Celebrate Urban This Holiday Season

from Ormond Magazine - November/December 2022

Scene: Events, Music, Art, Theater

New York City, New York

When we have something to celebrate, nothing is better than traveling somewhere that provides endless entertainment. A city that provides novelty, culture, and fun is exactly where a good celebration takes place. The writers and editors of Thrillest Travel whittled down 300-plus American cities to find the absolute best places to celebrate in the US and here are a few of their top picks.

New York City, New York New York City, New York

Every cinematic, musical, and literary love letter to New York City is true. Most even fall short of the real thing. A few days hardly seems long enough to see, hear, taste, and feel it all. And it isn’t. But neither is a lifetime. So hop on the subway—the best way to gain a deeper understanding of the city and its many denizens—and take a small bite out of the Big Apple instead of trying to swallow it whole. The only thing more famous than NYC’s restaurants, bars, cultural institutions, music scene, and sports dynasties is its absolute immensity. And while the world-famous neighborhoods of Lower and Midtown Manhattan—Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho, the Village, the list goes on— are arguably the most beginner-friendly, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Peaceful parks and killer (not to mention cheap!) nightlife in Brooklyn; international fare in the globe-spanning cultural melting pot that is Queens; vibrant Black history and culture in Harlem; hidden goodies and a singularly strong sense of community in the Bronx.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

In recent years, Santa Fe has emerged from the desert as an oasis for incredible food, art, culture, and natural beauty in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Nicknamed “The City Different,” New Mexico’s capital city serves as a thriving creative hub; for proof, look to the trippy installations at Meow Wolf, the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the classic Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. (One might argue that a day trip to Bandelier National Monument or a turquoise-filled retail therapy session at Wind River could be equally inspiring.)

New Orleans has everything you could possibly need to have the most fun three days of your whole damn life. It’s the best city in America for a stroll, whether drink-in-hand through the lamp-lit cobblestones of the French Quarter, or past the stately manors of the Garden District. You’ll encounter historic architecture, gothic live oaks, and joyous music wherever you go. When it comes to atmosphere, Crescent City is king. No judgment if you go all-in with the frozen daiquiris on Bourbon Street or jazz club-hopping on Frenchmen, but it’s well worth going beyond the tourist haunts. Get lost in the spooky labyrinthine Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District, drink and shop your way down Magazine Street, and hit any number of quintessential watering holes for food that’ll leave you in a happy, deep-fried daze. Hospitable residents are passionate about showing their city to worthy visitors: Be respectful and open-minded, opt for a hotel or B&B over an Airbnb, and never—NEVER—talk trash about the Saints.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Savannah, Georgia

Nashville, Tennessee

Along with a music scene that’s still second to none—look no further than the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the National Museum of African American Music for proof—the creative cup runneth over here: artists, tech geniuses, and master chefs keep flocking to Nashville to be a part of the latest “It City.” Pack your bags and prepare to honky-tonk. Country stars-turned-entrepreneurs like Blake Shelton offer enormous entertainment complexes where music and drinks are a-go all day long, while locals party at more humble spots like Robert’s Western World, where cream-of-the-crop Nashville acts take the small stage. Breweries (Yazoo Brewing Co., Jackalope Brewing, and Tennessee Brew Works) conveniently all lie within staggering distance of one another, and all adventures here should culminate in a feast of Nashville Hot Chicken from the OGs at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack or Bolton’s.

Savannah, Georgia

Have you ever heard a Savannah native speak? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. The sweet Southern drawl of the city’s denizens should tell you all you need to know about this Spanish-moss draped city. It’s easy-going. It’s classic. And it’s charming as hell. In many respects, Savannah feels like a mini New Orleans. Mouthwatering seafood (The Olde Pink House, Savannah Seafood Shack, Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar, Shabazz Seafood Restaurant, and River House Seafood) awaits all across town, as do all kinds of butter-loaded, piping hot Southern comforts. Along River Street, you’ll find candy shops, art galleries, hopping restaurants, and lively bars.