Top 10 Memorial Day getaways

6. New York, N.Y.
Some cities commemorate the weekend with fireworks, others with concerts, but New York does it with Fleet Week, an annual event that brings hundreds of sailors and Marines to the city to participate in parades — and to show off their classy white uniforms on Manhattan’s avenues. While seeing these men and women in uniform is reason enough to visit over Memorial Day, other pleasures are also to be had, from the greenery of Central Park — just the place to have your first summer picnic — and al fresco activities like sidewalk dining, street fairs, rooftop drinks, and river cruises, many with spectacular city vistas. And, if you’re a first-time visitor, standing at the feet of Lady Liberty or seeing the Empire State Building lit up in red, white, and blue are just the things to make you feel patriotic.

7. Palm Springs, Calif.
A desert oasis with a glamorous past, Palm Springs has been attracting Hollywood glitterati for decades. In its heyday, this California hotspot was a playground for the stars, touting glitzy resorts and leisurely pursuits like golf, swimming, and tennis. Today, you no longer have to be rich and famous to enjoy its abundant greens and posh resorts, which has made the Springs more accessible to everyone. There’s more than just swanky pastimes here, though, and nature buffs can easily spend their time enjoying desert vistas, canyon tours, and hikes. As expected, however, this desert outpost tends to heat up in summer months, so a Memorial Day getaway reigns supreme, as it’s one of your last chances to enjoy Palm Springs' lush offerings with equally lush weather.

8. Quebec City, Canada
With its cobblestoned streets, quaint 17th-century houses, stone fortifications, and French language, Quebec City is about as far away as one can get for a three-day weekend without having to deal with jetlag. This French city by the majestic St. Lawrence River won’t disappoint, either — you’ll easily be able to pretend you’re in a small European city by exploring the city’s magnificent architecture in Basse Ville (Lower Town), dining at fine French restaurants, and sipping a café au lait at a sidewalk café. If things get chilly, head indoors to the magnificent St Laurent Bar & Lounge at the imposing Chateau Frontenac, and order a martini — try the hotel’s signature Winston Churchill, F.D. Roosevelt, or Maurice Duplessis varieties — while overlooking the river. Fantastique!

9. Washington D.C.

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With its plethora of monuments commemorating our countrymen’s historical service and sacrifices, there’s no more memorable Memorial Day setting than Washington, D.C. Make the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery your first stop, where a morning wreath-laying ceremony pays tribute to the unidentified soldiers interred here. Next up, catch the Memorial Day Parade of veterans, military units, floats, balloons, and marching bands as it makes its way from the National Mall to the White House. A slew of additional afternoon ceremonies are held at the Vietnam Veterans, U.S. Navy, and World War II memorials, often capped by a mournful rendition of Taps. You can even kick off the holiday the night before, by attending the annual free Memorial Day Concert, complete with celebrity emcees and the National Symphony Orchestra, on the Capitol's West Lawn.

10. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is just about as American as apple pie. Designated as the nation’s very first national park in 1872, this vast preserve of wilderness and wildlife is the perfect place to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. The park’s surreal natural landscapes, which stretch across the state lines of Montana and Wyoming, have drawn a continuous stream of admirers since Native American days. It’s no wonder — long plateaus gloriously unfold between verdant, forested mountains, more than 300 steam-spewing geysers meet with 300-foot towering waterfalls, and an immense gorge known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not to be confused with the Grand Canyon) join up here, for a dizzying compilation of natural wonders. Aside from the grizzlies, elk, and otters that call the park home, perhaps Yellowstone’s most famous resident is Old Faithful, a steam-spewing geyser that predictably erupts every 90 minutes or so. Note that temperatures are famously variable in the park, but they’re likely to be in the comfortable 60s on a late-May day (just be sure to bring a jacket, just in case).

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