Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but summer is when people have the most fun. With great weather, countless outdoor events and college over until the new term, there is no excuse not to take advantage of the good vibes and enjoy yourself by trying something new. Here are just a few ways you can make the most of the hot season, while experiencing some of the best of what the country has to offer.
Visit Yosemite National Park
The US is home to nearly 60 national parks and Yosemite is up there as one of the most breathtaking of them all. Receiving up to 4 million visitors a year, it is characterized by its granitic landscape and 95% designated wilderness, meaning no two visits to the area are ever the same. While there is usually a $30 per vehicle entrance fee, national parks across the country celebrate their anniversary on August 25, on which they allow free entry for an entire day.
Drink wine in the Napa Valley
For lovers of great wine, delicious food and breathtaking vistas, the Napa Valley in California is the ideal place to spend a day or two in the summer. A whole variety of different events are held throughout the year. The Festival Napa Valley in July is the one to look out for, celebrating music, food and, of course, wine over a week-long period and attracting more than 10,000 attendees. The festival has hosted hundreds of musicians since its launch in 2006, spanning genres from jazz to classical to dance.
Go and watch the Dallas Cowboys play
The competitive period for the NFL may have come to a close by the summer, but there is no shortage of games being played, as teams keep fit during pre-season friendly matches. The team with the most popularly attended games is undoubtedly the Dallas Cowboys, reaching average crowds of more than 92,000. The pre-season can be a great time to buy NFL tickets as there won’t be so much competition for them. While it may not be as great as watching the Superbowl Final, simply being able to say you have seen America’s most popular team play is one to tick off the bucket list and a great American activity for summer.
Head over to Metropolitan Museum of Art
If the heat is getting too much for you, a great alternative can be to get out of the sun and dip into one of the country’s 35,144 museums. The largest and most impressive of these is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, home to more than two million works in its permanent collection and visited by 6 million people annually. Known colloquially simply as “The Met,” painters featured in the museum include Rembrandt, Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Monet, and Picasso. It also has a fantastic roof terrace, offering panoramic views over Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
