Resort in Key West, which has a dreamt beach aesthetic. "All the rooms at the resort are oceanfront," said a Good Housekeeping editor who visited.
Waco Surf Park, Texas
There's no doubt that the star of Waco, Texas is the Magnolia empire, run by Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. But if you're visiting in the summertime, head to Waco Surf Park to cool off. The man-made surfing facility offers lessons for all levels, as well as open surf sessions. For 2025, the park is introducing “The Lil’ Wedgies," tot-friendly slides that empty into a shallow wading pool. There's also a beach club at the Wetlands area, which includes a lazy river and wedge slides.
Stay Nearby: The Waco Surf Hotel hangs ten on its own sandy surf beach.
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is on everyone's radar as a ski town, but few travelers are aware of how spectacular it is for a summer stay. Imagine hiking trails through fields of wildflowers (which bloom in the Tetons in late July), fly fishing on glacier-fed streams and a Via Ferrata for a high-altitude adrenaline rush. The quaint downtown is not to be missed either!
Stay Nearby: Consider The Cloudwell, Autograph Collection, in a supreme location in the Town Square.
San Juan Islands, Washington
The San Juan Islands are one of the best places in the world to see whales in the wild (who knew?) and April to October is their prime season. Located in the Salish Sea, near the Canadian border, the islands attract humpbacks, minkes and grays plus two ecotypes of orcas. Hop into a kayak for potential close encounters, or book a whale-watching tour to ride in a larger boat.
Stay Nearby: The pet-friendly Earthbox Inn & Spa offers a variety of room styles.
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Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
The largest lake in Arkansas, Lake Ouachita, has miles of undeveloped waterfront surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest — it's a great place to rent a cabin and a canoe and enjoy unspoiled nature. If you want a little more action, the resort town of Hot Springs is just around the corner. Head there for restaurants and bars, as well as its famous thermal baths.
Stay Nearby: Located in a renovated historic building, The Waters Hot Springs, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is less than a five-minute walk to Hot Springs National Park.
Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
For a river experience that's just as much about the water as it is the landscapes around it, head for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in northwestern Idaho. The rugged wilderness is awe-inspiring, and whitewater rafting down the 104-mile stretch of river is an incredibly memorable way to take it all in. Do note that permits are required for all rafters, which keeps human impact on the environment to a minimum.
Stay Nearby: The Middlefork Lodge consists of seven stunning private log cabins, including one specifically for families.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
Located off Key Largo, this is the country's first undersea park, which inherently makes it the ideal summer vacation destination. Spend all your time on the water or in it, watching fish swim through coral reefs from glass-bottom boats or scuba diving or snorkeling to see the underwater Christ of the Abyss statue.
Stay Nearby: Baker's Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton provides excellent service, according to a Good Housekeeping tester. "You could tell that every staff member cared to provide the best experience," she said. The resort is also home to the Oh La La Wellness Salon, which offers a variety of revitalizing treatments.
Finger Lakes, New York
Plan a summer road trip through New York's Finger Lakes region, home to 11 long, thin lakes. Between them are incredible state parks and one national forest for hiking adventures — don't miss the waterfalls in Watkins Glen and Buttermilk Falls. Looking for a more relaxing activity? This is a wine region, and tastings abound. Downtown also has charming shops to browse.
Stay Nearby: Whether you're headed to the region for chills or thrills, The Inns of Aurora Resort and Spa fits the bill. It's comprised of six restored historic homes and a massive spa and healing center, ideal for post-hike pampering or just lounging around.
Coral Gables Venetian Pool, Florida
Built in 1923 out of a rock quarry, the Coral Gables Venetian Pool in Miami is a very unique public pool. It holds 820,000 gallons of water, which is drained and filled with water from an underground aquifer daily in the spring and summer. Enjoy the historic Mediterranean-style architecture, waterfalls and grottoes and, perhaps most importantly, a snack bar.
Stay Nearby: The Aloft Coral Gables is just a 15-minute walk to the pool.
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RIVERSPORT, Oklahoma
For some urban summer fun, head to Oklahoma City's RIVERSPORT complex. The facility has man-made rapids for rafting, kayaking and tubing; an artificial surf wave; and even an indoor ski slope. And this site isn't just for leisure — it's an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site for rowers, kayakers and canoers. RIVERSPORT also organizes flatwater kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on Oklahoma City's bodies of water.
Stay Nearby: Continue the water theme at the new OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, about three miles from RIVERSPORT. They have an outdoor water play area too!
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Morgan's Inspiration Island, Texas
If you're in San Antonio this summer, forget about the Alamo and the River Walk. Instead, cool off at Morgan's Inspiration Island, the world's first and only "Ultra-Accessible" splash park, which was designed specifically with the special needs community in mind. It's the aquatic counterpart to Morgan's Wonderland, a theme park whose mission is "to provide a fun, clean and beautiful environment free of physical and economic barriers that all individuals can come to and enjoy regardless of age or ability."
A Good Housekeeping tester, who is a wheelchair user, said, "Morgan's Wonderland was absolutely amazing. It's designed mostly for younger kids but even my older boys loved the zipline."
Stay Nearby: The La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham San Antonio Alamo City is just a five-minute drive to the park.
Mt. Hood, Oregon
If skiing is your jam, this is one of the few places you're able to do it in the summertime: Just an hour from Portland, Mt. Hood usually has the conditions for skiing 10 months out of the year. And, of course, there's plenty of hiking, too.
Stay Nearby: Timberline Lodge, right on the mountain, even offers a summertime outdoor adventure camp for families.
Moosehead Lake, Maine
At 40 miles long, Moosehead Lake is Maine's largest body of water. Hike around the perimeter of the lake (and keep your eyes open for moose!), hop in a kayak to cruise the waters or take a guided tour on the steamship Katahdin.
Stay Nearby: Seasonally operated, The Lodge at Moosewood Lake offers charming suites that are perfect for a romantic getaway.
San Marcos River, Texas
Just 30 minutes from Austin and 50 minutes from San Antonio, this Texan town is the launch point for float trips down the San Marcos River. Rent a tube from an outfitter, tie up a cooler full of your favorite drinks and drift down the river. There's nothing better on a hot summer day!
Stay Nearby: Keep the trip budget-friendly and call the Hilton Garden Inn San Marcos your home base.
Santa Rosa Blue Hole, New Mexico
New Mexico might be a landlocked state, but that doesn't mean you can't scuba dive there. The Santa Rosa Blue Hole is a natural swimming hole with crystal clear waters — visibility is always 100 feet — which makes it perfect for diving.
Stay Nearby: The Best Western Santa Rosa Inn is located right on Route 66, less than 10 minutes away from the Blue Hole.
Stowe, Vermont
A well-known ski spot, Stowe is fab for something else in the summertime: mountain biking. There are more than 50 miles of mountain biking trails in the region. Summer is also a great time to climb Mt. Mansfield, the tallest peak in the state; spend time on Lake Mansfield; or try local beers at The Alchemist Brewery, Idletyme Brewing Company or the von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall (yes, it's that von Trapp family!).
Stay Nearby: The Lodge at Spruce Peak offers one- to three-bedroom suites ideal for multiple generations traveling together. And since it's a Destination by Hyatt property, you can use (or earn) reward points!
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
At the end of Route 50 in Nevada — a stretch of road known as the loneliest road in America — is a gem of a national park. Great Basin National Park is home to the 13,063-foot-tall Wheeler Peak, and the summer is the best time to hike it. Don't miss exploring the Lehman Caves, and make sure you stay late at night for some stellar stargazing.
Stay Nearby: The Stargazer Inn offers new cabins with a kitchenette that are #tinyhouse goals, plus the location in Baker, Nevada, can't be beat.
Homestead Crater, Utah
At 90 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, the water inside Homestead Crater isn't exactly refreshing. But this hot spring offers such a unique experience, it's worth braving the warm temps in the summertime, especially if you already plan to be in nearby Park City! The crater is located beneath a 55-foot-tall limestone dome, creating a cave-like interior, and its soothing waters are great for scuba diving, snorkeling, soaking and even stand-up paddleboard yoga. I
Stay Nearby: The crater is actually located at Homestead Resort. While you don't have to sleep over to experience it, the restaurants and cottages on site making it enticing.
Thousand Islands, New York
Head all the way to the northern reaches of New York state to discover the Thousand Islands region, which spans more than 1,000 miles of coastline between the U.S. and Canada. There are plenty of water activities here, of course, but don't miss land-side attractions, like the Antique Boat Museum, Singer's Castle and Tibbetts Point Lighthouse.
Stay Nearby: The Harbor Hotel in Clayton, New York, is right on the water.
Karen is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage. Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!). She has spoken at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and was previously the senior editor at Parents. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Stefanie Waldek is a Brooklyn-based writer covering architecture, design, and travel. She's worked on staff at Architectural Digest, ARTnews, and Oyster.com, a TripAdvisor company, and has contributed to Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, Design Milk, and Hunker, among others. When she's not dreaming about midcentury chairs, you can find her re-watching The X-Files, likely in an airport lounge or on a plane.
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