Renewing a passport in 2026 is taking 8–11 weeks, longer if you need it expedited. For Midwest travelers who decided last Tuesday that they need warm water and a rum drink by next month, that's a non-starter. The good news: the United States owns a whole lot of paradise.
Every destination in this series is part of the United States. You can fly there with a REAL ID-compliant driver's license. No passport. No customs line on the way home. Same coverage from your U.S. cell carrier in most cases. And the dollar is the dollar.
What we're covering
Over the next eight articles we're highlighting the U.S. tropical destinations we book most for North Dakota travelers — Puerto Rico (San Juan and the quieter offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra), all three U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix), Kauai and Maui in Hawaii, and two destinations most travelers don't realize are American at all: Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
What's in every article
Best time of year to go. When the crowds actually thin out (which is almost never the same thing). The local foods and drinks you should make a point of trying. And the vibe — what the place actually feels like once you're standing in it, so you can decide if it's your kind of trip before you book.
Start anywhere
These articles don't need to be read in order. Pick the destination that sounds most like your next trip and go. When you're ready to actually plan one, that's what we're here for.