Top 5 Memorial Day Getaways
Memorial Day is fast-approaching, but there's still time to find the perfect Memorial Day weekend trip. Whether you're looking for patriotic activities or just some fun in the sun, these top 5 Memorial Day getaways should inspire your Memorial Day travel planning.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
What better place to celebrate Memorial Day than the country's capital?
On Thursday at the Arlington National Cemetery, soldiers lay flags before each gravestone. On Memorial Day, in the same location, you can experience the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Or join the spectators of the National Memorial Day Parade in which each branch of the military is honored and men in uniform march down Constitution Avenue, past the White House. Be sure not to miss the National Memorial Day Concert Sunday which takes place between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on the West Lawn of the Capitol. Washington D.C. weekend rentals from $34/night.
NYC
Head to the Big Apple for Memorial Day weekend, where typically you can catch the excitement of Fleet Week. Though the annual event in which the public enjoys military parades and the opportunity to explore docked military ships is cancelled this year, there is still plenty to do in NYC.
Catch an outdoor concert or have a picnic in Central Park. Visit the Statue of Liberty or explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art which is open to the art-loving public on Memorial Day. If you're in the mood for a parade, head over to Brooklyn for the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade which has been a tradition since 1867. NYC weekend rentals from $26/night.
CHICAGO
Chicago is a great place to be on Memorial Day weekend. The city is host to one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the country, which has been celebrated since 1871. Over 10,000 people participate.
In addition to the parade, you can attend the 29th annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival which kicks off the Chicago outdoor festival season. And if you're a fan of cycling, you can participate in the 'Bike the Drive' event, one of the nation's biggest bike rides and enjoy the car-free views of the Chicago skyline along Lake Shore Drive. Chicago weekend rentals from $21/night.
LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas is always a hot destination for party seekers, and Memorial Day weekend is no exception. The Palms casino hosts a three-day music event (the 'Love Festival') featuring top international DJs.
photo via earthincolors.wordpress.com
Many of the resorts host extravagant parties poolside, with all the amenities and energy-filled atmosphere of a nightclub. And even if you're not looking for parties, Las Vegas still has a lot to offer. Travelers on a family vacation, for example, can head over to Adventure Dome, the largest indoor themepark in the U.S. Las Vegas weekend rentals from $49/night.
ATLANTA
Atlanta's a hot Memorial Day destination, especially for jazz fans. Over Memorial Day weekend the city hosts the Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country.
It regularly features jazz legends plus up-and-coming artists and attracts 225,000 attendees over the three-day holiday weekend. For traveling families, the festival offers a kid-friendly area sponsored by Cartoon Network. Travelers seeking more family adventure can head to Stone Mountain Park, about half hour outside Atlanta, for a day of outdoor fun capped off by fireworks and a laser show on Sunday and Monday. Atlanta weekend rentals from $35/night.
Each of our top 5 Memorial Day getaways has such a variety of activities and attractions you're sure to have a fun and exciting Memorial Day weekend! Which one if your favorite?