Summer is coming to a close, it’s back to school and soon it’ll be pumpkin-spice season. So while the sun is still shining and the heat is still sizzling, take yourself on a final summer vacation over Labor Day weekend.
There are still beaches to relax on, oceans to explore and ice cream to eat, so soak it all up while you still can. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to get there, either.
While the optimal time to book a flight for Labor Day has passed, there are still deals to be found if you time your trip right. Flying on Labor Day is the most expensive, while flying the Wednesday before is the cheapest (if you can swing the vacation days).
Need an idea for where to go? Check out these top destinations for Labor Day weekend.
Las Vegas
Rated #1 searched destination for Labor Day by TripAdvisor, Las Vegas is fun-filled weekend for both the partiers and those just looking for a relaxing resort to soak up the last of summer.
Comedian Kevin Hart will be hosting HartBeat Weekend, Sept. 5-6 at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The weekend will feature two comedy shows by Hart and other comedians, and a concert by Drake at the Boulevard Pool.
Chicago
The Windy City is a great place to spend your labor-free day. The second-to-last fireworks showon the Navy Pier takes place on Labor Day. The fireworks are a summer staple in Chicago.
The Chicago Jazz Festival and the North Coast Music Festival both take place over the holiday weekend. The North Coast Music Festival will host artists like Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, Alesso, and more.
New York City
It’s New York City, so there’s always something exciting to do. Electric Zoo will take place Sept. 4-6, on Randall’s Island. Headliners include The Chemical Brothers and Alesso.
The Met’s Summer HD Festival runs through the holiday weekend; watch free performances of leading operas on Lincoln Center Plaza under the stars. Romeo and Juliet and Aida will be shown over the weekend. 3,100 free seats will be available on Lincoln Plaza for The Met’s Summer HD Festival.
And of course there are the tourist staples, including the Empire State Building, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Statue of Liberty.
Miami
Get the last of your beach time in by heading to Miami for Labor Day weekend.
Avoid the huge crowds and take a scenic drive out to Key Biscayne to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. You can tour the lighthouse, bike around the beach or just enjoy the sand and sun. Cape Florida Lighthouse is the oldest structure in South Florida- it’s almost 200 years old.
Through Sept. 30, select restaurants will offer lunch and dinner deals as part of Miami Spice, a two-month promotional event for some of Miami’s best restaurants. Three-course lunches will be $23 and dinners for $39 at top-rated restaurants.
Orlando
Who wouldn’t love a weekend at Disney World or Universal’s Island of Adventure? Even if looping roller coasters aren’t for you, there are plenty of shows and interactive exhibits like the Butterbeer tasting at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
There’s also more to Orlando than just theme parks. Nearby Winter Park, Florida, has become a popular tourist destination with its unique museums, serene parks, delicious restaurants, and countless activities on the lakes.
Los Angeles
Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles is all about festivals: Fiesta Hermosa, a food, craft, music, wine and beer festival on Hermosa Beach; The Taste, L.A.’s food and wine festival; and 626 Night Market, the largest Asian night market in the U.S. Hike the canyons of LA for great views of the iconic Hollywood sign.
Enjoy the beautiful weather with a hike in Runyon Canyon, you’ll get a great workout after your holiday splurge and maybe run into a celebrity along the trail. Griffith Park also offers great trails with views of the Hollywood sign and and Griffith Observatory.
San Francisco
Take in the fresh summer air with a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or a trip to Alcatraz Island. Explore the Gardens of Alcatraz and view the current exhibit, Prisoners of Age, while visiting the historic prison. Take a walk or bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge this Labor Day.
On Saturday, September 5, Billy Joel will be performing at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. It will be his first concert in San Francisco in over four decades, and sure to be an unforgettable show.
Seattle
Seattle’s Bumbershoot festival is now in its 45th year, and continues to bring new ideas, culture, music, and art to young people over Labor Day weekend. This year’s music lineup is amazingly diverse with artists like Ellie Goulding, Chance the Rapper, Kacey Musgraves, Cake, The Weekend and Hozier, just to name a few.
Take a boat tour around Lake Union: There are tours Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout Labor Day weekend. Year-round service aboard the Sunday Ice Cream Cruise departs from South Union Lake Park (although the price of the ice cream is not included in the ticket price).
Ocean City
Soak up the sun at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland this Labor Day. After a long day of tanning and playing in the waves take a walk on Ocean City’s historic boardwalk; there’s classic amusement rides and games, food, and lots of shopping. The beach in Ocean City, Maryland is always crowded with sun-loving tourists.
Saturday, September 5 is the Season Fireworks Finale at The Freeman Stage at Bayside, celebrating the end of the summer season. The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will be performing American jazz, swing, and classical music. Fireworks over the Ocean City boardwalk in 2009.
Washington, D.C.
There’s no better way to spend a national holiday than in our nation’s capital. Take yourself on a walking tour of the monuments and snap some selfies with Jefferson, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. Spend your day off from work with Honest Abe.
The annual National Symphony Orchestra’s Labor Day Capitol Concert takes place on Sunday the 6th on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. This year’s concert features the Soldiers’ Chorus of The United States Army Field Band.
If you’re looking for a lesser known spot to celebrate this Labor Day, there are plenty of options for that, too:
Park City
The annual Park City Miner’s Day and Labor Day Celebration honors the town’s heritage with a full day of activities. Park City host their famous Running of the Balls on Labor Day; participants can purchase golf balls that will race down Main Street to be the first in the chute. There is also a mucking and drilling competition, a historic competition in mining towns across the American Midwest. Children set up their golf balls before they’re released down Main Street in 2010.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a beautiful beach town just 15 miles from downtown Charleston, South Carolina. You can surf, paddle board, kayak, or take a walk out on the Folly Beach Pier for breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean. There will be a fireworks show on Labor Day this year, as the Fourth of July fireworks were cancelled due to weather.
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