Top 5 US Vacations Spots 2023

ThinkFives Teachers Recommendations

As the school year comes to a close, K12 teachers are eagerly anticipating their much-deserved summer break. While some may choose to spend the summer relaxing at home, many others are excitedly planning their summer vacations.

As a teacher, it can be tough to find the time and resources to plan a getaway, but with some research, it’s possible to find the perfect vacation spot that fits within your budget and schedule. In this list, we’ve compiled the top US vacation spots for teachers in the summer of 2023.

From relaxing beach getaways to adventurous hikes in the mountains, there’s something for everyone. We’ll also share why each destination is a great choice for teachers looking to unwind, recharge, and create new memories before the next school year begins. So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and let’s explore some of the best vacation spots recommended by ThinkFives teachers for the summer of 2023.

Colorado hosts some of the most scenic national parks including Rocky Mountain National Park.  This iconic national park is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With over 350 miles of trails, visitors can hike, camp, fish, and explore the park’s stunning alpine scenery. Another park, Mesa Verde National Park, is home to ancient cliff dwellings and other archaeological sites that provide a glimpse into the lives of the region’s earliest inhabitants.

The Denver area offers a range of cultural attractions as well as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Colorado Springs is a vibrant city, home to a range of cultural attractions, including the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Fun Facts about Colorado

• Colorado is known as the Centennial State because it became the 38th state in the US in 1876, exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• The highest point in Colorado is Mount Elbert, which stands at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) tall and is one of the 53 fourteeners (peaks over 14,000 feet) in the state.
• Denver, the capital of Colorado, is nicknamed the Mile High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile above sea level (5,280 feet).
• The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado has the tallest sand dunes in North America, with some dunes reaching over 750 feet tall.
• Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest states in the US.

But for many families it’s the low cost proximity to a variety of natural wonders and cultural sites that makes it an ideal home base for exploring the surrounding area. This includes one of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is located just a few hours’ drive from Las Vegas and offers breathtaking views of the canyon’s colorful rock formations and rugged terrain. Along the way, families can stop at the Hoover Dam, a massive concrete arch-gravity dam that is a feat of engineering and an important source of hydroelectric power for the region.

Fun Facts about Las Vegas

• Las Vegas is sometimes referred to as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” with over 42 million visitors per year and more hotel rooms than any other city in the world.
• The city’s first casino, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, opened in 1906 and is still in operation today.
• The city is home to several famous museums, including the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, and the Pinball Hall of Fame.
• The Stratosphere Tower, located on the northern end of the Strip, is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, standing at 1,149 feet tall.
• The city is home to a number of unique attractions, such as the Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano, and the High Roller observation wheel, which offers 360-degree views of the Strip from 550 feet in the air.

Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland, Venice Beach, and the Santa Monica Boardwalk are just a few of the attractions near Los Angeles. Head south and discover the city with perhaps the best year-round weather in the contiguous US, San Diego and its world-famous zoo.

Travel north and it’s the city of cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco. And if that’s not enough, head further north to forests of ancient Sequoia trees or to the east for Yosemite National Park, one of the most scenic national parks in the US.

And we haven’t even mentioned Napa Valley, Sonoma, Carmel or Lake Tahoe yet. Stop us or we might just blog all night about California.

Fun Facts About California

• California has more national parks than any other state (9 out of 59).
• California has the highest and lowest points in the continental US. Mount Whitney is the highest point at 14,505 feet, and the Badwater Basin in the Death Valley is the lowest at 282 feet below sea level.
• California is the most popular movie filming location in the world.
• Almonds are California’s top exports. Most are grown in the Central Valley, the world’s almond capital.
• The biggest tree in the world, General Sherman, is located in Sequoia National Park in California.

Perfect year-round weather and plenty of options for family fun make this tropical vacation a most desired trip. Whether it’s climbing a volcano, taking surf lessons, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, or just hiking/biking/driving in the islands, Hawaii is true family fun.

There are also several one-of-a-kind sites in Hawaii starting with the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. Add to that, the Road to Hana and Molokini Crater in Maui, the Mauna Kea Summit and Observatory on the Big Island and the somber history of Pearl Harbor.

With so much natural beauty, no wonder Hawaii is #2 on our list.

Fun Facts About Hawaii

• Hawaii is made up of 132 different islands.
• Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in all of the U.S.
• Hawaii has its own time zone, the Hawaiian Standard Time, which is 3 hours behind Pacific Time in the summer and 2 hours behind in the winter.
• “Aloha” can mean hello, goodbye, and love.
• There is one sport invented in Hawaii. Can you guess?  Well, surfing, of course.

One of the main reasons Florida was cited was Disney World. Disney World opened its doors in 1971 and sprawls over 25,000 acres in Orlando. In addition to the Magic Kingdom, other parks include Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, two water parks, and 27 themed hotels. Since opening its first park in 1955, the “Happiest Place on Earth” has been a family-favorite for decades. Over 726 million have visited since then, including royalty, such as Kings, Queens and Presidents. 

But there’s a lot more to Florida than Disney. With expansive coastlines on both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, Florida’s 1,350 miles of coast is the most of any state in the contiguous US.  

So whether you seek the ocean-breakers of the east coast, the gentle waves of the warm Gulf or the sandy beaches of the Panhandle, Florida offers it all – not to mention an alligator or two in the Everglades.

Congratulations to Florida. You’re #1 for teacher vacations.

 Fun Facts About Florida

• Florida has more than 1,200 golf courses, more than any other U.S. state.
• Florida is the theme park epicenter of the world, hosting entertainment megalands like Disney, Universal Studio, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and Busch Gardens.
• Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is bigger than Disneyland as a whole.
• There is nowhere in Florida that is more than 60 miles from a beach.
• Florida is the spring break capital of America, drawing an average of 2.7 million students to its beaches every year.

Honorable Mentions that teachers also love:

• Washington D.C.
• U.S. National Parks
• North Carolina
• Gatlinburg
• New York City

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?  Comment below.