Search Greta Gerwig on Google just now and your screen’s flooded with glittery pink stars, it’s the summer of Barbie and we kind of love it. Especially as it’s also the perfect excuse to go exploring with a bit of a Barbie theme. And who better than Visit The USA to advise on where’s hot, pink and Barbielicious for family holidays right now.
Barbie pink sunset over Venice Beach, California
Channel your inner Barbie on Venice Beach Boardwalk
We’ve all seen the Barbie trailer with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling roller skating in Venice Beach. It’s hard to know what’s more iconic: the spandex leotards or that iconic Californian boardwalk.
If you’re in the mood for your own main character moment, head to Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals, on the west coast between Venice and Santa Monica, and hire roller skates or bikes to cruise along the promenade: soak up the atmosphere, get an eyeful of legendary Muscle Beach, then check out the surfers riding those SoCal waves.
With its Tiki vibe and authentic Hawaiian food, Belle’s Beach House is a great local spot to wind down. Alternatively, head up, to the rooftop bar at Hotel Erwin for sensational views, sundowners, and mocktails for the kids.
Book a stay at Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming © Visit The USA
Saddle up for big skies and pink sunsets in Wyoming
Wyoming is the heartland of cowboy culture and rugged, natural beauty, which nowhere delivers better than Eatons’ Ranch: the country’s first and oldest dude ranch. It’s the place for a classic Western experience, from horseback rides through the Big Horn National Forest to fly fishing in the mountain waters of Wolf Creek.
Then deep dive into Sheridan, the “King of Cowboy Towns”. This might seem like archetypal small town America, but you’ll find it’s big on outdoor adventure and not shy when it comes to incredible views, mighty rivers and dramatic canyon. You may be just as interested to know, it’s also home to Blacktooth Brewing Company.
Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota © Visit The USA
Is there anything more Barbie than a road trip?
We wouldn’t presume to tell you what car to hire, but if you’re going full Barbie, it really has to be a convertible.
Then, down with the roof and off along the Great River Road in Minnesota, starting out in buzzy Minneapolis. Don’t forget to make a stop to see the five-storey high mural paying tribute to Minnesota’s most famous son, Bob Dylan, before wending your way along the Mississippi River.
Duluth is where you get a sense of the grandeur of the Great Lakes. The city sits on the shores of Lake Superior which also lends its name to some fantastic adventures on the Superior Hiking Trail. And if you want to do a little after-dark driving, make for Voyageurs National Park where you can see the Northern Lights at the right time of year.
The Don CeSar, St. Pete’s Beach © Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Find the ultimate ‘Pink Palace’ in Florida’s St. Pete/Clearwater
Some of the country’s loveliest beaches are at home in St. Pete/Clearwater. But, although we love shimmering white sands and the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico, something else entirely has our Barbie-loving hearts a-flutter here.
Nicknamed the ‘Pink Palace’, The Don CeSar has been lording it over St. Pete’s Beach in Florida since the 1920s, when it was a haunt of Jazz Age celebrities. You’ll find it’s still a delicious wedding cake of a hotel even today, but it’s also a rare combination of vintage charm and thoroughly contemporary luxury, with a surprisingly family-friendly heart.
If you can tear yourself away from The Don CeSar, nearby Egmont Key State Park, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Park make for great days out snorkelling and dolphin-spotting. And away from the Gulf Shores completely, St. Pete/Clearwater’s thriving art scene is almost as legendary as its beaches.
Book a stay at The Don CeSar in St. Pete/Clearwater
The Museum of Ice Cream
Take Manhattan in true Fashion Barbie style
If you can visit New York City and not stroll down Fifth Avenue, you’re made of stern stuff. For those of us without that type of will, the temples of shopping are simply irresistible.
First head to Midtown and buy anything to get yourself a trophy Little Brown Bag from Bloomingdale’s, then drop into Macy’s: only the world’s largest department store.
For a bit more high-brow style, the Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology displays 50,000 garments and curated exhibits ranging from Food & Fashion to Latin American Fashion Design.
Then, with your culture cravings satisfied, hit the Museum of Ice Cream. A paradise of pretty and pink, it’s where kids can make a splash in a pool filled with sprinkles, hop on a glowing fuchsia subway ride or simply eat unlimited ice cream in just about every flavour imaginable. Heaven!