Best Summer Vacation Destinations? U.S. News May Surprise You
by Richard D'AmbrosioBoston took the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 ranking as “Best Summer Vacation in the USA,” beating out typical perennial winners like Orlando and New York City.
The Massachusetts city was credited with being “a living history lesson,” and having one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the world, Fenway Park.
Taking second spot is Seaside, Oregon, what U.S. News & World Report called a “family-friendly beach town that sees few crowds and provides easy access to nearby natural wonders.”
Steamboat Spring, Colorado was named third best summer vacation destination, “ideal for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking and camping.”
For cheapest summer vacations, U.S. News ranked the Grand Canyon, Arizona, tops, followed by Williamsburg, Virginia; Fort Myers, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Best Family U.S. Beach Vacations were Outer Banks, North Carolina; Destin, Florida; Maui, Hawaii; Hilton Head, South Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
U.S. News analyzed more than 700 destinations using a methodology that combines travelers' opinions with expert and editor analysis. Each destination is scored in 10 categories, from sights, culture and food to nightlife, adventure and romance, offering a comprehensive evaluation of each destination.