Americans will consume 1.3 billion lbs. of ground beef this year - and the biggest day for beef eating is just around the corner. Americans will eat more beef on Memorial Day than any other day of the year, and they'll eat some 70% of those burgers outside of their backyards. Restaurants, from fine New York steakhouses to beachside greasy spoons, are ramping up menus with juicy new takes on the patty melt.

The other Memorial Day constant? The open road. According to AAA, 28 million Americans will take a road trip this Memorial Day. Why not combine your burger craving with a mini escape for the first long weekend of the summer? If you need some inspiration, we've complied five destinations where the only thing better than the burgers are the lineup of post-lunch patriotic events.

To check out the burger joints, link here.