16 Awesome Places to Visit in May in the USA – my all time favorites!

I found that May is a very special time to travel around the USA – with longer days, mild weather, but with far fewer crowds! After living here for several years and exploring the country in spring, these were my all-time favorite gems to visit this month, which in my opinion, offer something very special this time of year…

1. Annapolis, Maryland

On my early May visit, I found this sleepy historic port had been completely transformed by the May Day Flower Basket Celebration into somewhere genuinely special. Walking down the ultra-clean, cobbled streets, I saw flower-filled red-ribboned baskets hanging on literally everything from the colonial brick buildings to brass door knockers!

Although the city had a very polished feel to it, I managed to sniff out its quirkier side too! So alongside all the yacht-filled marinas, fine spring sunshine (around 73°F) and air scented with freshly-cut peonies and hydrangeas, I had a great time exploring all the cool indie boutiques, artisan cafés, and the super- friendly Anne Arundel County Farmers Market. I chose the very romantically-decorated Secretariat Suite at 1313 West Luxury Boutique Hotel for my stay (and didn’t regret it for one second)!

My standout experience – Gorging on maple-mustard-glazed pretzels washed down with a hoppy, citrusy Movin’ Cosmos craft beer at Forward Brewing, the city’s first nano brewery.

2. Block Island – get on the slow travel trend

When I wanted a quiet and laid-back spring vacation, I discovered that Block Island was practically made for a peaceful escape! It was only a quick one-hour ferry ride from Newport but it felt so many miles away from all the mainland bustle…and also all my worries!

The sleepy island seemed to be just waking up and I was treated to bright yellow daffodils on the trails, gentle breezes on my new favorite hangout Crescent Beach (the water was a chilly 52°F this time of year so I couldn’t swim though sadly), and just a few other tourists for company so it still had an awesome local and intimate vibe which I just lapped up. I even got to attend the Indie-packed Block Island Film Festival too. New Shoreham’s galleries and boutiques were also great to wander around, particularly The Glass Onion where I felt lucky to find the prettiest sea-glass bracelets in ocean-blue!

Where I stayed – the historic 4-star boutique Blue Dory Inn where I drank a chilled glass of Gooseneck Vineyards Pinot Grigio, paired with Rhode Island sea-salt crackers at their cozy parlor afternoon wine hour!

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I personally thought that the cool neighborhood vibe in Philadelphia was hard to beat during this month. The sun shone very brightly on the grid-patterned streets, spring flowers had burst into life in the parks and – my favorite part – the lively outdoor dining and drinking scene had officially kicked off (and I also managed to snap up a great hotel deal too)!

Community-focused spring festivities along Rittenhouse Row and South Street and slow walks through Fishtown’s indie cafés and boutiques filled my five-day early May stay. My favorite moment was easily around lazing in a cotton teal hammock surrounded by pretty string lights and clutching a chilled Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale hand at Spruce Street Harbor Park!

Where I stayed (and slightly obsessed over!) – My suite at the boho-chic Lokal Hotel all felt wonderfully personal from the cedar-and-linen aroma (that I’m now trying really hard to recreate at home!) to the unique ‘invisible’ service! 

4. Ocean City, Maryland

My May trip to this lively Atlantic resort town felt like a huge win! I found great accommodation deals and sunny, summer-feeling temperatures of around 73°F but without the sauna-like humidity or packed summer crowds (which was my favorite bit!) Although I have to admit, it was still a bit too cool for long swims, but it was fine for paddling even up to my knees and lazing around on the beach.

After checking into the funkily decorated Aloft Ocean City for a week of simply kicking back, I even spotted a handful of dolphins offshore and even took a quick trip over to the intriguing Assateague Island. Seeing the beautiful wild ponies wandering around the dunes against the backdrop of the Atlantic was a very special moment for sure!

My must-do tip – head to Northside Park, the smooth paved paths and long shady stretches made biking here a total joy! 

5. Lowcountry Dreams on Edisto Island

I found this quiet barrier island to be at its very dreamy best during May. I literally just managed to hit that small window in time which was just before the peak season hit – it was hot and warm enough to swim but also quiet and very un-touristy at the same time!

It actually felt like I was living life in ultra- slow motion with sea breezes gently brushing my face and seriously still shores. Even Edisto’s spring festivals were seriously laid back, Turtlefest and the Turtle Tide Art Reveal were all about acoustic sets and local craft (I loved the stunning turtle sculpture made from tiny, pastel colored Coquina shells)!

Staying at the well-kept Club Wyndham Ocean Ridge, I discovered there was an endless amount of hiking, biking and kayaking on offer and I especially loved taking the guided eco-tour along the tea-colored Edisto River where the air was damp and mossy and the bald cypress trees were draped in a very creepy-looking Spanish moss!

6. Sacramento – food galore!

I always love visiting this food-focused city and when I took a May trip to see the Sacramento County Fair in full swing, the city felt completely alive! There was lashings of warm sunshine (68°F to 84°F) and there was a really buzzy first-fair-of-the-season kind of excitement about the place too. 

I opted for a trendy stay at the 4-star Exchange Hotel and when here, I found that were there were light crowds (except in all the farmer’s markets were I had to jostle a little with the locals) and so many awesome outdoor dining options to choose from. I actually made it my mission to visit as many farm-to-fork spots as I could and they all amazingly managed to live up the hype!

My dining highlight – A dinner of seriously plump wild ramp and potato ravioli drenched in a rich morel cream eaten on the string-light adorned, herb-scented garden patio of Mulvaney’s B&L (a cool converted firehouse). It felt like a very ‘Sacramento’ moment!

7. Bend – High Desert Magic

This place had tonnes of trendy mountain vibes and a focus on both fun and making the most of the great outdoors! I was also very pleased I got to trade the spring Portland drizzle for high desert sunshine, even if those 75°F days dipped into chilly nights (although packing a big chunky jumper fixed that problem easily)!

The refreshingly thin air and low humidity made it a really wonderful place to spend ten days. I even got to gaze at mule deer grazing nearby, watch ospreys circle overhead, and join in the fun Bend Brews & Beyond Festival and SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle.

I based myself at the coolest spot I could find – the quirky McMenamins Old St. Francis School – where I managed to score a great pre-summer deal and even caught The Big Lebowski in their Old St. Francis Theater tucked inside a former parish hall, before everyone spilled onto sunny patios to celebrate their day downing chilled Bochi Bochi Lagers at Crux Fermentation Project.

My favorite highlight – hiking the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and seeing huge castle-like rock formations towering around me!

8. Texas Hill Country

I have to admit when May arrived, I was more than happy to trade in the smoggy city air for a dose of pure South Texas soul! To me, Texas Hill Country felt like an entirely different world with a dusty-meets-lush vibe, 83°F air and a kinda strange unearthly silence filling the roads (but I absolutely loved this)! I spent 10 days going winery-hopping, chasing the pretty bluebonnet flower blooms, and catching the unpolished charm of both the Kerrville Folk Festival and Whimsy & Wonder Art & Music Festival.

The highly photogenic Willow City Loop, trying the bold but beautiful Tempranillo and Viognier wines at Becker Vineyards and ending my nights with awesome country and Americana tunes in Luckenbach’s rustic dance hall were all major highlights for me here!

Where I stayed – An Insta-baiting Nature Pod at SKYE Texas Hill Country Resort where I sat on a scarlet Adirondack chair on my porch with a   Texas Pecan brew from Independence Coffee Co. while mockingbirds called in the distance!

9. Savannah – A Southern Show Off!

I loved how Savannah was a total show-off, and I was lucky enough to see her looking her absolute best during a gorgeous spring break here! Trading grey skies for a very welcoming 81°F Georgia sunshine made me just want to me spend hours square-hopping beneath the huge moss-draped live oaks and go for atmospheric wanders down cobblestone streets. It all felt very alive, especially with the atmospheric bagpipes of the Savannah Scottish Games and the soulful Art & Soul Music Festival!

It wasn’t overly crowded but I did spot other tourists and locals dining on outdoor patios and quite a few jostling to get on those famous sunset river cruises. I was glad I packed my trusty insect repellent for those evening strolls though!

Where I stayed (and found to be just so romantic) – the 4-star Gastonian Hotel where I found elegant Regency-Italianate interiors and an lovely afternoon wine hour complete with Georgia Chardonnay and smoky roasted red pepper crostini.

10. Monterey, California

I always head to this quirky coastal city when I’m in need a soul-soothe, there’s something about that salty air and imperfect, gritty edge that just works for me! In May, it felt like Monterey 2.0. The skies were impossible blue—well, once that thick, morning May gray fog finally clears anyway— the bay was filled with migrating Humpbacks and Blue Whales and its County Fairgrounds were occupied by the awesome California Roots Music and Arts Festival!

Staying at the stylish 4-star Portola Hotel & Spa was a great choice, I adored the crackling outdoor fire pits and being greeted with a gooey smoked-salt and brown-butter chocolate chip cookies! My other very ‘Monterey’ experiences including spotting super-cute sea otters and lazy harbor seals along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail and dining at Lalla Oceanside Grill (their custard bread pudding sprinkled with nutmeg was truly heavenly)!

11. Austin, Texas

Austin in spring was less of a destination and more of a high-vibe state of mind! With the average mercury sitting between 64°F and 95°F, it was an awesome combo of high-energy festival vibes and lakeside serenity. I opted for the LINE Hotel with its 4-star, mid-century-meets-industrial aesthetic and timed my arrival for the iHeartCountry Festival, so I managed to catch loads of creative energy too!

Between sets, it was all about city-wellness for me and I managed to squeeze in sunrise paddle-boarding on Lady Bird Lake and taking in the scenery at the wildflower-dotted Zilker Botanical Garden, although I have to admit I did almost gorge myself half to death diving a bit too much into the local food truck culture! Trying the ultra-fudgy vegan “Double Dose” cupcake from Hey Cupcake Picnic from the picnic food pod near Zilker Park was a very special moment for me!

12. Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Late spring in New Hampshire offered me a ‘quiet luxury’ kind of escape that summer tourists usually miss. While the temperatures hovered in a fresh 59°F to 68°F window, I thought the trade-off was worth it though – there were lilac-scented paths and a misty, almost cinematic energy on the water that made me feel like I’d hopped back on a flight to the English Lake District (seriously)!

Checking into the super-cute Wolfeboro Inn (the lake views were just gorgeous!) I spilt my time between the high-spirited Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race, local artisan energy of the Lakes Region Spring Craft Fair, early morning boat rides on Lake Winnipesaukee and checking out all the quaint little antique shops (the Wolfeboro Antiques & Artisan Barn became a firm favorite!). I found that a handful of the cafés and restaurants were some still running limited pre-summer hours though.

My favorite meal (where the setting was just so idyllic!): Dining at the waterfront Garwoods Restaurant, I loved the shimmering lake views, the laid-back vibe, and the sweet, nutty flavor of my freshly-made butternut squash ravioli!

13. Port Aransas, Texas

May in South Texas felt like a complete masterclass in timing! I managed to catch that elusive mellow early-season energy before the summer heat truly peaked (and then would have completely stifled me)! With temperatures sitting in a gorgeous 75°F to 84°F window, the Gulf waters were calm, clear, and—best of all for me—mostly crowd-free! I was lucky enough to catch the Spring Kite Fly too! 

Between the calm Gulf waters and the colorful chaos of the Spring Kite Fly, the vibe was pure coastal unplugging. Most days were a heady but very laid back blur of wide sandy shores, fresh-air adventures, and precious dolphin sightings. Speaking of which, the dolphin-watching cruise with The Scarlet Lady crew was one of my huge highlights!

Where I stayed (and loved the aesthetic) – the Seaside Boutique Hotel, I found that it wonderfully mirrored the town’s laid-back, funky vibe!

14. Atlanta, Georgia

I used to roll my eyes at the “Hotlanta” nickname, but after a city break last May, I then became a total convert. It was just before the Georgia humidity threatened to melt me completely and flowers were in full bloom out in the green parks! 

The Atlanta Jazz Festival (hearing The Roots play live in Piedmont Park was a bucket-list moment for me!) and the lively outdoor patios located in every neighborhood made the vibe feel electric! My mornings were spent dodging scooters while hunting around for new street art murals, my afternoons were spent getting lost in the Atlanta Botanical Garden and my nights were spent in the quirky Hotel Clermont where I became slightly obsessed with their vintage-meets-gritty aesthetic (especially those tiger scatter cushions)!

My must-do tip – the Flight Club – I personally devoured a seriously potent vodka-based Iguana cocktail and found myself getting way too competitive at darts in a very sociable, neon-lit space!

15. Monument Valley – the iconic dream

I’d always wanted to see this iconic landscape, and choosing to visit in May was just the best decision. After a very cinematic three-hour drive from Flagstaff, I checked into The View Hotel (the balcony views along made it worth every penny!) for four truly extraordinary days.

The conditions here were a photographer’s dream, there were massive clear blue skies, warm days (61°F to 81°F), and a wonderfully clear high-desert light. Even with the occasional strong afternoon wind, roaming with my Leica D-Lux felt like being on a movie set (seriously). I even managed to catch the Hashkènìinii Road Race which was an intriguing annual burst of local energy that was a hell of a lot of fun to watch!

A seriously special moment – Gazing at a fiery sunset from John Ford’s Point, one of Monument Valley’s most iconic views while I soaked up the desert’s unearthly silence!

16. Las Vegas – for non-stop parties

I found Las Vegas to be in full-on party mode during the spring. I usually head the between September to November but last year I decided to switch it up and check out the spring vibes instead. I made the sleek, dark MGM Grand West Wing room my base and couldn’t get enough of the black marble surfaces, moody lighting, and watching Ocean’s Eleven on the TV hidden in the bathroom mirror!

There was pool lounging, epic shows, high-energy pool parties and even major events on like EDC. Honestly, forget what the doom-merchants say about Vegas being ‘over,’ the energy right is still seriously electric right now! I also managed to squeeze in a scream-worthy spin on the Big Apple Coaster and a very impressive Cirque du Soleil finale!

Handy travel tip – While May is technically shoulder season, just don’t expect it to be totally empty! It’s one of the busiest months because the weather is so bearable, so I’d recommend opting for a mid-week stay instead (Tuesday–Thursday), the weekend price jump in Vegas is sadly very, very real!