By Caitlin Morton and Emily Pennington, April 3, 2025
It’s time to start thinking about your summer vacations plans, starting with where to go for Memorial Day weekend. One of the best parts about living in North America is the sheer diversity of easy access three-day-weekend trips spanning the gamut of drool-worthy travel destinations. Want to hop on a quick flight to an alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks? We’ve got you covered. Looking to road trip to a national park full of mangrove lagoons and colorful coral reefs? Yep, that’s also an option.
Whether you’d rather languidly sip a cocktail in a balmy tropical destination or feel the surge of adrenaline on a whitewater rafting trip, there are tons of destinations, both domestic and abroad, that are a cinch to get to and easy to explore this Memorial Day. Here are the best long weekend getaways to consider for 2025.
Yosemite National Park, California
Though the park’s high alpine may still be blanketed with snow in the preceding months, Yosemite Valley is typically warm and lush by May, with fresh snowmelt turning its famed waterfalls into vertical roaring rivers. It’s a fantastic time to spot wildflowers and hike or cycle around the area’s imfamous granite walls. Rent a bike at Curry Village and spend a day marveling at Half Dome and Lower Yosemite Falls, or challenge your thighs on a leg-busting ascent of the Four Mile Trail.
Stay here: Families can’t go wrong with Rush Creek Lodge & Spa at Yosemite, which boasts a splash-worthy swimming pool and a soothing, nature-themed day spa. Meanwhile, couples and adult groups might want a more private cabin or villa stay at the just-opened Firefall Ranch, which serves up delicacies like Osso Bucco and grilled Branzino at its on-site restaurant, YOVA.
