The mere thought of Memorial Day conjures images of white clothing, yacht parties and champagne toasts, but the holiday means much more than debuting your summer wardrobe. Cities around the country honor the men and women who gave their lives for our nation in different ways. Some observe military parades, and others use it for rooftop parties – whatever your style, be sure to check our Top 10 places to celebrate Memorial Day before you make plans.
Cape Cod
Maybe it’s the harsh winters, but New England relishes the summer with serious intensity, and Memorial Day is the perfect kickoff. Spend your long weekend relaxing on any one of the Cape’s beaches and enjoy local fare like lobster and homemade ice cream. Beach games, road races in Hyannis and walks through the botanical gardens of Harwich are just a few ways to spend your time. For a salute to the military, head to the free exhibit at the Cape Cod Maritime Days Captain Bangs Hallet House.
Myrtle Beach
The epitome of American summer vacation, Myrtle Beach is the place to go for mini-golf courses, water parks, daiquiri bars, and t-shirt shops. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to watch the marching bands and military parades with more than 25 floats during the day, and see fireworks at night. This year, Jordin Sparks will play in concert, and there will be a Buzz Aldrin recognition ceremony.
Yellow Stone National Park
If getting back to nature is your thing, celebrate Memorial Day at America’s oldest national park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone’s natural landscapes of preserved wilderness and wildlife sprawl the lines of Montana and Wyoming, and is home to plateaus, mountains, forests, 300 geysers, canyons and enormous waterfalls. Grizzly bears, elk and otters are the park’s most common residents, but the most famous draw is Old Faithful, which erupts approximately every 90 minutes.
Hilton Head
Annual art and culture festivals make Hilton Head an idyllic spot to spend Memorial Day weekend. This island off the coast of South Carolina is drenched in natural beauty and unspoiled marshlands, as well as pristine beaches and flowering meadows. The most fun is found on the shores, where sunbathers enjoy the marina and harbor, and world-class resorts welcome visitors to eat in gourmet seafood restaurants and shop in upscale boutiques.
Atlantic City
The Jersey Shore can get a bad rap, but there’s nothing like the sights and sounds of Atlantic City’s boardwalk to light up Memorial Day weekend. From bustling resorts to upbeat casinos, the area glows 24 hours a day, and the boardwalk welcomes tourists and locals alike to enjoy the Steel Pier and its surrounding arcades. Watch musicians and comedians at high-rolling venues, or simply enjoy the music outside – either way, Memorial Day looks different on the Jersey Shore.
Palm Springs
This desert oasis’ history is as compelling as its present. Once a Hollywood glam getaway is now a more accessible alternative to the beach. Here, you can golf, swim, or play tennis at many of the nearby resorts, or head out into the blazing sunshine for hikes and canyon tours. Palm Springs is more affordable than it was in its heyday, so it’s also easier to find a diverse price range.
Miami
Miami turns up the heat every weekend, but on this weekend in particular, hundreds of thousands of hip hop fans flock to South Beach to celebrate Memorial Day weekend as “Urban Beach Week.” What started out as an edgy urban fashion show has become a week-long celebration of music, fashion and entertainment in general. Now, it is the largest urban festival in the world, and draws entertainers, actors, models and more than 300,000 attendees to have fun, eat, party and take part in special events. The highlight (aside from the beaches and nightclubs) is the massive reggae concert in Bicentennial Park.
Washington D.C.
Spending Memorial Day in Washington D.C. truly connects to the meaning of the holiday. The country’s capitol is steeped in national pride, and all over the city, monuments display the importance of the US’s military history. On Sunday, May 30, PBS will sponsor a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol with National Symphony Orchestra. There will also be a motorcycle rally from the Pentagon to the Lincoln Memorial, and a GI film festival May 12-16, where a journalists, authors, a panel of soldiers, and award-winning Hollywood actors present. Don’t miss the Memorial Day parade on Monday along Constitution Avenue on Monday.
New York City
In New York, Memorial Day experiences go from reverent to reverie in a flash. In the harbor a parade of ships commemorates the importance of the holiday with musical performances by sailors and marines, and exhibits at the Air and Space Museum. In the Hamptons, the weekend takes a different turn, with parties celebrating the dawn of wearing white clothing, and A-list awesomeness woos paparazzi to snap shots of Hamptons regulars like Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Austin, Texas
Austin is Texas’ gem for all things unique, and it celebrates Memorial Day in its own special way, too. Party around Lake Travis, or explore the games, food, arts crafts and music of the Round Rock for Fiesta Amistad. Athletes can take part in the Texas Triathlon, and sommeliers will love the Austin Wine and Music Festival. Local bands play all day, and nearby restaurants supply free samples of delicious fare.
© Cheapflights Ltd (Photo credit: mr.throk)
