Who doesn’t want to have a glimpse of the Grand Canyon, wander through the Yellowstone or sunbathe in Honolulu? The US is a country with plenty of destinations to offer, and it can be tough to decide when is the best time to visit each one. To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the best time to visit Yellowstone, Hawaii, California, Utah, San Diego and more exciting places in the US.
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Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu, Oahu is a grand and breath-taking scenery. It hosts cultural and historical sites such as USS Arizona Memorial and Lolani Palace. The perfect time to visit Oahu is between November, when the hotel rates and airline prices are low and the temperature is moderate.
Oahu mixes cosmopolitan extravagance and stunning views more than some other Hawaiian islands. In the Waikiki neighbourhood, a horizon of tall buildings and resort lodgings contrasts with sprawling white-sand shorelines. For an essence of Hawaii, visit the North Shore. Here, you’ll find the most splendid blue waters and winding hikes.
High-class restaurants, dynamic cultural events, and wild nightlife further showcase Oahu as a “Get-together Place” of Hawaiian society. You’ll also discover familiar American food chains in Honolulu and Waikiki. Still, you should attempt top Hawaiian choices like shaving ice with red bean glue or Filipino pork adobo. The island is additionally home to well-known gourmet specialists Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi. They put Hawaiian cooking on the American provincial food map. Recent guests recommend attempting the Hawaiian combination food at Roy’s Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Yamaguchi’s chain restaurant serving excellent European and Asian dishes with a Hawaiian twist.
Socially, Oahu is one of Hawaii’s arts and society scene centres. The island has many music and dance celebrations, including the Annual Ukulele Festival. Likewise, you can discover numerous expressions of Polynesian and indigenous Hawaiian society throughout the island. Look at the Polynesian Cultural Center on the island’s north shore for a more profound investigation of the island’s local legacy. It’s additionally vital to view Hawaiians as American citizens rather than “Hawaiians” or “Local Islanders.” While residents of Oahu treasure their indigenous parentage, they likewise take pride in their American legacy.
Inhabitants of the Hawaiian islands generally have a laid-back attitude. However, life is slower than in most US urban areas, and customer service can be inefficient. As a result, it’s easy to lose patience while visiting.
A trip to any part of the Hawaiian islands will almost certainly be enough to satisfy any need for natural wonders. Still, perhaps the most stunning is the active volcano known as Mauna Loa.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. The best time to visit Yellowstone Park is from March to May or between August and September. During these seasons, there are fewer crowds, and the weather is mild. However, July and August is the best period to visit since schoolchildren are out of school and the weather is friendly.
Approximately three and a half million people visit the Park each year. Many of them are repeat visitors; however, for those exploring the Park for the first time, the 3,500 square miles of land can be intimidating. It can be tricky to know where to start. However, the wildlife, the history, the geology and the geothermal features are enough to keep you entertained for months on end.
Keep note of the following though….
Book For A Week Or More
One of the biggest mistakes of those who visit Yellowstone National Park for the first time is booking a short trip and spending most of their time in their cars rather than on foot. This is a vast expanse of land, and as such, it will take quite a bit of time to immerse yourself in it. Moreover, you should savour the visual delights of the landscape here, not whizz by them in a car! Allow yourself at least four to five days to familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
Explore Different Regions
Yellowstone National Park has five entrances and multiple regions inside of its boundaries. To the north of the Park, you will find a large volcanic ‘cauldron’ called Yellowstone Caldera. This is a very peaceful area and ideal if you are visiting during a busier period of the year and are eager to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Park’s other regions. This area also has more rolling hills and wildlife than the south, although there are fewer geothermal features to be found here.
The south can get quite hectic during summer, but it is home to some of the world’s most iconic geysers, including Morning Glory and Old Faithful. It is certainly worth a visit. To the southeast of the Park, you will also find the beautiful and very tranquil Yellowstone Lake, the USA’s biggest mountain lake.
Accommodation In Yellowstone
The Inn near the Old Faithful geyser has been around since the turn of the 20th century and keeps many of its original features. You can also opt to go camping if you wish, and this is perfect for those travelling on a budget or if you simply want to get back to nature for a few days. However, the camping sites here book up quickly, so make sure to secure a spot for your tent as soon as you visit the Park.
California
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite is California’s natural landscape, well-known for its waterfalls, meadows, wildlife and mountains. The ideal time to visit Yosemite is between March and May. The weather is friendly to children during this time since it is neither too cold nor too hot. Every year, Yosemite National Park welcomes more than four million visitors from all over the world.
Big Sur
Perhaps a lesser-known natural part of California, Big Sur is a sight to behold. Running about 100 miles along the coast of California, south of the Monterey Peninsula, it is the name given to the stunning area where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise from the Pacific Ocean.
Utah
Monument Valley
When you picture a Western, you picture Monument Valley. The iconic sandstone buttes, some of which reach up to 1000 feet, are a sight to behold. Located within the Navajo Nation Reservation, it has a dirt road running through it for easy viewing.
Delicate Arch
Arches National Park is home to stunning rock formations and thousands of natural sandstone arches. The most well-known of these is the delicate arch. Its name comes from its appearance, which gives the impression that it will fall over at any minute.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is considered one of the most spectacular canyons on Earth. The ideal time to tour is between March and May and between September and November. During these seasons, the temperatures are cool and thin clouds. The place is also suitable for young children.
San Francisco
San Francisco is great to visit all year round. However, the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for. Winters are rainy but with mild temperatures. If you’re interested in warm weather and fewer crowds, autumn is a great time. Spring is also lovely, although the city can be foggy. Summer is a fully-booked period; the weather is usually great, but hotels and attractions are more crowded and expensive.
No matter when you choose to come, there are plenty of great things to see and do, like the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most iconic landmarks and the notorious Alcatraz Island. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love trying all the different restaurants in San Francisco.
Washington DC
Book a trip to the capital city of the USA between September and November or between March and May. During these seasons, most hotels are cheap, and travel expenses are low. The weather is also enjoyable during these months.
Myrtle Beach
This is one of the best coastal family destinations. The perfect time to visit is from June to August when the beach weather is also excellent. Myrtle Beach is known for its resort atmosphere. It is home to several large amusement parks, such as Myrtle Waves Water Park, Broadway at the Beach, and Family Kingdom Amusement Park. Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is a 1.9 km wooden promenade that stretches along the beachfront. Visitors can enjoy shops, restaurants, attractions, and views of the ocean.
Other popular attractions include Ripley’s Aquarium, the SkyWheel Ferris wheel, and WonderWorks. Golfers can enjoy numerous golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, such as Tidewater Golf Club and Pine Lakes Country Club. However, for those searching for a more low-key experience, the city has several alternatives for fishing, sunbathing, and simply appreciating the scenery.
San Diego
Book your stay in San Diego between March and May or September and November. San Diego’s top attractions include the Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo and the New Children’s Museum. Balboa Park is a beautiful urban park that features museums, gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The Park is also home to the San Diego Museum of Us and the Timken Museum of Art.
Final thoughts
When it comes to choosing the ideal time to visit such exciting places, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Ultimately, the best time to visit any of the above is whenever you can make the most of your trip and have the right company with you.