The coolest new things to do in the USA in 2025

Many cities around the U.S. claim to have the best barbecue in the country, but in 2025, there’s only one city that can claim to have the world’s first museum focused on barbecue: Kansas City, Missouri. Slated to open in the spring of 2025, The Museum of BBQ, a 4,223 sq ft. space, will allow museumgoers to follow elements of barbecue (meat, rub/spice, wood, fire, smoke, and sauce), and travel through the main American regions of barbecue, like the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas, and, of course, Kansas City.

Long gone are the days when cable reigns supreme; streaming is here to stay. It is so much so that a groundbreaking entertainment festival is making its debut in Napa Valley with the Napa Valley StreamFest, held from April 24-27, 2025. The fest is the ultimate celebration of streaming entertainment, from binge-worthy series to enthralling podcasts to viral social content. Held in downtown Napa, the four-day festival is partnering with The Meritage Resort and Spa, offering attendees a special 20 percent discount on accommodations.

After more than 20 years, Orlando is finally getting a new theme park: Universal Epic Universe. The newest addition to the Sunshine State is slated to open May 22, 2025, and tickets are currently on sale. Universal Epic Universe will be home to 50 attractions split into five immersive lands: Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Ministry of Magic, and How To Train Your Dragon–Isle of Berk. There will also be a plethora of dining options, as well as three new resort openings: the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, the Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening January 21, 2025), and the Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening February 25, 2025).

Beaches, mountains, bustling cities, and quaint small towns; Washington State is one that simply has it all. Further proving that theory to be true is Yakima, an ideal destination for beer and wine aficionados. Yakima is the source of over 75 percent of the nation’s hops, and was named as the Best Wine Region in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Now, you can get a taste of both with the launch of Little Hopper Tours Hop Farm and Vineyard Tour. Held during prime harvest seasons (late May to early October), options for tours include the VIP Vineyard & Wine Cellar Experience at Dineen Vineyards or the Hop Farm & Sensory Beer Tour. Guests will ride through sustainable vineyards, learn about hop varieties, and of course, taste several wines and beers from the Yakima Valley.

The cold midwest winters aren’t for everyone, but if you can brave the frigid temperatures, there’s a pretty good reason to do so in Madison, Wisconsin: the Ice & Snow Sailing World Championships. Racers from all over the world will compete in various categories, including course racing, marathon, speed, short track slalom, and kite freestyle. The events take place over five days, from February 3-8, where, on the final night, a grand prize will be given to one male and one female World Champion, who will each be given a prize of $1,250.

There are amusement parks, events, and even restaurants worth traveling for, and then there are hotels that are worth planning a trip around. Following a multi-year closing, and during that, a restoration effort led by renowned architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior design from Pierre-Yves Rochon, the Waldorf Astoria New York is expected to reopen in spring 2025. Home to 375 luxurious rooms and suites, including some of the largest in The Big Apple, the Waldorf Astoria New York is expected to be the epitome of comfortable luxury in the heart of Midtown East. Enjoy a 30,000 square feet spa and fitness center, complete with an outdoor terrace, and indulge in world-class dining, including signature restaurant Lex Yard. The Waldorf Astoria New York is currently accepting reservations for 2025 bookings.

Sun Valley, Idaho, is a leading destination for winter sports, and it doesn’t hurt that its natural backdrop is the enchanting Smoky Mountains and Pioneer Mountains. This year, the world’s top alpine competitors will head to Ketchum from March 22-27 for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals. The event’s competitions will be split into four segments, with separate rounds for men and women: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom. If you need a place to stay while enjoying the winter sports festivities, Limelight Ketchum has a designated Adventure Concierge to ensure guests make the most of the destination.

Conner Prairie, a Smithsonian-affiliated living history museum, has a new exhibit slated to open in 2025: "Promised Land as Proving Ground." The exhibit will span three different buildings on the museum’s grounds and cover 500 years of African American history, going back to pre-colonial Africa up to the present. Expect audio-visual, experiential, hands-on, and augmented reality components, all designed to encourage guests to ask questions about African American history and culture. To launch, Conner Prairie’s new Artist in Residence Program will feature Israel Soloman as the inaugural artist.

Launched in late 2024, Cirque du Soleil premiered its first-ever permanent show in Hawaiʻi, 'Auana. ‘Auana is not only the first permanent show in Hawai’i, but it’s also the first to be curated around its host destination. Held at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, guests can enjoy Cirque's signature acrobatics with incorporations of Hawaiian history through cultural storytelling, featuring traditional Hawaiian elements including hula, music, and language. The production runs Wednesday through Sunday with two nightly shows.

While not technically a new thing happening this year, there’s a big milestone in Nashville, Tennessee in 2025: the Grand Ole Opry, a.k.a. the longest-running radio program in history, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The celebration will run all year long under the name “Opry 100,” and will pay tribute to various artists and songs. Having first debuted on WSM Radio in 1925, the Opry has become a cultural staple for country music, and if you’ve ever wanted to go, 2025 is a good year to make it finally happen.