Top 10 West Coast highway vacation locations for 2021

The arrival of vaccines — and expanded eligibility — indicates our pie-in-the-sky travel dreams are beginning to sound like some thing that might actually appear accurate-ish in the in close proximity to-ish potential. Maybe?

We’re at minimum ready to contemplate aspirational getaway vacation spot lists when more without having shrieking, “Too quickly! Much too soon!” When Travel+Leisure’s 2021 checklist of prime travel locations very first arrived out, it could as nicely have incorporated Mars and the equally possible forest moon of Endor.

Now, while, Astoria, Oregon — location No. 2 out of 50 in the U.S. — doesn’t seem that far-fetched. The seaside filming locale for “The Goonies” is drivable, for a single issue. Alaska, in the prime place, not so much.

So we have condensed the vacation magazine’s listing into a major 10 road trip places, with suggestions for each individual. (You’ll locate the entire list at www.travelandleisure.com.)

1 Astoria, Oregon

Count on a lot of seafood and “Goonies” lore in this Victorian-period town, which sits over the mighty Columbia River just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. (Road tripping? Astoria is 12.5 several hours from the Bay Area by auto.)

2 Major Sky, Montana

This Alpine stretch of the Rockies features uncrowded skiing in wintertime and fly fishing in summertime — and it is an hour from the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

3 Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

The Underneath Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase encampment is perched on a canyon rim plateau with its have slot canyon and sights throughout Grand Staircase – Escalante Countrywide Monument. (Courtesy Beneath Canvas) 

This Nationwide Monument boasts deep canyons, rugged rock formations and plenty of outside recreation prospects. Camping? Below Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase has just opened its safari-fashion glamping lodging, which incorporate personal bogs, eating possibilities and an journey concierge.

4 Las Vegas, Nevada

You really don’t go to Las Vegas for the wilderness and wildlife. You go for the wild lifetime — casinos, reveals, swanky restaurants and a good deal of glitz.

5 Lopez Island, Washington

Escape to this island in Puget Seem for a holiday vacation filled with bicycle rides, hikes and foodie adventures, just a ferry trip from the mainland.

6 Los Angeles

Los Angeles gives terrific eating places, seaside motion and some remarkable museums, including the coming-before long Academy Museum of Motion Images.

7 Palm Springs

When you tire of Palm Springs, with its swaying palms, buzzy nightlife, icy cocktails and mid-century mod swimming pools, Joshua Tree is ideal close by.

8 Santa Fe, New Mexico

It’s rarely stunning that the arts would be an even even larger draw than wilderness hikes and horseback riding listed here. Santa Fe is a UNESCO Metropolis of Crafts and Folk Artwork.

9 Sonoma

New wineries, restaurants and accommodations — together with the new Montage Healdsburg — put this wine state star on the big record.

10 Tucson, Arizona

Boutique lodges, outside recreation and Saguaro Nationwide Park blend to woo visitors to this desert town.