by Chris Muras
Ah, February. You know what’s on our minds the most in the month of love… the Super Bowl, or wait we suppose Valentine’s Day could be too. Or, the first taste of spring in some of our warmer states. Art shows, music festivals, food and wine tours, there is so much going on in February all across the US that your options for travel are limitless. Don’t get overwhelmed, just pick one (or more) of these incredible destinations. Get ready for the best places to visit in the U.S. in February. We’re pretty excited, are you?
This article is part our Best Places to Visit in the USA series. If you’re looking for the top places to visit around the country in each month of the year then look no further, our guides will give you all the seasonal travel inspiration you need to find the perfect location for your next getaway:
Best Places to Visit in The USA In February
If you are wondering where to visit in February in the USA we have some ideas we think you’ll really enjoy. From some obvious dream vacations to a few hidden gems you may not have even considered. Here are some of the best places to travel in the US for the month of February.
Miami, Florida is one of the most popular winter destinations for those who desperately need a break from colder northern temperatures. Miami in February will treat you to temps in the 70s, which are perfect for day-to-day activities. Hit up the GroundUp Music Festival, take a Valentine’s Day cruise on Biscayne Bay, spend a day shopping at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, or delight your tummy with the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. All of these events and many more are waiting for you when you come to visit Miami in February.
Palm Springs is another warm-weather destination for those looking to warm their toes and hearts with beautiful California weather as the winter comes to an end. With plenty of activities, festivals, and events going on this month, you will never be left wondering what to do. Rev your engines at Mccormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction, take in any number of art walks, food, and wine festivals, or even a taco tour. Of course, Palm Springs is a pretty romantic city to treat yourselves to a romantic getaway with the wonderfully walkable downtown filled with unique restaurants, shops, and entertainment opportunities.
Could there be a more romantic spot to travel in February than Hawaii? It really is hard to beat. With its laid-back vibe, warm weather, lush waterfalls, pristine beaches, and fresh tropical food, oh wait, getting a bit carried away there. Maui is pretty special with the twisty-turvy Hana Highway, authentic luaus, the surprising bamboo forest along the Pipiwai Trail, oh, and Mama’s Fish House with flaky melt-in-your-mouth grilled fish. Say aloha for us!
Best Attractions To Visit In The USA In February To Avoid Crowds
The whole point of a vacation is to get away and enjoy some relaxation – it is much easier to do that if you aren’t picking the overcrowded destinations everyone else is choosing. If you’d like a little help in that department, try these next few wonderful destinations.
Most people yearn for the rich green landscape of Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the late spring or summer, but February can be extra special too. As a dense morning fog sits over the vineyards and the warmth of the sun begins to break through its heavy curtain, the landscape takes on a surreal quality you just can’t find any other time of the year. Most wineries offer winter tasting events, too, so you can enjoy a wine lovers weekend getaway at a time when you practically have the vineyard all to yourselves.
Why would anyone in their right mind want to visit New York in February when any second you could get buried in a few feet of snow or drenched in a layer of sloppy slush just standing on the sidewalk? If you look past the negatives, you’ll realize New York in late winter is pretty magical. With ice skating, or even ice bumper cars, in Bryant Park at the foot of the Empire State Building, followed by a hot coffee or mug of cocoa (and a shopping spree on Fifth Avenue to really warm you up) to a delicious treat at a little shop in Little Italy – New York has more than enough magic to go around. In the month of February, romance is in the air, and there is plenty of it to be found in New York City.
Portland might not be the first place you think about for a February vacation, but there are plenty of activities to make the cooler temps worth it. Warm up with a Portland Madi Gras festival in the third week of February, share a craft brew at Zwickelmania, an annual brewery festival, or ooh and aah at the Winter Light Festival in early February, where you can enjoy live music, incredible light shows, and the festive Portland vibe.
Best Places To Visit In The US In February For Outdoor Adventure
From hidden gem ski resorts to epic hiking trails in the mountains, there is no shortage of outdoor adventures to be had in February. Here are a couple of destinations we think are pretty special.
Do you need one last ski vacation before spring melts your favorite slopes? Breckenridge, Colorado will dazzle you with mountain views and thick fluffy powdery snow so deep you’ll think you’ve fallen into a cloud. This delightful ski town has plenty of surprises if you are in the mood for a little February romance too. Pack your parka, grab your coziest boots, and the hand of a loved one as you hike through the sun-bathed forests around Carter Park, or take a sled dog tour through the Swan River Valley with the sunrise twinkling in that special someone’s eyes – you won’t be able to help falling deeper in love.
Just look at that view of the Great Smoky Mountains! One look, and we were hooked. If you are looking for outdoor adventures, this is one of the best places to go in February in the USA. And it probably wasn’t even on your radar. Besides the typical winter activities of skiing, skating, snow tubing, and snowshoeing, you will be treated to some of the most magical winter hikes to Chimney Tops and along the Alum Cave Trail. The sense of peaceful solitude is aww-inspiring when you stand alone (or with your loved ones) surrounded by the natural beauty of the Smokies.
Best Places To Visit In February For Events
Considering February in much of the US is a time to hole up and hope for spring, there are a surprising number of fun events going on in cold-weather regions just as much as there are in warm-weather regions. Here are a few fun destinations with late-winter festivals and events that we think you’ll love.
Sure, it can get a bit slushy and sloppy in February, but up in the mountains, it is absolutely beautiful after fresh snow. There are seven mountain ranges surrounding Salt Lake City, from the Wasatch Mountains to the north and east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. If you love winter sports, a trip to Salt Lake City should be on your bucket list. If you are just itching to get another tattoo of a snowboarding polar bear on your back, make sure you hit up the SLC Tattoo Convention in February too.
New Orleans is one of the best cities to visit in February in the USA – or any time for that matter. With such a rich unique culture and creative vibe, it is hard not to find something interesting to see and do during your stay. Come satisfy your craving for gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp creole, and shrimp étouffée in one of the most festive Cajun and Creole towns in the South. With a vibrant nightlife, New Orleans is one wild ride in February.
Best Hidden Gems to Visit in the US in February
Many of the previous destinations you have probably heard about and have either been to or have been dreaming of going to. But sometimes, it’s fun to pick somewhere you aren’t as familiar with. Here are a few destinations that are equally enjoyable but may not have made it on your bucket list – yet.
You may not be aware of it yet, but Maryland will delight you with one of the best February vacations in the US. Annapolis, in particular, is a charming town on the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay. It is a town filled with history and culture. (And some of the best brewpubs on the East Coast) In February, the weather is usually above freezing during the day, so you can enjoy ice skating at the Annapolis Town Center without worrying too much about frozen toes. Or, if you are feeling especially furry – you can attempt the Polar Bear Plunge – an annual event at Sandy Point State Park. If you are a bit hungry after all of your fun outings, swing by the First Sunday Farmers Market for amazing food trucks and live music.
If you haven’t heard about Boone, NC you are missing out on one of North Carolina’s cutest little gems. It is surrounded by beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains with easy access to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Not only will you fall in love with the views of Grandfather Mountain, but you’ll also get goosebumps at how quaint the downtown Main Street area is, with microbreweries, shops, and restaurants all within easy walking distance.
Tucson is one of the best places to travel in February in the USA to enjoy a nice weather warm-up. With temps in the 70s, it is a nice break if your usual morning routine involves digging your car out of a snow bank. And what better way to have some fun in the sun than a good ‘ole Arizona rodeo? The vibrant downtown surrounded by mountain views isn’t too bad either. February is also when the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show shines brightly in town. Since we mentioned shining brightly, all you need to do to enjoy a brilliant light show is to look up. Tucson’s Oracle State Park is one of the very few places on Earth designated as a Dark Sky Park.
Big Sky, Montana is a quiet winter sports oasis miles away from any big city, so you can enjoy all your favorite winter activities without big crowds. With 5,800 skiable acres, it is a mecca for alpine to cross-country skiers of all skill levels. Of course, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are also popular, with epic mountain views and tons of powder snow. If you are out in the wilds of Beehive Basin, you are bound to see abundant wildlife, including elk, moose, antelope, bald eagles, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and many more small and large mammals. With the haunting call of a wolf pack not out of the question.
In the warmer months, the Flint Hills are a unique tall grass prairie that runs from Kansas to Oklahoma (it is known as the Osage Hills in OK). It is an incredibly wide open area that has an unexpected silent beauty. In late spring, you can witness the annual burning of the prairie so that the native grasses can rejuvenate and continue to thrive. So why would you venture out into this seemingly barren land in February? Cross-country skiing! With so much land with nothing to see for miles other than rolling snow-covered hills and groups of cattle huddling together against the cold, you have an incredible opportunity to whisper across the land in a peaceful zen-like state as you explore the Flint Hills Nature Trails.
Whether you are treating your sweetie to a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day, getting away from the cold, or rushing with skis blazing toward it, February can be a fun and exciting time to travel. We hope you’ve discovered some new destinations that weren’t on your travel list. If you have some favorites that weren’t mentioned, please share them with a comment so we can continue to grow our best places to visit in the U.S. in February list.
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