Where to Travel in May 2025

May is certain to be a busy period for travel and tourism as people look to shake free from the winter chill and get a head start on summer.

Sizzling beach destinations, premier music festivals and can't-miss events from film showcases to Grand Slam golf and tennis tournaments will entice travelers to explore new experiences this May.

Here are some of the can't-miss destinations for travelers in the month ahead.

Where to Travel for Mother's Day

Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 11 this year and travelers looking to pamper mom can do so in a variety of locales, but laidback wine regions like Sonoma County, California and New York's Finger Lakes region stand out in 2025.

The former offers not only some of the country's best vineyards to tour but access to unique whale watching experiences, scenic road trips and much more.

On the East Coast, the Finger Lakes boast equally stunning landscapes and access to nature in addition to world-class wines, food and culture.

Where to Travel for Memorial Day Weekend

If it's adventure you seek to kick off summer, head to Bozeman and Montana's Big Sky Country for some fly fishing in the Gallatin River, alpine hiking in the Bridger Mountains and easy access to can't-miss protected lands like Yellowstone National Park.

Back in town, visitors can enjoy open-air concerts, farmers markets and lively craft beer festivals. Field & Stream Lodge Co. will debut its first hotel just one mile from downtown Bozeman on May 1 with rates starting from just $225 per night.

If the unofficial start to summer calls for romance, consider Coronado Island outside of San Diego, California. The Bower on Orange Ave is Coronado Island's first new luxury hotel development in decades.

The Bower is an intimate 39-room property that embraces the Japanese philosophy of "wabi-sabi" through its architectural narrative and includes highlights like Dive, Coronado's first rooftop bar and restaurant with panoramic views.

What's more, the exceptional hotel opened just last mont with rates starting at $579 per night.

Where to Cruise in May

Those in search of a dream cruise through the Caribbean should book a May trip with Dream Yacht Worldwide, which offers memorable sailings through both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

Guests can explore some of the region's most breathtaking landscapes, from the green hills of St. John to the caves on Norman Island. Along the way, sailors can even check out hidden coves, snorkel colorful coral reefs and lounge on some splendid beaches.

Where to Travel for Major Sporting Events

Baseball may be America's pastime and May will feature marquee matchups across the U.S., but like baseball and boxing, horse racing was once a premier sport from coast to coast and the Triple Crown still matters a great deal.

Saturday, May 3, will mark the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This event remains a spectacle that draws celebrities from around the world and the competition or outcome are often secondary. Nonetheless, the winner will then take center stage at the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 17.

Charm City is a delightful destination that comes alive during the summer. Plus, sports fans in town for the race can check out an Orioles game at Camden Yards—one of the country's most beloved stadiums—as the Os are in town for a beltway rivalry series with the nearby Washington Nationals from May 16-18.

The end of May will see two of the year's biggest sporting events take over Europe. The French Open tennis championships will return to Roland Garros in Paris beginning May 25 (the tournament runs through June 8) while the 2025 UEFA Champions League final will be held in Munich, Germany, one week later on May 31.

Where to Travel for Other Exciting Events

May travelers won't want to miss the tail end of the two-week New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in the Big Easy, which concludes the first weekend in May with performances by headliners like Pearl Jam, Luke Combs and Lenny Kravitz, among other top acts.

Another premier music festival guaranteed to entertain is the Sand in My Boots Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from May 16-18, featuring Post Malone, Diplo and Morgan Wallen, among others.

That same weekend will see the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival take over San Diego while the month will conclude with marquee events like the Boston Calling Music Festival (May 23-25) featuring Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy and Dave Matthews Band in addition to Gulf Coast Jam taking over Panama City Beach, Florida during the final weekend in May.

Meanwhile, movie buffs may consider traveling to the French Riviera to experience the iconic Cannes Film Festival. Now in its 78th year, the event will run from May 13-24 and see one picture awarded the coveted Palme d'Or.

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