Travelers can explore constantly evolving landscapes and discover diverse communities. Visit The USA presents five destinations in the United States that should be on your bucket list by 2024.
1. Kansas City, Missouri: Swiftmania and sports for all tastes
Kansas City is now on the map thanks to a pair of stars who, each in their field, maintain millions of fans. Queen of American pop and country music singer, Taylor Swift, along with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, have everyone running to see the city of fountains. With more than 200 water facilities throughout its metropolitan area, Kansas City is a true sports mecca, from soccer to pickleball. In fact, the city will host the PickleCon Triple Crown competition next August, in addition to the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup in 2026. This city is also ready to welcome the National Women's team. s Soccer League, Kansas City Current, for its debut in the new CPKC Stadium, in 2024. With 11,500 seats, it will be the first stadium in the world designed especially for a professional women's team and everything indicates that it will be the new hotspot of the city.
Off the course, visitors can enjoy the vibrant culinary scene, specifically all things barbecue, with restaurants grilling everything from pork, beef and chicken, to fruit, mushrooms and fish. For those visiting Kansas City in the fall, The American Royal is the largest barbecue competition on the planet, with more than 600 teams and a large audience that is as gourmet as it is demanding.
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico: A melting pot of creativity in the United States
Set against the incredible backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is a city as mystical as it is eclectic. Its land, famous for its healing qualities and being a spiritual paradise, has attracted artists from all over the world. Native American, Spanish and Anglo-American cultures merge here to form a creative community.
Santa Fe is home to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, which presents the exhibition 'Making a Life' until March 2024, in addition to the fantastic Meow Wolf: a fully immersive art experience called “House of Eternal return”, in which There are more than 70 rooms created by local artists. The city is also home to eight Native American communities, and the Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the most prestigious Native American art fairs in the world, featuring the work of more than 200 tribes (held August 17-18, 2024). . Still, to truly appreciate this city's arts, culture, and culinary scene, look no further than the Art + Sol Winter Festival.
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Where old meets modern
The birthplace of the United States and the first city to be awarded the World Heritage City badge, Philadelphia is steeped in history, yet exudes a vibrant, contemporary culinary and cultural scene. The Michelin Green Guide names Philly an “open-air museum” thanks to more than 600 statues and more than 4,400 outdoor murals. By the end of 2024, the Calder Gardens Museum is scheduled to open, celebrating the impact that three generations of the Calder family have had on this city. Philly also has a strong gastronomic imprint - in fact it is, for some, a culinary paradise -, where foodies can find everything from street food and markets, to gourmet restaurants and even BYOB - "bring your own bottle", that is, with service of corkage-.
Famous for its iconic cheesesteaks, hoagies - a submarine sandwich - and soft pretzels made with ice water, the roast pork sandwich also has fans who gather every day to line up at DiNic's Roast in Reading Terminal Market (one of the oldest and largest markets public in the United States). For those who always save room for dessert, the Philly Tastykake - a sweet snack packaged and ready to eat - comes in several flavors, from butterscotch to peanut butter.
4. St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida: From Endless Beaches to Street Art
Tucked away on a perpetually sunny peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico lies St. Pete/Clearwater, a collection of 24 communities that seamlessly blend outdoor activity with an incredible arts scene. Visitors will be spoiled with its famous 56 kilometer coastal strip where you can play sports and relax, and several national parks, such as Honeymoon Island (ideal for nature lovers and where it is possible to discover eagles, owls and turtles or trekking through the purpose-built track through one of the last virgin pine forests).
Also worth visiting is Caladesi Island, one of the few remaining pristine islands along the Gulf Coast that is only accessible by boat. St. Pete is also an arts enclave home to eight museums and 532 street murals in preparation for the SHINE Mural Festival in October 2024. Take note of the Dalí Museum, a collection of works by Salvador Dalí, including Dali Alive 360 ° Dome, an immersive and multisensory experience that surrounds visitors with 360 degrees of light and sound. Another must is the Imagine Museum, which features glass art exhibits from around the world, featuring the first installation by American sculptor Dale Chihuly.
5. Asheville, North Carolina: the majestic mountain city
Sheltered by the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by millions of acres of protected wilderness and the tallest peaks in the American East, Asheville is proud of its history and heritage. Featuring music and large outdoor spaces, each summer the Folk Heritage Committee invites visitors and locals to join the 'Shindig on the Green' celebration, a free festival that supports the preservation of traditional bluegrass music, as well as the dances and narratives of the southern Appalachian mountain range.
For those who want to connect with nature, the city offers facilities for trekking, cycling, rafting and horseback riding, as well as the opportunity to observe birds, bears and deer. Opening this spring is AutoCamp's RV campground, located just 15 minutes north of town along the banks of the French Broad River. Those who wish can reserve a room at Loge Asheville, which will open its first location in the southeast of the country next summer. Built on the grounds of the iconic The Mountaineer Inn roadside motel, the renovated property will include fire pits and bike storage in every room.