With summer only being two months away, here are some cities to check out here in the U.S along with things to do, places to eat, and important landmarks to see. Make sure to take these cities into consideration when planning your next trip!
Memphis
Memphis gets a bad rep for being a dangerous city because of their high crime rates. However, in my opinion it’s an underrated city that gets its hype stolen by Nashville. While Nashville is full of country music, Memphis is home to the blues and rock ‘n’ roll. When visiting, I highly recommend checking out Graceland, home of Elvis Presley; Sun Studios, the studio where popular artists like B.B King & Johnny Cash recorded their famous albums; and the National Civil Rights Museum, a museum dedicated to the Civil Rights movement, built in the same motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. To end your day of activities, check out Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous for a renowned rack of ribs, or Gus’s World-Famous Chicken, an award-winning fried chicken joint.
Chicago
Chicago has a lot of beautiful architecture including The Bean, located in Millenium Park, as well as many remarkable skyscrapers. More specifically, the Willis Tower is the 12th tallest building in the world standing at 110 stories tall and offers a glass ledge block at the top of the building to overlook the city. Besides the architecture, Chicago is also known for its deep-dish pizza, aka an upside-down pizza; if this pizza is appealing to you, check out Giordano’s pizza for an authentic deep dish. And if baseball is in season, you may want to consider seeing a Cubs game at Wrigley Field found on the north side of Chicago. And after all, Chicago is on Lake Michigan providing you access to shorelines, beaches or the Navy Pier.
New Orleans
Getting to visit New Orleans was a dream come true for my four-year-old self who was obsessed with Princess Tiana. Between the gumbo at the Gumbo Shop, and beignets at Cafe Du Monde, I know the people lucky enough to live in New Orleans eat very well. Besides food, you can spend your day visiting the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, and the French Quarter. What really makes this city stand out to me is the rich cultural heritage. The atmosphere you will witness here, whether you’re on Bourbon Street, riding on the street cars, or listening to live jazz music on the streets, is very one of a kind.
Key West
If you are looking for a more tropical and relaxing trip, Key West is definitely not a city to miss out on. After your day at the beach, Mallory Square offers one of the best places to enjoy the sunset in Key West, as well as many restaurants directly on the trip. Aside from the amazing beaches, Key West is also home to the southernmost point in the contiguous United States. And lastly, for the National Park people, booking a ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park was worth every penny. This two and a half-hour boat ride takes you to Fort Jefferson, which is surrounded by clear as day water & a surplus of marine life.
Charleston
Last but not least is Charleston, South Carolina. To start your visit, I recommend becoming familiar with the city by sightseeing at famous landmarks including Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, & Charleston City Market. If you were hoping for a more coastal trip, Folly beach is only a 20–25-minute drive away where you can take a stroll on the boardwalk or a swim in the ocean. Other activities you may find interesting are going on a ghost tour at night, checking out Gibbes Museum of Art, or the Charleston Museum to learn more about Charleston during the Civil War. Speaking of tours, it’s never too early to start looking at colleges! Those interested may want to consider touring the College of Charleston, located in the center of the city, amidst all the wonderful activities previously mentioned.
