Travelers are increasingly using AI tools to build summer itineraries, and many are being steered toward lesser-known destinations instead of the usual beach capitals. The trend reflects a broader shift in how Americans search for trips in 2026, with convenience, cost and discovery driving decisions.

Off Key Largo, guests at Jules’ Undersea Lodge reach their room by scuba diving 21 feet below the surface. The unusual Florida stay, set inside a former research habitat, remains one of the only underwater hotels in the United States.

Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains the only waterfall in the park that visitors can safely walk behind, making it one of Tennessee’s most distinctive hikes. Park officials continue to direct travelers to the short but busy trail near Gatlinburg as spring and summer visitation builds.

A former West Virginia community lies beneath Summersville Lake, and when water levels fall far enough, parts of its old roads, foundations, and bridge can be seen again. The submerged town of Gad has become one of the state’s most unusual seasonal sights.

A growing number of remote islands are drawing interest from would-be residents seeking slower living, tight-knit communities and limited digital access. But moving to these places is difficult, housing is scarce, and in several cases newcomers face formal or informal waiting lists.

A proposed U.S. policy to review some visa applicants’ social media activity is raising new concerns about international travel, with many Americans saying it could affect their willingness to visit Europe. The debate reflects broader anxiety about privacy, border checks, and how travel rules are changing.