While traveling abroad is enticing, exploring our backyards and surroundings can be just as exciting. The United States is one of the largest countries on Earth and offers a variety of unique landscapes, cuisines, cultures, and more to explore. These are four must-visit short break destinations for domestic travel for couples and families.

This Washington State National Park is an easy side trip from Seattle for the family. Olympic National Park (ONP) offers over a million acres of pristine wilderness with glacier-capped peaks, rainforests, and 70 miles of wild coastline. There are many trails for hiking on the coast or in the forest. Join a wildlife excursion and you may see bald eagles, seals, bears, elk, cougars, whales, dolphins, or sea otters. If you’re visiting on a clear night during the new moon, don’t miss a chance to star-gaze in the dark sky without light pollution.

Olympia, Washington is the perfect base for a long weekend to enjoy ONP. Book a room at the Kalaloch Lodge for around $335 a night on an Olympic Peninsula promontory. The cozy seaside retreat overlooks a wild stretch of the Pacific Northwest coast and has full access to Olympic National Park.

New England is jam-packed with exciting road trip stops to be enjoyed by all. There are a wide array of options from which to choose including coastal towns, historic places, local delicacies, and more. As the region is quite small, five states can be covered over a long weekend including New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine.

After exploring New York City, head up the coastline and visit Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton, Connecticut which played a key role in the American Revolutionary War. Stretch your legs at the nearby Bluff Point State Park with a walk along the barrier beach or a hike up the cliffs. In Newport, Rhode Island, stroll along the Newport Cliff Walk with its panoramic ocean views before heading to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to enjoy the picturesque town and freshly caught seafood.

Once you reach Boston, immerse in American history by visiting the Boston Tea Party boats in the harbor and walking the Freedom Trail to see other historic sites. Take the ferry to Salem for a day, go on the Salem Haunts Walking Tour, and catch the Cry Innocent performance. Head up to Portland, Maine to enjoy the scenic waterfront town with Victorian architecture and spend the night at the centrally located Portland Harbor Hotel.

The Midwest is home to one of the best lake vacation spots in the country. The Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is a vast reservoir with over 1,100 miles of shoreline. Couples and families alike will enjoy boat rides on the lake, relaxing at the beach, fishing, cave tours, distillery visits, and walks in nature. Stay at the lakefront Lodge of Four Seasons and enjoy the on-site spa, golf course, bars, and restaurants.

With year-round warm weather perfect for the beach, the Sunshine State is a great place to indulge in a tropical escape with your loved ones. The vast state has many fascinating tourist activities from airboats in the Everglades, historic sites, pristine beaches, award-winning dining, and more. Don’t miss St. Petersburg and Clearwater for the quintessential Florida experience with a great mix of culture, city, and nature. You’ll spend your days visiting the Salvador Dalí Museum, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and unwinding on white powdery sand beaches with Beach House Suites by The Don Cesar on St. Pete Beach as your base.