The average flight to a popular summer destination in the U.S. costs $413 and lasts about four hours.
The Los Angeles metroppolitan area is the most attractive destination on the West Coast, and the Washington, D.C. metro area is the most attractive on the East Coast.
Florida and Texas are home to the mosttop summer destinations in the U.S., each with at least two metro areas in the top 15. Oppositely, California has some of the least popular summer destinations.
The metropolitan area with the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room is Houston, Texas ($28), nine times less expensive than Portland, Ore.’s $254.
Sky-high costs of flying won’t stop older Americans from making travel plans, according to AARP’s annual Travel Trends survey of what’s on people’s long-range itineraries.
A majority of people 50 and older who were surveyed said they anticipate traveling in 2023 – similar to the results of last year’s survey. AARP reported road trips in particular are this year’s choice for adventures, due to affordability. They’re also favored for visiting attractions on the way to destinations, experiencing local food and culture, and enjoying scenic routes on the drive.
“Though costs are higher than normal this year, older adults are once again eager to travel,” said Patty David, AARP’s vice president of consumer insights. “And, with the ability to bring family members along, many find road trips to be budget-friendly as well as a fun. Multi-generational road trips can improve emotional well-being, increase connections with loved ones, and benefit overall energy.”
The survey also revealed:
85 percent of older travelers rank trips in their top three priorities for discretionary spending.
For 2023, 61 percent of travelers anticipate domestic-only travel, with half of those trips by car, mostly in the southern and western U.S.
Concerns about COVID decreased in the past year, resulting in most people feeling travel is safe.
Americans 50 and older spend about $149 billion annually on leisure travel, according to AARP, which offers travel advice geared for older adults at www.aarp.org/travel.
Whether you’re tackling a long trek or taking a leisurely stroll through a forest, it’s easier than you might think to get lost. So which states have the most people who are losing their way or are bad at self-navigating and need Google Maps the most often, and which month is the most likely for unlucky wanderers to get lost? It turns out that Washington is one of the 10 most map-needy.
USBettingReport.com, an online source of news and information tied to betting on U.S. sports, analyzed hundreds of Google searches for Google Maps over the last 12 months and discovered South Dakotans are the ones using the service the most. An estimated 75 out of every 100 residents of South Dakota searched for directions on average since February of last year – the highest figure across all states. The research also found that South Dakota residents were mostly like to get lost in April.
Vermont and Massachusetts rank far behind the leading state in second and third, with 25 out of 100 residents resorting to Google Maps for directions. Washington ranks sixth, right behind Oregon in fifth place. The rest of the top 10, in order, are Colorado, California, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Appearing at the bottom of the ranking is Mississippi, with just an estimated 9 out of 100 people searching for Google Map directions.
The months with the highest number of residents becoming lost were revealed to be August and July.
With over a million acres of wilderness, Olympic National Park has plenty to see, including pristine old-growth rainforests.
By Rae and Jason Miller
One of the best things about America’s national parks is how unbelievably different they can be from one another. You can explore the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park or the swamps of the Everglades. Or what about baking in the desert sun of Big Bend or getting iced down at Glacier National Park?
No matter what environments or activities you prefer, there are a few crown jewels of the national park system you simply can’t miss—10 incredible places offering some of the best landscapes, activities, and history that America offers.
Glacier National Park.
Known as the “crown of the continent,” Glacier is in northwestern Montana near the Canadian border. The million-acre park includes over 700 miles of trails crisscrossing ecosystems from prairie to lakes to tundra and, of course, the park’s namesake glaciers. It’s also home to one of the national park system’s most famous scenic drives, Going-to-the-Sun Road. There are very few other places on earth where you can see dramatic landscapes of lakes and mountains sculpted by massive ice sheets. The park is also well-known for its various ranger-led programs.
Acadia National Park.
This breathtaking area along coastal Maine preserves mountains, lakes, beaches, and other diverse ecosystems. It’s all interwoven with signs of man’s impact, including small towns, scenic drives, and quaint lodges and cabins. We’d argue that nowhere else can compete with the preserved beauty of Acadia’s quality. Drive or hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain to see the first rays of sun hitting the continental United States for part of the year. Or take a dip in the chilly northern Atlantic Ocean waters at Sand Beach.
Olympic National Park.
Olympic is home to three distinctive landscapes that make the Pacific Northwest famous: Ocean coast, mountains, and old-growth rainforests. A short drive from western Washington, it offers fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities for millions. Still, with over a million acres of land, you’ll have plenty of wilderness all to yourself if you so desire.
Yosemite National Park
One of America’s oldest national parks, Yosemite is a nearly 1,200 square-mile area of dramatic valleys, forests, lakes, and other habitats of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Among the most famous are the massive granite cliffs, including the well-known El Capitan and Half Dome. One look at the one-of-a-kind waterfalls and unbelievable rock formations, and you’ll understand the allure of this remarkable place.
Grand Canyon National Park.
Stretching through dozens of miles of northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon offers some of the southwest’s best hiking, striking scenic drives, and rafting for all skill levels on the Colorado River. It’s all well and good to see photos, but it’s hard to truly appreciate the scope of this gargantuan space without seeing it in person. Visitors can easily experience miles of canyon views along the mostly paved Rim Trail.
Bryce Canyon National Park.
Head to southern Utah for some of the national park system’s most otherworldly landscapes. Bryce is primarily known for its hoodoos, which are thousands of distinctive spire-like rock formations. Bryce is doable in a single day or even a half-day, making it a worthwhile stop.
Zion National Park.
Located around the breathtaking Zion Canyon, the park in southwestern Utah protects thousands of years of rich history, from ancient Native Americans to modern Mormon settlers who gave the park its current name.
Grand Teton National Park.
Located in western Wyoming near ski town Jackson (nicknamed Jackson Hole), it protects the most prominent peaks of the Teton Range. South of the more famous Yellowstone, the park is especially memorable for its wildlife-watching, mountain climbing, and hiking opportunities, especially along its many backcountry trails. Animals lovers will enjoy the moose, bison, elk, pronghorn, wolves, and bears.
Crater Lake National Park
In south-central Oregon, the park’s namesake is the deepest lake in the U.S. Crystal blue water fills the massive hole created by a collapsed volcano. The park offers amazing activities in all seasons, from hiking and scenic drives to snowshoeing or sledding.
Yellowstone National Park.
America’s first national park straddles three states and protects a massive expanse of forests, valleys, lakes, and most prominently, geothermal features like geysers.
Rae and Jason Miller wrote this article for their website, getawaycouple.com. They’ve been RVing across the U.S. since leaving their jobs and California home five years ago.
