Put America’s most attractive cities on your international holiday itinerary and get to know the country.
Check out this list while planning your next overseas trip: you can’t go wrong with these aesthetically stunning locations, which provide a plethora of vacation-worthy activities.
If you plan on visiting these cities this year, please remember to observe all safety precautions and check for any residual travel restrictions. Best wishes on your journey!
Orlando
Orlando has always been a destination for families, thanks to attractions such as Walt Disney World, Legoland, and Universal Studios Florida. And now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has opened at Disney World, there’ll be plenty of grown-ups without children flocking to Orlando. Orlando has an astonishing choice of restaurants, like The Boheme and DoveCote Brasserie, as well as an equally adult club culture that pays respect to all kinds of melodies, from rock and pop to hip hop to country.
Milwaukee
Every year, Milwaukee hosts the world’s largest music festival, which you probably didn’t know about. The beautiful city near Lake Michigan turns a little wild when a major event takes place. They’re taking advantage of the nice weather in a major manner, with 11 stages, over 800 bands, and nearly a million visitors. Think Packers fans, corn hole tournaments, beer breweries, and cheese curds for the remainder of the year, contrasting with a beautiful art museum and the yearly Sculpture Milwaukee outdoor exhibition all across town (June to October). Harley-Davidson is based in this colourful, welcoming city; don’t miss their big museum.
San Diego
It’s not a myth: San Diego has the greatest weather in the country, with year-round temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, low humidity, and bright sky. When you include in the city’s stunning harbour and beaches, its world-famous zoo, and the adorable chaos of Comic-Con International, the yearly Godzilla of comic conventions that attract cosplayers in droves every July, it’s tough not to fall in love with this iconic California city. Foodies appreciate the exquisite Mexican cuisine and seafood served here; gamblers visit Viejas and Pechanga, two upscale Native American casinos nearby; children fantasize about Legoland; and everyone attends KAABOO, a large culinary, comedy, art, and music festival held in September.
Charleston
Charleston is one of America’s great cities, rooted in the country’s past but embracing a contemporary approach to cuisine, culture, and the arts. The architecture—particularly the churches on every corner—has been plenty of an incentive to visit South Carolina’s gem since approximately 1670, but the current increase in bachelor and bachelorette parties has transformed the city into a food and drink heaven as well. At the Pavilion Bar, there are plenty of water vistas and hipsters; City Market sells the city’s characteristic sweetgrass baskets, and supper at chef Sean Brock’s Husk is a spiritual experience.
San Francisco
San Francisco, a stunning city surrounded by ocean and constructed on gigantic hills, marches to the beat of its drum. Beginners are sometimes surprised by how cold it is here, so bring a large jumper to wear when riding the cable car (TEMPORARILY CLOSED), taking a day-tour to Alcatraz Island, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, or laughing at the fat seals at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Boston
In Boston, one of America’s earliest great cities and now one of its best, history and modernity are linked at the hip. It’s a location where 16th-century federal architecture coexists with ultra-modern structures by I.M. Pei, Walter Gropius, and Frank Gehry.
Miami
In Miami, where Latin sounds and foods swirl in an Art Deco fantasy, things are always sizzling. South Beach is the place to go for a day of sunbathing on the white beach and a night of nightlife. Drop into the World Erotic Art Museum (WEAM) for a very hot time, and don’t hesitate to explore our very own Time Out Market Miami as well. Art Basel Miami is a whirlwind of intellectualism, parties, and imaginative installations for serious art aficionados.
Washington, DC
Stately Washington, D.C., one of America’s most attractive cities, continues to improve. With the Capitol building shining at one end, the Lincoln Memorial at the other, and several Smithsonian institutions bordering either side, the National Mall is magnificent. See them all, but give the National Museum of African American History and Culture more time. Aside from museums, monuments, and politics, D.C. has some fascinating, growing areas like the Wharf (where you can eat at Officina or Del Mar de Fabio Trabocchi) and Southeast, where the Nationals play baseball and craft beer reigns supreme at Bardo Brewing and Bluejacket.
St. Louis
St. Louis is the place to go if you want a small-town feel in a major metropolis. This “Gateway to the West,” founded by Europeans in 1764, has always been the heart of America. A visit to the renowned (and massive) Gateway Arch, a stroll through the National Blues Museum, and a stop at BB’s Jazz Blues and Soups are all must-dos while in town. Barbecue and blues go hand in hand in this town, with renowned BBQ establishments like Sugarfire and Pappy’s Smokehouse specializing in slow cooking. Locals take their food so seriously that the Q in the Lou cook-off in the fall is a sell-out.
Las Vegas
Vegas, oh, Vegas. When visiting America, every foreign visitor looks forward to seeing this location. The glitter, glam, and jingling slot machines are the city’s identity, but Vegas is more than just casinos growing out of the desert. It has more lightbulbs in one spot than any place else, and more opportunities to bet than your pocketbook can stand. Find out who established this luxurious utopia in the first place by visiting the intriguing Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Dine at a world-renowned restaurant run by a world-class chef (Jol Robuchon, anyone?), race supercars at 200 mph with Exotics Racing, and fly out to Red Rock Canyon for a mind-blowing desert adventure. Whatever you’re looking for, Vegas has it.
New York City
Needless to say, nothing compares to New York City. A trip along any street in Manhattan is always an interesting experience since it is an astonishing melting pot of personal styles, languages, communities, and cultures. The city’s character is continually evolving into fascinating new forms as classic ancient structures coexist with new ultra-modern ones like Hudson Yards. When you’re in town, see more than one Broadway production, go to all the museums, take a stroll around Central Park, eat the greatest bagels in NYC and whatever drool-worthy haute cuisine you can find, drink in a speakeasy, watch a Yankee game or a US Open match, and wonder why you haven’t relocated here yet.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a destination that the globe wants to see in person because of the sun, beach, and movies in which the city is frequently the star. Expect to be slowed down as you travel to Malibu for a surfing session, stop by the Getty Museum, walk in the footsteps of the stars at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, blow your shopping budget on Rodeo Drive, and then travel south to Anaheim to pilot the Millenium Falcon at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge universe.
Nashville
Even though honky tonks and museums don’t appear to go together, they do in Nashville. Head directly to Broadway for some drinking and dancing, where Legend’s Corner, Nudie’s, and Tootsie’s have been dishing up whiskey, blues, and country for decades. In Music City, you can start early (10 a.m.) and stay up late (3 a.m.) if you’ve got the stamina. Is day drinking not your definition of a good time on holiday? Begin with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, then head on to the George Jones, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline museums, all of which are conveniently located in downtown Nashville. Visit the Bluebird Café and the Grand Ole Opry, as well as the famous RCA Studio B, where Elvis cut many albums. Remember, this is a party town, so bring a bunch, charter a barcycle (which is exactly what it sounds like), and wander among the top Nashville bars, singing along the way.
New Orleans
New Orleans is undergoing a revival after 300 years of existence—except for the streets, which are the rockiest you’ve ever seen in a large city. They love dressing up and partying in New Orleans, so get a mask and wig and head to the French Quarter and Marigny for amazing cuisine at the top New Orleans restaurants, a to-go cup loaded with handmade drinks from one of the city’s best bars, and live music. Then explore the Bywater district, which is home to an intoxicating blend of art and funk with stunning murals on every street, and stop at Bacchanal Wine for a bite to eat, a drink, and a song or two. One thing to keep in mind while you’re here: take in the architecture that makes up this one-of-a-kind, music-loving city.
Chicago
The Cubs, Frank Lloyd Wright skyscrapers, and deep-dish pizza are just a few of the beautiful things that have put Chicago on the map. It’s a large city with a welcoming atmosphere, with a boulevard dedicated to dancing and drinking. If you’re looking to party until 4 a.m., head to Rush Street, but reserve some energy for the city’s many festivals, which range from Taste of Chicago and Pitchfork Music Fest in September to the granddaddy of them all, Lollapalooza in July/August. Unless the Bears are playing football, in which instance shirtless males will endure subzero temperatures to cheer on their lads at Soldier Field, this oh-so-cold metropolis hunkers down in the winter.
