History Filled Destinations in 2025
Domestic travel numbers keep on ticking up to new levels since the pandemic, according to the U.S. Travel Association. In fact, according to one of the most recent AARP reports, it has been found that 63 percent of travelers who are 50+ plan to travel somewhere in the United States in 2024.
This automatically implies that vacation planners should aim to book transportation, hotels, and advance tickets for all the popular destinations in historic cities. If you’re looking to visit the birthplace of our national anthem, book it ahead.
If you’re interested in Native American culture, check availability. Do you desire to see Liberty Bell? There are still some available spots. Now, we wanted to ease your process, so we made a list with seven cities that offer a little bit of everything for everyone, including the country’s early history, nostalgia, natural wonders, and a welcoming vibe.
Baltimore
Don’t be shocked to hear locals greet you with the well-known “Hon,” which is also one of the many delights visitors find in Maryland’s largest city. About 40 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., Baltimore is known to be quite abundant in national history.
As you may know, it is the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” has deep African American origins (a stop on the Underground Railroad), as well as a love of America’s favorite time (Babe Ruth was born here in 1895). If you ask me, I will forever be fascinated with this city due to “The Wire.”
The last sail-only warship, the USS Constellation, which was built in 1854 for the U.S. Navy, still resides in Baltimore’s harbor. Now, guess what? The Inner Harbor is quite a magnet for families. If that’s not in your area of interest, there’s the National Aquarium (adults $49.95, and people who are 70+ and youths 5-20 $39.95), and the kid-friendly Maryland Science Center (adults $26.95, people who are over 62 years old $25.95, and children who are in between 3 to 12 years old $20.95).
There’s way more to expect from “Baldamore” as locals love saying, including more than a dozen different neighborhoods. Oh, and if you can’t keep up with the “Hon” thing, just try to go with it. It’s part of their charm.
Seattle
Imagine one of the most vibrant urban oases plunked down due to breathtaking natural beauty. That’s Seattle. This city is more than worth a bird’s-eye view from the top of its iconic Space Needle or the Seattle Great Wheel.
There are so many places to visit on the ground! For instance, there’s Pike Place Market, with a kaleidoscope of fresh flowers, specialty foods, and the original Starbucks, opened in 1971. There are also so many cruise ships and ferries that come and go on the Salish Sea (you can take a ride to Bainbridge Island just to have a good time).
You can also discover vibrant neighborhoods with unique personalities, each of them offering all those dining, shopping, and farm markets. You can also find art and specialty museums, such as the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPop, where the general admission is $27 to $29.75, depending on the day of the week, and other special exhibits.
Right next to them, there’s the Space Needle, or the National Nordic Museum, where adults would pay a $20 ticket, those who are 65+ $16, and college students $15.
Philadelphia
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia are some of the most notable icons in the city. America’s history is definitely engrained in Philadelphia’s DNA, and it also springs to life in Independence National Historical Park.
Summer is loaded with events, so a check of the National Park Service website will definitely help you plan the next best vacation. But there’s more history to be added to the Philly itinerary. You can get a cheesesteak, visit the Reading Terminal Market for lunch, or cheer the Phillies if they play home. If you’re into this, you can also pay homage with a selfie at the Rocky Statue at the bottom of the stairs.
For some maritime history, you can head to the Independence Seaport Museum, or simply try the Mutter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The latter will show you some of the most eye-opening medical history exhibits!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Arrive with imagination to downtown’s central Santa Fe Plaza, look north to the block-long Palace of the Governors, and east to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. All these structures alone speak to the immense history of the capital city, 7,200 above sea level at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains, which is now some sort of a mecca for creatives.
Native American makers showcase their jewelry, pottery, sculpture, paintings, and many others on the portico of the palace. Shops are creatively filled with original works, with many more in all the other dozens of galleries in the arts district on Canyon Road.
No discussion of Santa Fe takes place without acknowledging the renowned Santa Fe Opera. It is officially a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art, however, Santa Fe’s culinary scene is just as inspiring. In fact, it’s quite difficult to go wrong whether you wish to find the finest dining experience or simply the best burrito money can get.
Portland, Maine
Summer in Portland is quite a thing to behold. Imagine pinkish-red lobster bites in buttery rolls, sea kayaks, and a couple of paddleboards on Casco Bay, waterside promenades to stroll, and outdoor yoga in a city park.
When it comes to Portland, nature is front and center, especially since the city is built on a neck of land that juts right into the blue sea. It was settled by the English back in 1633 when it was called Machigonne (“the great neck”) by the Native Americans who inhabited the area.
By 1786, the seafaring trade, which is still obvious in Old Port, is now a funky mix of shops with names such as “Cool as a Moose.”
These days, like many other cities in the United States, Portland boasts some of the most unique neighborhoods, like East End (with the beautiful promenade), East and West Bayside, as well as West End. It’s a town with Victorian mansions, a working wharf, and a trove of dining spots, where you can eat oysters, crab cakes, Atlantic char, and blueberries in pancakes.
Nashville, Tennessee
Music City lures travelers with its country history and song, but even if you’re not a fan of “Three Cords and the Truth,” you will still wish to explore its energy. Nashville was number 3 on Southern Living’s list of the South’s best cities for 2024.
It’s easy to see why. We have Lower Broadway, where you can delight and unwind in honky-tonk music and dance, there’s the Grand Ole Opry, where the biggest names in the country are always headlining; and there’s the National Museum of African American Music, as well as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with its fascinating history.
You can also check Nashville’s RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley recorded his beloved Christmas album. Naturally, you can’t spend all your time in the low lights of those honky-tonks, so you might as well get outdoors in Nashville’s Centennial Park, where visitors can find a replica of the Greek Parthenon built for an 1897 exposition to celebrate 100 years of Tennessee statehood.
If you found this article interesting, we also recommend checking: 10 Natural Wonders You Can Visit in the USA
