Summer is right around the corner‚ and that means planning for a wondrous summer vacation that will provide cherished memories for a lifetime. Maybe you want to avoid travel destinations with overwhelming crowds‚ or perhaps you want to discover a new summer vacation spot that could be your annual retreat with your family. This travel guide will provide you with some of the most underrated summer travel ideas in the U.S. Travel experts suggest that you should book your summer vacation around mid-April to ensure that you snag the best accommodations before prices rise due to higher demand. So without further ado‚ check out these underrated summer travel ideas so that you can start planning the best vacation for 2024. Asheville‚ North Carolina pawel.gaul via Getty Images Nestled amid the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains lies the intriguing and inviting city of Asheville‚ North Carolina. This Appalachian gem offers a bevy of experiences to satisfy your palate‚ quench your desire for the arts‚ and indulge your sense of exploration. This vibrant city offers a community of culinary collaborators crafting a delectable array of cuisines that will have you drooling — including James Beard Award-winning chefs. Asheville is rich in gastronomy — treat your taste buds to barbecue‚ Spanish tapas‚ Southern eats‚ and French dishes. Asheville is also a beer drinker's paradise‚ and it is the city with the second-most breweries per capita. Last year‚ Asheville was ranked as the No. 4 place on Craft Beer and Brewing magazine's Readers’ Choice Favorite Beer Cities survey after notching the top spot in 2022. After you've stuffed yourself with all the gourmet fare‚ you can burn off those delicious calories by walking and hiking the scenic trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway — America’s longest linear park. The breathtaking park features cascading waterfalls‚ a tapestry of natural sights‚ and hidden Appalachian Mountain treasures. For the hard-core explorer‚ visit the picturesque Pisgah National Forest and enjoy panoramic vistas from atop the summit of Mount Mitchell — the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. No trip to Asheville is complete without visiting the historic Biltmore Estate. Constructed in 1895‚ this Ch&;acirc;teauesque-style mansion was the majestic home of George Washington Vanderbilt II. The Biltmore House boasts 250 rooms‚ encompasses 178‚926 square feet‚ and is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The Biltmore House houses treasured artwork by Claude Monet‚ Pierre-Auguste Renoir‚ and John Singer Sargent and features a centuries-old Italian Renaissance wellhead from Venice‚ Italy. Colonial Williamsburg‚ Virginia Montes-Bradley via Getty Images Travel to Colonial Williamsburg‚ where you can step into a living‚ breathing museum that gives you a time-traveling glimpse into American history. This 301-acre historical area features cobblestone streets and hundreds of meticulously restored and recreated buildings from the 18th century when Williamsburg was the capital of the colony of Virginia and named in honor of King William III. Williamsburg was a revolutionary hotbed‚ where anti-British sentiment festered and the protests against Britain's Stamp Act spawned the &;quot;no taxation without representation&;quot; movement. In 1776‚ Virginia's Declaration of Rights was introduced by George Mason in Williamsburg and called for American independence from Britain. Thomas Jefferson drew inspiration from the declaration and used it as inspiration when drafting the United States Bill of Rights. There is no shortage of attractions that are a quick drive or a day trip away from Williamsburg: Another town preserved from the colonial era is Smithfield‚ Virginia. You can visit historic Jamestown — the first permanent British settlement. You can travel to St. John's Church‚ where Patrick Henry delivered his infamous &;quot;Give me liberty or give me death&;quot; speech in Richmond‚ Virginia. Relive the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War at the Yorktown Battlefield. Spend the day thrill-seeking on daring roller coasters at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park. Take a trip to Norfolk to visit the Nauticus maritime-themed museum and the U.S.S. Wisconsin — one of the largest battleships ever constructed by the U.S. Navy. Soak up the sun with a relaxing day at Virginia Beach. Gatlinburg‚ Tennessee Jonathan Ross via Getty Images Situated about 40 miles southeast of Knoxville‚ Gatlinburg presents a diverse variety of activities for travelers of all ages. Get in touch with nature when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Of the 63 national parks across the country‚ Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the most visitors‚ and it isn't even close. The idyllic Tennessee park attracted nearly 13.3 million visitors in 2023. The next most-visited park was Grand Canyon National Park with 4.7 million visitors. Prepare for an exhilarating hike because the park boasts more than 800 miles of hiking trails. While you're hiking‚ keep your eyes open for the incredible diversity of plants and animals at the park. There are more than 17‚000 species documented at the park‚ and researchers estimate there are an additional 30‚000 — 80‚000 species that live there. Ogle sweeping landscape vistas of the stunning Great Smoky Mountains while riding on the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway — one of the largest tramway systems in the United States. Challenge yourself to walk across the imposing SkyBridge — the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America. For the thrill-seeker‚ there are roller coasters‚ zip lines‚ whitewater rafting‚ haunted house attractions‚ and ghost tours. For those who want to relax‚ there is also world-class golf‚ fishing‚ and bird-watching. A handful of moonshine distilleries let you travel back to the days of bootleg spirits. Jackson Hole‚ Wyoming Brian Evans via Getty Images Jackson Hole is most notably known as a winter wonderland destination for skiing‚ but the valley in Wyoming also makes for an underrated summer travel idea. Jackson Hole offers a remarkable retreat for nature lovers with nearby Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. The Aerial Tram gently glides 4‚139 vertical feet in just 12 minutes to give you picturesque 360-degree views of the Tetons. Bicycle enthusiasts can explore the immaculate Jackson Hole valley with more than 56 miles of paved pathways and 115 miles of mountain bike trails. Cosplay as a cowboy by traversing the Wild West in a chuckwagon‚ by stagecoach‚ or horseback. A trip to the Cowboy State would not be complete without a good old-fashioned shoot-out. Every night from Memorial Day‚ there is a re-enactment of a Wild West shootout in the town square. For those who are firearm aficionados or who want to learn how to handle a gun‚ there is a gun range where you can be taught how to safely handle firearms. Jackson Hole is widely regarded as a world-class destination for fly fishing with several pristine rivers. Mackinac Island‚ Michigan Michael Deemer via Getty Images Mackinac Island is a charming vacation destination located between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas with the stunning backdrop of the crystal-clear waters of Lake Huron. Mackinac Island enchants summer visitors with its magnificent beaches‚ quaint shops‚ Victorian-era architecture‚ cobblestone streets‚ horse-drawn carriage tours‚ and delectable fudge. You can visit Fort Mackinac‚ the fortification built by the British during the American Revolution. Americans captured the fort in 1796‚ but the English recaptured it during the first land engagement of the War of 1812 in the United States. Fort Mackinac was returned to the U.S. after the war. You can also see Fort Holmes‚ which was a small British outpost that was constructed after the Americans captured Fort Mackinac. Get your camera ready to snap a photo of Arch Rock — a stunning natural limestone formation located 146 feet above the shores of Lake Huron. Mackinac Island State Park boasts beautiful limestone bluffs‚ verdant woodlands‚ fragrant meadows of vibrant wildflowers‚ and unblemished blue water. San Juan Islands‚ Washington roclwyr via Getty Images Embark on an unforgettable adventure to the San Juan Islands‚ where you'll discover one-of-a-kind natural beauty and wonder. The San Juan Islands consist of 172 islands in the Salish Sea between the state of Washington and Vancouver Island‚ British Columbia‚ Canada. This Pacific Northwest paradise is known for its untouched grandeur and diverse wildlife. Live this unique island life with captivating coastal scenery and lush forests. The San Juan archipelago offers countless water-based activities such as boat charters‚ whale-watching‚ island-hopping‚ fishing‚ and kayaking. The extraordinary wildlife available for your viewing pleasure includes orcas‚ humpback whales‚ porpoises‚ sea lions‚ river otters‚ harbor seals‚ herons‚ and bald eagles. Explore the many historic lighthouses that stand high above the rugged coastline. Several restaurants on the San Juan Islands pride themselves on offering sustainable farm-to-table dining. The restaurant chefs focus on seasonal ingredients that are sourced directly from farms‚ orchards‚ and fisheries on the islands. St. Augustine‚ Florida SeanPavonePhoto via Getty Images Near the northeast coast of Florida sits St. Augustine — the oldest city in the country. St. Augustine — also known as the &;quot;Ancient City&;quot; and the &;quot;Old City&;quot; — was founded by Spanish explorers in 1565 and is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. One of the most iconic tourist attractions in St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos fort. This star-shaped fortification was constructed by the Spanish Empire in 1695‚ making it the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. The defensive fort is situated on the western shore of Matanzas Bay and is constructed from coquina — a form of limestone composed of shell fragments and coral. Over the years‚ the fort has been occupied by the Spanish‚ British‚ and Americans. The Castillo de San Marcos fort is now a national monument for visitors to harken back to the days of cannons and the Spanish colonial rule of Florida. Another famous St. Augustine attraction is the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. According to legend‚ Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Le&;oacute;n touched ground in the area of St. Augustine in search of a mythical spring that was said to provide eternal youth to those who drank from it. One of the eye-catching buildings in the Floridian city is Flagler College — named after Henry Morrison Flagler‚ a prominent industrialist‚ railroad magnate‚ co-founder of Standard Oil‚ and early developer of Florida's Atlantic coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. St. Augustine welcomes visitors with inviting cafes‚ shops‚ and restaurants. Sugar sand beaches and sapphire waters await beachgoers at nearby St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia State Park. Travelers can drive 40 miles north to visit Jacksonville. Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

The Biden administration is in hot water after Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called for the resignation of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Hawley called her the face of “institutionalized corruption” at the department‚ because the energy secretary has a well-documented history of owning stocks without proper disclosure. “I just want to know who really runs the Energy Department‚” Hawley said angrily during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Tuesday. “Is it you or the mega-corporations whose stock that you own that you’re making profit in&;#63;” And Hawley had the receipts. “I asked you point-blank‚ ‘Do you own any individual stock&;#63;’ And you told me ‘No‚’” Hawley recalled. “Madam Secretary‚ you said no. In fact‚ you repeated it three times to me. No‚ no‚ no. Turns out that was false. You did own multiple individual stocks‚ and you neglected to report it to this committee for months afterwards.” “Why did you mislead this committee&;#63;” he asked‚ before Granholm said she believed she had sold all individual stocks and that it “wasn’t a lie.” Hawley then reminded Granholm that she was under oath and pulled out a timeline of what she had actually done with the stocks — which wasn’t what she claimed. “It is outrageous that you’re going to conferences and events funded by foreign billionaires using dark money to try to influence our politics. This has got to change‚ and frankly‚ you should go‚” Hawley said. “She lies to the committee‚ and then she’s indignant being called on the carpet about it‚” Pat Gray says‚ astonished. “Yeah‚ because she’s out there pushing policies that she owns stock in‚” Keith Malinak says. Want more from Pat Gray&;#63;To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

The Middle Ages weren't quite as gloomy as they're made out to be. Colorful clothes were draped on bodies‚ verdant forests were teeming with life‚ and cities were melting pots of culture and commerce. The medieval period was considerably cheerier than it's often presented‚ which is just as well because everyone's favorite blacksmith is taking us on a trip back to 15th-century Bohemia in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Continue reading Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 announced with best boy Henry back for more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games‚ Best action-adventure games‚ Best medieval games

When is the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 release date&;#63; Wanting more from your life is noble; work hard‚ keep a positive attitude‚ and you can be almost certain good things will happen. That is‚ unless you’re in 15th-century Bohemia‚ where the ruling class keeps everyone else down at any cost. It’s going to take more than positivity to change your fate. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an action RPG game from Warhorse Studios. It looks to bring medieval life to players on a level we’ve never seen before‚ with a thrilling redemption story thrown in for good measure. Here’s what we know about the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 release date‚ including the newest trailer‚ and what we know about the story. Continue reading Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 release date estimate‚ trailers‚ and story MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games‚ Best action-adventure games‚ Best medieval games

Total War Warhammer 3's next DLC‚ Thrones of Decay‚ is a bit of a make-or-break moment for the game following the criticism and uproar that ensued in the wake of Shadows of Change. However‚ Creative Assembly seems determined to put things right‚ and we now know that the next major DLC has a firm release date. Continue reading Total Warhammer 3’s next DLC arrives this month MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC‚ Total War: Warhammer 3 races‚ Total War: Warhammer 3 review

Hirsi has a partnership with Adidas and has shared social-media posts justifying October 7.

Three lessons from the censorship of the NatCon conference in Brussels.

GOP hardliners are incensed over rumors that Johnson is considering trying to raise the one-vote threshold for a motion to remove the speaker.

BAHAHA&;#33; Gen-Z Activist Asks Adults How They Felt When Trump Won in 2016 and The Responses are Comedy GOLD

Climate Cultists Shut Down Gala Honoring Senator Lisa Murkowski and It Does NOT Look Peaceful