Start with the reason to go
A harbor boat trip, a distinctive museum, a mountain trail, or an evening of live music can give a visit its shape. Find the experiences that make each destination different and decide which ones matter to you.
Second Star Guide
Find your next U.S. getaway.
From Maine harbors to mountain towns and city neighborhoods, discover what makes a place worth the trip—and how to enjoy it. Independent guides for weekend getaways and other short stays.
What the guides help you decide
Where to go, what to do, and how to make time for it.
Choose a stay that suits the visit
Staying near the places you want to explore can change the whole trip. Compare locations and lodging styles, then find meals that fit the day, from a casual breakfast to a dinner worth reserving.
Bring the trip together
Use the maps and itineraries to see how the places connect and what fits in the time you have. Arrival advice and seasonal guidance help you adjust the plan to your visit.
Featured destinations
From Maine harbors to the San Juan Mountains.
Walk an island without cars, follow the coast around Carmel, or explore a Gold Rush town in the Georgia foothills. These guides offer different starting points for your next trip.
Utah
Deer Valley
Groomed runs, summer trails, Olympic history, and polished mountain stays just outside Park City.
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Colorado
Breckenridge
Five ski peaks above a walkable Victorian Main Street, with alpine trails and Summit County drives beyond town.
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Maine
Ogunquit
Follow Marginal Way between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove, with time for the village and its stretch of southern Maine coast.
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Michigan
Mackinac Island
A car-free Great Lakes island of ferries, bicycles, carriage roads, porch hotels, and lake-view loops.
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California
Carmel
White sand, cypress-lined coast, small galleries, tucked-away courtyards, and Point Lobos just down Highway 1.
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Georgia
Dahlonega
Gold Rush history, a lively town square, North Georgia wineries, and Blue Ridge foothill roads.
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Maine
Boothbay Harbor
Working-harbor views, boat trips, lighthouse country, seafood, and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
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Michigan
Frankenmuth
Bavarian-style architecture, chicken dinners, Christmas shopping, and walks along the Cass River.
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South Carolina
Murrells Inlet
MarshWalk seafood, charter boats, Brookgreen Gardens, and the beach at Huntington Beach State Park.
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New York
Niagara Falls
The American side of the falls, from Goat Island and Cave of the Winds to the Maid of the Mist docks.
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Colorado
Silverton
A high San Juan mining town reached by mountain highway or narrow-gauge railroad, with alpine country in every direction.
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Vermont
Woodstock
Covered bridges, village streets, farm country, fall color, and classic inns in the Ottauquechee River valley.
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200 destinations to explore.
Browse by region to find somewhere close to home or a place you have wanted to visit for years. Open a guide to see what draws you there and how a visit could take shape.