United States Travel Guide: Top Things to Do in Every State This Summer

Summer is officially here!

Well, according to the calendar, anyway.

For most people, summer began with Memorial Day weekend at the end of May, or maybe when the school year ended, or even at the slightest hint of the first warm day.

No matter what, it's here now and the summer travel season has been unleashed.

And no matter what your final destination, here's a look at every state's coolest things to do during summer.

People forget that Alabama has amazing beaches. Well, it does. Try Gulf Shores, which bills itself as "Small Town, Big Beach." Big is the operative word, with 32 miles of white sandy beaches. Also, in Huntsville, there is the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It includes items and memorabilia from the Apollo program, the International Space Station, and the Space Shuttle program.

If you're not into the cold but still want to see the wonders of Alaska, summer is for you. You can still view glaciers and wildlife by touring the Kenai Fjords. Go ziplining at Icy Strait Point. You can even enjoy soaking in the natural hot springs at Chena Resort.

Look, it's hot. We know. But suck it up, buttercup, and take a tour of Sedona in a Jeep. Or cool off by kayaking the Verde River. Even take in a night Major League Baseball game and see the Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field.

This is an outdoor paradise, even if you're more of an observer than a participant. Be sure to see the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, a glass church that is simply magnificent, especially at night. If you like mystery, the Gurdon Light is, literally, an inexplicable light near the old train tracks in the town of Gurdon. Or check out the dozens of fairs and festivals across the state.

Listen, we could spend all day listing the myriad cool things to do in California throughout the summer. Our favorite? The lovely phenomenon of being able to ski in the morning at Squaw Mountain or Mammoth and then enjoy a beach day in the afternoon.

Colorado is another state with a heavy emphasis on outdoor activities. Summer is especially fun in Colorado, where you can take a hike through the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park. And to really cool off, try whitewater rafting at Royal Gorge where even beginners can be accompanied by professionals. And if a musical act is playing, there's nothing better than the outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

For our money, one of the coolest places in Connecticut is Mystic Seaport. It's a step back in time with a recreation of an old fishing village right on the Connecticut River. There's also a great aquarium and, for mom and dad, a couple of high-end casinos within a short drive.

Perhaps the most underrated beach towns in America are right in Delaware. From Lewes to Rehoboth Beach to Bethany to Fenwick Island, it's a beautifully quiet change of pace from the Jersey Shore to the north and Ocean City, Maryland to the immediate south.

We get it. It's 90-degree heat and 90 percent humidity in Florida in the summer, with the usual afternoon burst of a violent thunderstorm. Who wants to be outside, right? You do. There isn't a bad beach in the entire state around the entire peninsula. And, take it from our experience - even though you get sweaty and soaked quickly, you forget all that when you become a kid again going through Disney World, Universal or SeaWorld.

The cool factor surrounding Georgia can't be discounted. It has two fabulous southern cities in Atlanta and Savannah, one that has become one of the most modern in the world and the other that remains a gorgeous throwback to a slower, simpler time. And with Tybee Island and its famous lighthouse, Georgia also has a fantastic beach destination.

Any of the Hawaiian Islands are cool. Some are more relaxed than others, however, so if you're looking for things to do nothing beats Honolulu. Hike Diamond Head, visit the somber Pearl Harbor Memorial, take a surfing lesson on calm Waikiki and then go watch the pros do it on the North Shore.

Go boating on Bear Lake. Hike the Boise River Greenbelt. Swim in Coeur d'Alene Lake. Kayak the Snake River. Are you sensing a theme here? Idaho has some gorgeous bodies of water and, obviously, summer is a spectacular time to be there.

The great thing about Illinois and summer is the number of fairs and festivals and events that abound. You want cool? How about Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago on July 29-30, headlined by Dua Lipa and Machine Gun Kelly? A week later, get ready for the four-day Windy City Smokeout.

Well, you can start by joining 150,000 of your closest friends to watch a NASCAR race later this summer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also, there are six Regal Cinemas around the state that are offering $2 admission for children for second-run films in case it gets hot or rainy. And at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, a new dinosaur exhibit has opened.

Don't even think about knocking Iowa. This is a state that has some of the coolest things to do in the country. Start with a visit to the Field of Dreams site. Not only is the actual movie site still in place, but last year Major League Baseball built an adjoining mini-stadium and are playing an annual game there every August. Also in August, get yourself to the coolest State Fair around. Over a million people attend every year. And be sure to see the Maquoketa Caves State Park.

Without a doubt, one of the coolest things to do for the entire family is to hike or bike the Prairie Spirit Trail. The trail is 52 miles long and traverses rivers, streams, prairies, farms, and even small towns. It's a fabulous outdoor adventure for everyone. Also, McPherson Water Park has a half-a-million gallons worth of reasons to visit.

Where do we even start? Sports lovers can check out the horse farms, the famed Churchill Downs race track, the Louisville Slugger baseball bat manufacturing museum, and more. Nature fans can walk through Mammoth Cave. Lovers of horror and the macabre can visit Waverly Hill Sanitorium. It's abandoned now … or is it? Oh, and we can't forget the famous Bourbon trail.

New Orleans, New Orleans, New Orleans. N'awlins, if you want to act like a local. There might not be a cooler town in America than the Big Easy. This one is likely not for the kiddos, but if you enjoy your alcohol and your camaraderie and your parties and your history, this is the place for you.

This is a classic New England area with quintessential small towns and lots and lots of lobster dishes. Explore Acadia National Park, just one of the many great areas to see the rugged Maine coastline. The lighthouses are also spectacular.

Where do we even begin? It's a state filled with coolness. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis is a must-see. Ocean City is the quintessential beach playground and your classic wooden boardwalk with all the great games, amusements and eats. The National Aquarium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards are close to each other in Baltimore.

Another one of those 'where do we even begin?' states. The cool factor pervades Cape Cod, especially if you're summering in tony Nantucket. Fenway Park in Boston, celebrating its 110th season of baseball, can't be missed even if you're a Yankees fan. Walk the Freedom Trail throughout the city of Boston and live history (talk about cool). Have a beer at the real pub that inspired the hit television 'Cheers.'

We have a soft spot for Michigan, having lived there for five years. The UP, or Upper Peninsula, is absolutely spectacular. Mackinaw Island is a gorgeous throwback. The west side of the state has some of the best beaches on Lake Michigan. And while the city of Detroit gets a bad rap, we never had a problem there seeing a Broadway production, a concert at the Fox Theater, or a game at the side-by-side football and baseball venues of Ford Field and Comerica Park.

Prince was from Minnesota. Does a place need to have any more cool credibility than that? You can actually visit his home and recording studio in Minneapolis. Also in Minneapolis, check out Minnehaha Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. And in nearby Bloomington is the shopping bacchanalia knowns as the Mall of America.

History buffs will love Mississippi. The antebellum homes, albeit from a different and controversial era, are nonetheless spectacular. Check out the town of Rodney - it is a literal ghost town, having been abandoned years ago and literally frozen in time. In Tupelo, see the birthplace of the one and only Elvis Presley - the King of Cool.

It's not often that you get two great cities that border other states - St. Louis to the east on the Illinois border and Kansas City to the west on the Kansas border - that are both filled with cool things to do. In St. Louis of course there is the famous Gateway Arch memorial and a world-class zoo. In KC, the National World War I Memorial and Museum is history-laden, as is the Negro League Baseball Museum.

Montana is an outdoorsy state, so many of the things you'll do will be outside. Horseback riding - or at least learning - as well as hiking are two of the big things. Driving can be fun as well so try taking the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Completed in 1932, it is on the National Register of Historic Place and, in a cool twist, it bisects Glacier National Park.

So much to unpack here to enjoy your summer. Did you know that Nebraska actually has more miles of water than just about any other state? So make sure you canoe the Niobrara River. Or better yet, tank it. Yup, tank it. Google it now, thank me later. Back on land, rent a Jeep and check out the buttes at Fort Robinson State Park.

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, cool is as cool does. And in Las Vegas, you can be as cool as you want or as kitschy as you want. Vegas is just that kind of town so you can roll with the high rollers or do a trip on a budget. This is a city made for gamblers, for sightseers, people watchers, foodies, and those who enjoy a good concert. So be where your feet are.

So Mount Washington is for skiing, right? Nope. You can take a daytime or sunset/dinner cruise along its lake. Or you can play 18 holes of golf at the Omni Mount Washington at Breton Woods. Go ziplining at nearby Gunstock Mountain Resort. And there are a half-dozen great beaches in New Hampshire as well.

Bruce Springsteen once sang that "Down the Shore, everything's all right…." Few beachside places are cooler than the Jersey Shore. From Belmar in the north to the Wildwoods to Atlantic City and all the way down to Cape May on the southern tip of the state, every town is different and has its own personality.

Well, for starters, as long as you don't have an issue going underground, one of the coolest things to do in New Mexico is to explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park. You can also hike or bike through the Caverns as well but be forewarned - some of the climbs are steep and not for the faint of heart.

New York City exudes coolness, of course, and it's a bucket list kind of place. But there's so much more to New York. Just north of the city is the famed Hudson Valley, with everything from apple orchards to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to Revolutionary War sites. There are the Finger Lakes in the central region. And in the upper western corner of New York there is the mighty, magnificent Niagara Falls.

One of the most beautiful stretches of beaches anywhere in the U.S. can be found along North Carolina's famous Outer Banks. Come and relax, or kick up your heels, near some of the bluest water or even romp among the same sands where the Wright Brothers first founded the idea of flights. OBX, as they call it, is a very family-oriented kind of cool vibe.

Another state with a heavy emphasis on outdoor activities. But one ting you should do is get a knowledgeable guide and take a trip back to yesteryear by touring Fort Buford State Historic Site. Fort Buford served as a supply depot in the war between the Indians and U.S., and it was where the famous Chief Sitting Bull eventually surrendered to the U.S. Army.

You know, on the old television show M*A*S*H, they used to make fun of the Corporal Klinger character for being from Toledo, Ohio. No more. The Toledo Zoo is a bucket list item, a world-class facility with thousands of animals. Heck, even Klinger's favorite restaurant, Tony Packo's Café, is still open in Toledo for you to grab a bite. And not too far from Toledo, be sure to zip over to Sandusky, Ohio, for another world-class facility - the Cedar Point Amusement Park, home to some of the greatest roller coasters on the planet.

You don't necessarily associate land-locked Oklahoma City, the largest city in the state, with water. But you should. You can surf and go whitewater rafting at RIVERSPORT Rapids & Adventures, which has something for all age levels. Or relax on the Oklahoma River on a paddle board or kayak. Or let it all rip at Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City, an awesome water park.

Welcome to the king of festivals and fairs. More than 50 were scheduled for this summer as Oregonians finally get back to life following the pandemic. Just a few to mention include the Waterfront Blues Festival and Fireworks in July, featuring more than 100 musical performances on four stages; The Big Float, also in July, with costumed people in hysterical homemade water devices; Dunefest in August, which includes high-speed racing; and, of course, August's famous Clackamas County Fair. Aside from the festivals, the Japanese Garden in Portland is lovely.

Could we have more space here, please? OK, we'll try to cram this in. Some of the great things to do in Pennsylvania include camping/swimming at one of the most underrated areas in the country, Lake Wallenpaupack, Hershey Park for the kiddies, the Gettysburg Battlefield and National Historic Site for the adults, the Incline in Pittsburgh, and the Hop-On, Hop-Off Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus in Philadelphia.

Even if you're not cool, just your mere presence in Newport automatically gives you a coolness factor beyond reproach. If it isn't the yachting, it's the tennis. (Now how's that for two high-end sports?). Newport also has a scenic drive along the ocean featuring some of the most iconic homes in the country.

This is where you come to go to the beach. But this is also where you come to golf, bar none. Myrtle Beach has more golf courses per square mile than any other area in the country, and for good reason. The climate is wonderful, though like any place in the south it tends to get hotter in the summer but has less rain than, say, Florida, so your round won't get disrupted on a daily basis every afternoon. And it has courses that are easy for beginners, and it has courses that have hosted professional events that will challenge your skills.

C'mon now. Doesn't get much cooler, especially for kids and kids at heart, to say you've been to Mount Rushmore. Oh, you can see all the pictures of it that you want. To see it live, in person, up close, and to marvel at how they achieved this is simply astonishing.

If anybody has even a remote appreciation of country music, a trip to the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium is a must. That's country royalty right there. The Country Music Hall of Fame is also right in Nashville. In Memphis, Elvis Presley's longtime home, Graceland, is open to the public. And one of the best, most underrated amusement parks in the world is in the small town of Pigeon Forge - Dollywood, named after country legend Dolly Parton.

Texas is so big you can do just about everything. Go tubing on a river in the state, but if that's not enough water then head down to one of its spectacular Gulf Coast beaches like at South Padre Island. See a rodeo. Hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Pick peaches in the Hill Country. Texas offers it all.

Even in the summer, Utah is a cool spot for outdoor activities. The main reason? Utah is home to five of the coolest National Parks - Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. And we haven't even mentioned Monument Valley. Even the traditional ski resorts like Park City are wonderful during the summer, and Salt Lake City has the terrific Hogle Zoo.

Whatever you do in Vermont, wherever you go, you need to end up in Waterbury. For one, the Waterbury Village Historic District is a step back in time to the 19th century with its historic buildings and still-thriving stores. Two, Waterbury is the home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. Sample all the wild and new flavors, and take a couple of (dozen) pints back home with you. And the Green Mountains are spectacular any time of year.

Another great start with myriad things to do. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk and shoreline are wonderful. Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, is amazing. Colonial Williamsburg theme park is a step back in time to a real community and how it lived in the 1800s and 1900s. And, right across from Washington D.C., is the moving Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Seattle is the main city in the state, and it is a cool, cosmopolitan place to explore. Be sure to see The Seattle Japanese Garden in Madison Park, one of the oldest Japanese gardens in North America. Visit the Museum of Flight for something really cool. Have a cup of coffee at the very first Starbucks. Go to the top of the Space Needle. Bring home goodies from Pike Place Market. And that's barely scratching the surface.

Take a look at any list involving things to do in West Virginia during the summer and they all involve the same thing - being outdoors. Like the song says, almost heaven, indeed. You would be shocked at how many great resorts there are in this state, allowing you to golf, horseback ride, swim, go to the spa, and more. In Shepherdstown, there's also a great live theater experience at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. And be sure to visit American's newest National Park at New River Gorge which, as you might imagine, lives up to its name.

The Wisconsin Dells are the pride of the state and a cool place to be in the summer. With a natural water break - hence, 'The Dells' - and several water parks, this is the place to be for all ages. But the coolest place in the state is in Milwaukee where you will find the Harley-Davidson Museum. Home to more than 400 motorcycles and thousands of artifacts that tell the company history, now more than 100 years old.

Look, there are many things to do in the state of Wyoming but we would be remiss if we didn't say the coolest is a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Arguably the country's greatest national park, Yellowstone is a treasure where you will see something new every day. Look straight ahead and it could be bison one day and bears the next. Look up, it could be an eagle or a hawk. Just, whatever you do, don't engage and let the animals be. That's the cool part.