Shares
Share on Pinterest
Share with your friends










Submit

Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. 

The lures of international travel are numerous. Culture, cuisine, and castles, along with wine and wildlife, are some of the prime reasons we wander abroad. Sure, you can eat tapas in Texas or sip wine in Washington, but those experiences can’t replicate imbibing in Barcelona or Burgundy. And certainly, traveling within one’s own country cannot replace the cultural seasoning that spices up overseas trips. Still, there are opportunities in the United States to enjoy reasonable facsimiles of favorite foreign forays.

RELATED: Top 10 National Parks to visit in fall

Go on a wildlife “safari”

Okay, you aren’t going to encounter lions or tigers or giraffes on safari in the United States. But if you are willing to expand your zoological must-see list, you can find wildlife in this country that you will go ape over.

Want to experience a home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play? Then make a beeline to Custer State Park in South Dakota. It’s home to nearly 1,500 North American bison, more commonly referred to as buffalo. And yes, the deer and the antelope of song play there as well, along with mountain goats, elk, bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, and prairie dogs. A drive along the park’s wildlife loop road can feel like a mini-safari. While you can overnight in nearby Custer, a more authentic experience can be had by staying at a state park lodge. By the way, while in the neighborhood, be sure to explore some of the other tourist attractions of the Black Hills region, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, a fascinating work in progress.

Another popular destination for an American-style safari is Yellowstone National Park, located (mostly) in Wyoming. You have your bison, your mule deer and elk, your bighorn sheep and mountain goats, and your bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and wolves. In all, Yellowstone sports the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48. Find a reasonably priced hotel nearby, or for a sense of true immersion, stay a few days overnighting in one of the park’s cozy lodges.

Taste your way through wine country

Owner/salesperson and customers inside a small, local wine shop.

While American oenophiles may not be heading to Bordeaux or Portugal’s Duoro Valley right now, varietals of options are available in the USA. Of course, everyone knows about California wine country, but Virginia, believe it or not, is for wine lovers, as well. Loudoun County, just outside of Washington, DC, is where horse country meets wine country. The county boasts more than 40 wineries and tasting rooms, many of which are located along scenic country roads dotted with roadside stands, antique shops, and horse farms. For a resort experience, stay at Salamander Resort and Spa or at Lansdowne Resort and Spa. Or book a stay at a quaint country inn, some of which are located a stone’s throw from vineyards.

Meanwhile, New York State is the fourth-largest wine-producing state in the country, and the largest east of the Mississippi. Viticulture regions include the North Fork of Long Island, The Finger Lakes in central New York and the bucolic Hudson Valley, which is home to the country’s oldest winery (that’s Brotherhood Winery, circa 1839). For a taste of ice wines, head to the state’s northernmost vineyards, located near Niagara Falls and the Champlain Valley. If you stay near Niagara, you can even book a hotel room with amazing views of the falls. Visiting that region in autumn also serves up a vibrant splash of fall colors.

ALSO: Are you earning rewards on that trip? You should be! Join Orbitz Rewards today.

Explore  historic castles, palaces, and mansions

Yes, queen, the United States actually has an authentic royal palace. Iolani Palace in Honolulu was built in 1882 by King Kalakaua. It remained a royal residence until Queen Liliuokalani, the king’s sister and successor, was deposed and the Hawaiian monarchy overthrown in 1893. Like any palace worthy of the name, the massive residence has a throne room, a grand hall, royal bedrooms, and a state dining room. Unlike other palaces, it also has an Imprisonment Room, where the deposed queen was held for eight months. Docent-led and self-guided tours offer a history lesson likely to be new to most mainlanders. For a stay worthy of queen,  book a fine Honolulu hotel right here.

They were originally called cottages when they were built, but make no mistake: The Gilded Age mansions of Newport, Rhode Island more likely resemble French chateaux, Italian villas, or English country estates. About a dozen of these sumptuous structures, built in the late 1800s by wealthy East Coast tycoons, are open for tours. Just like your average visit to a European castle, the combination of ornate architecture, magnificent furnishings, and treasured works of art is likely to leave one’s mouth agape. After visiting Newport’s mansions, don’t miss the chance to chow down on local specialties like clam chowder or the now-famous Rhode Island-style calamari.

Tagged: Canada, Hawaii, New York, Virginia, Washington DC

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Laura Powell

Laura Powell

Laura is a 20-year veteran travel journalist. She was CNN's first travel reporter, and has written for publications ranging from Alaska Airlines Magazine to The Washington Post. Find her at the www.dailysuitcase.com or on Twitter: @dailysuitcase

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *