Lauren Mack

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas—a glowing Christmas—everywhere you go. From tiny lanes in historic neighborhoods to vast convention centers to entire Christmas towns, it seems everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit through magical light displays. It's a sight that Clark Griswold and Christmas lovers could only dream of…until now. These fantasylands of twinkling lights, animatronic holiday displays, and kitsch are full of Christmas cheer, Christmas markets, festive food, entertainment, and holiday shops. Whether you pile into a car to drive through these illuminated wonders or bundle up with hot cocoa to immerse yourself in a sparkling, spectacular stroll, these charmingly lit displays are the ultimate Christmas light extravaganza to ignite the holiday spirit. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas towns in the U.S.The best Christmas markets in the U.S.

Looking to save money on your next vacation? Brake-free (get it?) from car-congested cities and consider a car-free getaway. Cities across the U.S. and the world are creating pedestrian zones and banning cars, from a few hours each month to a day or two each year to 24/7/365. Some cities are doubling down on the car-free craze by building car-free rental apartment communities like Culdesac in Tempe, Arizona. Going car-free in the U.S. not only saves money on pricey rental cars and parking fees, but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, you can burn extra calories by walking or biking around towns like historic Colonial Williamsburg, laid-back barrier islands like Little St. Simons Island, and mesmerizing Mackinac Island, Michigan. Forgo four wheels and hop a ferry or bike, or use your own two feet to explore these destinations, which range from remote to right around the corner. RECOMMENDED: The best bike trails in the USAThe best adventure vacations in the U.S.

While I often head to Orlando for its theme parks, I’ve been purposefully moving away from the tourist corridor to explore more of the local food scene. I've been pleasantly surprised with my findings; while there are a few restaurants at the theme parks that are worthy of your time, the majority of the city's best restaurants are in the outerlying neighborhoods. Over the past few years, Orlando has really become a hot spot for unique restaurants, Michelin-starred eateries, and celebrity chef-owned locales, rivaling Miami as a contender for one of the biggest foodie cities in the South.  If you’re looking for somewhere new to eat on vacation, or if you're a local looking to explore the dining scene outside of your own neighborhood, then you’re in luck. I’ve rounded up the best restaurants in the city. The picks, which include four new additions, include places dishing out home-style classics, elevated Filipino food that won a Michelin Green star for its sustainable practices, and a delightful Cuban cafe. Keep reading to learn all about the 33 best restaurants in Orlando, which include hidden gems and nationally-known big-hitters. RECOMMENDED:🎢 The best theme parks in Orlando🏖️ The best beaches near Orlando🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Orlando This guide was updated by Florida-based writer Megan duBois. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, thanks to festive holiday markets held coast to coast in November and December. These fun, festive fairs are a nod to Europe's Christmas markets, which have been held in cities, towns, and villages for centuries. Festooned in twinkling lights and boughs of holly, you'll fa-la-love the Christmas markets in Chicago, Denver, New York, and beyond. Each market is unique, but nearly all feature food, shopping, and festive activities, from musical entertainment to meet-and-greets with Santa to holiday activities. Strolling these seasonal markets filled with food, trinkets, and merriment is a must. These markets are the place to stock up on stocking stuffers, gifts, and ornaments while indulging in savory and sweet treats like bratwurst and donuts and drinks like glühwein (mulled wine), cider, and hot chocolate. Bundle up and get ready to eat, drink, and be merry at the best Christmas markets in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas light displays in the USAThe best Christmas vacations for an epic holiday

If you're a fan of all things that go bump in the night, read on. These scarily good Airbnbs put the 'boo' in booking – admit it, you laughed. We've scoured Airbnb's most eclectic and eerie listings to find the most haunted Airbnbs in America, from creepy castles to spooky spare bedrooms and mysterious mansions. These rental haunted houses feature charming creaking floorboards, whimsical wainscoting, and vintage vibes along with chills, thrills, and frights from spirited ghost hosts that are straight out of the best Halloween movies of all time. Probably not for the faint-hearted. Prepare to be spooked. You might not rest in peace in these haunted homes, but you're bound to have a memorable night preparing for paranormal activity, seeking the supernatural, and greeting ghosts. Or if you're among the skeptical, these Airbnbs will have you make or break what you believe. But beware, bookings go as quickly as ghosts playing tag, so secure these haunted hotbeds ASAP. Updated October 2024: With Halloween around the corner and things getting spookier by the day, we've added a couple more of the most haunted Airbnbs in the U.S. Enter if you dare! RECOMMENDED: The 10 most unique Airbnbs in the U.S. This guide was written by Time Out USA Contributor Lauren Mack. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we

Why is everyone vacationing in the same place? I often wonder this during travel spikes, scrolling social media to see people with nothing in common having the same experiences. Are we all spring skiers now? Is everyone actually having fun, or are we just yielding to a trend? It’s time we all dig a little deeper, skip the cookie-cutter trip and set off somewhere different. Forget what everyone else is doing! Let’s explore our own interests—and while we’re at it, do it where it’s not so crowded. To help you find the perfect underrated summer travel destination, we tapped our network of writers with plenty of experience discovering cool places. We’re showing new sides to cities and regions you already know and sharing choice spots that might be new to you. From wine tasting your way through Boise, Idaho, and encountering wildlife in Oakland, California, to ferry hopping in Southeast Alaska, these aren’t your typical summer escapes. A little less popular and still very exciting, these underrated U.S. destinations are calling your name this summer.

When temperatures rise, it means it's time to take a walk on the boardwalk. These iconic planked pathways that meander along the U.S.'s most iconic beaches are a beloved American pastime—so loved that they have been romanticized in many formats, including Nickelodeon's 2023 movie Under the Boardwalk, the TV show Boardwalk Empire, and classic board game Monopoly. There are dozens of boardwalks in the U.S., some more well-known than others. While the boardwalks in Atlantic City, Coney Island, and Santa Monica are widely familiar, there are some lesser-known and equally impressive beach boardwalks like Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California, and Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Grab some friends and get ready to stroll, snack, and play along America’s best boardwalks. RECOMMENDED: The best riverwalks in the U.S. for scenic strolls

Sometimes, we just need a different vantage point, like the kind that comes with a visit to the highest observation decks in the USA. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, North America started the phenomenon of building observation platforms to drive building revenue and allow visitors to see the surroundings from a new, sometimes vertigo-inducing, perspective. But it's not just skyscrapers that offer the most enviable views of America: Natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls have them, too. Whether atop a tall building or in nature, many of the most impressive observation decks you'll see today have also added unique features like glass ledges, revolving floors, and amusement rides to enhance an already exhilarating experience. Ready to face your fears? From glass floors and open-air skywalks to perches that look out into several states, soar to new heights at the coolest observation decks in America. RECOMMENDED: The coolest lighthouses in America

Nothing beats a classic road trip on Route 66, complete with a dog-eared map highlighting the route and notes of where to stop off along the way.  Nicknamed "The Mother Road" by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath, Route 66 offers drivers plenty of history, nostalgia and quirky curiosities to entertain and comfort drivers on their journey. Completed in the late 1930s, the iconic 2,451-mile stretch was the highway for folks wanting to travel from middle America to the West Coast in the 20th century. The eight-state journey along Route 66 begins in Chicago and meanders through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California. Driving from east to west, road trippers can admire the kitsch and neon that make this stretch of road so famous. From roadside architecture like Cadillac Ranch to superlative selfie spots like the world's second-largest rocking chair to landmarks like Wigwam Village Motel #6, these are the best Route 66 attractions worth the multi-week drive.

The best things in life are, oftentimes, free, and travel is no exception. And who wouldn't want a free vacation? Especially when it costs 15 percent more to travel now than it did four years ago, according to NerdWallet's Travel Inflation Report. At a time when it seems nearly everything costs more, there are many legit, non-scammy ways to travel for free in the U.S. Get up and go—gratis —by getting creative, participating in the sharing economy and doing activities you already love. From pet sitting to couchsurfing to volunteering, here's how you can take the vacation of your dreams without spending a dollar. RECOMMENDED: The best cheap family vacations in the U.S.

There are more than 35,000 museums in the United States, with exhibitions that range from art to history to science and everything in between. Some museums are traditional treasure troves with artifacts of times gone by, while others are downright weird and devoted to singular items, issues and topics—from potatoes and funeral history to, yes, mustard. From bottles to underwater diving to SPAM, we visit and admire the absolute weirdest museums in the U.S. that are sure to leave you intrigued and entertained. RECOMMENDED: The best weird and alternative museums around the world

Back in the "Roaring Twenties," people had to be quite stealthy to get their hands on some booze. As Prohibition ruled the land, creativity was needed to find a place to let loose and party. And so enter speakeasies. These underground drinking designations often had secret entrances and were only known through word-of-mouth.  After Prohibition lifted and people could drink freely once again, many speakeasies closed. However, a few from those days are still in operation, like the Back Room in New York City. There is also a large crop of modern, clandestine speakeasies that are hidden away in all sorts of places: behind a fake storefront, in a barbershop, behind bookcases, and more. These modern clandestine operations pay homage to the 1920s with creative takes on classic cocktails and moody interiors. From New York City to Los Angeles and many cities in between, here are the 25 best speakeasies in the US. RECOMMENDED: America's coolest secret restaurants