Cityscapes and Neighborhood Light Displays

Rockefeller Plaza, NYC

Arguably the most famous Christmas tree in the world is at Rockefeller Center in New York, with a display of angels that’s just as iconic. 

Baltimore, Maryland

The “Hampden Maryland Miracle on 34th Street” is a neighborhood where you absolutely have to decorate with Christmas lights: each house on this block in Baltimore is more decorated than the last. 

St Augustine, Florida

Downtown St. Augustine is renowned for its Nights of Lights display, featuring millions of tiny white lights strung along historic Spanish Colonial architecture spanning 20 blocks.

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

After checking out Rockefeller Center, head to Brooklyn where the neighbors in Dyker Heights string lights on every branch of their trees and fill their yards with hundreds of nutcrackers.

Koziar’s Christmas Village, Pennsylvania

In the town of Bernsville in Pennsylvania, a family began decorating their house and yard in 1948 so much that it became known as the “Christmas House,” and now it’s transformed into the incredibly elaborate Koziar’s Christmas Village.

Clifton Mill, Ohio

More than four million lights decorate the historic Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio, which includes a Santa Claus museum and a light show synchronized to music over a covered bridge.

Austin Trail of Lights, Texas

Austin decorates its Zilker Park with more than two million lights for the holidays as part of the Austin Trail of Lights, and the drive-through route is so bright it’s practically visible from outer space.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Drive through Celebration in the Oaks at New Orleans’ City Park and see historic oak trees covered in over a million twinkling lights.

Zoo Light Displays

Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo’s holiday festival Christmas at the Zoo goes back to 1967, and besides twinkling lights, there’s “Santa’s Barn” with reindeer and a chance to meet and greet with penguins.

San Diego Zoo

Often ranked one of the best zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells holiday display brings in a Twinkle Light Trolley to explore lit-up animal habitats, including a Northern Frontiers Holiday Forest.

Cincinnati Zoo

For Cincinnati Zoo’s PNC Festival of Lights, four million LED lights are strung up around the zoo, along with a light show on Swan Lake and strategically-placed oversize animal lanterns. 

St. Louis Zoo

St. Louis’s historic zoo established in 1910 gets dressed up for the holidays during the St. Louis Zoo’s U.S. Bank Wild Lights festival, featuring animal-themed light displays and a chance to go in the zoo’s Sea Lion Sound Tunnel.

Dallas Zoo 

Drive through a mile-long route of holiday lights at Dallas Zoo Lights, including high-tech projection mapping and a holiday village to explore at the end of the ride.

Botanical Gardens

Descano Gardens

In Los Angeles, take a one-mile walk through Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest of Light display, featuring dramatic lighting in an ancient forest and stained glass creations from sculptor Tom Fruin.

Longwood Gardens

This botanical garden near Philadelphia is one of the most famous in the U.S., and for Longwood Christmas, find half a million twinkling lights, illuminated treehouses, a colorful fountain display, and a “frozen” succulent fountain.

ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden 

New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show is the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden’s River of Lights, with 600 holiday displays.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Illuminated sculptures light up the night at Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, including a Glowing Grove along the garden’s flower walk. 

The Morton Arboretum  

Each year, 50 acres of tree groves are awash in color during Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum near Chicago, with s’mores stops along the walking route.

Amusement Parks and Pop-Ups

Busch Gardens, Virginia

Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia puts up a whopping 10 million lights during the holidays, making the Christmas Town festivities one of the largest light shows in North America.

Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

Naturally, this amusement park has a sweet theme for its light display: Hersheypark. Christmas Candylane boasts more than five million lights and a Santa display with reindeer.

LuminoCity, NYC and D.C.

LuminoCity, an immersive pop-up light show in Vienna, Virginia and Manhasset, New York, revolves around larger-than-life illuminated sculptures.

Silver Dollar City, Missouri 

Over six million lights illuminate Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas display In Branson, with a parade every night featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Disney World, Florida

At the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, rides like Jungle Cruise get a holiday makeover during Disney Very Merriest After Hours and there’s a “magical snowfall” to see on Main Street, U.S.A.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Away Flex Suitcases

This version of Away’s popular hard shell bags expand to give you more space—specifically, 1.75 more inches of space in Away’s The Large Flex size. Other sizes include The Medium Flex, The Carry-On Flex, and The Bigger Carry-On Flex, with special add-ons in each bag like washable lining and a separate dirty laundry component. Away also makes a softside expandable suitcase line in different sizes as well. 

Hanke Expandable Foldable Suitcase

Perfect for those who live in small spaces, the wheeled Hanke Expandable Foldable Suitcase folds completely flat when it’s not in use, so you can slip it away under a bed or in a closet. There are three different expansion options with zippered panels, and the largest option makes this a 28-inch suitcase.

Coolife Luggage Expandable Suitcase 

This affordable, hard shell Coolife suitcase comes in colors like bright orange that will be easy to spot in baggage claim. The 28-inch bag is expandable, and increases the space you have to pack by 15 percent.

Briggs & Riley Baseline 22-Inch Expandable Wheeled Carry-On 

In the luxury bag category, Briggs & Riley uses a patented compression-expansion system that allows you to overstuff your Briggs & Riley Baseline 22-Inch Expandable Wheeled Carry-On with clothes. Then you easily activate the compression system, which shrinks an expanded bag down to its original size so it can stow away above your seat on the plane. The company offers a lifetime guarantee for its bags as well.

Thule Subterra 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Suitcase

Swedish brand Thule’s Subterra 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Suitcase expands by two inches and is tough enough to withstand the elements thanks to water-resistant and molded polycarbonate materials.

Delsey Paris Titanium Hardside Expandable Luggage

Priced a little over the $120 mark, this Delsey Paris Titanium Hardside Expandable Luggage in the 19-inch carry-on size expands up to two inches in case you need more room. Choose between vibrant shades like purple, silver, or black cherry red.

Samsonite Ascentra Large Expandable Spinner

Samsonite suitcases often include expandable panels, and the Samsonite Ascentra Large Expandable Spinner expands 1.25 inches. This soft-sided bag incorporates fabric made out of recycled plastic bottles, for an eco-friendly touch. 

Samsonite Voltage DLX Medium Spinner

If you prefer the look of a hardshell bag, the Samsonite Voltage DLX Medium Spinner is made out of a polypropylene shell with cool contours. This bag expands an extra inch in case you need more room.

Victorinox Connex Large Hardside Case

This suitcase by the makers of the original Swiss Army Knife is the definition of sleek, with a matte black finish made out of triple-layered polycarbonate composite. The Victorinox Connex Large Hardside Case can expand about 2 inches, and includes smooth-rolling wheels for a quiet ride.

Tumi 22-Inch 19 Degrees Aluminum International Expandable Spinner Carry-On

Luxury suitcase maker Tumi created a “Lever Lock System” with a spring-loaded mechanism so you can fit more in this expandable suitcase. The Tumi 22-Inch 19 Degrees Aluminum International Expandable Spinner Carry-On features an integrated TSA-approved lock and compression straps to help you maximize your extra space.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Erie, Pennsylvania

This year, Erie is ranking in the top ten so far in the unscientific but fun Golden Snowglobe competition charting the snowiest cities in the U.S. This Pennsylvania town near the Great Lakes regularly gets over 100 inches of snow a year, and on Christmas day in 2017, Erie broke records with a storm that dumped more than four feet of snow.

What to do: You’ve seen sand dunes, but snowy Erie is home to ice dunes. Presque Isle Bay off Lake Erie is the place to see ice peaks frozen on the lakeside beach, but admire from afar because it’s dangerous to walk on the hollow ice dunes. 

For snow sports, there’s skiing and snow tubing at nearby Mount Pleasant of Edinboro (which makes snow if it’s not coming down). Or you can go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at Asbury Woods park, complete with clinics for newbies. Another option on a snowy day: trek through downtown Erie checking out all the public art on a Sculpture Walk, then get a warm drink at Romolo Chocolates.

Where to stay: Stay right downtown on Erie’s “Millionaires Row,” where one of the stately Victorians is now home to Erie’s first bed and breakfast. The circa-1876 building that houses Spencer House Bed and Breakfast features 12-foot ceilings and ornate details, and offers rooms with private baths.

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

This town located between Lake Superior and Lake Huron is one of the snowiest places in Michigan, and that’s saying something. Sault Ste. Marie once was dubbed “the nation’s snow capital” and in 1995, the annual snowfall topped 200 inches after a massive five-day snowstorm dumped 62 inches. On average, Sault Ste. Marie sees nearly 120 inches of snowfall annually.

What to do: Hardy folks enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the wilderness here, and snowmobiling is big too. There’s even lantern-lit snowshoeing for the really adventurous. The town’s tourism board recommends winter as an ideal time to see the Tahquamenon Falls, where the tannin-enriched, root beer-colored rapids really stand out against the frozen landscape.

Where to stay: The very old-school Hotel Ojibway near downtown Sault Ste. Marie dates back to 1927, overlooking the historic Soo Locks. The pet-friendly hotel once played host to President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.

Caribou, Maine

This city at the tip of Maine is the most northeastern city in the United States, and one of the snowiest places in America. In the winter of 2021-2022, it racked up nearly 90 inches of snow.

What to do: Travelers make the long journey to Caribou’s Aroostook county’s light pollution-free skies to see the Aurora Borealis. Snowmobiling and ice fishing are also popular winter activities, or you can downhill ski in nearby Big Rock Mountain. Try to time your visit to watch the mushers at the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race.

Where to stay: A red clapboard house is where you’ll find Caribou’s homey The Old Iron Inn Bed and Breakfast, decorated inside with vintage clothing irons. There are three rooms with private baths to choose from at this European style B&B, each of which comes with a freshly-made breakfast each morning. 

Syracuse, New York

Lake effect snow from the Great Lakes puts chilly Syracuse in the running for snowiest big city in the state of New York and in the entire country. According to Farmer’s Almanac, Syracuse averages nearly 120 inches of snow annually.

What to do: Cold weather traditions in downtown Syracuse revolve around skating at the beautiful Clinton Square ice rink, which looks like it’s right out of a snow globe. Song Mountain is an option for skiing, or kids can go tubing at the Four Seasons Golf & Ski Center. Syracuse tries to embrace those freezing temps in February with an annual Winterfest carnival. 

Where to stay: Hotel Skyler Syracuse near Syracuse University occupies a grand, circa-1922 former synagogue turned LEED Platinum-certified hotel. This Tapestry Collection by Hilton boutique hotel includes quirky rooms, like a “Treehouse” two-level loft decorated with sculptural trees or a suite in the eaves of the building.

Mount Washington, New Hampshire

The Northeast’s highest peak naturally gets a lot of snow: according to Weatherbug, Mount Washington usually gets around 90 inches of precipitation a year and much of that is snow. The windy peak is also home to some of the most extreme weather conditions in the world, rivaling Mount Everest.

What to do: If you’re not an experienced climber up for trekking unpredictable Mount Washington in winter, take the Cog Railway, which still operates throughout the White Mountains in the winter. This historic train provides stops for sweeping views of the snowy skyline and complimentary hot drinks as well. Besides Nordic skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, and alpine skiing, winter activities in the Omni Mount Washington’s Bretton Woods include sleigh rides and even zipline tours over the white-covered treetops. 

Where to stay: Check in to the Omni Mount Washington Resort, built in 1902 as a grand hotel for Boston’s upper crust. Its red roof silhouetted against snowy mountains make this an icon, and the luxury hotel recently underwent a stunning renovation. After winter exploring, hit the top-notch spa with hot tubs and heated outdoor and indoor pools. 

Mount Rainier, Washington

Mount Rainier National Park’s Paradise area has a strong claim for the snowiest place on Earth where snow is regularly recorded, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. This national park averages more than 640 inches of snowfall a year, and in the winter of 1971-1972, an amazing 1,122 inches of snow fell.

What to do: The hardiest snow-loving outdoorsy folk can go for winter camping. Other options in the Rainier area include snowshoe walks with rangers, visits to the Paradise Sledding Area, and skiing or snowboarding. You can even watch animals gather for winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep. 

Where to stay: Take in amazing views of Mount Rainier from the National Park Inn, located in the forest of Longmire. There are 25 rooms in this rustic, historic inn, along with a dining room, lounge, and gift shop.

Burlington, Vermont

Out of all the US states, Vermont takes the title of the snowiest, with around 89 inches of snow per year. Although known for its stunning fall foliage, Burlington has a lot to offer travelers in search of a winter wonderland.

What to Do: During the winter months, Church Street Marketplace—the town’s year-round open-air mall—comes alive with holiday lights and seasonal events. Check off everyone on your souvenir shopping list, then cozy up and enjoy a craft beer at Foam Brewers or Burlington Brewing Company. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of options for skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating in the area.

Where to Stay: Hotel Vermont is centrally located in downtown and just an eight minute walk from Church Street Marketplace. It has 125 rooms, a high-tech fitness center, a wellness center, and a “bedtime menu” from which guests can order cozy amenities from a hot toddy to a Vermont Teddy Bear.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Grand Canyon-adjacent Flagstaff is also a destination for the white stuff: this Northern Arizona town has been known to get more than 100 inches of snow a year. Even on years with lighter snowfall, this city located 7,000 feet above sea level remains a draw for wintery fun. 

What to do: Go cross-country skiing or even fat tire biking at Arizona Nordic Village, or hit the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl. The area’s also known for craft breweries, if you want to blow off steam after a snowball fight. 

Where to stay: The Little America Hotel Flagstaff boasts its own ponderosa pine forest with hiking trails, and inside, the hotel is done up with a bit of Western flair. You can even splurge on a fireplace suite to stay cozy while the snow is coming down outside.

Valdez, Alaska

This town surrounded by Alaska’s Chugach Mountains is said to be the snowiest city in Alaska and one of the snowiest sea-level places on earth. Valdez gets a whopping 300 inches of snowfall or more each year, and in 2017, a record-breaking 10 inches of snow fell down in just one hour. 

What to do: Tourists head to this very snowy place in the summer for glacier cruises. In the winter, the attraction shifts towards Northern Lights spotting, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and more extreme snow adventures — like helicopter skiing or ice climbing on ice falls.

Where to stay: Robe Lake Lodge is the perfect getaway for anyone who wants to feel like they’re staying in the Alaskan wilderness, but doesn’t want to rough it. Stay in the main lodge or one of their six log cabins.

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In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated more than 1,000 reports of unruly passengers, a dramatic increase from years past. The FAA also instituted fines of $50,000 as a deterrent for bad behavior on airplanes along with removal of privileges like TSA PreCheck.

The possibility of encountering a violent seatmate is still low. “I’d say chances are very slim that you’ll be involved in an altercation on an airplane,” Brett Snyder of airplane industry blog Cranky Flier says. But how could you help defuse things if another passenger is irate? What should you do if you yourself are involved in a tense situation? Here are a few tips on how to handle an airplane altercation. 

What to Do if a Flight Attendant Is Being Harassed

Brenda Orelus has noticed a change for the worse during her work as a professional flight attendant over the past two years. “We are a punching bag. It’s en vogue right now to openly disrespect flight attendants,” the founder of aviation social club Krew Konnect tells SmarterTravel. Orelus has even had her own scare, as a group of passengers attempted to beat her up during a layover in Vegas after misbehaving on the plane.

If you ever see a passenger threatening or being rude to a flight attendant, Orelus says that your voice can be a huge help. “When they are in that fit of air rage, anything that the flight attendant does is only going to further antagonize them,” she says. “[If] the passenger seated next to them or around them calls out the behavior, they understand that it’s shameful and it’s not going to be tolerated. When everyone is silent, it’s almost like everyone is agreeing with them and they continue to have that outrageous bad behavior.”

All it can take is another passenger speaking out to the aggressor early on during an abusive situation, saying something like ‘Hey, don’t do that, that’s not cool, she’s just doing her job, why are you yelling?’ and then that can defuse the situation before it gets worse, she says. But many times, people don’t speak out. 

“It never happens because everyone is usually just waiting for the flight attendant to handle it. But there is only so much they can do because that person is actively looking to take their aggression out on us for whatever reason,” Orelus says. 

She thinks that there are misconceptions about the job, and that the public should understand that FAA licensing requires flight attendants to ask passengers to follow the safety protocol.

“People don’t realize that, for example, when a flight attendant asks you to put your bags under the seat in front of you, and they wait for you to do it before they walk away, they are not being like ‘Oh, I’m the boss here.’ It’s because we don’t know if you are FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) or not. If we don’t do our safety checks, we incur a personal fine of $10,000. There needs to be better education about why flight attendants do the things they do,” she says.

What to Do if a Fellow Passenger Is Being Harassed

If you see a fight in the seat row next to you or at your gate, look to get an authority figure involved.

“The general advice airlines offer is to seek the help of a crew member, or to ask someone nearby to seek assistance for you. I would think the same advice would apply in an airport—see if there’s someone ‘official’ nearby who can help diffuse the situation or call for more official help,” says Harriet Baskas, who runs the website StuckatTheAirport.com. “Keep in mind that for quite a while now, TSA and Federal Air Marshals have been offering self-defense training classes to airline employees and a good number of them have taken the courses and are likely better at diffusing situations than many of us.”

There are simple ways that bystanders can help in a verbal harassment situation, however. Nonprofit organization Right To Be offers free public training classes on how to respond to and intervene in harassment so you’ll know what to do in the heat of the moment. Leah Pusateri, a training manager at Right To Be teaches the “Five D’s” of bystander intervention: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct. 

Many of these methods are indirect, like creating a distraction to break the tension and allow a victim to extricate themselves from a verbal fight. Or delegating someone around you to get the flight attendant while you ask a victim if they need help or while you document the altercation with a phone video (to share with the victim, not to post for clout on your own social media channels).

If you are going to directly intervene, Pusateri says it’s best to simply support the victim. “It’s not starting a fight with someone who is being aggressive to try to change their mind. The key is supporting someone who is being harmed,” she says. “[Say] what you are doing is not ok, you need to stop—a clear boundary set. Turn to the person being harmed, and say ‘What can I do to support you now?'”

What to Do if You Are Being Targeted in an Airplane Altercation

The same rules are helpful if you are the one that is dealing with a rude or aggressive fellow passenger. Pusateri suggests using what she calls “assertive communication.” That means setting your own boundaries, and then getting help from airline authorities or travelers around you.

You could tell the other person something like, “I’m going to ask you right now to take five steps back, you are making me deeply uncomfortable.” Pusateri says: “We call that reclaiming your space, knowing that it is ok to tell someone that what you are doing isn’t ok and that you want that behavior to change. The next thing we say here is asking for what you need, getting the attention of other people, saying, ‘What this person is doing right now is really violating my boundaries.'”

Right To Be also offers resilience training on how to respond to harassment. “​​For marginalized, women, folks of color, LGBTQIA folks, folks with different ability, they experience harassment and disrespect more,” Pusateri says. “If you are a person of color or a woman and you are in three different airports in one day, how many instances of harassment or disrespect are you going to experience? Sometimes it can be in the tens or twenties. What is the way that you are taking care of yourself in between these moments? Is it that you have someone you call, is it that you have a group text that works for you? Is it that you put your headphones on and have music to zone out?”

“When we tell people how to respond for themselves, it’s that assertiveness, reclaiming your space, asking for help when you need it, calling in others you need to help support you, and finding some ways to really practice some resilience, especially if it’s multiple instances,” she says.

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To make it a little bit easier, here are eight tips on how to find the perfect beach house for your vacation courtesy of Natalia Sutin, who serves as VP of Revenue Management for newly merged vacation rental management companies TurnKey and Vacasa. 

Decide if Waterfront Is Worth It

Before you book, you’ll need to think about whether it makes sense to pay more for the convenience of walking to the beach (either a few blocks or just a few steps!). “The amenity filters for waterfront and ocean view vacation rentals are the most popular on Vacasa.com, according to our 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report, so properties right on the sand will commonly have a higher nightly rate than a similar property that’s located even a few blocks away,” says Sutin. 

It’s just a matter of your vacation priorities. “Many guests want to pay for that access and see value in convenience, but if budget is your primary concern, then it’s probably worth it to make the walk or drive to the beach,” she says.

The Bigger the Group, the Sooner You’ll Need to Book

Booking a vacation house far in advance will always give you more options, but it’s especially important if you want to get a house with 20 of your best friends. “Larger vacation rentals tend to book up quickest, whereas smaller homes that are well suited for last-minute family getaways will more often be available closer to an arrival date,” Sutin explains. “And that makes sense when you consider all the advance planning that goes into a large group trip.”

According to the company’s 2021 Vacation Rental Search Report, the median booking window was 35 to 40 days. So if you’re looking for a larger home in particular, you’ll want to get ahead of that curve and look at least a couple months in advance.

Consider Newbie Houses for a Good Deal

One lesser-known way to save a few bucks is to search for recently listed vacation rentals that are new to a vacation rental platform. “The rentals that are just starting to book up their calendars—and to amass guest reviews—often command a lower price than the vacation rentals that book up every season,” Sutin says.

But without a lot of reviews, you’ll need to do more vetting. “Be sure the booking site has high-quality photography though, or even 3-D tours like Vacasa.com offers, so you get a true sense of the property,” Sutin says.

Expand Your Search for Holidays

Have your heart set on catching a wave on Memorial Day weekend or the Fourth of July? It’s crucial to plan ahead and it’s even better to consider multiple beach towns. “Be somewhat flexible with your location when you aren’t flexible with your dates,” Sutin says. “Looking up-and-down the Oregon Coast rather than specifically in Lincoln City, or checking for homes in South Carolina’s North Myrtle Beach instead of Myrtle Beach itself can significantly expand your vacation rental options.

Flexibility With Vacation Dates Helps Too 

To get an affordable rate for a short trip, consider checking in on a weekday, instead of the typical Friday through Sunday jaunt. “If you’re going to take a couple days off anyway, you may be able to get a better rate staying Saturday through Tuesday, say, rather than Thursday through Sunday,” she says.

Use the Amenity Filters

Can’t imagine a vacation without your dog? Dreaming of a beach house with a hot tub or private pool? Or just trying to find a beach house that’s not a behemoth? Sutin stresses that using amenity filters, which allow you to search based on the number of rooms and home type, can help narrow down the results and save a lot of time in the process.

Consider Condo Destinations

If it’s just you and your immediate family (or a friend or two), it can feel like every beach house has 10 bedrooms as you scroll through listings. If that’s the case, you might want to switch destinations entirely. 

“While there are beach markets where larger homes dot most of the coastline—like Outer Banks, North Carolina, for one—there are plenty of beach markets with a wide selection of condos perfect for smaller groups and families,” Sutin says. “Ocean City, Maryland has an abundance of vacation rental condos, and Hilton Head in South Carolina is another getaway that may surprise you with a good mix of vacation homes and condos available.” Listings in a condo building have their own perks: these are often waterfront buildings, which means you’ll have a beautiful ocean view, and there can be shared amenities like pools as well.

Don’t Fall for a Scam Listing

One important piece of advice: Sutin stresses that you should always make sure you are booking through a reputable website before you shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to rent a beach house. “Avoid forums like Craigslist that don’t offer the same ability to verify listings,” she says.

The post 8 Tips for Finding the Perfect Beach House Rental for Your Summer Vacation appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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Muir Woods + Point Reyes National Seashore + Yosemite

Experience the best of Northern California’s landscape, including towering redwoods and dramatic beaches with a road trip to three diverse national parks in the state. Just 30 minutes from San Francisco, Muir Woods inspires awe as you look up at a forest of old growth coast redwoods. Point Reyes National Seashore is a short drive away, but feels like a totally different world, with sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and opportunities to spot wildlife from elephant seals to elk to whales. Spend the night before for the four-hour drive to Yosemite, dubbed by naturalist John Muir (namesake of Muir Woods) as a “temple to nature.” See famed rock formations Half Dome and El Capitan along with gorgeous lakes and waterfalls in the  Sierra wilderness.

Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Fossil Butte National Monument 

You can cover a lot of ground in Wyoming, home to two world-famous national parks that share a border. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are must-visits, known for sights like Old Faithful and Lower Falls in the 2.2 million-acre Yellowstone and the crystal-clear Jenny Lake in Grand Teton. For something a bit off the beaten path (and within a two-hour drive of Grand Teton), Fossil Butte National Monument will be fascinating for budding paleontologists. See more than 300 fossils in the visitor center, then head out to Fossil Lake to hunt for prehistoric fossils yourself. 

Bryce Canyon + Zion + Arches

For never-ending red rock formation vistas, head to Utah. This state is home to the “Mighty 5” national parks, but you could narrow down your travels a bit by starting in Zion National Park. Go for a hike to Angels Landing or The Narrows, or just take a drive through the scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel. Less than two hours away is Bryce Canyon, which boasts the most hoodoos—defined as irregular columns of rock—in the entire world, making for surreal views. Drive four hours to Arches National Park, which lives up to its name with over 2,000 stone arches to explore (the most famous of which is free-standing Delicate Arch, accessible via three-hour hike).

Joshua Tree + Death Valley + Grand Canyon

Drive through desert ecosystems on your way to the epic vacation spot that is the Grand Canyon. Your journey begins in Southern California’s Joshua Tree, where you can hike through cactus gardens and toward a desert oasis. An even more famous desert with a foreboding name is approximately a four-hour drive away. Sights at Death Valley include Badwater Basin (salt flats known as the lowest point in North America) as well as scenic lookout Zabriskie Point. From there, it’s a long journey to the Grand Canyon (feel free to take a city break in Vegas to rejoin civilization). You’ll have plenty of time on the drive to plan your trip out ahead of time (North Rim or South Rim? Mule tour or rafting the Colorado River?)

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park + Rocky Mountain National Park + Great Sand Dunes 

Fly into Denver to explore Colorado’s national parks featuring all sorts of jaw-dropping landscapes. The narrow Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a rival to the Grand Canyon, with dark canyon walls that plunge 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River. For stargazers, try to time your visit to the park’s Astronomy Festival. Next up is Rocky Mountain National Park, where you’ll find over 300 miles of hiking trails within the park’s 415 square miles (and 150 pristine alpine lakes too). Your Colorado road trip must include a drive through the Rockies on the 48-mile Trail Ridge Road. For something completely different, hop in the car and be transported to an alien landscape at Great Sand Dunes, the tallest dunes in North America. Don’t forget the sand sled for dune sledding.

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Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless

Designed specifically for travelers, Sennheiser describes the feeling of putting on a pair of PXC 550 Wireless headphones like “upgrading to First Class”—no matter what it says on your boarding pass. The adaptive noise-canceling technology for these Bluetooth headphones are highly rated, and you’ll find other intuitive touches like 30 hours of battery life, fold-flat design, and “Smart Pause” that automatically turns off your music when you slide the headphones off. 

Soundcore by Anker Life Q30

If your budget is under $100, consider Soundcore by Anker Life Q30. This popular set of headphones punches above its price point when it comes to filtering out plane noise, thanks to a multi-mode noise canceling system that includes a “transport” setting designed specifically for that environment. The Bluetooth headphones also come with a lay-flat case and can go 40 hours between charges.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

These sleek Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 look luxurious (with the price tag to match). There are lots of bells and whistles, naturally: you can chat with voice assistants like Alexa and even access your Spotify playlist with only a tap. Eleven levels of high-tech adjustable noise canceling lets you decide how tuned in or out you want to be, with levels from low to medium to high.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Get Bose’s famous quality for under $200 with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones. Like the more expensive Bose 700 option, these headphones are designed to “obliterate” cabin noise. They include built-in Alexa and Google Assistant voice access. You can also use that button to toggle between high or low noise cancellation.

Sony WH-1000XM4

These stylish and highly-rated Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have some very cool features that might make the expensive price tag worth it for travelers. Not only does it automatically pause your music when you slip the Bluetooth headphones on or off, a “speak to chat” feature cuts off your tunes when you start speaking. There’s even a way to toggle the high-tech noise canceling feature so you can hear announcements for when your plane is boarding and then crank it back up when you’re in your seat.

JBL Live 660NC

Have a long flight with connections? Don’t worry about bringing a charging cord with these JBL Live 660NC headphones that last for up to 50 hours between powering up. You can even check the battery life status with just your voice, or ask questions of Alexa or Google voice assistants. The adaptive noise canceling technology includes options like “Ambient Aware” or “TalkThru,” which lets you have a quick convo without removing your headphones.

Sony WH-XB910N

These Sony WH-XB910N headphones offer many of the futuristic options as the brand’s higher-end models (like a “traveling” mode for active sound canceling or “quick attention” setting that allows you to turn them off with a wave of the hand). You’ll also get 30 hours of battery life and a touch panel on the side of the headphones.

Apple AirPods Max

If money is no object—or you’re an Apple superfan—the new Apple AirPods Max are a work of art. The audio is supposed to be theater quality, combined with high-tech noise cancellation and a headset design that gently cradles your ears in sound. Travel-friendly features include a special carrying case and 20 hours of battery life. 

Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Canceling On-Ear Headphones

The noise-canceling feature on Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones is said to be stellar, drowning out noisy neighbors or sirens. If you sit next to a friend with a pair of Beats, you can even share audio together during your travels.

SuperEQ S1 Bluetooth 5.0 Over Ear Wireless Wired Headset 

In the budget category, there’s SuperEQ S1 Bluetooth 5.0 Over Ear Wireless Wired Headset that clocks in around the $50 mark with noise cancellation that reviewers say works well for the price point. These headphones have nice features like three different modes for active noise cancellation, including a setting that allows you to hear ambient noise for safety. 

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Best for Park Transportation Options: Contemporary Resort

A big part of planning a Disney vacation revolves around how you will get around the sprawling resort. Transportation options abound at Disney’s circa-1971 Contemporary Resort, which is one of the two historic resorts that date back to Walt Disney World’s opening. You can walk to the Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s famous monorail actually runs right through the hotel so you don’t even have to go outside to catch a ride. You can also get around via bus or water taxi. The Deluxe-level resort’s decor feels like a 70s time capsule, with lots of mod touches—and newly-installed Incredibles-themed artwork.

Best for Old-School Disney Experience: Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also is one of Walt Disney World’s original hotels, and it’s been a favorite for all these years. The Monorail-accessible resort transports visitors to the South Pacific with tropical greenery, koi ponds, and views of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Head to a tiki bar or get a frozen Dole Whip, and don’t miss the Lava Pool with waterslide. The historic hotel just received a renovation in 2021, updating its rooms and even adding decor touches inspired by the beloved movie Moana. 

Best Swimming Pool: Yacht Club

Despite all that Disney theme park magic, there’s always a kid who will say that the best part of the vacation was the hotel swimming pool. If that’s your child, the pool at Disney’s Yacht Club really is something to write home about. The Deluxe-level resort created its own three-acre waterpark called Stormalong Bay, including a lazy river and a sand-bottomed pool. Kids can wade in a sandy beach, slide down waterslides, or explore a shipwreck playground. Besides all the aquatic activities, the Yacht Club is decked out in handsome New England style and within walking distance to Epcot.

Best for Using Hotel Points: Swan Reserve

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is shiny and new, having opened recently in November 2021. This is a Marriott property, so you can use loyalty points at this Autograph Collection hotel yet still end up smackdab in the middle of Disney. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are within walking distance of the Swan Reserve, which offers great views of the park from floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the nearly 350 rooms. (When you book, ask for a room that faces the nightly fireworks show at Epcot). 

Best Dog-Friendly Resort: Port Orleans 

For nearly five years, Disney’s been trying out a pilot program to allow dogs to check in alongside their owners at select properties. Four Disney Resort hotels include dog-friendly accommodations, each with easy access to the outdoors. The hotels catering to pups range from rustic to luxurious, and one moderate level hotel to try is the rural Louisiana-themed Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Check in with your dog at a genteel grand lobby, head to the “swimming hole” pool with a waterslide, look out at manicured lawns from your room, and eat at a food court decorated with a giant working water wheel.

Best for Animal-Loving Kids: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Wildlife grazes right outside your room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, a Deluxe-level resort that features its own 74-acre reserve that’s home to more than 200 animals including zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and flamingos. Inside, you’ll find an elaborate safari theme that extends to the guest rooms, or villas for families who want to spread out. Kids will also love running around the Hakuna Matata Playground or splashing in the resorts’ watering hole-themed pools and waterparks with a 128-foot waterslide.  

Best for Adults: Riviera Resort

Think the French Riviera but with Mickey Mouse: that’s the inspiration behind European-inspired Disney’s Riviera Resort, which channels Walt Disney’s own travels in the Mediterranean. It’s one of the newer properties, debuting in December 2019. The look here feels more grown-up, and there’s even a rooftop restaurant offering dishes like quiche gruyere (along with character breakfasts with Minnie in European garb). Take the new Disney Skyliner gondola route from Riviera Resort to get around the park.

Best for Budget-Minded Family Fun: Art of Animation

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is in the “value” category of resorts, but for kids, it delivers big when it comes to Disney characters. Reminders of their favorite movies are everywhere, from pools and rooms inspired by Cars, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo. The lobby is decorated with blown-up sketches from classic Disney films, setting the tone right from the start. Family suites are also available here if you have a lot of kids (or adults) in tow.

Best Luxury: Grand Floridian

Known as the priciest place to stay in the park, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a luxurious way to do Disney. The graceful, Victorian-inspired Deluxe hotel set on the lagoon is one Monorail stop away from the Magic Kingdom, or you could take a water taxi or make the trek over on a new scenic walking trail. The soaring grand lobby lives up to its name, and a fancy new restaurant called Cítricos within the hotel is inspired by Mary Poppins Returns.

Best for Camping: Fort Wilderness Resort

It is possible to rough it while staying at a Disney resort. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is set in a 750-acre pine and cypress forest, where you can bring your RV or tent and commune with nature. (Cabins are available as well). Take a water taxi to Magic Kingdom, or stick around Fort Wilderness for activities like archery, fishing, pony rides, or a Chip ‘n’ Dale campfire sing-a-long.

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Best Cabo Resort for Luxury: Zadun

Designed to complement the incredible Baja landscape, Zadun’s interiors are decorated with pieces from Mexican designers and artisans. This new Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort is designed as a spot to recharge, whether that’s via a Tamarindo body scrub in the spa, sound therapy in the Savasana Sound Room or tacos al pastor at one of Zadun’s restaurants. Every guest receives personal service from what the resort calls a tosoani, or private attendant.

Best Cabo Resort for Families: Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas

The Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas Resort Golf & Spa created its own oasis with a huge saltwater lagoon that’s so expansive you can use it for stand-up paddle boarding. But kids will really love the multiple water slides at the hotel’s mini-waterpark. There’s a tree-fort kids club for the little ones too, and childcare in case you want to steal away to the adults-only pool for a bit.

Best Cabo Resort for Privacy: Esperanza

For a very luxurious resort vacation, sans crowds, check into the Esperanza at the private enclave of Punta Ballena in Cabo San Lucas. The dramatic setting is home to 57 guest casitas and suites with terraces and open-air living spaces. Hang out on the resort’s private cove in a beach palapa, a treehouse-like structure (except this treehouse is equipped with a daybed, swing, Bose speakers, and private butler service). Fill your days with everything from dive-in movies at the pool to deep sea fishing or tequila tasting classes.

Best Cabo Resort for Ocean Swimmers: Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa

The Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa is where you’ll find the largest beach club on Medano Beach, the white sand beach that’s one of Cabo’s most popular swimmable beaches (not every beach in Los Cabos is safe enough to go swimming, due to strong currents). The resort’s Corazón Beach Club features private cabanas, DJs, and a full-service bar and restaurant. Corazón Cabo is part of a $100 million project, including a new tower with 204 rooms and a very fancy rooftop bar with an incredible view of the ocean and the city skyline.

Best Cabo Resort for Golf: One & Only

Billed as the first resort in Los Cabos, One & Only Pamilla began by attracting Hollywood royalty like John Wayne and Lucille Ball to Baja. The beautiful hotel on a swimmable beach includes infinity pools and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. The award-winning 27-hole course is a short ride from the resort, and it features ocean views from every single fairway.

Best Cabo Resort for Stunning Design: Viceroy Los Cabos

If your dream beach resort involves cutting edge architecture, book a stay at Viceroy Los Cabos. Designed by Mexico-based architect Miguel Angel Aragonés with interiors by Mexico-based design firm Arquitectura de Interiores, this minimalist 194-room hotel on the Sea of Cortez looks like nowhere else. Glass-like pools of water mirror the stark white buildings, while a restaurant built to look like a nest floats above the surface and guestrooms feature dreamy views of the ocean out of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Best Cabo Resort for Honeymooners: Hilton Los Cabos Golf & Beach Resort

If you want to book a very special honeymoon suite, consider the Hilton Los Cabos Golf & Beach Resort, which debuted a renovation in 2020 that includes suites with incredible oceanfront views of the Sea of Cortez that you can take in from your own private plunge pool. For a very special date, the hotel’s new Enclave Beach Club on Cabo’s white sand swimmable beach includes private cliffside bungalows with boho-meets-glam decor.   

Best Cabo Resort for Pool Lovers: Las Ventanas al Paraíso

The curving, infinity edge pool silhouetted against the sky at Las Ventanas al Paraíso might be up there with the world’s prettiest pools. Yet that’s not the only incredible pool at this Cabo luxury hotel, which is home to the first-ever lazy river in Baja California Sur, designed with its own realistic grotto tunnel and Jacuzzi. Pool butlers are on hand too, dispensing popsicles and SPF. 

Best Cabo Resort for Partiers: ME Cabo

When Norwegian DJ Kygo hosts a music festival in Cabo, ME is the resort of choice. This EDM-friendly resort is from hospitality brand ME by Meliá, which also boasts hotels in party-hopping cities like Ibiza. In October 2021, ME Cabo reopened after a stylish $10 million makeover. Mexican restaurant group Grupo Rosa Nega operates four restaurants and bars in the resort, including a rooftop bar and beach club overlooking a swimmable beach.

Best Cabo Resort for a Budget Trip: Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa

Get the swim-up bar resort experience without spending a bundle at Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa, an affordable option in Cabo San Lucas. Take in marina views from balcony suites, the rooftop bar or the outdoor pool (with a waterslide area for little ones and whirlpool for grown-ups). Opt for an all-inclusive dining package here, or go for a walk to explore the restaurants and bars of Los Cabos at Marina District.

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Taos, New Mexico

This two-bedroom New Mexico home looks very futuristic, with a glass sunroom that juts out into the snowy landscape. You can walk to the slopes at nearby Kachina Lift, or just get warm by the wood-burning fireplace.

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Grand Junction, Michigan

Take a two-hour drive from Chicago and you’ll find Getaway, a vacation haven on the shores of Lake Michigan. The millennial-focused company built a series of tiny cabins equipped with mini-kitchens and a giant window to the great outdoors. Like what you see? Find Getaway cabins for nature sojurns all throughout the country, located outside of major metropolitan areas from Pittsburgh to Boston.

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Twin Lakes, Colorado

With rustic good looks outside and white-washed clapboard inside, this Colorado alpine cabin on the way to Aspen features cathedral-height windows. Take in a great view of snow-topped La Plata mountain, and then head over to the trailhead for a winter hike.

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Hood River, Oregon

Mount Hood is a year-round destination for skiing and snowboarding, and you can watch the snow fall from a boxy, streamlined cabin with walls of windows. This architectural gem on Neal Creek will make you feel like you are right in the treetops.

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Stowe, Vermont

Three massive walls of glass look out on the ski slopes of Mount Mansfield at this pricey Stowe five-bedroom rental with architecture that blends the indoors and outdoors. Besides incredible views, visitors can enjoy a cedar sauna, ski lockers, and three wood-burning fireplaces.

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Woodstock, New York

The owners of this ultra-luxurious modern glass house claim that it’s “one of the most beautiful homes in all upstate New York,” and it’s hard to argue with this cabin’s vistas both inside and out. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the home look out into a forested ravine, while radiant heat inside keeps guests toasty warm in the winter.

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Livingston, Montana

The Cargill-Earl Guesthouse is designed to make you feel like you are one with the jaw-dropping Montana mountain landscape, with walls of glass throughout the home (check out that bedroom view). You’ll be staying in Livingston, once known as the “Original Gateway City to Yellowstone National Park,” where there are plenty of winter activities to try like dog sledding or cross-country skiing. 

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Broken Bow, Oklahoma

The homeowners on VRBO named their three-bedroom forest getaway near Beavers Bend State Park “Through the Looking Glass.” This sprawling setup includes a window-filled soaring main living space—and a game room and bocce court too. 

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Tahoe City, California

Located 10 minutes outside of Tahoe City and near great skiing at Squaw Valley, this wood-paneled A-frame cabin is outfitted with a wall of windows. That means great views from the kitchen to the rafters.

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Sandusky, Ohio

An associate of Frank Lloyd Wright designed this glass house, and you can see his influence in mahogany wood walls, cedar ceilings, simple finishes, and light streaming in everywhere. Look out over Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay through large picture windows in the main living space. 

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Mount Rainier, Washington

Another stylish A-frame option featuring a wall of glass can be found in Washington just 15 minutes from the entrance of snowy Rainier National Park. This cozy two-bedroom spot is situated on four acres of forest. (For singletons or couples, check out a similar glassy one-bedroom A-frame near Mount Rainier).

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Eldred, New York

Dubbed Floating Farmhouse, this decor magazine-worthy renovation of a circa-1820 home in the Catskills added a two-story wall of glass looking out over a brook, gazebo, apple trees, and barn. It’s a peaceful sight, especially when there’s snow covering the ground.

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