Listen. I LOVE travel. I ain't talking about Miami or Mexico either. Millennials of Color don't travel nearly as much as our counterparts - and when we do it's TIRED. Miami, New Orleans, anywhere with a beach. Now, those places are lovely and very fun (I've been, so I wouldn't lie) but there are SO many hidden gems out there.
Broaden your horizon by seeing places you wouldn't normally see. Let go of your phone for just a second and take in the world around you. Traveling doesn't have to mean going to a tourist ridden beach for spring break or breaking the bank to go to Europe. Take a look at these beautiful cities! Granted, they all have water but I wanted to emphasize places that aren't beachy...let's get away from the idea that vacation must equal beaches and sand. This is my 2017 travel list!
1. Québec City, Canada
OMG. I am so in love with Québec. I'm conversationally fluent in French, so I'm always down to go somewhere that lets me practice my skills (shoutout to my french teacher - Madame Patrizia!)
Fun Fact: They have language police! Restaurant literature, street signs, store ads... they all have to be in French! The French are very adamant about preserving their culture and that's admirable. Surely some probably speak English, but 90% have French as a first language.
Key Attractions: FOOD! The French do food WELL. Québec has caught up to its foodie friend Montréal. Authentic French cuisine is prominent here and one of the things many travelers point out most.
Verdict: You gotta go. Delta flights for main cabin are around $500 and the Airbnb's in QC are around 50-100 a night depending on which season you go.
2. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is known as rainy but it's amazingly gorgeous. I've been wanting to go for awhile and if you love coffee then you'd wanna go too!
Fun fact: Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. I've never been there (yet) but I'm willing to bet there are tons of cool coffee shops there. If you're a lover of coffee shops like I am then we should go together :)
Key Attractions: Pike Place Market. "It’s a year-round farmers market and a visual riot of vegetable, seafood, cheese and flower stalls along with handicrafts and tourist-friendly knickknacks. And, of course, the flying fish." (Seattle Times) The Space Needle. Obvi.
Verdict: You should place it on your list for a weekend getaway! The Airbnb's I hear are decently priced and Southwest flights are reasonable.
3. Portland, Maine
IF YOU KNOW ME YOU KNOW I WANT TO LIVE HERE! First off, put some respect on Maine's name please. Yes I know there is also Portland, OR. That's cute and all but MAINE?! I know you're thinking "wtf is in Maine?" Honey ERRTHANG! Maine is a BEAUTIFUL New England state with breathtaking landscapes consisting of lighthouses, rolling hills, and docks. This is the part of the article where I say "Google is your friend". Open your mind to new places! This is a hidden gem and it's gotten popular as a traveler destination over the past few years so it's quite expensive.
Fun fact: It's amazing. The end. No but really. So Maine is home of some of the best lobster and seafood you'll ever have. It's America's 20th largest fishing port! So, next time you visit Red Lobster for some "Maine Lobster" you better thank them.
Key Attractions: Alcohol. If you like beer or wine, Portland will give you a run for your coins. It's home to some of the coolest microbreweries in the US. It also boasts some of the cutest indie wine cellars on the East Coast. Not to mention it's been ranked the #1 Craft Beer city in the world. Thank me later babes.
Verdict: Don't talk to me unless you're going. Flights are expensive in the summer so you'll want to go in the fall.
4. San Francisco, California
This one needs no explanation. We all know the bay area is pretty dope. If you watched That's So Raven then you know the houses look SO cool. Everyone buzzes about LA... and to me it's overrated. I spent a summer in Los Angeles and while it was cool I wasn't exactly overwhelmed. But San Fran? Oh baby. The city is busting with culture.
Fun Fact: SF has the second-largest Chinatown outside of Asia. It's also the oldest in North America. (SF Tourism Tips). That's so COOL! It's also built on like 50 hills. Just beautiful. SF is also your destination for wine on the West Coast.
Key Attractions: Alcatraz! The island with the first lighthouse in the US was home to one of most infamous max security prisons ever. Al Capone was imprisoned there. That's hella. Also, the Golden Gate Bridge!!! Hello.
Verdict: Try summer time! The flights may vary but you can find a nice BnB or hotel. Try also staying in a city over and going into SF.
5. Aspen, Colorado
LOL I remember watching TV and seeing rich white couples on sitcoms talk about their condo in Aspen they're going to for Christmas *cue snooty royal accent* Well call me Susan and get me some ski equipment. But Aspen has these lush views in the winter - even if you don't hit the slopes. Man... those cabins? Talk about a BAE-CATION. In the summer and spring months it's ridiculously green. #Views.
Fun Fact: This isn't so much of a "fun" fact but "today the musicians and movie stars have been joined by corporate executives. As a result of this influx of wealth, Aspen boasts some of the most expensive real estate prices in the United States and many middle-class residents can no longer afford to live there." (Aspen, CO Wikipedia). That's unfortunate. So, while we're talking about traveling let's all make an effort to travel responsibly and not take over people's homes for the sake of doing so.
Key Attractions: MOUNTAINS! I love mountains. The cabins might be expensive but surely you could stay in the town over and take a day trip. Spring or Winter, the mountains are breathtaking and have some great hikes for you to take.
Verdict: I wanna spend a honeymoon there tbh. While I'm at it I'll lobby to get all the rich Susans out of there so families can go back to their rightful homes. Try a weekend getaway and stay in a town over.
6.Boston, Massachusetts
Ah, BAWSTEN. I love their accents. Boston is actually only a 1.5-hour train ride from Portland, Maine. You can catch the Downeaster Amtrak train for about 30 bucks and get to Portland for a day trip. See how I planned it out for you. Go. Now.
Fun Fact: Boston has banned happy hour. It's been this way for about 30 years. No bars or pubs can have a designated happy hour, and free drinks cannot be rewarded. No 2 for 1 drinks, and no drinks as prizes during trivia. This was a result of a famous drunk driving accident that occurred in 1984. But this won't stop me! Haha Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US with strong ties to England. It has one of the oldest public parks and has just always seemed lit.
Key Attractions: People with Boston accents. Just kidding. I do like hearing them talk, though. Anyway if you're a history buff this is up your alley. Boston's Freedom trail has 16 monuments that take you through time learning about American history. You can also catch a baseball game at the coveted Fenway Park, or go to the oldest public park in the US. There's also Harvard. If you care.
Verdict: Pawk the caw. Lmao who caught that? Flying into Boston is actually cheaper than flying into Portland if you wanna hit both cities at once. Delta has some good prices! While I'm in Portland this fall I'll be taking a day trip to Boston. So, I'll see you there?
This was long but I hope you found some cool new places to see. Get out there! Don't live ignorant! See what North America has to offer! Travel with a group or solo travel. Join a rewards club on your favorite airline and rack those miles. Take a road trip. Whatever you do, just see more than your own city.
