12 Best Places to Visit in May in the USA

The District, as it's affectionately known to residents, is the epicenter of American power and national prestige. Towering landmarks to American history line the National Mall, which is also home to some of the finest museums in the world. As you consider what you want to see when visiting Washington D.C., it helps to recognize that the vast majority of significant memorials are clustered near the National Mall. In order to give yourself a bit more perspective on the city, we recommend booking a hotel in another part of the city if it’s convenient for you. Popular neighborhoods include Georgetown, Adams Morgan, and NoMa. These more residential areas are filled with great restaurants and tons of local flavor. Of course there’s nothing wrong with staying Downtown. It’s just that getting out of the federal district will really broaden your experience. May is an ideal time to visit DC as you’re past the crush of cherry blossom season and still before the uncomfortably hot and humid days in June and July.

The Big Easy is a place where cultures blend. World-renowned for its distinctive music, Creole heritage, and festival ethos, New Orleans is packed with affordable attractions. Start your tour in the French Quarter along the Mississippi River near Jackson Park. The nearby Presbytère is a state museum with exhibits exploring Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city in 2005. After spending time in the Quarter, take a streetcar west into the Garden District where you’ll encounter tree-lined boulevards with stately manors once home to aristocratic families. Audubon Park near the Loyola University campus features great walking paths. Greenwood Cemetery is worth a visit for all the elaborate aboveground tombs. When the sun goes down, head back to the French Quarter and join the party that stretches late into the night. You can enjoy all of this without spending much beyond the cost of a tram ticket! Best of all, May is a downright gorgeous month to visit New Orleans as the city’s flowers are in bloom and the daytime temperatures aren’t too high.

Like its namesake, this lovely little town is intimately associated with a tulip festival. Drawing visitors from around the Great Lakes region, Holland is a quintessential Midwestern American city with a dash of European flair. The best time to visit is, of course, when the tulips are in bloom. The annual Tulip Time Festival normally runs during first weeks in May. Ranked as one of the best small-town festivals in the United States, this is a lively affair. Holland is a good day trip from Chicago, or more easily reachable from nearby Grand Rapids. Start in town around Centennial Park and then explore the campus at Hope College. Peak into the Kruizenga Art Museum before heading downtown. Central Holland is basically three streets where you will find all the shops, cafes, and restaurants. Walk the town and consider stopping into Butch’s Dry Dock or the Alpenrose Restaurant. The latter has a Bavarian motif and feels like an authentic German bakery. North of town is Windmill Island Gardens, a must-see during Tulip season.

Zion National Park is tucked into Southwest Utah, not far from St. George. Zion has a unique geography that supports many different habitats, giving the park an unusual diversity of plant and animal species. The best options for travel are to arrive from Las Vegas or St. George, Utah. The small town of Springdale is located just outside the park boundaries and has a number hotels and guest houses. As with the other parks on our list, Zion National Park is open all year. Getting around Zion is best accomplished with a car; however, there are some public transportation options available, including a shuttle service into Springdale. If you’re entering the park via Springdale, stop at the Zion Nature Center and Zion History Museum located near the entrance. Here you can get some tips on helping conservation efforts, meet fellow travelers, and get updates on local trail conditions. May is one of the best times to visit; but, be on the lookout for sudden rainstorms. Always heed trail conditions and the advice of park rangers. Temperatures can vary quite a bit between morning and afternoon so dress in layers. Zion National Park is a treasure, and with a bit of care and planning you can have the adventure of a lifetime.

Thanks in part to its location on the western shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago grew from a small trading outpost to America's 3rd-largest city. Chicago is a fabulous city and visitors cannot help but marvel at all it has to offer. Whether you're looking for great architecture, food, museums, recreation, or something else, chances are you will find it in Chicago. The Chicago River runs through the heart of the city and the Chicago Riverwalk's network of walking paths offer some of the best views of the city's amazing skyline. You can hop on and simply start walking, or choose some sections to stroll based on where you're going. One recommendation is to visit the area near Wacker Drive, the Franklin-Orleans Street Bridge, and the Wells Street Bridge. There you can get some great photos where the river curves a bit before heading out to Lake Michigan. Another prime place to go is Adler Planetarium, which has a long circular walking path offering an ideal view back towards the Loop. You can visit the planetarium, the Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium while you’re at it. May is a great time to visit Chicago given temperatures are consistently mild and the you'll escape the high humidity that tends to characterize summer in Chicago.

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Roanoke is the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in Southwest Virginia, Roanoke has a markedly different feel when compared to other cities on our list. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find, however, there is a lot going on in Roanoke. Start your visit at the Taubman Museum of Art. Randall Stout designed the gallery space in a modernist style with long flowing curves. The museum’s collection features more than 2,000 works from prominent 19th- and 20th-century American artists. Nearby, the Science Museum of Western Virginia has fun, hands-on exhibits great for people of all ages. One of Roanoke's most famous attractions is the Mill Mountain Star. Known as the "Hollywood Sign of the East Coast," it is the world’s largest freestanding illuminated star. At night, Mill Mountain is a great vantage point from which to see the town below. As the city's most beloved landmark, a visit to Roanoke wouldn't be complete if you miss your chance to stop at the star. Whether you enjoy history and culture, art and architecture, landscapes and natural wonders, or just good old-fashioned American charm, Virginia is the place for you and Roanoke is one fine town to visit in May.

Atlanta may get an outsized share of attention, but coastal Savannah should not be underestimated. A broad range of artistic styles and tastes are on display. Begin your tour in Forsyth Park where the dense summertime canopy makes for a thoroughly romantic setting. Near the northeast corner of the park is Savannah College of Art and Design. The galleries there are filled with works by talented students pushing the boundaries of various aesthetic forms and trying to make a name for themselves. Visit the nearby Mercer Williams House Museum to see the mansion vividly portrayed in John Berendt’s bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Work your way towards the river and the Savannah City Market. Often described as the Savannah’s "art and soul," the galleries here are a must-see. Finally, allow yourself some time to explore this most Southern of towns and draw in its wonderful artistic sensibilities.

Las Vegas is a town with something for everyone. There's amazing natural landscapes in Red Rock Canyon. Monumental engineering at the Hoover Dam. And of course, the glitz and glamor of the world's swankiest casinos. South Las Vegas Boulevard, known locally as The Strip, is where you'll find all the best casinos and entertainment in Las Vegas. Anyone who visits Vegas is going to spend time along the Strip. During its heyday, Downtown Las Vegas was where the action happened. Today, you can experience this legacy at the Fremont Street Experience. Once known as Glitter Gulch, Fremont Street is a popular performance and entertainment venue. Under a barrel vault canopy, visitors can take a ride on the zip line or hunt for souvenirs. As casinos have improved their entertainment options and incorporated the latest in digital projection technology, lighting, and sound effects, Vegas shows have become enormous spectacles that will leave you in awe. Big touring acts typically play limited runs so plan ahead. There are also a number of Cirque du Soleil shows and other regular performances running at the different casino resorts. If you've never been to a Cirque performance, do you yourself a favor a book a ticket.

Bright lights, broad avenues, and an irresistible allure help make New York City arguably the greatest city in the world. Sure there's London, Paris, and Tokyo, but none of those places match the frenetic energy of a city seemingly perched on the edge of danger. New York's rough and tumble attitude belies a tenderness that comes through in surprising ways. In high-density places like Manhattan, you'll have no trouble getting around via public transportation. Even if it's a bit more challenging in the outer boroughs, New York City is easily navigable by combining transportation options. New York is arguably the one place in the entire United States with a comprehensive public transportation system comparable to those found in major European and Asian cities. First-time visitors to New York City can easily lose themselves in the glass and steel, the frenetic pace of a city rushing towards the next big thing. New York City is vast and simply impossible to cover in a limited time. No matter what you're searching for, you can find it in New York City. We know that we once you visit, you won't want to leave. Pay a visit to the Big Apple in May before the high temperatures and humidity turn the city into a veritable sauna.

There's plenty going on deep in the heart of Texas. The state's outsized land area is matched only by its outsized attitude. Texans are fiercely proud. Many still consider the Lone Star State a country unto itself. If you're looking to get a feel for Lone Star culture, there's few better places than San Antonio. This lovely destination that won't break your bank account has heaps of Texas charm and a vast array of great attractions. San Antonio's relatively compact city center affords ample opportunity for exploration. The city's famed River Walk is a network of trails lined with restaurants, shops, and green spaces winding alongside the San Antonio River. An integral part of the city, recent efforts to cultivate and promote investment in the River Walk have helped turn the downtown sections into a hugely popular venue for local gatherings. With 15 miles of continuous trail, there are dozens of interesting and popular spots along the way. Find the Briscoe Western Art Museum with its wide range of art and artifacts commemorating the culture of the American West. Snap a few pictures of Rosita's Bridge and then cross over to explore La Villita Historic Arts Village. At night go for a drink at Casa Rio, the Rainforest Café, or the Coyote Ugly Saloon.

The Grand Ole Opry may be Nashville's most well-known institution; but it's far from the only thing to experience in this exciting travel destination. Music is part and parcel of this Southern city. Nashville has connections to fabled country stars such as Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, and Earl Scruggs. Jimi Hendrix was a regular at Club Del Morocco. Otis Redding, Little Richard, and Etta James all called Nashville home at one time or another. That's not all either. Nashville boasts the only full-scale replica of the original Greek Parthenon in Athens. Central Tennessee is replete with dozens of great distilleries, many whose operations extend well back to the heady days of Prohibition and genuine bootlegging. Whether it is arts and entertainment, sporting events, great educational opportunities, or just a down right good time, you can find it in Nashville. We're confident that if nothing else, Nashville's many parks and great recreation areas will be there to welcome you. Pack your bags and come explore beautiful Nashville, Tennessee, a great destination to visit in May.

The Keweenaw Peninsula is the northernmost part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Houghton is the region's main city and is served by Houghton County Memorial Airport. Once you arrive, work your way up to Copper Harbor at the very northern tip of the Keweenaw. From there, you can enjoy Brockway Mountain Drive, a 9-mile scenic road leading west away from Copper Harbor. Brockway Mountain Drive is the highest paved road between Rockies and Alleghenies. It is also one of the best places to visit on a refreshing springtime road trip in May. If you happen to be near Brockway Mountains around sunrise or sunset, the views are heavenly. Brockway Mountain Drive is a seasonal road and it is possible for a late season's snowfall. Nevertheless, the views from the highest points on this road extend up to 50 miles on clear days and are well worth the trek.