7 Changing Cities to See This Year

Pittsburgh, PA
As a hotbed of robotics and AI innovation, Pittsburgh’s status as a tech darling is well earned, but its abiding blue-collar DNA creates a pleasing contrast to the city’s next-gen luster. Start your exploration at Pittsburgh’s restaurants, where some of the best options are the most elemental (like crackly sourdough pizza at Driftwood Oven, or fiery Dan Dan Noodles at Chengdu Gourmet). Meanwhile, award-winning distilleries like Maggie’s Farm Rum and Wigle Whiskey tap into a festive drinking spirit that goes back to the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. Both offer complimentary tastings with their tours, which is a popular activity—Wigle is doubling the size of its production and tasting room by the end of the year.

Just be aware that flights to Pittsburgh can be notoriously expensive—making it an excellent opportunity to spend some airline miles or plan a road trip.

Columbus, OH
Ohio travel chatter these days tends to focus on Cleveland and Cincinnati, but the Buckeye State’s capital and largest city is definitely having a moment. Driving the Columbus conversation is Otherworld, a psychedelic art installation (akin to Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe) where visitors become lab rats at a tech company specializing in “alternate realm tourism” as imagined by more than 40 artists. The installation opens in May, just outside the downtown area.

Pair a visit with a stay at the stylish, beer-themed DogHouse Columbus—the world’s first hotel within a brewery, where showers have built-in beer fridges and minibars feature house brews on tap.

Minneapolis, MN
Sure, Minneapolis can be cold and snowy well into spring. Just put on a coat and head over. The action here is definitely heating up, thanks to the city’s vibrant arts scene, smart hotels (hello, Hewing Hotel), and surprisingly diverse culinary scene. Notable restaurants of the moment include Young Joni, which merges Korean and Italian cooking and Demi, a ticketed tasting counter opened by celebrity chef Gavin Kaysen.

Your first stop should be the American Swedish Institute, an art museum housed in an Addams Family–esque 1908 mansion. Getting to see contemporary works juxtaposed against the baroque interiors is a thrill, as is the Scandinavian-inspired lunch at the airy museum cafe, FIKA.

Asbury Park, NJ
No disrespect to Springsteen's concept of a fading working-class city, but his old stomping grounds of Asbury Park have evolved into a genuinely cool and interesting city that honors its musical history without being a parody of itself. You can catch local bands almost any night of the week at iconic venues like The Stone Pony and The Saint, as well as new hot spots like Soundbooth, an intimate cocktail bar in the lobby of the excellent Asbury hotel.

Asbury Park’s wide beaches and revitalized boardwalk draw the biggest crowds in summer, but the town is truly a four-season destination. Visit in the late fall for great holiday shopping at the Asbury Park Bazaar.

San Antonio, TX
Texas’s second-largest metropolis may play second fiddle to Houston, Dallas, and Austin, but San Antonio has been on the upswing for the past couple years. Start with The Alamo and the Riverwalk, which may be tourist magnets but are also genuinely compelling.

Beyond that, many layers await. Just the second city in America to be named a “Creative City of Gastronomy” by UNESCO, San Antonio is packed with wonderful places to eat—don’t miss the eponymous pork tacos at Carnitas Lonja or the expert charcuterie at Cured. On Saturdays and Sundays, check out the farmers’ market at the Pearl, the culinarily focused development centered around the old Pearl brewery. That’s where you’ll also find Hotel Emma, a castle-like boutique inn located in the former brewhouse.

St. Louis, MO
Prodigal sons and daughters are returning to St. Louis in droves, injecting creativity and excitement into America’s “Gateway to the West.” This trend is most evident in the restaurant scene. Award-winning chef Michael Gallina moved back after cooking at New York’s storied Blue Hill at Stone Barns and opened the acclaimed Vicia. And James Beard Award–nominated Rob Connoley left New Mexico to open Bulrush here, which celebrates Ozark cuisine with dishes like pawpaw vinegar pie.

Couple the invigorated dining scene with booming breweries, lovely neighborhoods, and the just-renovated Gateway Arch National Park (with its thoughtful underground museum), and you’ve got a strong case for booking a flight now.

Orlando, FL
Even if theme parks aren’t your thing, Orlando has plenty to offer—from the sculpture gardens at the Mennello Museum of Art to the singular sushi experience at Kadence, a Japanese restaurant in the Audubon Park Garden District run by three University of Florida alumni.

If theme parks are your thing, so much the better: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive new Star Wars–themed attraction area, opens this summer at Walt Disney World. While Disney or Universal hotels may offer early-opening and after-hours park access, they’re rarely affordable. Save money by booking hotels like Hyatt Place or Residence Inn that include breakfast and shuttles to the parks.