Every State's Best Travel Destination for 2020

2020 is shaping up to be a great year for travel in the U.S. as the calendar will be full of joyous anniversaries, historic commemorations, fun festivals and plenty of extra-special events to seek out around the country. Click on the slideshow to see which place in your state is primed for a sensational year.

Fresh off hosting the grand finale of Alabama's bicentennial festivities in December, Montgomery is going to make next year memorable, too. 2020 marks the 65th anniversary of Rosa Parks' heroic refusal to give up her bus seat, so there will be no better place than Montgomery's Rosa Parks Museum to pay her respect and learn more about her place in Civil Rights history. And in nearby Selma, they will be commemorating the 55th anniversary of the monumental Selma Marches with a festival dedicated to preserving voting rights.

For four days every other June, the capital of Alaska comes alive with Native peoples honoring their heritage through song, dance, crafts and art in a festival called Celebration. 2020 will see the latest rendition of the event which will put a spotlight on the Haida, Tsimshian and Tlingit cultures.

While it will certainly always be associated with U of A, Tucson is so much more than just an awesome college town. Downtown is set to continue its growth as a hub for great food and nightlife while the event calendar is loaded with can't miss occasions. Highlights include the 95th annual Tucson Rodeo, the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase and the Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

This fast-growing city is home to a thriving downtown with a small-town vibe that is consistently adding new restaurants and shops. Rogers is also the home of the Walmart AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion), one of the best outdoor concert venues in the country. For the 2020 season, the AMP will introduce several new plazas, additional concessions and capacity for 1,000 additional concertgoers.

If your only thoughts of San Diego are of idyllic weather, dreamy beaches and maybe some delicious fish tacos and craft beer, 2020 might just change your mind. Rest assured that all of those amazing experiences are still here, but next year will showcase some other aspects of the city's charm, too. In addition to several new hotel openings, the original and still the best Comic-Con will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July while Tiki Oasis (a gathering of Tiki enthusiasts) will celebrate its 20th anniversary. In addition, the San Diego Symphony will open a brand new bayside concert venue.

Colorado Springs is always a great jumping-off point for the natural wonders like the Garden of the Gods, but you'll also be delighted by some new urban attractions. A case in point is the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Hall of Fame, which will become the most accessible museum in the world when it opens its doors next year. Additionally, there will be high-profile hotel and brewery openings and (after being devastated by a recent fire) the re-opening of the famous Flying W Ranch Western supper house and theater.

The city's beloved Winterfest keeps the holiday spirit rolling through January 20, but that doesn't mean the fun ends when it finishes. Fresh off receiving re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and recent physical improvements, the Mark Twain House & Museum continues to go from strength to strength (catch the Twain's Attic exhibition until January 21st) while the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz will once again take over Bushnell Park in July.

Long known as the place to get away to the beach for a few days (or the whole season), Rehoboth is getting more and more attention for its myriad of festivals and they are all set to put on strong editions in 2020. The Rehoboth Beach Jazz festival (the self-proclaimed "greatest jazz festival in the world") will once again take place in October as will the Sea Witch Festival, a spooky-fun soiree that features costume parades, a dog parade and trick-or-treating.

As if you needed another reason to visit Magic City, Miami will play host to Super Bowl LIV on February 2. That's just the start of the fun though, as this year will also see the return of the Carnaval, Calle Ocho, Pride, The American Black Film Festival and the Ultra Music Festival.

ATL continues to grow as a tourist destination and 2020 will see scores of top-end events in the city. Springtime sees the Dogwood Festival return to show off multiple styles of art while foodie heaven will return in the form of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. In autumn, A3C will also return, bringing together creatives from the world of hip-hop to celebrate beats and learn about their industry.

In addition to seeing the debut of the new AC Hotel Wailea by Marriott, the island of Maui will play host to several events and festivals in 2020-especially in summer. In June, the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival will celebrate another year of being the nation's longest-running food and wine event and it will be followed by the Maui Film Festival. The summer also sees the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, which honors an instrument that was born in the Aloha State.

In the fall of 2020, Sun Valley will be expanding its ski operations by approximately 380 acres and will be rolling out several new upgrades to facilities. During October, the region will also play host to the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which celebrates the area's strong connections with sheep and wool.

Make 2020 the year you look beyond the bright lights of the big city up north to the central part of Illinois. Springfield is the state capital and the newly refurnished Governor's Mansion is ready to impress all visitors. It's the most historic gubernatorial residence in the Midwest and when you pair that with the wealth of sights connected to Abraham Lincoln (his presidential library and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site), it's the perfect place to stop during an election year.

This ridiculously cool Midwest college town may have recently been one of the runner-ups in the state's "Best Main Street" competition, but it's the best all-arounder for 2020. Small town charm mixed with great food & culture makes it special, with just a few of the headline events scheduled for next year being the Pride Film Festival, Taste of Bloomington and the beloved 'Little 500' bike race.

While the politics surrounding the Iowa Caucus will dominate the start of the year, Iowans will soon get back to enjoying all that makes the state one of the country's hidden gems. And the collection of cute villages with German heritage called Amana Colonies is one of their favorites. The villages are known for hosting festivals like Maifest, Wurstfest and Prelude to Christmas, but in 2020, the highlight will be the 55th-anniversary edition of their Oktoberfest.

This town may be most famous for being the home of the KU Jayhawks, but that's just the tip of the iceberg of its appeal. Massachusetts Street is as lively as ever, with several award-winning breweries pouring great beer and independent shops selling unique wares. Perhaps nothing sums the vibe up more than the street-performer gala that is the Lawrence Busker Festival, which is scheduled to take place again in 2020.

January 17th, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of a very questionable chapter in American history: Prohibition. What better way to "celebrate" than by visiting beautiful Bardstown, which is home to several distilleries. The town will also play host to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September.

Regardless of whether or not the locals get to celebrate an LSU College Football Championship in January, Baton Rouge is going to be a great place to be next year. February will be filled with Mardi Gras fun; April will come alive with the sounds of the blues, and celebrations of zydeco and swamp pop will take place throughout the year. This is to say nothing of the mouthwatering food and beer festivals.

The great state of Maine will celebrate its bicentennial in 2020 and there's no better place than the capital to celebrate. Often overlooked, Augusta will take center stage this year as it is the home of the Maine State Museum and will be the setting for Statehood Weekend celebrations in March and the Grand Finale of the bicentennial party in October.

Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of women receiving the right to vote in America and Maryland has declared it the "year of the woman." Baltimore is home to several significant sights connected to important women in history like the Star-Spangled Banner House & Ft. McHenry (learn all about Mary Pickersgill's role in making the flag and addressing social issues), the Mother Seton House (learn about Mary Lange, who founded a religious order for African-Americans) and the Evergreen House (former home to influential philanthropist suffragist Mary Elizabeth Garrett).

Next year will mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's arrival on American soil and Plymouth will be commemorating the historic occasion all year-long. The Plymouth 400 organization has collaborated with Mayflower 400 in England, Leiden 2020 in Holland and the local Wampanoag Nation to tell the story of the founding of the Plymouth Colony like never before.

Grand Rapids' popularity continues to bubble towards the top of the beverage tourism power rankings, and 2020 is the perfect year to check it out for yourself. The only problem? Picking whether to visit during Cocktail Week, Beer Month, Restaurant Week or Cider Week?

This city won't be flying under the radar for too much longer, so make 2020 the year you get to know Minnesota's Rochester. In addition to a recently renovated convention center, Historic Third Street has been re-invigorated by a new generation of cafes, bars and shops. In addition, two of the state's most fun festivals will take place here next year: SOCIALICE (an ultra-cool collection of ice bars downtown) and the 32nd annual Polka Party.

It doesn't matter what day you drop into Clarksdale, you'll be able to find some live Blues being played. Yes, there are tunes being played every night of the year in this mecca of American music and that's to say nothing of the festivals and museums. Highlights of 2020 include January's 10th Annual Film & Music Festival, April's Juke Joint Festival and the 33RD Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in August.

Kansas City continues to redefine "Midwest cool" and 2020 will be another fantastic year to visit the city's restaurants, cafes, dive bars and barbecue joints (latter two being some of the best versions in the country). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has a stellar line-up of exhibitions and special events lined up while through May the National World War One Museum plays host to a special exhibition on the Vietnam War.

Bozeman's population and star continue to rise and next year will be a great time to get to know this town a little better. Base yourself in the rejuvenated downtown area, as it has evolved into the center for festivals and both daytime (think galleries, boutiques and coffee shops) and nighttime socializing. Perhaps the best part about Bozeman during any year is that no matter where you are, you're just a short hop to the mountains.

In June, the swimming world will descend on Omaha to watch the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but that's just the tip of the iceberg of good times scheduled for 2020. Summer will also see the city celebrating the 70th anniversary of hosting the NCAA Men's College World Series and it has just been announced that the Major League Baseball draft will also take place in the city next year.

Las Vegas has long been known for action on the Strip, but they've never had a show quite like the NFL. 2020 marks the year that the Raiders arrive in Vegas and to celebrate the league will also be hosting the draft in the city. Autumn is also scheduled to see the arrival of Circa Resort & Casino downtown in addition to a renovated Sahara Las Vegas. Also, Virgin Hotel Las Vegas is expected to complete its takeover and transformation of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino this year, too.

Politicos will flock to the Granite State for its famous presidential primary in February, but the state's capital will be buzzing all year. The renowned Currier Museum of Art recently announced that they've acquired a second Frank Lloyd Wright House (one of only seven surviving Usonian Automatics) while Elm Street will continue its growth in the great restaurants and bars department.

The grand dame of the Garden State coastline, Cape May will once again fill the calendar with fun events and exquisite happenings. The Singer-Songwriter Festival will warm the town come March; Exit Zero Jazz Festival takes over two weekends in 2020 (one in April the other in November) with December scheduled to see the 47th annual Christmas Candlelight House tours.

Visitors to New Mexico's largest city have a whole lot to look forward to in 2020. At the Albuquerque Museum, the much-talked-about Jim Henson exhibition Imagination Unlimited will continue through April 20, while Let the Sunshine In will put street photography from the 1960s & 70s on display. And in addition to the further growth of the city's arts and dining scene, the International Balloon Fiesta will once again take to the skies in October.

The Hudson Valley has been shooting up the ranks of foodie destinations for years while also picking up a plethora of press for its Walkways over the Hudson (the world's longest pedestrian bridge), but in 2020 it picks up a rockstar attraction: LEGOLAND New York. Scheduled to open on July 4, it will be the largest LEGOLAND theme park in the world.

Not only will Greensboro play host to both the men's and women's ACC Basketball tournaments, but it will also host the first two rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Also, the city will welcome back the 34th annual Carolina Blues Festival in May.

The capital of ND, Bismarck will be the best place to get to know the story of the state in 2020. The excellent North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum will continue their tradition of enthralling exhibitions, with spring seeing the opening of the Dakota the Dinomummy exhibit, which will be a new home for one of the world's only mummified dinosaurs. The museum will also have a timely exhibit dedicated to women's suffrage.

Cleveland has become synonymous with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and in 2020, the Hall will celebrate its 25th birthday. Expect scores of shindigs around town in addition to the annual induction ceremonies (this year's list of potential inductees includes names like Dave Matthews Band, Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G, Nine Inch Nails, Pat Benatar and Depeche Mode). In addition, just an hour or so down the road is the roller coaster mecca Cedar Point, which will turn 150 years old and will be commemorating the occasion with a new ride called Snake River Expedition and a sparkly nighttime parade dedicated to the park's history.

Oklahoma City is on a roll, and the city shows no sign of slowing down in 2020. The Oklahoma Contemporary will open a brilliant new arts center in March and spring will also see the brand new Scissortail Park add a much-anticipated cafe.

Astoria owns an enviable location on the coast where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, a rich heritage in seafaring and seafood, and an ever-growing roster of quality cafes, restaurants and craft beer bars. These are all superb reasons to visit, but the town's role as the setting for the movie The Goonies has made it world-famous. 2020 will be the 35th anniversary of this 80s classic and there will be a summer soiree to celebrate.

2020 will see Pittsburgh host its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, JFilm Festival, Fringe Festival, Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and the Three River Regatta. Combine these events with its sensational skyline and ascendant food & drink culture and you have a city begging to be visited before it gets too popular.

The state's biggest city is picking up more and more praise for its foodie culture and 2020 will see not one, but two editions of Providence Restaurant Week. Of course, the world-renowned attraction WaterFire has also helped put the city on the map, and this spectacular combination of flames dancing on the water will return for 2020 as well.

The good news just keeps flowing for this cool city in upland part of the Palmetto State. As its much-anticipated Unity Park nears completion (look for it to open in 2021), there is set to be several craft breweries, retail outlets and public art spaces opening their doors in 2020. In addition, the city will play host to a regional in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

While we still wait for the renovations on Mount Rushmore to be completed, look to the southeast section of South Dakota for the destination of the year. Sioux Falls will see several new hotel openings (Best Western GLo & Park Hyatt among others) in addition to a food hall space. There's also lots of buzz about the Arc of Dreams-a steel sculpture that spans the width of the Big Sioux River-that debuted in 2019 and the upcoming 25th edition of Hot Harley Nights charity motorcycle event.

Ken Burns' outstanding documentary Country Music captivated audiences all over the world this year, so that makes 2020 the perfect time to visit the birthplace of country music. Visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum to learn all about the Bristol Sessions, which are widely regarded as the single most important event in the history of the genre.

You have until May 1 to see the stimulating exhibit Sebastián in San Antonio: 50+ Years / 20+ Sites / 100+ Works. As the name indicates, it is a collection of more than 100 sculptures by the acclaimed Mexican artist Sebastián in 20 locations around town. Afterward, take a stroll on one of the recently-created San Antonio foodie trails dedicated to tacos, margaritas and barbecue.

St. George is still managing to fly under the radar, but this sunny city in southern Utah won't remain a secret for much longer. Here, a high quality of life (you'll notice it, even if you're just visiting for a few days) is combined with easy access to Zion National Park to create something truly special. This to say nothing of the top-notch local golf.

The state's biggest city will once again be the hub of fun in the coming year. The city will play host to two of the state's best festivals in the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival and an utterly unique collection of comedic street performances that is the Festival of Fools.

If you haven't heard the buzz about Richmond yet, then you just must not be paying attention. Visit in 2020 to see what all the fuss is about, starting out your visit with a tour on the still-fresh Richmond Beer Trail, which shows off the city's brewing process. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will also help make the city a must-visit, as its exhibit Robert McNeill 1938: A Collective Portrait of African American Life in Virginia has received rave reviews.

Seattle is set to be the Evergreen State's star in 2020 as its most cherished special events will return for another year. In February, Seattle Museum Month will kick off the year in style by showing off the city's wealth of interesting, educational and artistic museums. Taste Washington will once again delight food & wine lovers while Seafair will yet again take over the summer social calendar.

In 2020, the state's capital will continue to be the epicenter of special moments in the Mountaineering State. Most famously, FestivALL will return in June to bring its unique mix of arts and music to the people.

The eyes of the political world will be on Milwaukee as it plays host to the Democratic National Convention in July. While we don't know who their nominee for president will be, we can be certain that attendees will be the latest folks to fall for this Great Lakes city and its "flying" art museum, sizzling summer festivals, bevy of breweries and bartenders who turn bloody marys into masterpieces.

As America celebrates the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, there is no better state than Wyoming to celebrate. The Cowboy State was a full 50 years ahead of the rest of the country in granting women the right to vote and Laramie is home to two of the best sights connected with this history: The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming House for Historic Women.