“Summer vacation,” a term that evokes just as much excitement from kids looking to take a break from schoolwork as it brings back a flood of memories from our own school days. It can be a nostalgic time for those wanting to reminisce and even recreate those “best summers ever” for your own children or grandchildren—or, maybe just with friends! Whatever summer vacation means to you this year, we’re highlighting the top three most iconic types of vacations to take in the United States.
Beach Vacation
The first is taking a classic, summer beach vacation. What better place to visit year after year to have some fun in the sun with friends and family than Hilton Head Island? Many families that regularly visit the island have multiple generations who have memories of taking a summer trip to Hilton Head growing up. While the island might look a little different as the years pass by, it’s still the same Lowcountry paradise full of ways to have fun, relax, and make new treasured memories.
Palmera Vacation Club members have an advantage when it comes to keeping this tradition alive. Easily book your trip back to the island using your points in the Palmera Resorts tab on your dashboard. Start by selecting your desired arrival date and length of stay. You’ll be shown all of the available units at either of the four Palmera Resorts. From here, you can choose the room type that will work the best for you, as well as view options that may not have the exact arrival date, but one that is close to the one you’ve selected. If you’re not finding what you’re looking for, quickly search for a different date at the top of the screen.
Another way to easily book a trip back to a beautiful Palmera Resort on Hilton Head Island is by using the VIP Weeks option. Maybe you’ve already planned a trip earlier in the year or have one scheduled for the holiday season, and you’re looking to add an additional trip to the calendar. A fully cash option, VIP Weeks are extra-discounted stays that are exclusive to Palmera Vacation Club members. VIP Weeks are offered year-round, and if you’re eligible, you can receive additional savings on your trip along with access to VIP pricing on certain dining, activities, bicycle rentals, and more by simply attending a Member’s Update Meeting.
Get excited for your trip back to Hilton Head by staying in the know of island updates, events, and recommendations that can all be found on the Palmera GO page. While you’re there, you can read the current issue of the Palmera Compass! Want a complete list of festivals and events that are happening while you’re in town? Visit Hilton Head Guest Services website to take a peek at the island’s event calendar. Search for specific dates or events you have in mind!
Another perk for staying at a Palmera Resort in summer is all of the fun games, crafts, parties, and more that are hosted by the activities staff during the weekdays. You’ll get a schedule of the weekly events upon check-in, but you can always look ahead on the resort’s website to see what’s in store during your stay!
Summer Road Trips
The second type of summer vacation that will definitely feel nostalgic and create a ton of lasting memories for your family is a good, old-fashioned road trip! Pack up the car (don’t forget the snacks) and head out for the open road. The beauty of road trips is that you can plan on spending anywhere from a weekend to two weeks plus exploring the country, stopping as frequently as you’d like!
Some of the most popular routes for summer road trips in the United States are Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Fully customize your trip by stopping at beaches, winding through mountains, and exploring everywhere from national parks to amusement parks, and maybe even these summer festivals and fairs in the United States along the way!
In our case, we’re going to show you how your Palmera Vacation Club membership can be an extremely helpful tool when planning a road trip. Between the RCI Exchange and Quest Travel Club, two tools included in the Six Ways to Travel on your dashboard, you’ll have no problem with your planning process.
Let’s start with the basics: the car. Will you be using the family car, or are you wanting to rent a larger or more efficient vehicle for your trip? Quest Travel Club offers great discounts on car rentals through many brands you know and trust. Maybe you’re planning on driving there, and flying back—or vice versa! Quest also allows you to book flights at the best prices with ease.
Examples based on an 6-day rental in August, 2025. Prices may vary.
Now, let’s talk about accommodations. You’ve mapped out your itinerary and all of your stops, now let’s figure out where you’re going to spend the night! Under the Hotel tab, quickly search for hotel stays and narrow down search results using the provided filters. Looks like we’re headed to the Smoky Mountains!
There’s so much to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, from riding alpine coasters, to visiting the aquarium and interesting museums, to attending dinner shows and playing lots and lots of mini golf! You’ll have to stop and explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and while you’re there, you can’t forget to say “hey” to Dolly at Dollywood! Quest Travel Club also helps you book fun tours and other activities in destinations around the world! There’s really so much to do in the Gatlinburg area, so why not start by reading our Destination Highlight that gives a brief overview of the area? You’ll learn a little about the region, find out what there is to do, when you should travel there, and even where you should stay! Find Gatlinburg’s Destination Highlight and more travel guides on the Palmera GO page.
Educational Getaways
Another classic type of summer vacation is the educational getaways. And we’re not talking about any old boring day trips, here, we’re talking about visiting historical cities that’ll allow your group to stay engaged and learning just by walking down the street. There’s no one right answer for where to go on these types of vacations, since there might be interesting locations right in your state where you can plan a getaway to!
If you’re wanting to check off a few of the bigger destinations, here’s a list of a few that are not only perfect for a summer vacation, but all have Destination Highlights you can peruse on the GO page:
To show you how to plan a trip with the RCI Exchange using your Palmera Vacation Club points, we’ll focus on planning a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. A great family-friendly destination, the main attraction by far is Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living-history museum in the world that allows you to travel back in time and walk the streets of what was once the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1779.
Search the RCI Exchange for the general Williamsburg area, and you’ll be given plenty of resorts to choose from in many different point ranges. Use the filters above to find exactly what you’re looking for, from specific dates or date ranges, to types of units, ratings, and more. Favorite certain hotels and resorts by clicking the heart icon, and find them later under the My Favorites tab. Or, create an ongoing search to know when there’s availability for certain resorts. You can create searches for multiple resorts at one time.
Example of search results on the RCI Exchange for Williamsburg, VA. Point Ranges subject to change.
Regardless of where your summer vacation takes you, we hope you have a blast! Safe travels!
