May is the last month before the Northern Hemisphere’s summer season officially begins on Labor Day. Colorful flowers continue to bloom, temperatures rise, and the sun chooses to remain out a little longer throughout this springtime month.
Because May isn’t the peak vacation season in most destinations, you’ll find excellent prices on everything from rental cars to hotels to flights. Another advantage is that you won’t have to fight crowds to visit the sites and beaches in summer hotspots like Italy, Nantucket, and Mackinac Island.
With our list of the greatest places to visit in May, you can visit even more top locations throughout the globe. Consider these below destinations and do some fun things in May.
Grand Canyon
The Big Canyon is an incredible place to visit because it allows you to see the beauty and majesty of nature on a grand scale. The Grand Canyon, one of the world’s seven natural wonders, will astound you with its sheer size and magnitude, as well as the stunning scenery. It is one of the top spots in the United States to visit. Spend a day driving around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
It’s a 25-mile picturesque drive that takes around 4 hours to complete if you stop to take in the stunning scenery and outlooks. Navajo Point, at the highest point on the South Rim, offers spectacular panoramic views. Hike day-long or multi-day treks to have a better understanding of the Canyon. The Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge is one of the park’s gentler and shorter routes (3 miles roundtrip). Hiking into the canyon will provide you with another mind-blowing vista.
A helicopter trip will give you a bird’s eye perspective of the Grand Canyon. You won’t believe what you’re seeing! May is a wonderful time to visit the Grand Canyon, with cooler temperatures and fewer visitors than in the summer. If you plan on climbing into the canyon, it is particularly advisable to visit when the weather is more pleasant.
The weather will be warm enough to be pleasant, but cold enough to trek the park’s trails safely before the summer heat sets in. If you liked the grand canyon honorable recommendation is also Centennial park, which is an awesome outdoor adventure with great weather.
Machu Picchu
One of the top destinations, especially in the high season, where you will guarantee to have a great time. If you’ve always wanted to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, May is the perfect time to do it. The wet season will have just finished, and you’ll have a tiny window of opportunity before the busy tourist season begins in June.
Travelers may expect spectacular views of lush green valleys and lower temperatures in May, which make for ideal trekking conditions. You’ll want to bring a couple of extra pieces of clothing since it may become cold at night this time of year.
Machu Picchu isn’t a location to visit on the spur of the moment. Because hiking permits are getting increasingly stringent, you should plan your trip months in advance to arrange accommodation and acquire the proper permits. There will be significantly fewer trekkers on the trails in May as you make your way to Machu Picchu, the major reason you came.
The gardens, temples, and unique beauty of this ancient Incan city, which is one of the top UNESCO World Heritage sites, are spectacular. For some great deals regarding hotels, click the button below.
Myrtle Beach
Sunbathing, beachcombing, nightlife, family-friendly activities, wonderful seafood, and enjoying South Carolina’s natural beauty make Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, one of the top locations to visit in May in the United States. The weather is perfect, and the ocean water is practically as warm as a bath. Furthermore, you will be able to experience the natural beauty and fun-filled activities that Myrtle Beach has to offer outside of peak tourist season, avoiding the summer crowds.
One of the first things you’ll want to do while visiting Myrtle Beach is going to the beach. Depending on where you stay, you’ll likely be within walking distance of one of the numerous fantastic beaches. We recommend checking out the south beach especially.
Spend the day resting, sandcastle-building, and soaking up the sun. If you like nature, visit Brookgreen Gardens, where you may stroll through 9,100 acres of blossoming, vibrant flowers while walking under moss-draped trees.
If you’re coming with children, the little zoo and storybook play area will be a hit. Another event you won’t want to miss is Broadway at the Beach.
You’ll discover lots of local shopping, eating, and entertainment choices here. Jetboat rides, ziplining, the Pavilion Park amusement park, Wonderworks, and the Ripley’s Aquarium are just a few of the attractions you won’t want to miss. Honorable mentions here are Napa and Roanoke.
Vancouver Island
In British Columbia, the arrival of spring is marked by melting snow and blossoming trees. Bears emerge from their hibernation, orcas and humpback whales begin their northward journey, and restaurants are brimming with spring seafood (salmon, halibut, spot prawns) and foraged delicacies (spruce tips, fiddlehead ferns). The famed West Coast Trail’s hiking season begins on May 1st.
Vancouver Island, which includes Victoria, the capital, and Tofino, a wood-shingled surf town, packs a lot into its 12,000 square miles. There will be even more opportunities to explore by 2020. There are new additions to Tofino’s booming culinary scene, such as the Tofino Distillery and the vegan restaurant Bravocados, as well as new rooms at the Pacific Sands Resort, where visitors may surf and kayak.
The Wickaninnish Inn, however, remains the reigning queen of Tofino hospitality. In time for World Oceans Day, the rebuilt Pointe Restaurant and On the Rocks bar—all wood and ocean-view windows, with a bar fashioned from local marble—will debut a new wine cellar and event area (June 8).
An almost 15-mile multiuse route connecting Tofino and its seaside neighbor, Ucluelet, is being built. In Ucluelet, travelers may arrange bicycle trips with Pacific Rim Eco Tours. There are 50 First Nations villages on the island, with many of them providing immersive methods for visitors to interact with Native customs.
Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours will operate three tours around the island’s northern shore, each focusing on a different facet of Homalco culture. Vancouver Island, by the way, is roughly 70 miles west of Vancouver.
Travelers may hire a vehicle in Vancouver and ride the 95-minute boat to Victoria, or they can take a 30-minute flight from Vancouver and rent a car from Victoria’s International Airport. It takes 5.5 hours to travel from one end of the island to the other.
Rio De Janeiro
This is a sweet spot road trip outside North America. There are some top things you can do in Brazil. May is a great month to visit Rio de Janeiro since the days are cooler and the Brazilian city’s colorful life is in full flow.
After the strong tourist influx for Carnival activities, hotel costs in May will have declined somewhat, and many tourists will have returned home. You’ll be able to enjoy fantastic beach weather without the oppressive heat of the summer season, which lasts from December through February.
May is a pleasant month for visiting prominent locations such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and enjoying a tour of the Tijuca Rain Forest. Walking around the many districts of Rio is one of the finest ways to get a sense of the culture and local cuisine.
If you don’t want to go out on your own, there are various walking excursions available.
Greece
Average temperatures are comfortable temperatures. May is the ideal month to visit some of Greece’s most famous tourist attractions, such as Athens, Crete, and Santorini. Because it is the country’s shoulder season, hotel and flight costs are lower than during the peak summer tourist season.
The major benefit of going in May is that the crowds are substantially less, which means shorter lineups for famous tourist sites, potentially saving you several hours for each destination on your agenda.
Although there is a minor possibility of adverse weather in May, the trade-off is well worth it. When you wander through ancient parts of towns and through markets that might be filled with residents during the low season, there will be fewer people around.
Another benefit of fewer visitors is that you will have an advantage when negotiating for gifts at marketplaces. In May, Greece hosts a number of enjoyable flower festivals, including the well-known Rhodian Flower Festival.
New York
In May, one of the greatest destinations to visit in the United States is New York City, where the bright yet warm weather allows visitors to enjoy the best of this vibrant city. Many notable districts and iconic monuments, such as Greenwich Village, the Flatiron Building, the Empire State Building, and the New York Public Library, may be seen during a walking tour of Manhattan.
Of course, you’ll want to go up high to see the renowned New York skyline, and there’s a good possibility of clear skies in May. The Empire State Building’s observation deck is a popular option, but the Top of the Rock observation deck offers something more: a view of the Empire State Building itself.
Consider one of the numerous rooftop clubs in New York, such as Westlight in Brooklyn, which serves superb tapas and cocktails while providing panoramic views of Manhattan. A vacation to New York isn’t complete without sampling some of the city’s delectable cuisine.
Try Lombardi’s on Spring Street for some old-school pizza. Keens Steakhouse is a terrific pick for steak. Furthermore, if you’re looking for something a touch more upscale, Jean-Georges at 1 Central Park West offers beautiful tasting menus (and the tuna sashimi ribbons are incredible).
A similar destination is Chicago, which is very enjoyable in recent years, especially in peak season. If you like fewer people, consider something else. Traveler sentiment is always important.
Joshua Tree National Park
During the month of May, Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California is a fantastic place to visit in the United States. Summer in the desert may be difficult for outdoor activities due to the heat environment. In May, the weather will be cooler, making trekking and camping much more fun and comfortable. In addition, compared to autumn, the crowds will be more manageable.
The Joshua Tree National Park is one of those places where you have to see it to believe it. The desert’s alien-like scenery and peaceful seclusion make it a great spot to relax.
Because the park spans both the Mojave and Colorado deserts, you’ll witness two quite diverse landscapes throughout the major length. Because of its closeness, you may walk two desserts in one day while visiting Joshua Tree.
The iconic Joshua Tree – a tall and wild yucca plant – as well as the large rocks popular with climbers and photographers may be found in the Mojave Desert, which is located in the park’s northern portion. This area contains the bulk of the Park’s hiking paths.
The southern half is in the Colorado Desert, which is hotter and dryer than the Joshua Tree, but ideal for the cholla and ocotillo cacti that thrive there. You may discover more unspoiled nature in this region. Within the park, there is a lot to see.
Take a stroll on the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail in the Mojave section of the park, for example. This trek is a moderate 3-mile hike among cactus-covered rocky summits. The route eventually leads to a natural oasis. In the late spring temps, it’s a dreamlike feeling, incredibly quiet and cozy.
Anna Maria Island
The Intracoastal Waterway, Tampa Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico surround Anna Maria Island, which is located on the western edge of Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is a charming town full of amazing attractions and beautiful beaches, making it one of the greatest destinations to visit in May in the United States.
All year long, Anna Maria Island is a fantastic destination to visit, but May is undoubtedly the greatest month. Due to the fact that it is considered low season, you will encounter fewer tourists and enjoy relatively nice temperatures with a beautiful sky all day. Summer in Florida is often rainy, with unexpected rain and temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The beautiful beaches on Anna Maria Island are one of the finest attractions, and you may pick between private and public beaches. For the greatest private beaches, Holmes Beach is at the top of the list.
The beach is wonderfully soft, and there are fewer people, particularly during the week. You may listen to the waves, gather shells, run or stroll, and witness breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Manatee Beach Park is one of the better public beaches in the region, with plenty of parking and facilities such as lifeguard stations, eateries, a volleyball field, and showers.
French Riviera
In May, there’s something particularly romantic about visiting the French Riviera. The social elite and celebrities flock to the area’s colorful streets for the Cannes Film Festival in May, but glitz and glitter are constantly present in this opulent neighborhood.
During the 12-day extravaganza, private boats float around the port, and over-the-top extras may be seen in local businesses and cafés. To lure the affluent, hotels improve their game (and their costs), and you could just run into an A-lister on the beach.
The Monte Carlo Formula One Grand Prix takes place in Monaco in May. If you can afford it, May is the best month to visit the French Riviera since it is the most interesting and bustling.
If you don’t have any spare cash, you could try to plan your vacation for a different time of year, when you can visit the Metropole Shopping Mall and other attractions without the added distractions and prices.
Enjoy mild temperatures, breathing in spring flowers on this awesome beach getaway vacation. Consider some travel insurance and read some related articles for more information.
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