Summer vacations should be spent relaxing and being lazy. You don’t want to be that person always going around doing too much. Here are some ideas for 1 week summer vacation that you might want to consider. It’s almost summer, which means you’ll need some 1-week vacation ideas for the family. It’s important to plan out your vacations well in advance so that you are ready to go when the time comes. There are also plenty of things to do in New England if you live here! My husband and I have been vacationing on Cape Cod for over 20 years, so these will be mostly from a Cape Cod perspective, but hopefully you will find a few that are unique.

Summer is a great time to take a short vacation, but it can be challenging to find the perfect getaway. Here are some ideas for 1-week vacations that are sure to please everyone in your family!

1. Go camping.
2. Make a list of all the things you want to do this summer, then see if you can do them all in one week! You’ll have so much fun that it’ll fly by before you know it.
3. Go to the beach! Just make sure to bring sunscreen and an umbrella for shade—those rays are no joke!
4. Get your friends together for a movie night or game night, or maybe even both! You can’t go wrong with movies or games on a warm night like this one!

1 week vacation ideas

Awesome One-Week Vacation Destinations You Need To Visit

We surveyed 1,001 travel enthusiasts in the U.S., and only 13 percent of people said they take trips for one to two weeks at a time. If you’ve resolved to take more time to relax and reflect in the new year, we’ve got some ideas for your next extended vacation. Travel far or near, but don’t rush a great getaway!

Get inspiration from these nine cities and scope out some vacation rentals where you may never want to leave. What are vacation rentals? They’re accommodations that come with a variety of amenities, and they make it easy to feel right at home, whether your rental features a fully equipped kitchen, laundry services, or long-term booking deals. Sounds like the perfect way to get to know the best one-week vacation destinations in the country!

1. Orlando, Florida

Why you need at least a week: In sunny Orlando, you could visit multiple worlds, all in a week! In our survey, more travelers said they wanted to visit Orlando than any other U.S. city, and it’s not hard to tell why. Each amusement park is at least a full day’s entertainment: Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort™, and LEGOLANDÒ Florida Resort are just a few of the most popular parks.

Get to know the local scene: Stay in one of Orlando’s foodie districts for great energy and fewer crowds. Savor the city’s unique dining on Restaurant Row, located on Sand Lake Drive. Vines Grille has an elevated happy hour experience with craft cocktails and live jazz music seven days a week. When you’re on vacation, every hour is happy hour!

Already requesting your days off? These vacation rentals in Orlando will be your home away from home.

2. Monterey, California

Why you need at least a week: Monterey is the ideal place to soak up exquisite scenery and relax to the sounds of the Pacific Ocean in the background all week long. While you’re in the area, set aside some time to take a day trip to San Jose, just 70 miles to the north, or drive 29 miles south to Big Sur for more outdoor adventures.

Get to know the local scene: Relax on the waterfront in Monterey Bay, or skip the sand with long walks on the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail. You can even become a regular at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, NBD. The marine experts lead daily tours that get you up close with sea otters, jelly fish, sharks, and more. Stop in for a different tour each day, and bring the kids!

Check out these luxury vacation rentals in Monterey, and catch the next wave to California!

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Why you need at least a week: You’ll want plenty of time to explore Philadelphia’s multicultural venues, old and new. Visit the National Museum of American Jewish History to learn more about the country’s Jewish heritage, and follow the footsteps of abolitionists, Native Americans, and suffragists as you walk through Independence National Park to the Liberty Bell.

Get to know the local scene: Philadelphia is home to Reading Terminal Market, the oldest farmers market still in business in America (since 1893). Don’t miss Pennsylvania Dutch eats from Beiler’s Doughnuts & Salads — yeah, you read right — the first Amish vendor to join the market. Try a new flavor every day!

If your walking shoes are laced up and your mouth is watering, pick from top vacation rentals in Philadelphia and head for the City of Brotherly Love.

4. Louisville, Kentucky

Why you need at least a week: Louisville is surrounded by stellar scenery! Located just 85 miles south of Louisville, Cave City is your gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park. And when you crave natural beauty without the commute, stay closer to downtown and bike or hike through the Parklands of Floyds Fork.

Get to know the local scene: Louisville’s distillery scene is bustling, and you’ll want to take your time sampling the local libations. Rabbit Hole is known for their bourbon (of course) and the artistic experiences you’ll have at their distillery and tasting room, located in the NuLu District. Take a tour, join an event, and enjoy sweet sips.

Is Kentucky’s gorgeous landscape calling? Book a Louisville vacation rental and experience the best of Southern hospitality for yourself!

5. Nags Head, North Carolina

Why you need at least a week: You’ll want to squander a lot of your time on Pea Island Beach, of course, but don’t stop there! Feeling daring? Hang glide off the dunes at nearby Kill Devil Hills, and take a diving excursion to the Triangle Wreck; a tanker and freighter that that sank in the late 1920s. There’s so much to do and so little time!

Get to know the local scene: Get some crunchy Cayman conch fritters at Tortugas’ Lies, a beloved seafood place with Caribbean flavors and big personality. Hey, don’t let the party stop there. Hang out like a local at TRiO for bistro eats, fine wine, and live music three to five nights a week.

best summer vacations for couples

If you’re looking for a way to rekindle your spark, it’s time to book a trip to one of the best vacation spots for couples in the US. While it’s easy to put off a holiday by blaming it on work, kids, or scheduling conflicts, investing some much-needed time in each other is just what the love doctor ordered.

Luckily, you won’t have to travel far to reignite those fireworks—America has a slew of breathtaking, secluded, romantic, and bustling holiday spots perfect for your next romantic escape.

Whether you’re a fan of canoodling on a beach, hiking through lush forest, or zipping down a mountain on skis, you’ll find the perfect place to visit for a loved-up holiday on our list of the best vacation spots for couples in the US.

Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues.

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico

With a distinctive architectural style of low-slung, earth-colored adobe buildings found nowhere else in the country, New Mexico’s capital is idyllic in all seasons.

Santa Fe comes alive with lilacs and forsythias in the spring, lanterns adorn rooftops as the smell of burning piñon wood fills the air in the winter. Warmer months bring al fresco dining at top-notch restaurants serving authentic Southwestern fare, as well as outdoor festivals, and markets selling folk art.

As for fun things to do in Santa Fe, there are plenty: Take a stroll through the Downtown Plaza and side streets, stopping at Chapel Loretto to admire its mysterious spiral staircase. Choose from art galleries on Canyon Road, including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, boasting the largest collection of her Southwestern-inspired landscapes.

A short drive from downtown, you can get in touch with your inner child at the Meow Wolf immersive art exhibition. Once here, it’s easy to see why Santa Fe is one of the best vacation spots for couples in the US.

Accommodation: Best Resorts near Santa Fe, NM

2. New York, New York

Sleepless in Seattle made the top of the Empire State Building a must-visit for couples, and it’s one of the most romantic spots in New York. The city that never sleeps has so much to offer in terms of quixotic attractions and unique things to do.

Serenade your sweetheart in a rowboat on Central Park Lake surrounded by stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, catch a Broadway show, enjoy a delicious meal at a gourmet restaurant, and end the evening holding hands under the stars of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.

In the winter, there’s no better place to visit than New York for the holiday lights and decorative store fronts. Ice skate at Wollman rink on the East Side of Central Park to the tune of festive songs and then share a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 just a few blocks away.

Visit the best parks in New York City for a quiet stroll hand in hand. Traveling to the Big Apple during the year’s coldest months? No worries, there is a slew of fun things to do in NYC in winter.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in New York City

3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

America’s first national park is a 2.2-million-acre wilderness rich with wildlife and natural wonders, from the awe-inspiring Old Faithful and Steamboat geysers to the Grand Canyon waterfall of Yellowstone.

Spend a few nights at Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins, the oldest hotel within a national park, overlooking the largest high elevation lake, or at the world’s largest log cabin at the Old Faithful Inn to fully experience all that Yellowstone has to offer.

There are plenty of things to do in Yellowstone beyond geyser watching. Visitors can go on a boating expedition on Yellowstone Lake, explore the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in the Canyon area via its top-rated hiking trails, and marvel at the rainbow-colored waters of the iconic Midway Geyser Basin’s Grand Prismatic Spring. Wildlife lovers can take a safari through America’s Serengeti at Lamar Valley for large herds of bison and sightings of elk, pronghorns, and gray wolves.

Make the nearby frontier town of Cody, Wyoming a stopover for a truly Wild West experience, with a night rodeo and log cabins of the infamous outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and stay at the iconic Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel, built by the town’s founder, the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. This truly is one of the most romantic vacation spots for couples in the US.

Accommodation: Where to Stay near Yellowstone NP: Best Areas & Hotels

4. Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is desert elegance at its best, with incredible luxurious resorts, spas, and golf courses in a glorious setting. Take a stroll down Main Street, pop into one of the museums, and take advantage of dozens of restaurants.

As one of the best vacation spots for couples in the US, there are plenty of romantic attractions and things to do in Scottsdale. Wake up early for a memorable hot air balloon ride over the Superstition Mountains and enjoy a picnic back on land.

If you’ve got an appetite for adventure, get your boots dirty as you make the arduous assent up Camelback Mountain. You’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Valley, bragging rights, and, most importantly, an unforgettable experience with your lover.

Architecture fans can take a 20-minute drive out to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, for a tour of the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Accommodation: Top-Rated Resorts in Scottsdale

5. Savannah, Georgia

As the oldest city in the Peach State, Savannah is charming, with oak trees adorned with cascading Spanish moss, stately mansions, and historic squares. With warm weather year- round and thriving cultural and culinary scenes, Savannah makes for an ideal Southern getaway.

There are so many tourist attractions in Savannah that you’ll never get bored. Savor impressive gardens and the magnificent water fountain of Forsyth Park. Take a walk through the tree-shaded streets to River Street overlooking the Savannah River, where you can shop for souvenirs and have authentic Southern cuisine at riverside restaurants.

Find out which houses in the Historic District are haunted on a walking ghost tour. Take a drive out to Bluff Drive in the Isle of Hope to see antebellum houses and quaint cottages across from the Intracoastal Waterway.

Accommodation: Top-Rated Resorts in Savannah, Georgia