Since the mid-1800s, Bar Harbor — previously known from 1796 until 1918 as Eden — has been a popular tourist destination. At one time, it welcomed the likes of the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Carnegies. Today, the Mount Desert Island town is more family-oriented and is a popular gateway to Acadia National Park.

The most famous of the Gilded Age mansions that line the renowned summer resort town of Newport, Rhode Island, is undoubtedly the Breakers. Overlooking the Atlantic and named for the waves that crash on shore below, the classic Italian palazzo was built in the 19th century for the Vanderbilt family. It was among the largest homes in the country at the time of its construction, and is now one of Rhode Island’s most famous landmarks.

Myrtle Beach takes its name from the wax myrtle shrub, a tree native to the area. In the early 1900s, a timber and railroad company began developing the area as a resort destination and changed the name from New Town. The name stuck, and Myrtle Beach remains a popular and accessible destination for a family-friendly coastal getaway.

Lake Geneva’s history as a high-end resort town started in the late 19th century, when wealthy families from Chicago spent summers on elaborate summer estates along its shores. The lifestyle was similar to that of Newport, Rhode Island, a popular spot for East Coast elite during the same time period, which led to its nickname as the “Newport of the West.”

The Union Pacific Railroad Company set out to boost rail travel in the 1930s by building a high-end, European-inspired ski resort in the West. Sun Valley Lodge opened in Idaho in 1936, complete with the world’s first chairlifts, which were a huge hit with visitors. Today, Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain sees 3,500 skiers per day during the season — a striking comparison to the less than 2,000 year-round residents in the town.

The Hamptons, a small enclave of towns on the eastern end of Long Island, has been a popular summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers since the late 1800s. The luxury homes and elite social circles are still a major part of the popular resort area. Edgartown, on the other hand, is part of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Located on the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico, Destin claims the widest variety of fish species in the region, has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, and boasts one of the largest commercial fishing fleets in the United States. Visitors are also drawn to Destin’s many golf and beach resorts, offering sweeping white beaches and access to emerald waters.

Michigan’s Mackinac Island is another resort town famous for being car-free, which makes horse-drawn carriage rides a popular way to get around. In addition to the carriages, Mackinac Island is also popular for its historic buildings and museums, hiking and biking trails, world-famous fudge, and beautiful beaches.

The town of Jackson, located in Wyoming’s Jackson Hole valley, is renowned for its natural beauty, with soaring mountains and grassy valleys. The town is not only a popular gateway to two national parks — Grand Teton and Yellowstone — but is also home to two renowned ski resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain Resort.

One of the major draws of New York State’s Fire Island is that its several resort communities remain car-free. The 32-mile-long island, located a short Ferry Ride from Long Island, is known for its pristine beaches, its arts and culture, and LGBTQ+ scene. The eastern end’s sand dunes are the site of the only federally designated U.S. Wilderness Area in New York State.

The coastal resort city of Galveston, Texas, is known as much for its beaches as it is its abundance of oleander shrubs. The ornamental plant thrives in the dry southern soil, and it is able to withstand the strong winds and storm surges that the city is vulnerable to along the Gulf Coast.

Big Bear Lake was created in 1884 by damming Califorina’s Big Bear River, forming what was at the time the biggest human-made lake in the world. The reservoir was built to provide water to citrus farmers in the Redlands area. Today, residents and tourists alike love the area for its access to the Big Bear Mountain and Snow Summit resorts, as well as boating and water sports in summer.

In 1832, President Andrew Jackson signed legislation that designated Hot Springs, Arkansas, as a federal reservation for recreational use. It was redesignated as a national park in 1921, and has since become a popular spa getaway thanks to its geothermal springs, as well as the many luxury resorts on the shores of Hamilton Lake.

Amity Island served as the fictional location of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic “Jaws.” Although the movie was set in New York, it was actually filmed throughout Martha's Vineyard, a quintessential New England summer resort town. The exclusive Massachusetts island is known for being a celebrity favorite among the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey.

The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Asheville, North Carolina, are part of the southern Appalachians. The popular mountain town offers skiing and other snow sport vacation packages, and it is also known for its mineral hot springs, which are heated by a volcanic fault line. Asheville also boasts a robust arts scene and a brewing industry.

Montauk is also known as “The End” thanks to its location at the easternmost end of Long Island, New York. The ocean views and rolling hills have made the charming town a popular vacation destination since the 1920s; its reputation as an elite getaway for city dwellers continues today thanks to its luxury beach clubs and resorts.

Made famous in the songs of Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park, New Jersey, was once known as a boardwalk carnival town, but it has since transformed into a burgeoning coastal resort. Its beautiful 19th-century architecture, booming arts scene, luxurious new beach resorts, and breezy Atlantic coastline have created a haven for people looking for an East Coast getaway.

Palm Springs has the highest concentration of preserved mid-century modern architecture in the world. The California resort city’s retro style, known as Desert Modernism, is popular not only in family homes, but also in the area's boutique hotels and stylish restaurants. The Coachella Valley’s warm, dry climate draws people to the town’s hot springs, golf resorts, spas, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

The island city of Key West, Florida, is the southernmost point in the contiguous United States. It is located only about 100 miles from Cuba, and its tropical climate makes it a popular resort destination. An anchored concrete buoy statue — called the Southernmost Buoy — marks the most southerly point. It is one of the most popular attractions in the city.

Nantucket is a small island about 30 miles off the coast of the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts. The beautiful beach town was once the whaling capital of New England and famously features in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” Since the mid-1800s, the island has been a beloved summer vacation spot where people can enjoy boating, swimming, surfing, and fresh seafood.