Euro skip: It’s a historic summer to rediscover the all-American vacation
Travel experts say rising costs, economic uncertainty and soaring airfare are pushing more Americans to trade big international vacations for shorter, easier getaways closer to home this summer.
“Compared to last year, we’re seeing weakening demand for Europe,” said Graham Carter, CEO of luxury private tour operator Unforgettable Travel. “We are seeing clients taking longer to confirm trips or asking to push them back to later in the year, or into 2027.”
Rosa Castillo, who works in real estate when she isn’t travel blogging, blowing up social media or co-hosting the “Bon Voyage Besties” podcast, said that global economic uncertainty and looming oil crises are keeping her closer to home this summer.
“As someone with a full-time corporate job and limited PTO, the uncertainty of being stranded abroad can create unnecessary stress and a significant financial burden if plans shift unexpectedly,” she said. “Because of that, I’ve been leaning into day trips throughout New Jersey and New York City.”
After years of post-pandemic revenge travel and overcrowded hot spots abroad, Americans are once again pivoting to a different kind of summer vacation. From scenic rail journeys and nostalgic beach towns, to adult summer camps and national park adventures, here’s a look at a slower, more relaxed way to experience the best this country has to offer.
National perks
With Yosemite, Arches and Glacier National Parks eliminating reservation requirements for 2026, you can expect a surge of visitors this summer. Plan accordingly and book in advance, experts caution.
Just outside of Yosemite, properties like Firefall Ranch are capitalizing on the demand with immersive outdoor experiences ranging from guided excursions and wellness-focused programming to communal dining and adventure activities.
From the red-rock mesas and serpentine slot canyons of southern Utah, Red Cliffs Lodge Zion, located less than a mile from Zion National Park, is drawing travelers seeking a blend of luxury and adventure in the heart of Zion Canyon.
Wet-hot American summer camps
Across the country, nostalgic adult summer camp-style resorts are booming as travelers seek low-key, outdoorsy escapes that blend wellness, recreation and Americana.
For rustic summer camp vibes, Kenoza Hall offers stand-alone bungalows and rooms in a restored 1880s boarding house, complete with plenty of cozy reading nooks and a lake ideal for canoeing and swimming. Meanwhile, Wylder Windham offers a playful Catskills escape with wood-fired saunas, pickleball clinics, live music and riverside relaxation against the backdrop of Windham Mountain.
In California’s Lost Sierra, Greenhorn Ranch is tapping into the growing appetite for nostalgic, summer camp-style escapes, where days are spent horseback riding, fly-fishing, skeet shooting and archery before live music, karaoke and s’mores around the fire pit at night.
Opening this summer near San Luis Obispo, Nightsky Camps is serving a more design-forward take on the trend with a 45-key outdoor retreat set within California’s Central Coast landscape. Further north, Dawn Ranch blends redwood forest scenery with safari-style tents, private fire pits, complimentary Fender guitar sessions and easy access to kayaking and tubing along the Russian River, while Under Canvas White Mountains offers a New England version of the experience surrounded by rolling meadows, orchards and mountain hiking trails.
‘Radius runs’ and road trips
Road trips are a quintessential American getaway, and despite rising gas prices, according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 71% of Americans are planning to drive on their next vacation. Allianz Partners reports that classic American road trips from Route 66 to California’s Pacific Coast Highway are expected to surge in popularity this year as travelers embrace nostalgia and the freedom of the open road.
“Travelers aren’t necessarily giving up vacations in 2026, they’re simplifying them,” Carolin Fuller, director of consumer marketing at Campspot, said. “We’re seeing people move toward trips that feel more reliable, flexible and financially manageable, which is why camping, RV travel, and nearby road trips are resonating so strongly right now.”
In addition, Fuller said “radius runs” — i.e., trips within easy driving distance — along with a growing preference for shoulder-season camping in May, September and October to avoid crowds and high prices, are also surging in popularity.
Beach bashes are back
American beach towns are seeing renewed interest this summer, as travelers trade crowded European coastlines for nostalgic seaside escapes closer to home.
According to Tripadvisor, Myrtle Beach was the top trending domestic destination this year, signaling a broader return to easy, family-friendly coastal vacations built around boardwalks, beach days, mini golf and long weekends by the water.
Further south, Hilton Head Island and nearby Bluffton continue to attract travelers looking for a slower, more laid-back version of luxury centered around golf, boating, seafood and Lowcountry charm beneath Spanish moss-draped oaks.
On the West Coast, San Diego once reigned supreme as the country’s preeminent summer playground thanks to its always-sunny disposition, surf culture and laid-back beach towns.
Passport-free escapes
As travelers rethink expensive and logistically complicated international trips this summer, passport-free Caribbean destinations like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are booming as Americans look for easier tropical escapes closer to home.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, travelers sailing on closed-loop itineraries that depart from and return to the same US port including itineraries on cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean that don’t need a passport, are fueling renewed interest in domestic and near-domestic cruising.
At the same time, Great Lakes cruises are quietly booming, with operators like Viking Expeditions drawing travelers aboard sleek, Scandinavian-inspired ships through some of North America’s most underrated landscapes.
Meanwhile, travelers craving a Mediterranean-style coastal escape without the long-haul flight are turning to jewels like Catalina Island, just off the Southern California coast, where the recently renovated Pavilion Hotel channels old-school California glamour with breezy courtyards, waterfront rooms and nightly wine socials around the fire pit.
The great American rail revival
From luxury sleeper journeys aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to nostalgic national park itineraries that eliminate the stress of airports and rental cars, rail travel is emerging as one of the biggest trends shaping domestic travel this summer.
Leading the charge is Canyon Spirit. Running straight through the heart of the American Southwest, this newly launched luxury train winds through dramatic red rock canyons and desert landscapes. Meanwhile, Alaska’s legendary routes aboard the Alaska Railroad continue to draw travelers seeking cooler-weather escapes, glacier views, wildlife sightings and access to remote wilderness impossible to reach by car.
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Source: NY Post
Pack Your Bag & Go: Summertime And The Livin’ Is Breezy
With the temperatures rising and summer rapidly approaching, now is the time to book travel. Nestled along Oregon’s Rogue River is Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, named one of Esquire’s “Best New Hotels 2025” and Travel + Leisure’s “Best Hotels in the West 2025.” One main reason for the rankings is its surroundings: the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Guests can gaze at awe-inspiring views of the river and coastal foothills of southern Oregon.
Accommodations include houses, glass cabins and rooms and suites. Amenities consist of a wood-burning sauna and year-round pool and cozy fix-replaces.
In addition to summertime adventure like fly fishing, hiking, surfing at Gold Beach and wildlife spotting, quite a few summer specials are on the horizon. For its Cellar Series, the lodge is hosting celebrated winemakers such as Mattiasson Wines, Scribe Winery and Kermit Lynch for exclusive dinners and tastings. On Saturdays and Sundays, guests can sip curated wines or herbal teas beneath the stars at its Riverside Wine + Tea Service. Green folding chairs are set up in cozy clusters by the water’s edge.
Opening this summer, Nightsky Camps is a new outdoor retreat along California’s Highway 1. The property sits between the coastline and the rolling ridgelines of the Nine Sisters—a chain of volcanic plugs stretching from Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo (SLO)—and is located just 10 minutes from downtown SLO.
The eco-tent accommodations are timber-panelled with private decks, conceived to work with the site’s natural topography rather than reshape it. Interiors draw on natural materials. Shared gathering spaces include a Camp Commons featuring communal fire pits and open-air lounges. A dedicated wellness area features a movement pavilion, yoga and guided meditation plus a sauna and cold plunges.
Nightsky is within the Dairy Creek Golf Course campus, which includes a nine-hole, par-36 course, a driving range powered by TopTracer technology and the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens.
Guests interested in booking opportunities are invited to join Nightsky’s Stargazer list via the website. Stargazers receive priority access to reservations ahead of the official opening window along with updates and previews leading up to launch. nightskycamps.com/stargazer
Late last year, Temecula Creek Inn announced a multi-million-dollar renovation of its 123 guest rooms and suites. Tucked beneath the Santa Margarita Mountains, surrounded by more than 300 acres of rolling hills and centuries-old oak, eucalyptus and magnolia trees, every guest room and suite has been transformed to feel connected to the Inn’s natural surroundings.
Lucky for Temecula and its visitors, the wine-centric city in Riverside County bares resemblance to Tuscany with its Mediterranean-style climate that supports a range of wine grapes. The Inn is within minutes of more than 40 wineries—and also within driving distance of Los Angeles. One of the perks of Temecula wine tasting is a more approachable experience, with wineries in close proximity and generally less crowded.
Inn highlights include the walking trails and seasonal Butterfly Habitat and thoughtful details like the curated black-and-white photography of golf legend Arnold Palmer and entertainer Bob Hope that pay tribute to the property’s heritage and ties to the sport. Adjacent to the Inn’s restaurant Corkfire Kitchen is the Chef’s Garden, featuring a 30-seat farm table and new custom bar and grill.
Airbnb posted that when it comes to planning a getaway, a recent survey found that over half of respondents said a unique or interesting listing would inspire them to visit a destination they had not previously considered: “86% of surveyed travelers say they’re interested in visiting remote or rural destinations — reflecting a broader shift where the stay itself is just as memorable as the destination.”
The vacation rental site just revealed its annual lineup of the most wishlisted homes across all 50 states. In the West, “The most wishlisted stays share a common thread: the desire to unplug.” For California, the A-Frame Sunrise Lakehouse, a fully renovated cabin in Lake Arrowhead, tops the 2026 list.
Getmyboat has taken Airbnb to the sea as the world’s largest boat rental marketplace. According to the site, California is one of the most popular boating states in the country, with over 800,000 registered watercrafts in the state. The site’s 2026 data report on the busiest boating locations across California ranked Marina del Rey at No. 1. Bookings are available for everything from luxury yachts to less expensive sailing charters.