2026 is expected to be a busy year for travel coming off a record-breaking 2025 with travel growing for every major holiday. For example, AAA forecast 72.2 million travelers for Independence Day, 81.8 million for Thanksgiving, and 122.4 million for the year-end holidays, which were all new records! Looking ahead to the new year, several destinations in the United States are already getting buzz and bookings with AAA Travel Advisors. Domestic travel hot spots that are topping the charts feature celebrations for the nation's 250th anniversary – that’s why AAA is saying ‘Cheers to 250 Years’ with a lineup of exclusive trips.

“Patriotic destinations like Boston and Philadelphia are always a draw with travelers, but interest appears to be high in 2026 given the country’s 250th anniversary,” explains AAA Group Travel Manager Melissa Petersen who has developed a special selection of group travel itineraries.

“We wanted to make it easy for travelers to immerse themselves in history and effortlessly experience destinations, so we curated a variety of trips that do just that,” she said. “AAA Group Travel opportunities are led by professional AAA Group Travel Tour Hosts and include roundtrip motorcoach transportation, a mix of activities, meals, and lodging that are designed for individuals to travel together as a group.”

With more people choosing to give the gift of travel this holiday season, the 250th themed group trips are part of AAA’s Seasons Savings Sale with special pricing available through December 31. Travelers should contact AAA for more information. The 250th anniversary lineup includes:

•    Where Freedom Began: Boston & the Spirit of 1776
•    Voices of the Revolution: Philadelphia, Valley Forge & Beyond
•    Tall Ships & Tea Leaves: Boston’s Historic Harbor Adventure 
•    Revolution & Reflection: Washington, D.C. & Alexandria Uncovered 
•    Echoes of Liberty: Virginia’s Presidential Past
•    A Patriotic Christmas: From Constitution Hall to Colonial Williamsburg

Travelers who are interested in joining in or learning more about the trips can find more information online. For experiencing America’s natural beauty, there’s no beating a trip to the U.S. National Parks, which are also expected to be busy in 2026. AAA Group Travel’s 2026 selections also include tours to a variety of parks, along with a variety of other vacations to choose from. The complete tour collection can be found here.

AAA Group Travel offers you the best of both worlds — a diverse selection of travel experiences with the extra savings and benefits of group travel. Travel with like-minded individuals from your own region and communities. Reservations can be made through any AAA Western and Central New York branch or by calling (800)-937-1222, or by visiting www.AAA.com/Groups.