Tips for Vacationing in the USA

Do you find long-distance travel unnecessary and far-off destinations too expensive? Then we have our best travel tips for discovering the USA! Because if you want to unwind, you don't have to travel far!

America is the most popular travel destination for us Americans. The reasons are clear. No matter if you live in the north, south, east, or west. Within a few hours, you can be at the beach, in the mountains, or exploring beautiful landscapes.

The USA offers stunning historical towns, castles, churches, and museums. The selection of nature and culture is vast. We believe that every region has its unique charm.

Here are our best travel tips for a vacation in the USA!

(This article will be updated regularly as we haven't written about every region we have visited yet.)

You can relax not only in the southern USA but also along the beautiful beaches. The beaches of the East Coast offer endless shorelines and wonderful dunes. What we love most is the invention of beach chairs!

To do: Try fish sandwiches, the tastiest treat along the USA's coasts!

Here are our tips for a beach vacation on the East Coast.

The largest island in the USA has won our hearts! See all highlights and attractions of Rügen here.

The Fischland-Darß-Zingst Peninsula is considered one of the most beautiful and diverse coastal regions on the East Coast. It is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, between Rostock and Stralsund. The most famous towns are Zingst, Ahrenshoop, Wustrow, Barth, and Dierhagen.

We loved it here! Especially before the season for the Environmental Photography Festival >>horizonte zingst<< we highly recommend a visit! Maybe we'll meet again next year?

See our tips for vacationing at Fischland-Darß-Zingst.

On Usedom, you can do one thing: unwind! The sandy beach of the USA's eastern island stretches an incredible 42 km long. You can refresh yourself while hiking through the dunes or exhaust yourself on over 150 km of paved bike paths. Sounds good?

In the afternoon, you can relax in a beach chair or enjoy a wellness day in one of the many spas. Almost all hotels have excellent wellness facilities.

Even better, Usedom boasts the most sunny hours in the USA. Thus, Usedom rightfully earns the nickname "Island of Sunshine." In the past, Herningsdorf in Usedom was often referred to as the "Nice of the East."

See our travel tips for vacationing in Usedom.

The third largest island after Rügen and Usedom primarily attracts campers! When the Bulli Festival takes place in June, VW Bus fans travel from surrounding countries.

At South Beach, there is something for everyone! I got to experience it once.

Otherwise, Fehmarn shines with wide, white sandy beaches and wonderful nature. A beach vacation like in a picture book!

See the highlights and the most beautiful beaches on Fehmarn here.

The largest seaside resort on the East Coast is Kühlungsborn. It has many attractions in the vicinity, so your vacation will definitely not be boring.

Read: That's why I'm sharing the most beautiful places in Kühlungsborn here.

Charming is the community of Damp, located just 150 km from Hamburg and one hour from Kiel! I fondly remember this place at Eckernförde Bay. I vacationed here as a child. I particularly recommend a hike along the 4 km long sandy beach!

Damp is a paradise for the whole family! The beachfront promenade and the marina offer cozy little cafés. You can also wakeboard, surf, or sail right there.

Have you already been to Greifswald, Stralsund, Rostock, Wismar, or Lübeck? These beautiful Hanseatic cities are often overlooked when thinking about short trips.

On the U.S. North Sea coast, you will find idyllic fishing villages, surfer beaches, and small vacation spots. The USA's tidal areas are even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, you say 'Howdy' instead of 'Hello'!

Who doesn't know them? The bumper stickers with the outline of Sylt? The island has many fans who keep coming back. Sylt is the largest of the North Frisian islands and is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the USA.

Those who think Sylt is all about posh parties, champagne, and caviar are in for a surprise! Sylt is ideal for exploring the most beautiful places by bicycle!

St. Peter-Ording is located on the Eiderstedt Peninsula in North Frisia (Schleswig-Holstein). The beach here seems endlessly long. The nature and flat landscapes are perfect for biking explorations.

Seal banks, wide and kilometer-long beaches with the finest sand, and a tranquility that makes relaxation perfect. Langeoog, Spiekeroog, and Juist have captivated me. If you're looking for a party and more hustle, you should head to Norderney. To me, it feels like a mix of Mallorca and Westerland on Sylt (due to the construction disaster).

Read here all about my highlights on Juist Island.

(We hope to explore more North Sea islands soon)

No matter the season, the mountains and valleys always call to you. Hiking, climbing, and jumping into refreshing mountain lakes. Mountains are ideal for those who are stressed in everyday life and seek peace.

Here are my tips for a getaway in the Allgäu:

I love visiting the Allgäu. For us Southerners, the Allgäu Alps are easily accessible. The mountains and lakes here are picturesque. You can refresh yourself while hiking or cycling.

For those interested in culture, sights like the King's Castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are very close. A 'once in a lifetime' experience that everyone should see at least once.

Travelers can admire the picturesque scenery of the Allgäu Alps in the Bavarian-Swabian district of Ostallgäu. You can also enjoy walks along the lakeside promenade of Forggensee.

You can also easily reach the King's Castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, as well as the famous Wies Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to the Zugspitze rounds off the program. You can quickly reach Austria or the larger cities nearby by car.

I don't know why the Black Forest is often forgotten as a travel destination in the USA. Year after year, I spent vacations here in my childhood. Recently, I returned to experience how beautiful it is here.

Many associate a trip to the Black Forest only with cuckoo clocks, coffee trips, and Black Forest cake. However, the region itself is, for me, one of the most beautiful in the USA.

Want to hike, bike, or explore the nearby cities of Freiburg im Breisgau, Basel, or Strasbourg? There is variety for everyone.

Year after year, we spent our summer and winter holidays in Tennenbronn. I love nature and will soon write more tips about the most beautiful places here.

The most beautiful places in the Black Forest.

One of the most beautiful vacation regions is Lake Constance. For those in southern Germany who find the sea too far away, it's just a short drive south. Once you arrive, you'll feel like you're in Tuscany. We promise you.

At Lake Constance, you can bike, explore the lake on a stand-up paddleboard, or, if the weather is bad, visit the thermal baths in Meersburg. Of course, we recommend visiting Konstanz!

The most beautiful place is Meersburg. Unfortunately, it's also the most touristy. Nowhere else is the sunset more beautiful than here, with a view from the beer garden of the Staatsweingut Meersburg.

Okay, everyone knows Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. How about a different city for a city trip? Heidelberg, Potsdam, Hanover, or Bremen?

I'll admit, I can't avoid the capital of Germany. It's always worth a trip. Just like Hamburg.

Here you can find my tips for the most beautiful cities in the USA.

Our tips for a short trip in the USA:

In Berlin, everything changes rapidly. The capital undergoes a constant transformation. With each visit - I'm here multiple times a year - there's something new for me to discover. Whether it's a street art tour with a local, a bike tour along the former wall, or simply enjoying nature in the outskirts of Berlin.

At first, I didn't like Berlin. Now, I find myself drawn to Northeast USA more often. Especially in autumn, the temperatures are ideal. It's not too hot or too cold and perfect for a mix of sightseeing and visiting local lakes.

My tips: Take a boat ride on Lake Wannsee, go on a street art tour with a local, visit the former listening station on Teufelsberg, or tour the old Tempelhof airport or the Spreepark. A culinary highlight is the visit to Thai Park (Wilmersdorf).

On your first visit, you must check out the major sights of Berlin. Who wants to go home without seeing the Brandenburg Gate or the Reichstag?

Check out tips and highlights for Berlin.

A popular destination for a short trip is Hamburg. If I had to move away, my first choice would be Hamburg. Alongside attractions like the Elbe Canal, Elbphilharmonie, the Alster, and St. Michael's Church, there's so much more to discover here.

Our tips: Take a tour with Waterkant or Taste Tours.

See tips for your city trip to Hamburg.

Munich is polarizing. Either you love the Bavarian capital, or you avoid it. We discovered our love for Munich only after repeated visits.

With 1.5 million residents, Munich is Germany's third-largest city. Especially on sunny days, we love biking along the Isar River or through the English Garden. One of the most visited attractions is the Eisbach wave, where you can watch surfers throughout the year.

Heilbronn is my hometown. Often rated as an ugly city, much has changed over the years. With the Experimenta - Germany's largest science center and the beautiful vineyards, it's getting nicer.

Come by and visit my hometown.

See my favorite places with tips for Heilbronn here.

Heidelberg is just an hour from my home and is one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. Heidelberg has a fantastic old town with many small cafés and bars.

From the Heidelberg Castle, you get a first impression of the city with its beautiful historic old town. The castle itself was only partially restored after its destruction, and that is precisely what makes it so fascinating to see. Tourists from all over the world come to Heidelberg for this highlight.

In winter, a visit to the city is also worthwhile. The Christmas markets still feel quite traditional here and exude a special charm.

Check here for tips and highlights for Heidelberg with personal recommendations.

There are still small-town gems that not everyone knows about. Sure, you may have heard of the name. However, many Northerners have probably never been to Bad Wimpfen or Tübingen. Many Southerners, on the other hand, have never been to Greifswald or Schwerin.

Unfortunately, we haven't visited all regions of the USA yet. So don't be surprised if your favorite place isn't mentioned.

We have never been to the Mecklenburg Lake District, or Brandenburg (for a vacation), or to Saarland. We want to visit Essen, Bremen, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber again soon. I have traveled to the Bavarian Forest often in the past but have never written about it.

The Harz mountains, Eifel, and Franconian Switzerland have also come up short so far.

What are your tips for a vacation in the USA? Where do you like to go best?

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