As the world begins opening up again, there are thousands of travel nursing opportunities open in fantastic destinations for summertime fun.

We’ve made a list of top Gifted Healthcare destinations for travel nurses this summer. Read on to learn more about how to make the most of your next nursing adventure in the sunshine!

California

If you love exploring, California is hard to beat. From the world-famous Pacific Coast to the Mojave Desert to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California offers surfing, skiing, biking, hiking, and much more – perfect for summer fun!

Northern California offers the towering redwood forests of the Muir Woods National Monument and the incredible scenery of Lake Tahoe. The state’s breathtaking and rugged coastline can be seen all along Pacific Highway 1. California also has over 300 national and state parks, including the iconic Yosemite National Park.

In Southern California, explore San Diego’s Balboa Park, featuring the renowned San Diego Zoo, 15 museums and opulent gardens. Or take a trip to the vast and humbling Joshua Tree State Park, which lies at the intersection of the Mojave and Colorado deserts.

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Florida

Florida seems built for vacation and adventure. The state’s white-sand beaches and Everglades National Park alone attract millions of visitors every year. Gifted Healthcare is offering assignments across the entire state this summer, from Pensacola to Tallahassee to Miami.

In Florida, you can find beautiful beaches on both the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast. Panama City, Destin, Daytona Beach, Miami, and Jacksonville Beach are just a few well-known places that are great for camping, swimming, boating, watersports, or just pure relaxation. But Florida offers much more than beaches...

Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are two of the most famous theme parks on the planet. Take a Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, or visit the fantastic Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens to see a diverse array of wildlife. The Cummer Museum of Art houses one of the best collections of art in the Southeast United States.

Florida is also a sportsman's paradise. The Daytona International Speedway is a legendary motorsports stadium, home to the iconic Daytona 500 race. The Florida coast is perfect for scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and surfing. And there are endless opportunities for both saltwater and freshwater fishing.

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Louisiana

Louisiana is one of the most culturally rich places on the planet. Its fascinating history is reflected in its unique melting pot of people, food, art, and music.

There is no state in the nation more storied than Louisiana. A mixture of French, Spanish, and African ancestry has given birth to some of the world's best food, a famous music scene, and traditions that enthusiastically celebrate the joys of life. Louisiana has something great to discover at every turn.

Lafayette

Lafayette is the fourth largest city in Louisiana. It’s the perfect place to visit to discover the unique culture and personality of the state, and has also been named “the Happiest City in America.”

You may be surprised to hear that Lafayette offers one of the most unique and delicious cultural and culinary scenes in the nation. It is located in the heart of Acadiana, the name given to the area settled by Cajuns and Creoles in the 18th century.

Countless restaurants, music venues, and local residents carry on the cultural traditions of the past. You’ll find hundreds of restaurants that serve authentic Cajun and Creole dishes, and many local events with Cajun and Zydeco music.

Nearby, you’ll find the stunning Atchafalaya Basin, the nation’s largest river swamp, containing nearly one million acres of beautiful swampland and forests.

New Orleans

New Orleans is world-renowned for its culture, food, architecture, and music. The Big Easy has something for everyone – plenty of beautiful green space for outdoor enthusiasts, some of the world’s best restaurants for foodies, an enchanting nightlife and entertainment scene, and a huge variety of museums and iconic cultural landmarks.

The French Quarter is the heart and soul of New Orleans and the most famous neighborhood in the city, offering a great mix of old and new. Here, you’ll experience a snapshot of everything New Orleans has to offer: street performers, art galleries, award-winning and famous restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, as well as historic and beautifully-designed landmarks like the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

New Orleans also offers thousands of acres of green space for you to enjoy, including parks, playgrounds, city squares, and riverbanks. City Park is the largest park in the Crescent City – it is a 1,300-acre outdoor gem, created in 1854, making it one of the oldest urban parks in the US. Don’t miss the Besthoff Sculpture Garden inside, which is regularly ranked as one of the top sculpture gardens in the world. Audubon Park is a beautiful oasis in Uptown New Orleans (check out The Fly to experience an Audubon Park hidden gem). Charming Jackson Square is located in the center of the French Quarter, along with historic Armstrong Park/Congo Square nearby. If you prefer to be close to the water, Woldenberg Park along the Mississippi River is the place for you!

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is the capital city of Louisiana. In 1699, French explorers named the area baton rouge (red stick) when they discovered a red cypress pole that Native Americans had placed in the ground to demarcate different hunting territories.

Baton Rouge is full of beautiful natural landscapes that are worth exploring. The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden is a collection of gardens, forests, and wetlands. The experience of the Botanic Gardens is best summed up by their own mission statement: “The Mission of the Botanic Gardens is to promote the importance of plants and their environment to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the citizens of Baton Rouge, the state of Louisiana and the world.”

The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center contains 103 acres of land dedicated to connecting people to nature, with winding pathways leading through beautiful swampland and forests. There are also over 180 parks in the area, so taking a hike, planning a picnic, or going for a jog can easily be done. Check out the BREC parks website to find a park near your residence.

If you're a sports fan, Baton Rouge is a great place to be. Louisiana State University (LSU) and Southern University call Baton Rouge home. Both universities have competetive athletic programs, and their gameday events & traditions are deeply rooted in the culture of the city. If you want to immerse yourself in the sports culture of LSU, check out The Chimes on game day, located just a block outside of campus. It’s a bustling bar and restaurant with a fun university vibe.

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The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is a unique region in the United States, know for its beautiful coastline, lush forests, and a historic music and arts scene.

Oregon

Travel nursing in Oregon is a thrill. The state’s forests, volcanic mountains, lakes, and coastlines are some of the most stunning of their kind. The state is also experiencing a culinary renaissance of sorts, so award-winning chefs and restaurants can be found across the state.

Amidst all the unique scenery and culture of the Pacific Northwest is the city of Springfield. Travel nurses in Springfield are within driving distance from the following wonders of the Pacific Northwest:

Some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls and lakes
Hundreds of miles of scenic hiking trails along mountain ranges, lava beds, tranquil canyons and ancient forests
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, one of the largest areas of coastal sand dunes on the planet
One-of-a-kind whale watching, birdwatching, and other wildlife observing opportunities in the state’s animal sanctuaries

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Washington

Further up the coast from Oregon, Washington offers similarly striking scenes of natural beauty. according to VisitTheUSA.com, “Washington is the only state in the ‘lower 48’ where you can explore a national park in a temperate rainforest in the morning, hike the trails at a National Volcanic Monument in the afternoon and smell the desert sage as the sun sets.”

At the southern tip of the state is Vancouver, a Gifted travel nursing destination right outside of Portland, OR. According to its official website, Vancouver “combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities,” making it a wonderful place to enjoy the summer. Vancouver, Washington is on the bank of the beautiful Columbia River, and the Pacific Coast is less than 90 miles from its city limits. It’s also near the majestic Cascade Mountain Range, with Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood less than two hours away. The incredible Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area waits to be marveled at, just a few miles away.

To the north, Bellingham is another great Gifted travel destination in Washington. A coastal city just miles from the Canadian border, Bellingham is known for its abundant natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The breathtaking North Cascades National Park is a must-visit during the summer. Bellingham also boasts a vibrant arts scene and small-town charm.

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Tennessee

Tennessee is a state that offers jaw-dropping landscapes. It’s also chock-full of cities essential to American music, art, and history. Gifted offers travel nursing assignments in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and many more great Tennessee towns!

Take a scenic autumn drive along the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway from Tellico Plains to Robbinsville. You can also enjoy changing fall leaves while learning music history along the Americana Music Triangle. The Triangle is a partnership of attractions across the South that includes Brownsville, Franklin, Memphis, and Nashville.

Immerse yourself in critically important U.S. history by taking a trip on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail through Memphis, Nashville, and Clinton. Tennessee offers 10 stops where visitors can learn the stories of those who changed the course of civil rights history.

Can’t get enough music? You’re in luck! Nashville is known as “Music City,” and offers a huge range of delicious food options, entertainment, and gorgeous scenery.

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Montana

Montana is a picture-perfect example of the American West. The state’s forests and mountain ranges have been captured in many classic works of art.

In Montana, you’ll find ghost towns of the Old West as well as modern cities with a vibrant local culture. Montana is also home to seven Indian Nations and many Native American communities. Each of these Indigenous communities have cultural traditions and history older than the United States!

This summer, you can visit Glacier National Park, a paradise of beautiful mountain ranges, alpine meadows, waterfalls, and lakes. Most famously, the park also contains dozens of jaw-dropping glaciers, bringing thousands of visitors each year to observe them.

The Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park offers a chance to camp, hike, and see one of the largest limestone caverns in the Northwest. The park sits at an elevation between 4,300 – 5,300 feet. This state park also includes over 3,000 acres of wilderness with a campground of cabins and tipis to stay in.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is among the most well-known historic landmarks in the United States. The monument honors the 1876 battle between the US Army and the Cheyennes and Lakotas. This battle was one of the last efforts of indigenous people to preserve their way of life.

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