Sitting at home on a long holiday weekend is the stuff of dreams for some people, but if you’re itching to get away, then you’ll want to start booking your last-minute Memorial Day vacation stat.
For a fun day trip with the family, check out a nearby lake. You can go kayaking or paddleboarding, or you may even be able to rent a pontoon for a day on the water. Just remember to bring life jackets and lots of sunscreen. Ippei Naoi, Getty Images
If you want to feel the sand between your toes, then consider visiting Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, North Carolina. There’s an airport nearby, the public beach is huge, and there are tons of great restaurants for dinner after a day in the sun. Patrick Mcallister / EyeEm, Getty Images
Kick summer off with a family camping trip at a state park. Spend the day hiking, fishing, and playing and then toast some marshmallows and look up at the stars before bedtime. Dress in layers, though, because it may be cold at night. Christopher Robbins, Getty Images
If you live within a reasonable driving distance from the Grand Canyon, it could make for a fun long weekend trip. Take in all of the natural beauty and then make your way back home — checking out all of the tourist pit stops along the way. Matteo Colombo, Getty Images
Spend Memorial Day in New Orleans this year. The weather will be warm, but not hot, and the streets will be packed with people ready to party. Call around to different hotels rather than booking online, you may be able to get a good room this way. Peter Unger, Getty Images
Visit Washington, D.C. this Memorial Day. Check out the museums in the mall and stop by Arlington National Cemetery to pay respect to those who served our country. Save some money by getting a hotel near a train station rather than staying in the city.Chris Grill, Getty Images
It might be too late to get a room at a Disney resort, but you can still book a hotel nearby and drive to the park. It will be busy, though, so get to the park when (or even before) it opens to beat some of the crowd.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor, Getty Images
Charleston, South Carolina is absolutely beautiful with cobblestone walkways, historical buildings, and so many options for food and drink. Call around the hotels to see if you’re able to get a room near the action, but if not, there’s always Uber or Lyft. Daniela Duncan, Getty Images
Wake up early, pack the car, and take the kids to a big zoo for a day of checking out animals. If you’re lucky enough to already live near a zoo, use Memorial Day to switch things up and travel to another one that you’ve never been to. Catherine Ledner, Getty Images
This Memorial Day, travel to Yellowstone National Park to hike, bird watch, camp, and soak up all of the natural beauty. The park spans 3,500 square miles, so even if you’ve visited before, there is probably plenty more you still haven’t seen. Ali Dionigi / 500px, Getty Images
The clock is ticking, but there’s still time to book a room in Key West, Florida for Memorial Day Weekend at the Margaritaville Beach House or the Hyatt Residence Club. You may also get lucky and find a cozy condo or house on Airbnb.Peter Unger, Getty Images
Chicago, Illinois has shopping, five-star restaurants, Cubs and White Sox baseball, Lake Michigan, and the Navy Pier — suffice to say, it is an excellent long weekend destination. It also has tons of great hotels, so there’s still time to get reservations.Henryk Sadura, Getty Images
