Celebrate the U.S., Stay Local

As the U.S. gears up for July 4th celebrations, it’s the perfect time to spotlight what travelers can discover closer to home—both this year and in 2026.

“There’s never been a better time to explore the beauty and energy of the USA,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA during the recent IPW 2025, held in Chicago. “The joy of traveling [in] the U.S. comes from the constant sense of discovery—whether it’s a new attraction, a reimagined destination or a once-in-a-lifetime event. There’s always something new on the horizon….”

Can’t-Miss Spots in the U.S.

• For Set-Jetters: Utah has launched the Utah Film Trail invites movie enthusiasts to experience the state’s iconic geography and fan favorite filming locations firsthand, using physical markers scattered throughout the state that pay homage to the films or TV shows produced at that real-world location. The microsite features various multi-day road trip itineraries such as 6-day, 960-mile Classic Westerns of the Silver Screen; the 4-day, 464-mile Robert Redford’s Sundance Scenes; and the 6-day, 312-mile Thelma & Louise: A Tribute Road Trip Through the Classic Film’s Utah Settings.
• For Adventurers: In Lake Placid, New York, explore the newly opened Adirondack Rail Trail—a 34-mile scenic path along the former rail corridor between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, ideal for walking, biking and rollerblading. Head on over to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to take a ride on America’s longest zipline—the MegaZip, soaring 1,000 ft. above the Great Smoky Mountains and stretching across a 5,771-ft.-long single cable, going at top speeds of 55 mph.
• For Foodies: In downtown Portland, Oregon, the James Beard Public Market is projected to open in summer 2026 with over 40 small businesses—including a fish market, butcher, cheese shop, restaurants, a teaching kitchen and a culinary bookstore. Meanwhile, in Madison, Wisconsin, the Madison Public Market will open just down the corridor from the State Capitol Building on East Washington Street, serving as a year-round public marketplace with various local food merchants. And over in Columbus, Ohio, the North Market will be celebrating its 150^th anniversary in 2026 with the debut of its expansion with “The Merchant Building.” This project includes a 32-story expansion of North Market, with a 206-room luxury boutique hotel and an 18,000-sq.-ft. market extension.
• For Car Enthusiasts: The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum along Route 66 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, has launched the Model T Experience, where participants will learn the history of and how to drive a Ford Model T.
• For History Buffs: Opening July 4, 2026, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will bring the legacy of America’s 26th president to life in Medora, North Dakota. Visitors can immerse themselves in educational exhibits in this unique destination that blends history, nature, and innovation.
• For Explorers: The highly anticipated National Geographic Museum of Exploration  is set to open in 2026 in the heart of Washington, D.C. with immersive exhibits and cutting-edge technologies that reveal the wildlife, landscapes, communities and cultures that make up our planet. DC’s highly acclaimed National Air and Space Museum (https://airandspace.si.edu/about/major-projects/transformation) is expanding with five galleries and a renovated Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater reopening July 28, 2025.
• For Museum Lovers: The Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles will reopen on June 27, once again inviting visitors to experience its iconic seaside setting and world-class collection of ancient Greek and Roman art, while San Diego will see the opening of The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center (The Joan), a new state-of-the-art theater, this September 2025. Head to the northwest to find the new Rothko Pavilion at Portland Art Museum (PAM), a brand new, 3-story building and central entrance to the museum, with new galleries, scenic outdoor terraces and spaces where visitors can sit and relax.

  

Hotel Updates

• Following an extensive restoration, the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York will reopen in 2025—we’ve got the 411
• Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California, recently unveiled the final phase of its multi-year restoration, celebrating over 135 years of coastal grandeur with refreshed accommodations, expanded dining and revitalized historic features along the Pacific Ocean.
• Populus Seattle just opened in late spring as the second-ever “carbon positive” hotel in the U.S. (the other is the Populus Denver). Formerly known as the Westland Building, this 120-room, adaptive-reuse property will feature Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar and a signature restaurant.
• Set to open this summer, The Curtis Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado, is revealing a reimagining of its design, unveiling brand-new themed floors to explore, including a variety of nostalgic games and toys in every room and 12 new, “hyper-themed” guestrooms.
• The Ava Hotel in Paso Robles, California, blend the charms of Paso Robles hospitality with the authentic, community-driven spirit rooted in the region’s rich viticultural heritage in a brand-new, 4-story property with 151 rooms and Paso Robles’ largest rooftop destination opening summer 2025.
• In Big Sky, Montana, One&Only Moonlight Basin Montana resort will begin accepting reservations in November 2025, welcoming guests to enjoy its secluded and serene 240 acres of space. Once onsite, visitors can enjoy prime ski access and relax among amenities like a private beach on an alpine lake and a swimming pool. The second One&Only resort in the U.S. is set to debut in New York’s Hudson Valley.
• In Bentonville, Arkansas, the new, independent lifestyle hotel The Compton will open its doors in late fall of 2025 in Bentonville’s historic square. The hotel will be flanked by Dave Peel Park and a new pedestrian promenade filled with garden nooks, cafe seating, play areas and food trucks.
• La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, will welcome a new 6-treatment room spa this summer, ahead of the historic property’s nearly 100-year history in 2026.
• Early 2026 will see The Vanderpump Hotel swing open its doors in the heart of The Strip, Las Vegas. This Caesars Entertainment property will take over what used to be The Cromwell.

  

Big U.S. Celebrations Coming in 2026
Leading the lineup of major celebrations in 2026 is America 250, the official commemoration of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary that will be celebrated throughout the 50 states. Other key events include the Route 66 Centennial—the iconic highway connecting Chicago to Santa Monica that served as a primary route for those migrating to the west, bringing business and visibility to the filling stations, rest stops and small businesses found along the way, as well as the many neon signs, quirky motels and roadside attractions—and World Cup 2026, with matches hosted across North America in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle from June 11 to July 19.