5 Best Domestic Travel Desinations

We've been laid up sick here for the entire week, not getting out much. All this time at home has gotten me thinking about travel. Does that happen to anyone else? When you're stuck somewhere, all you can do is think about other places?

That's how my brain works, anyway.

I had time to craft my top 5 list of favorite places to travel domestically. When people think of adventure, I think international travel gets all the glory. And international travel is great! But there's so many gem destinations right here in America, too.

Here's my roundup of the best, from personal experience:

1) Big Sur, CA
This might be my favorite place in the U.S. Jaw-dropping scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway (rent a convertible, you won't be disappointed), charming places to stay and eat, great hiking - I could go on and on. We stayed in Carmel and went up and down the coast from there. All the restaurants serve Nappy Valley and Sonoma wines, all the food was excellent. In fact, I had the best meal of my live at Casanova in Carmel.

Big Sur, CA

2) New Orleans, LA
This is probably the most fun city in America! Sure, there's the debauchery on Bourbon St and the whole French Quarter. Get yourself a double decker bus pass (good for the whole day, $11) and check out ALL the spots in the city. We landed at 7am, had breakfast at Cafe Du Monde and spent the rest of the day checking out the whole city, hopping on and off that bus. Way cheaper and easier than a taxi and, you know, it supported the day drinking NOLA is so good at! Also check out air boat tours of the swamps right out side of the city.

French Quarter, NOLA

Tara Plantation, LA

3) Tybee Island, GA
This had to make the list because I lived on Whitemarsh Island for graduate school (pronounced whit-marsh, not white-marsh). Tybee is about 20 minutes further out towards the Atlantic. It's an unpretentious beach community, but still houses the likes of Billy Currington and Paula Deen. Want some of the best shrimp and crab of your life? Eat anywhere on the island. Need a great greasy spoon breakfast to adsorb the previous night's libations at the beach bars? Go to The Breakfast Club. Charter a boat and explore the inter-coastal waterway (my favorite thing to do is go out on my folks' boat!)

Tybee Island Pier, GA

4) Beaver Bay, MN
The views along Lake Superior are stunning, and surprisingly rival those of Big Sur. Rent a cabin on the lake, don't stay at a resort. The Lighthouse has, hands down, the best wild rice soup I've ever had. There's an agate shop in town that's fun to look through, and has tons of gemstone rings for reasonable prices. Go up the coast about an hour to Lutsen and ride the Alpine Slide or take the gondola up the mountain. The North Shore along Hwy 61 is simply stunning.

Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior MN

5) Natchez, MS
Likely the most beautifully historic town in America, and I used to live in Savannah, GA! It's not easy to get to (no nearby airport to fly into) but if you do make it to Natchez, you won't be disappointed. Stay at a historic in or a B&B. Take an old ferry boat ride on the Mississippi. Enjoy the Southern food and tour old plantations. If you're a history buff like I am, this place will fascinate you as much as the beauty will astound you!

Historic Riverboat, Natchez MS

Do you have a "travel bucket list" waiting to locations to be crossed off? Where are some of your places to travel to?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! Hopefully, next week will be kick off a new healthy week for us. Linking up with Amanda, Karli, H54F and Miranda!