Perfect Day Trips from the East Coast: 5 Full-Day Adventures Across the United States
My name is Mishana Sturdivant and I run Tad Bit Rad Travels. The purpose of this blog is to share tips, tricks, and recommendations to empower my readers to travel efficiently and unapologetically. Here are my tips and recommendations for the viral full-day adventures that are taking social media by storm.
Summertime is around the corner. Expenses are high, budgets are low, and PTO (paid-time off) is scarce. However, during times like this, I still need a trip to look forward to. I need something booked to motivate me to keep going. Full day trips have gone viral on social media, and I think they are a good solution to what many of us are experiencing nowadays. I have thoughts on some of the best destinations for a quick full day trip within the United States (flying from the East Coast!). Before I get to my list of recommended destinations, here are some tips for an efficient day trip.
Fly in early! Try to arrive at your destination by 8-9 am. The earlier you arrive, the more time you have to eat and explore. Your time is limited; use it wisely. I recommend choosing destinations with an affordable non-stop option first thing in the morning.
Fly out during the last flight (or the next to the last flight, depending on when you want to return home). Exploring a new city all day and then sleeping in your bed that night is the best of both worlds.
Book at least a month out for the most affordable flight options. The closer you get to your preferred departure date, the more expensive the same-day round-trip ticket will be.
Pack light, and I mean, a personal bag only, light! The minute you land, you should be walking out of the airport and starting your adventure shortly after. You shouldn’t have to worry about storing carry-on luggage for the day. Even if there’s a chance you might stay the night, pack a change of clothes in a bookbag with small-sized toiletries and medication, and keep pushing. Make sure the personal bag is light enough for you to carry all day, but includes everything you would need within 24 hours.
Use the Metro: To avoid wasting too much time in traffic, I would recommend taking the Metro. Many of these destinations have efficient metro systems that allow you to navigate them easily. Google Maps is great for train directions.
Flying from the East Coast, here are 5 destinations you should consider for your full-day trips. These destinations offer affordable non-stop options, and they are metropolitan areas with public transportation and easy navigation.
Brooklyn Skyline riding the ferry
New York City
NYC is a great day trip, especially if you’ve traveled here before. There’s so much to do, you won’t be able to do and see everything in a day, but you can always return, since it’s a simple trip from most places on the East Coast. The airports are about an hour from the city, so please note that when arriving early and departing later in the evening. I would recommend choosing a neighborhood and exploring on foot. You can spend the day eating in Harlem and catching a show at the Apollo Theatre. You can spend the day in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, vintage clothes shopping and wandering to DUMBO. You could spend the day in Midtown, exploring Times Square and then taking the metro to SoHo to wander. You could focus on food and eat through Chinatown or Koreatown. There are so many ways to take New York. Even if you’ve done all the touristy stuff, a day trip would still be exciting.
Taking photos at the Iconic Bean in Millennium Park, Chicago
2. Chicago
Similar to NYC, Chicago has a metro that will take you from the airport to downtown Chicago. I love wandering through downtown Chicago, especially near the waterfront or the Chicago Loop areas. Chicago has great food as well, so for a day trip, I recommend a food tour or reserving the restaurants that you want to visit. Chicago Riverwalk is full of spots where you can grab a bite and a drink with a waterfront view. In Chicago, you don’t need an itinerary; just get lost downtown. Grab some great breakfast tacos, visit the Bean, find a museum or two, grab a Chicago hot dog or a beer, and then head back home the same day.
3. New Orleans
If you haven’t caught the pattern yet, my travels tend to center around food. I love traveling to cities known for their gastronomy. The first three destinations have some of the best food in the United States for me. New Orleans is top 2, and not even 2. New Orleans has great food, amazing culture, and it’s super black. It's also a destination I return to every couple of years. If you’re able to catch a non-stop flight to New Orleans, I highly recommend a day trip there, just to eat around the city. Start your day in the French Quarter for a beignet and coffee. I recommend buying some real food for breakfast after the beignet stop, specifically food that will hold you as you drink and wander New Orleans in the extreme heat. I enjoy the Ruby Slipper every time that I visit New Orleans. After exploring the French Quarter and Bourbon Street for a few hours, venture out to Magazine Street. Grab lunch (a shrimp po-boy!) and relax for a moment. Your last meal should be some good soul food. I always order catfish (fried hard), gumbo, and crawfish étouffée.
Posing near the fountain at the Versace Mansion during Brunch
4. Miami (or Ft Lauderdale)
If you’re looking for a quick beach trip, why not fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale? Sometimes it’s more affordable to fly into Fort Lauderdale and drive down to Miami, but I would also recommend spending the day in Fort Lauderdale. They have the beach, the wellness resorts, and great food too. If you plan to visit the beach, I recommend a beach club or a Resort Day Pass. With a day pass, you get access to the resort for the day, access to beach chairs and towels, and sometimes access to a hotel room for the day. Marriott is known to offer day passes at their resorts.
Posing with the Cherry Blossoms in Tidal Basin park in Washington, DC
5. DC or Baltimore, Maryland
The DMV is a great day trip because there’s so much to do any day of the week in DC or Baltimore, Maryland. In DC, you can visit any Smithsonian museums (most are free) and wander around to see the national monuments. Brunch is big on Saturdays and Sundays, or you can grab a meal at any waterfront restaurants in Georgetown, The Wharf, or the Navy Yard. Downtown Baltimore has its marina as well, where you can wander around. Some of the best food is in Baltimore, so don’t visit without trying the crab cakes or the whole crab. DC also has a metro system that connects the area to Virginia and Maryland, so if you wanted to spend some time in Old Town, Alexandria, or Bethesda, Maryland, you could easily do so. You can easily get back on the metro to head back to the airport to go home.
Some honorable mentions include Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Houston, TX. (Dallas, Austin, too!)
