This list is personal and that’s why it’s awesome. I will list the top 5 cities I’ve been fortunate to visit during summer months. So this is not a comprehensive list of every township in the USA but rather, as a stand-up comedian who has traveled all over, I can share my experiences from coast-to-coast to give you my top 5 summer spots.
#5 Orlando
Yes it will be hot. That’s why you’re bringing your swimming attire and water floaties! Disney World and Universal Studios with the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter are two great reasons to head down to the land of Magic. The third reason is Sea World Orlando. Feed the stingrays. Pet the dolphins. Beware of the walruses. They get feisty!
The main reason I recommend Orlando for the summer is because your children are probably on summer vacation from school, making it an ideal time to visit central Florida.
Orlando also features world class golf courses and plenty of night life. Plenty of night life! Just ask former Orlando-resident Tiger Woods! He knows all about it!
#4 Honolulu
Hawaii is beyond beautiful and any time is a good time to visit. The summer is especially pleasant because it won’t rain often and you will have an average temperature of about 80 degrees. For many, the airfare to Hawaii is expensive so if you go, you’ll want to stay for a while. The summer affords you that opportunity.
If you’re a shopper, visit Ala Moana Center. This facility humbly declares they are the “World’s Largest Open Air Shopping Center.” With over 300 stores, they may be right.
You will also want to visit Chinatown, where you will also discover The Arts District.
There is also great people watching. The city population probably looks different than any American city you’ve seen so far. And that’s not just because of ethnicity. Some sources report Honolulu as the fittest city in the USA! Take in that eye-candy on the beach!
#3 Washington, D.C.
Bring politics and US History to life with a visit to the nation’s capital city. Bring light clothes and an umbrella as you walk around the famous American landmarks.
You will see a beautiful variety of architecture. Be sure to visit The White House, The Washington Monument, The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Venture outside downtown and you will see late Victorian rowhouses and the Romanesque buildings of Georgetown University.
Stay cool with air conditioning while learning inside the fascinating Smithsonian Institute museums such as The National Museum of Natural History, The National Air and Space Museum, and The National Museum of American History.
You also have a chance to see great paintings inside the National Gallery of Art.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is amazingly well done and will bring forth many emotions beyond horror and outrage, but also hope for the future of humanity.
After you get your fill of orchestras, symphonies and ballets, go take in a baseball game to see the Washington Nationals play America’s pastime.
#2 Seattle
I love Seattle. And the absolute best time to enjoy The Emerald City is during the Summer months. The temperature is moderate and there is sun! Yes, actual sunny days in the city famous for its mist.
Seattle is a lot more than coffee shops and computer geeks. Well… OK, it has a lot of both but both the computing geniuses and the coffee are quirky, high-quality, and fun.
Seattle is also a hippie-town when compared to other American cities. You will enjoy organic everything and recycled most-everything-else. Green markets and fresh smelling air are yours to enjoy.
This northwest coast city has plenty of great food, including the best wings I’ve ever tasted. And I’m a total chicken-wings snob! I would never have predicted this but Wing Dome in Seattle would made me a believer!
You’ve also got plenty of live music venues, outdoor hiking in beautiful clean nature, and the beach.
You will want to see the Space Needle, the Fremont Troll, and the Experience Music Project.
And the summer is when the Mariners play baseball games in their gorgeous retractable-roofed stadium.
#1 New York City
Summer is high tourist season and for good reason. Yes, it will be hot and humid but you will have weather where you can walk all over Manhattan.
I could write an entire book about visiting New York but here are the highlights as I see it.
This is a city of marketers, media, international diplomats, book publishers, fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and capitalists, but also it is a city of new performing artists.
In my opinion, your visit to the nation’s biggest city would be incomplete without taking in a show featuring “unknown” talent. It is quite common to watch a comedy show or concert and then a few years later you see some of those acts gaining worldwide fame.
Check out one of the city’s many venues for fresh comedy, dance, and music.
Outside of that, you probably know the main tourist attractions so I will skip those and direct you to some others you may overlook. T
New York City might be the best restaurant city in the world. Don’t waste it by eating at a chain place you have in your home town. Do some research and embark on an exquisite culinary adventure. And yes, there are great food places for every budget.
All of Manhattan is fascinating. The Times Square area is fun but there is so much more. These days you are safe pretty much everywhere in Manhattan. If you have more time, venture off Manhattan island to see the Yankees play baseball in Bronx. While in the Bronx, visit the world class Bronx Zoo (it’s huge) and the Bronx’s Little Italy.
Take a trip to the Brooklyn Promenade to see one of the best views of the Manhattan. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Eat a slice of pizza the New York way. Go to a neighborhood bar full of pretty people drinking expensive gourmet cocktails.
And if I’m in town during your trip, come see my stand-up comedy show! 
AUTHOR BIO: HogWild is a professional comedian and dating coach in New York City. His web site features helpful + hilarious dating advice videos.
