10 reasons to visit the East Coast in 2025

For travellers seeking the best of the USA, the draw of the East Coast is undeniable. Whether it’s taking in the iconic skylines of cities like New York and Philadelphia, indulging in the creative cuisine of Boston or the Carolinas, or exploring destinations that have played a crucial role in the nation’s founding history, an East Coast adventure is hard to beat. But a visit here isn’t just about the big-hitters. Look a little further and you’ll find insightful exhibitions in Virginia, flower-filled celebrations in Pennsylvania and a raft of new openings and seasonal festivals taking place throughout the East Coast this year. 

1. Fantastic food festivals

While headline-grabbing events like NYC Restaurant Week offer an opportunity to sample some of the East Coast’s most famous cuisines, southern set-ups such as Miami’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival are equally worthy of a spot on any food-focused itinerary. This four-day event — which features everything from cookery classes and tasting sessions to chef’s table dinners and late-night parties — offers an ideal introduction to Miami’s fast-growing food scene, which saw three restaurants in the city awarded a Michelin star in 2024. Notable openings include Mika — a high-end Mediterranean restaurant run by Michelin-starred chef Michael White — and Casa Neos by Riviera Dining Group.

Further north, the summer months in Pittsburgh bring with them a true celebration of the diversity and dynamism of the East Coast’s cuisine in the form of annual events like the Pittsburgh Taco Festival and Pittsburgh VegFest. Most entertaining is July’s Picklesburgh festival, when downtown Pittsburgh is transformed in a celebration of all things pickled. Highlights include pickle-themed cooking demonstrations, special dishes from local food vendors, musical performances and pickle-juice drinking competitions.

2. Illuminating new exhibitions 

In Washington, DC, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) reopened in October 2023 after a $70m (£55.3m) renovation that breathed new life into its striking neoclassical building. The first museum in the world dedicated solely to championing women through the arts, the NMWA features more than 5,500 works by over 1,000 artists. The renovations have allowed for extended gallery space, additional research facilities and accessibility infrastructure for the collections, making for an increasingly insightful experience.

This year, you can also catch several temporary East Coast exhibitions that shine a light on lesser-known aspects of American culture. At Richmond’s Library of Virginia, the Homefront to Frontline: Virginia's WWII Story exhibition runs until late October 2025, offering insight into the sacrifices and contributions of Virginians during World War II. Meanwhile, in Boston, a new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts (home to 100 galleries) focuses on the works of Van Gogh, one of the world's most beloved artists. Aiming to provide visitors with an in-depth look at the underpinnings of Van Gough's his most renowned paintings, Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits will run until September 2025.

3. Alternative historic hotspots

The East Coast’s cities offer a true journey into US history. Key stops include Boston, known as the ‘City of Firsts’, in part due to the presence of the world’s first publicly supported free municipal library and the USA’s first public park; Washington, DC, with its long list of historic monuments; and Philadelphia, whose Independence Hall is where Benjamin Franklin and his compatriots signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

But there’s also plenty to learn away from the well-known historical centres. For insight into the nation’s nautical heritage, you can’t beat Maryland’s capital, Annapolis, home to the US Naval Academy. And while you may have heard of the Boston Tea Party, the Yorktown Tea Party in Virginia is equally enthralling. Most merchants here shunned British imports after the events in Boston in 1773. But when the Virginia sailed into Yorktown just under a year later, the boycott of British goods peaked, as locals who’d heard the ship was filled with British tea boarded the vessel and threw the goods into the river. Typically held in November, Yorktown's annual Tea Party Festival commemorates the historic event with a series of music performances, historic building tours and tea smuggling exhibits.

4. Sumptuous stays

With a number of highly anticipated hotel openings in 2025, the East Coast will get a variety of new accommodation options. Wellness and gastronomy will be the focus of Faena New York, which opens in spring 2025 by the Hudson River. Located within One High Line's East Tower, amenities will include access to a healing sanctuary and innovative restaurant helmed by a celebrity chef. Equally opulent will be The Vineta Hotel, opening within the former Chesterfield Hotel in Palm Beach. Alongside the revival of the former Leopard Lounge, expect a brand-new Mediterranean-inspired poolside restaurant.

The inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels awards in 2024 also featured two New York properties — The Carlyle and the Aman New York. Visiting at the start of the year? NYC Hotel Week sees more than 100 hotels offer discounts of around 25%, and is well worth considering for those looking for the most luxurious stay at the best price. 

5. The beauty of the blooms

Green-fingered visitors keen to explore the natural beauty of the USA should make a beeline for Pennsylvania, where the annual Philadelphia Flower Show is the country’s longest-running horticultural event. The 2025 edition, ‘Gardens of Tomorrow’, invites visitors to explore the future through the imaginative designs and expert handicraft of gardeners and designers. Expect expert-led floral exhibits, the world's biggest plant competition and curated shopping experiences.

For year-round horticultural activity, head to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania’s Chester County, where you’ll find 1,100 acres of intricate floral displays and sprawling woodland, as well as several vibrant, plant-filled conservatories. Don't miss the new West Conservatory, which opened in November 2024. Unveiled as part of 'Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience', it features islands of stunning Mediterranean-inspired gardens and more than sixty permanent species.

There are plenty of parks elsewhere on the East Coast, too. In Jacksonville, Florida, visitors can enjoy 400 publicly accessible green spaces — including the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Even New York City, often known as the ‘concrete jungle’, has more than 1,700 parks. 

6. Rural road trips

New England continues to inspire road-trippers year round, with a visit in the summer, spring or winter months quickly dispelling the widespread myth that autumn is the only time to visit the region. While routes such as New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway are famous for their fall foliage, the area also offers historic covered bridges, thundering waterfalls and diverse forested landscapes, all of which make it one of the USA’s top destinations for road trips. For the ultimate experience, make for Massachusetts and the coastline-hugging Route 127, where the most striking section (Route 127A) connects Rockport to Gloucester. You’ll pass offshore lighthouses and the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial, which honours the area’s fishing heritage. 

Alternatively, drive along Route 6A — also known as the Old King’s Highway — where highlights include Cape Cod and Provincetown, famous for its quirky boutiques and laid-back atmosphere. It's worth spending at least three days exploring Cape Cod, settling into hotels such as the newly opened 30-room Greyfinch Chatham Inn, just a short walk from the beach. Its beautiful interior pays homage to the area’s nautical history.

7. From sharks to star wars, an education for all ages

For families, there’s much to explore on the East Coast beyond Florida’s famous theme parks. At Miami’s Frost Science Museum, a spherical planetarium and two-million-litre aquarium are ever-popular stops, while the newest exhibition, Sharks, features life-sized shark models and tactile displays.

In Washington, DC, make for the National Museum of American History — where exhibits include Abraham Lincoln’s iconic top hat — and the National Air and Space Museum, where ongoing renovation works saw eight new galleries open in 2022. Its exhibits range from Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit to an X-wing starfighter used in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

For hands-on entertainment, however, Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum simply can’t be beaten. Its galleries are filled with interactivity — some dedicated to rockets and motor vehicles, while another features a full replica of a Philadelphia neighbourhood.

8. A packed calendar of capital events

Many of the East Coast’s most popular annual events take place in the country’s capital, Washington, DC. From 20 March to 13 April, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the city coming to life in sumptuous shades of pink. Washington, DC has the largest blooming of cherry trees outside Japan, and marks the occasion annually with an extensive programme of events, parades and performances celebrating Japanese culture. 

In June, the city’s Capital Pride Parade and Festival is one of the largest Pride events in the USA, while July will welcome the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Dating back to 1967, this two-week event celebrates cultural traditions and communities. This year’s festival, Looking Forward: Youth and the Future of Culture, will highlight the stories, creativity and aspirations of the world's youth population while looking towards the future.

9. State-of-the-art sporting experiences

From the annual Formula One weekend in Miami — also a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026 — to New York’s US Open Tennis Championships, the cities of the East Coast are known for their world-class sporting events. From 15 June to July 13, Miami's Hard Rock Stadium will be hosting 32 of the world's best club teams to play during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Or for the ultimate fan experience, head to the Caribe Royale Orlando Resort's Stadium Club in Orlando. This 500-seat sports bar features two huge 165-inch XHD projector displays, as well as screens that allow 360-degree immersion and interactive special effects. Snack on stadium-inspired cuisine and be sure to try one of the eight sports simulators that feature everything from American football to zombie dodgeball. 

10. Adrenaline-inducing openings

Florida remains the state thrill-seekers typically flock to for an adventure on the East Coast. The most talked-about opening in the USA’s theme park capital this year is Universal Epic Universe, which is set to open its doors on 22 May. Sprawled across 750 acres, it'll feature the themed worlds of Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It’s also worth noting that in September 2023, the Brightline train opened its first Orlando extension, which makes it easier than ever to combine a holiday in the city with visits to Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In the parks themselves, new attractions at Universal Studios Florida include Villain-Con Minion Blast, a game featuring characters and backdrops from the Despicable Me and Minions films. Meanwhile at Six Flags New England, Quantum Accelerator, a multi-launch family coaster, will open this year.