55 awesome things to do in the US this summer

Go whitewater rafting on the Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

See the professional eaters chow down at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Brooklyn's Coney Island on July 4th.

Tackle the water slides at Hyland Hills Water World, one of the best water parks in America.

Sample ice cream at the Ben & Jerry's factory in Vermont.

Go whale watching in the waters of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Cheer on your favorite team at a baseball game.

Gorge on cherries at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, from July 4th through 11th.

Go horseback riding on a mountain trail.

Feast on deep fried food at a state fair.

Tube down a lazy river.

Try a little bit of everything at the Taste of Chicago festival, which runs from July 8th to 12th.

Soak up some rays at Cape Hatteras — which we rated the best beach in America this year — in North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Pretend you're a kid again and go on a ride at a local carnival.

Transport yourself to Scotland at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, North Carolina, which runs from July 9th to 12th.

Pick some fresh, delicious, juicy strawberries from a strawberry field.

Host a summer BBQ with friends and family.

Taste flavorful wines at the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara, from July 16th to 18th.

Ride a mule into the Grand Canyon.

Bike on a sandy beach, like in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Don a beret and beard and enter into the Hemingway look-alike contest during Hemingway Days, a celebration in honor of author "Papa" Ernest Hemingway. The event takes place in Florida's Key West from July 21st to 26th.

Brave the waves and go surfing in Malibu, California.

Eat some BBQ at Joe's BBQ in Blue Ridge, Georgia, the best BBQ joint in America.

Go fishing and bring home your catch for a fresh meal.

Waterski on a lake.

Go camping and take advantage of the great outdoors.

Attend a rodeo at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo festival in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which runs from July 17th to 26th.

Take a scenic hike through the lush forests in Olympic National Park in Washington.

Go sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

Challenge yourself to run a marathon, like the Aspen Valley Marathon in Colorado on July 18th.

Ride the roller coasters at Splashin' Safari Water Park in Santa Claus, Indiana, which Travel Channel ranked one of the best amusement parks in America.

Try more than 88 craft beers from around the country at the Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland, which runs from July 22nd to 26th.

Drink outdoors on a rooftop.

Roadtrip down the coast of California on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Channel your inner cowboy at Golden Buffalo Bill Days in Golden, Colorado, which runs from July 22nd to 26th.

Sail on Lake Michigan.

Go for a dip in a luxurious pool, like the Neptune Pool in the historic Hearst Castle in San Simeone, California, which is open to the public for a fee.

Catch a free concert in New York City's Central Park during the Summer Concert Series.

Stargaze at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii.

Rock out at Lollapalooza in Chicago from July 31st to August 2nd.

See a show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Pig out at the annual two-day Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival on August 14th and 15th.

Have a picnic in the park.

Swim in the crystal clear glacial waters of Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada.

Watch pilots make daredevil moves in impressive planes for Chicago's air and water show on August 15th and 16th at North Avenue Beach.

Dock your boat at Big Island in Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka, and party hop from boat to boat.

Jump into a local swimming hole.

Don a crazy outfit and party in the Nevada desert at the Burning Man festival, which takes place from August 30th to September 7th.

Take a cruise in Alaska and watch for orcas, grizzlies, and eagles.

Wait for Old Faithful to erupt at Yellowstone National Park.

Celebrate one of the world's finest drinks at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which takes place in Bardstown from September 15th 20th.

Visit one of the many wineries in Long Island's North Fork.

Go for a hike on the Highline Trail in Montana's Glacier National Park.

Go parasailing off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii, and soar high above the ocean.

Catch a concert at the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.