Looking for the best camping hotspots across the nation? Here are the ones most highly rated by tourist industry professionals and traveler surveys.

1. Assateague Island, Maryland

Image via Flickr by sarahstierch

Nestled between the Atlantic coast and Sinepuxent Bay, Assateague Island has more than 300 campsites to choose from. Camping is permitted year round, and back country camping is available for those who wish to backpack or paddle the island. The ocean side features two miles of coastline for swimming, surfing, and fishing.

The bay side is ideal for kayaking and canoeing. The marsh areas are rich with wildlife, including the famous feral horses, deer and waterfowl. The quaint town of Berlin is a short 8 miles from the campgrounds, a great place for a day of shopping or dinner out.

2. Huntington Beach, South Carolina

Image via Flickr by jcookfisher

Huntington Beach offers three miles of beach and 2,500 acres of some of the most beautiful beaches on the Grand Strand. The park also features a freshwater lagoon, salt marsh, and maritime forest. An aquarium is on display, and the campgrounds offer both primitive and improved sites.

A comfort station and other amenities are available, including walking trails and a nature center. Most campers plan to spend a day touring the home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, a national landmark. This is a fun and interesting two day drive from Team Nissan North. New and Used Nissans in Lebanon NH.

3. Glacier National Park, Montana

Image via Flickr by jessicafm

Glacier National Park offers 13 different campgrounds with over 1,000 campsites. Most people choose to take Going to the Sun Road to sight see, where you can visit Lake McDonald Valley, Logan Pass, and St. Mary Valley.

For a more peaceful journey, consider some of the lesser traveled ways, such as North Fork, Two Medicine, Goat Haunt, or Mary Glacier. These routes allow you to see Native American historical sites, homestead sites, wilderness areas, Alpine meadows, and an array of valleys carved by thousands of years of glacier activity.

4. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Image via Flickr by Alaskan Dude

Bryce Canyon is open to campers year round, however some facilities are only open during the summer months. Bryce offers two campgrounds, North and Sunset, both snuggled in the Ponderosa pine forest offering sunshine and shade in equal amounts. Both campgrounds are also near Bryce Amphitheater, an geological wonder.

There are a number of activities to participate in during the spring, summer and fall, including geology talks, a Rim walk, evening programs, and events for children. Bryce is home to one of the world’s most successful predators, the mountain lion, and many visitors get to see a few during their visit.

5. Yosemite National Park, California

Image via Flickr by Randy Le’Moine Photography

Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular camping destinations in the nation, so it pays to plan ahead for your visit. The park opens and closes on different dates each year, depending on the weather, but there are year round opportunities to camp in the park. The busiest months are April through September.

There are several ways to tour points of interest, such as Glacier Point and Badger Pass, including hiking, biking, by a bus tour, or with a park ranger. The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable about the ecosystems, geology, wildlife, and plant life that make this area so unique, so it pays to spend some time with them learning while you’re there.

It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast for the areas you plan to travel through beginning two weeks in advance of the trip. Some camping hotspots are subject to extreme weather conditions. All of these camping destinations rate in the top 10 lists of national and international travel bureaus.

Summer is knocking at our doors and the obvious question again beckons: ”What is there to do?” If you’re located near Los Angeles or just looking to make a trip to beautiful California, there are some exciting opportunities for you this summer. Here are 5 must-do activities in Los Angeles this summer.

5. Watch a Great Performance

Image via Flickr by S. Bricker

Los Angeles is well-known as a musical powerhouse. For good reason too: There are several exciting free outdoor concert events to visit this summer. The Ford Amphitheatre even does a summer session, which combines the beautiful California weather with the arts of dance, comedy, film, and musical performances. Take the opportunity to enjoy a play or concert by visiting one of the many summer concerts in LA.

4. Play in the Sand

Image via Flickr by PhotoByJohn

When you think of Los Angeles, you undoubtedly think about the beach. There are several beaches near Los Angeles and each of them offers up a different activity to enjoy this summer.

• Malibu: Known for its waves, Malibu is the perfect beach for the experienced or novice surfer.
• Santa Monica: Known for the Santa Monica Pier, this beach is perfect for the site-seers. Whether you are looking to enjoy a ride on the Ferris wheel or cruise on a bike down the 2-mile beach, there is something for everyone.
• Venice: This beach is more about the people than the sand and water. Well known for its outdoor gym you can see everything from stilt walkers to body builders.

3. Cheer For an LA Team

Image via Flickr by kla4067

Los Angeles is renowned for its professional sports teams. They have everything a sports fan could want, from basketball and baseball to hockey and soccer. Grab Los Angeles Dodgers tickets, because there’s no better way to spend your summer then soaking up sun while watching America’s past time.

2. Visit a Park or Zoo

Image via Flickr by RonThorp

If you’re looking for a fun or informative activity to do this summer in Los Angeles visit one of the many parks in Southern California. From environmental to theme parks, there are enough options to satisfy anyone’s interest.

• Disneyland: The most iconic theme park in California (and arguably the country), this is a must-visit attraction for any family trip to Los Angeles this summer.
• The Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Home to over 1,100 animals, many endangered, this park will entertain and inform.
• Paramount Ranch: This national park is most known as the backdrop of many western films for Paramount Studios. There are several nature trails as well as historical Hollywood buildings.

1. See the Stars

Image via Flickr by Christian Haugen

Los Angeles is known for its movie stars, so no summer would complete without a trip to Hollywood. Whether enjoying the spectacle on the strip, touring the celebrities’ mansions, or photographing the Hollywood sign, visiting Hollywood is a must-do while in Los Angeles this summer.

With summer on the horizon, there’s no better time to start planning things to do. If you’re from the Southern California area or just hope to visit, there are several fun activities to enjoy. From sport games and beaches all the way to parks and mansions, Los Angeles has something for everyone.

Big, brash, loud, bright … you name it, Las Vegas probably has it, yet you could never accuse this desert powerhouse of being boring!

Literally stuck in the middle of nowhere, desert scenery surrounds this man-made city, so a feeling of being completely ‘away from it all’ really is a reality!

Long haul flying has its disadvantages, I’ll admit, and a flight time of around 10 and a half hours is never fun, yet Vegas really is a world away from anything you’ve ever seen before, so I guess it makes sense it takes so long to get there! The cost of travel can be cut by pre-booking value airport extras, such as airport parking, meaning no need for that expensive airport taxi, and you can go at your own pace too. I have used Luton airport parking in the past, and found it great value for money. There are facilities at most large airports, such as the service available for parking at Gatwick, so be sure to check out what is available at your airport, and save, save, save!

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, they say. Anything you want you can get in this city, and usually at any time. Want pizza at 5am? Check. Shopping at 7am? More than likely. Gambling all through the night and into the day? You’ll see it with your own eyes.

The hotels on the strip are attractions in their own right, and to see them properly you need to dedicate a few days! The frustrating thing about Vegas is that you can see where you want to go, and you think ‘I can walk that’ – you’re wrong! I found this out for myself, and it really is like a mirage in the desert! One tip I would suggest is the hop on-hop off tour bus, running up and down the strip regularly until late. Tickets are valid for a couple of days and you literally can jump on and off wherever you like.

I stayed at the Luxor Hotel, down one side of the strip, towards the airport. This Egyptian-themed hotel has a light that is reputed to be seen in space, from the top of the huge pyramid – whether that’s true or not, I have no idea, but the hotel itself was very impressive. Next door is the fairytale castle turrets of Excalibur, and further down you’ll find New York, New York, with a winding rollercoaster. The legendary MGM Grand sits across the road, with the huge bronze lion outside – the list goes on, including Paris, with the Eiffel Tower, the beautiful Caesar’s Palace and its unbelievable amount of shops inside, and of course, the must-see fountains of the Bellagio. This is the memory that has stayed with me four years on – and it’s a sight you must see at least twice!

Of course, this is a just a few of the many themed hotels in Vegas, and the Stratosphere Tower down the other end of the strip is another must-do, as the views from the top are simply stunning – right out over the desert landscape.

Shows, gambling, trips to the Grand Canyon, mega shopping, food like you wouldn’t believe – Vegas really does have it all. It’s not cheap, and to do it in style, you do need money in your pocket, so save wherever you can, with my idea of airport parking being a great tip. Check out Newcastle Airport parking From Park BCP when flying indirect, and you’ll see what kinds of deals are around.

Win big in the desert? It’s certainly worth a shot!

New York is one of those cities that’s packed with iconic sights. Personally, I think checking out its countless movie locations makes for a brilliant day out – or, if you’re a real film nut, even a great basis for a holiday. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the top places to head to.

By the way, you can book yourself on an organised guided tour of film locations if you’d like to. This is probably a good idea if you want to pack lots in, but if you’d rather travel at your own pace and have plenty of time to explore the various shops and landmarks, I recommend doing a little research and planning out your own trip.

FAO Schwartz

First on my list is FAO Schwartz – a huge world-famous toy store I remember being totally enchanted by when I visited. Located at 767 Fifth Avenue, this shop has featured in several movies, including BIG.

Released in 1988, BIG starred Tom Hanks as a boy who inadvertently has his wish to become an adult granted. In FAO Schwartz, he dances on the store’s floor piano – so aim to do that during your visit!

Tiffany & Co.

Next up is Tiffany & Co., which is at 727 Fifth Avenue. While this has featured in a number of films, it is undoubtedly most famous for its role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s back in 1961, being where leading lady Audrey Hepburn – playing Holly Golightly – admires the jewellery display in the window.

Today, you can still follow in her footsteps, with the window displays here being famously full of beautiful jewels. The building itself is well worth admiring, too, since it’s on the US National Register of Historic Places.

Empire State Building

Even outside of the movies, the Empire State Building is easily one of New York’s most iconic structures. It’s been in a huge number of films – perhaps most famously King Kong, with said ape scaling the structure with character Ann Darrow firmly in his grasp.

You’re also likely to remember it from 1993 romance Sleepless in Seattle, which starred Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. You’ll need to head up to the Observation Deck to really follow in the footsteps of the actors in this one, though, as this is where they arranged to meet.

Doing so is well worth it for the amazing view – seeing this really is one of New York’s ultimate attractions. You’ll find the building at 350 Fifth Avenue.

Flatiron Building

Over at 175 Fifth Avenue, meanwhile, you can see the amazing Flatiron Building. I love this structure, just because it is such an unusual shape – in fact, it is its unconventional design that has made it so famous.

In terms of movies, it was featured in all three Spider-Man films (2002 onwards) as the home of The Daily Bugle which, as keen comic book fans will know, is the paper Peter Parker sells his shots of the superhero to.

Macy’s

Last on my list is Macy’s, which is one of the Big Apple’s most famous department stores. Head to its flagship shop on Herald Square to see the setting for scenes in Christmas favourites like Elf (which was released in 2003) and Miracle of 34th Street (1947), as well as the 2005 incarnation of King Kong.

By the way, if you do come here at Christmas, make sure you check out the window displays – they’re truly spectacular at this time of year.

Been to New York recently? Leave a comment below to give fellow travellers tips on top movie locations and good accommodation to stay in; click here for some useful ideas on the latter