Summertime is a wonderful time to travel, but where is the best place to go? Check out our list below for places that are perfect to visit in July. With a range of well-known spots and underrated places, there’s bound to be something for you on our list.
1. Assategue Park, Maryland
This is one of our favorite East Coast Destinations. You can go camping and swim at the beach. (However, if you do want to camp, you’ll need to obtain a permit through the National Park Service here).
The main attraction of this island are the wild horses, which can be seen roaming around the park. They are free to go where they please throughout the state park, so you may see them along the highway or in the distance while exploring some of the trails.
These animals are likely descendants of horses that mainlanders housed here to avoid taxation laws. However, a popular legend suggests that they were left behind after a shipwreck. According to The National Parks Service, these horses exist in two main herds, which are divided by the Maryland and Virgina state lines of the park.
Ocean City is also not too far, if you want to check out some cool restaurants and bars.
2. Boothbay, Maine
Summertime is one of the best times to visit the East Coast, especially states such as Maine, which can get really cold in the winter.
Boothbay, in particular, is a super charming small town located in Maine. It has a vibrant downtown, sailing boats, and cute restaurants. In the summertime, you can also check out Carousel Music Theater, which offers dinner and a musical show.
Views from our Airbnb in Boothbay, Maine
3. Burlington, Vermont
Located on Lake Champlian, Burlington is a perfect summertime destination. Complete with swimming, hiking, and delicious food, we highly recommend adding it to your summertime travel list. Make sure to grab a bite or a drink at Splash, which is only open in the summer months.
Pro Tip: The Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory is also nearby. Be sure to visit!
View from Splash on the Boathouse
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston knows how to celebrate the summer months, and there is always a wide range of summer-specific activities for locals and tourists to enjoy. Consider a rooftop bar, such as The Envo, or an outdoor bar such as Lawn on D.
5. Cape Cod & The Islands, Massachusetts
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is a favorite summertime destination, boasting beautiful beaches and fabulous restaurants. Below are some of the highlights:
Chatham
Chatham has a beautiful downtown and an even more gorgeous beach. However, you’ll want to be careful if you choose to swim. Not all beaches in Cape Cod have sharks (It’s a large area), but Chatham has this risk.
Chatham
Hyannis
Check out their Main Street, which is filled with shops and restaurants. There are also ferries here that make it easy to get to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. One of our favorite breakfast places is Ann & Fran’s, which is locally owned. Be sure to visit it if you are here.
Martha’s Vineyard
This is a beautiful island, which you can access via the ferry from either Falmouth or Nantucket (Alternatively, there are also longer ferries from NYC!). Oaks Bluff has a really cute downtown, with shops and restaurants.
Nantucket
Nantucket has beautiful homes and a downtown filled with cute restaurants and stores. It is also very famous for its Christmastime stroll, which is another great time of year to go.
Lighthouse in Nantucket decorated for Christmas
Sandy Neck
This part of the Cape has a beautiful hiking path that leads to the beach. You can also take a car to get to the end, but you will need one that can go off-road (you may also need a permit).
Pro Tip: Bring good shoes. There was water in our path when we hiked, so we had to stop. Waterproof hiking shoes are definitely needed.
Sandy Neck
6. Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is filled with classic Victorian homes lining the city streets. They have a pedestrian-only downtown, local stores and boutiques, as well as great food. There is also a beautiful beach.
When we came here, we stayed at the Inn on Park, which is a beautiful bed and breakfast. The owner was also so kind and made us one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had the morning after we arrived. We highly recommend staying here.
Walking around in Cape May
7 + 8. Chicago, Illinois, and Dune National Park, Indiana
Chicago is a vibrant city with a lot to do in the summertime. There are numerous festivals and restaurants you can explore. We recommend the Riverwalk and doing the architecture tour. You’ll be on the water going through the city, learning about the history of the famous buildings in the area.
If you want to do a day away from the city, take the train to Dunes National Park. It’s beautiful and a clear day, you will have views of the city in the distance.
Sunset from Dune National Park, Indiana
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
Arizona has several sites that are worth exploring. However, most of the state is really hot in July. Flagstaff, Arizona sits at a significantly higher elevation than Phoenix, making it much cooler in both the wintertime and summertime. Key highlights include:
- Lowell Observatory: Flagstaff is a dark sky community, meaning that the views of the stars are insane. If you are here on a clear night, go to the observatory, since they have a powerful telescope you can stargaze through.
- Pizzacletta: We love this pizza place and highly recommend it!
- Hiking: Destinations such as Sedona and the Grand Canyon are within a reasonable driving distance, making it easy to go on a hiking trip.
Pizzacletta in Flagstaff
10. Henry Cowell State Park, California
If you are looking to see the Redwood Trees, this is the perfect place to go. Entry was $10 a car and required no advance registration. There are multiple trails, with one being shorter and featuring most of the oldest redwoods. The longer trail was amazing though, featuring a long river. There is also a point where you climb above the trees to what used to be a seafloor, which is still covered in sand. The mix of terrains made this one of my favorite state parks that I have visited.
Redwood Tree in Henry Cowell State Park
11. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a cute town and very walkable. What makes it perfect for summer are its outdoor bars, such as Gas Light.
12. Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is most famous for its mansions, but what makes it the perfect summertime destination are its beaches and the Cliff Walk. On a nice day, you can stroll alongside the cliffs, looking at the beautiful homes located near the beach.
13. Watkins Glen, New York
The Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen is beautiful and has 19 waterfalls. It’s also an easy walk from downtown and shouldn’t take too long to complete.
Wine is another reason to visit Watkins Glen. Vineyards line the lake with high-quality wines. Our personal favorite? Miles Wine Cellars! It has a beautiful outdoor deck and is supposedly haunted by two lovers (Though we didn’t see any ghosts when we went)
Final Thoughts
There are so many fantastic places to visit in the US come summertime. Any that you recommend that we missed? Leave them in the comments below.
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