Clara Hogan

The age-old saying really does hold true: The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. Soak up the holly, jolly vibes at one—or more!—of our favorite Christmas cities across the U.S., which out all the stops to deck the halls (ehr, streets) in dazzling decor and offer plenty of holiday cheer via a slew of special events and activities. Take North Pole, Alaska, for instance: At this aptly named city, visitors can check out the world's largest Santa and walk down Kris Kringle Drive, outfitted with candy cane-striped street lights. Alternatively, make a beeline for Santa Claus, Indiana (yes, that's really the name), where local "elves" volunteer at the post office to answer buckets full of children's letters to Santa every year. Other must-visit locales include a seaside New England city with a rich history and a charming South Carolina mountain town, to name a few— all of which offer festive programming, be it magical Christmas markets, impressive Christmas light displays or must-visit Christmas stores. For a fun-filled holiday escape, keep reading to discover our favorite Christmas cities in the U.S

San Francisco’s such an iconic city that images of it are instantly recognizable: our beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars winding their way up steep streets, the hilltop Coit Tower, the cityscape crowned with the Transamerica Pyramid, the tie-dyed remembrances of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, the red lanterns of Chinatown… alright, you get the point. Everywhere you look, neighborhoods bustle with their own identity and history. Add in the blue waters that form a picturesque border around three sides of the city, atmospheric fog that drenches photos in a moody blur, elaborately painted Victorian row houses and an incredible food scene, and you have just a sliver of an idea of how bountiful and rich the City by the Bay is. So get out there (always make sure to pay attention to your surroundings, of course) and enjoy these top things to do in San Francisco for colorful moments you won’t find elsewhere. RECOMMENDED: 🎨 The best museums in San Francisco🛏️ The best Airbnbs in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco

If the best part of Thanksgiving is finally sitting down and tearing into the buffet of carbs, butter and gravy like an animal, the second best part is definitely watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Who doesn’t have fond memories of getting cozy on the couch and watching the giant inflatables float down the streets of Manhattan as aromas of stuffing and turkey come from the kitchen? Undoubtedly. New York’s parade—which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, first taking place in 1924–is the most famous. Every year, millions of people watch the event across the country. But while New York’s parade steals the national limelight, it’s certainly not the only city that hosts a party on Turkey Day. Big cities and charming small towns alike hold their own Thanksgiving Day parades: Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and New Orleans are a few of the major ones not to miss. We know the couch is comfy, but this year, consider watching a parade from the street rather than the TV for a Thanksgiving parade experience you won’t soon forget. RECOMMENDED: Where to find the best pies in America

Once you decide who to spend the rest of your life with, your second biggest decision might just be where to say that all-important “I do.” While many choose to wed in their hometown or city of residence, an ever-growing cohort of newly engaged couples are opting for a destination wedding—somewhere that encapsulates their love. But when the world is your oyster, how do you choose the right spot? Luckily, the U.S. offers no shortage of stunning wedding venues—from jaw-dropping natural landscapes to urban venues to luxurious resorts. Whether you’re looking for an intimate ceremony with close family and friends or a lavish affair, the best wedding venues in the U.S. cater to any bride or groom’s desires. RECOMMENDED: The best honeymoon destinations in the USAThe best romantic getaways in the U.S.

When you live in one of the best cities on earth, it’s hard to think about leaving, even if just for a day trip. But San Francisco is excitingly close to some incredible destinations that also draw visitors from all over the world, from the wine country of Napa and Sonoma to national parks, giant redwood forests and that long beautiful stretch of coastline. Aim your car any direction except west to find yourself somewhere awesome within just an hour or two. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco🚗 The best day trips from San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco

When it comes to Christmas, there’s no shortage of things to buy for the holiday. And we’re not talking about presents—we’re talking about decor, people. Tinsel and twine, trees of all colors and sizes, plenty of lights and ornaments, and giant Santas and reindeer. And the best place to get all this isn’t Amazon or a big box store—it’s local Christmas shops. The best Christmas stores in America take the holidays and put them on steroids—in the best way possible. Most of them offer holiday shopping year-round, not just at the end of the year. From the 45-acre Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Michigan to a charming Christmas village in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, get ready to be awed by inspiring light displays, perfected model villages, and other novelties. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas markets in the U.S.These spectacular Christmas cities in the U.S. go all out for the holidays

Looking to save money on your next vacation? Brake-free (get it?) from car-congested cities and consider a car-free getaway. Cities across the U.S. and the world are creating pedestrian zones and banning cars, from a few hours each month to a day or two each year to 24/7/365. Some cities are doubling down on the car-free craze by building car-free rental apartment communities like Culdesac in Tempe, Arizona. Going car-free in the U.S. not only saves money on pricey rental cars and parking fees, but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, you can burn extra calories by walking or biking around towns like historic Colonial Williamsburg, laid-back barrier islands like Little St. Simons Island, and mesmerizing Mackinac Island, Michigan. Forgo four wheels and hop a ferry or bike, or use your own two feet to explore these destinations, which range from remote to right around the corner. RECOMMENDED: The best bike trails in the USAThe best adventure vacations in the U.S.

San Francisco is a food haven, with so much to offer people curious to try a cuisine that’s new to them or for those who love their tried-and-true restaurants that have been around since the early days. Surrounded by water, we have incredible fresh seafood fished right off our shores, and we’re proud to offer California-grown fruits and vegetables from our sun-dappled agricultural fields nearby. It’s no wonder that San Francisco has roughly one Michelin-starred restaurant per every 1.7 miles… 28 of them to be precise, with three new ones added this year and one adding a second star. But beyond the Michelin-starred experiences, we also love the hole-in-the-wall dumpling spots and the street tacos and the pub grub in beautifully authentic spots. It’s all so very San Francisco—and delicious to boot! Maybe we all eat early and head home sooner, but that’s because our stomachs and palates are happy beyond belief. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🥑 The best brunch in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco🛍️ The best thrift stores in San Francisco🎨 The best galleries in San Francisco

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, thanks to festive holiday markets held coast to coast in November and December. These fun, festive fairs are a nod to Europe's Christmas markets, which have been held in cities, towns, and villages for centuries. Festooned in twinkling lights and boughs of holly, you'll fa-la-love the Christmas markets in Chicago, Denver, New York, and beyond. Each market is unique, but nearly all feature food, shopping, and festive activities, from musical entertainment to meet-and-greets with Santa to holiday activities. Strolling these seasonal markets filled with food, trinkets, and merriment is a must. These markets are the place to stock up on stocking stuffers, gifts, and ornaments while indulging in savory and sweet treats like bratwurst and donuts and drinks like glühwein (mulled wine), cider, and hot chocolate. Bundle up and get ready to eat, drink, and be merry at the best Christmas markets in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas light displays in the USAThe best Christmas vacations for an epic holiday

A spooky city with great Halloween vibes? That’s San Francisco, which offers a ton of fun things to do this October—and they run the gamut from hardcore haunted houses with creatures leaping out at you to lightly eerie candlelit concerts. Get your beverage on with a pub crawl or take a haunted walking tour with paranormal equipment so you can track down your own ghosts. Enter an immersive haunted dollhouse or just have some fun dressing your dog up to trick or treat for dog treats. It’s all here and waiting for you to participate in your most creative costume! RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🥑 The best restaurants in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco

San Francisco’s shopping scene can be dizzying with so many choices. Threading through the neighborhoods to find that utterly unexpected shop making something you didn’t even know you wanted (until you saw it and bought it!) is one of the true pleasures of our walkable city. Union Square has long been a stronghold of some upscale brands, but you may wish to instead wend your way towards some more artisanal boutiques selling bespoke items. If you’re new to the city and its shifting temperatures, you may need to purchase an extra sweatshirt or beanie if you’re spending time outside, and getting a stylish one that’ll be a souvenir of your trip is better than just getting an everyday one. Of course, don’t forget the many thrift stores, flea markets and consignment stores that add sustainability to our fast fashion culture. Speaking of which, bring your reusable shopping bag unless if you want to get a fun printed bag with one of these stores’ logos.

A haunted house frightens us because home is supposed to be the place where we find refuge from the rest of the world... and so to hear that floorboard creak when no one’s there or to sense a shape out of the corner of your eye, feels like a betrayal. The idea that we’re not alone and that we’re being watched—maybe even malevolently—is a truly scary idea. Here in the U.S., there are plenty of haunted houses we can visit or even spend the night (shudder), and often, they’re places where horrific murders took place. From the LaLaurie House in New Orleans, where enslaved people were tortured, to the Massachusetts home where Lizzie Borden may have taken an ax to family members—and everything in between—you can definitely indulge in paranormal tourism if that is your jam. And the next time you walk past a certain kind of a house, its lights out and leaves rattling across its lawn, you’ll get that little shiver thinking that someone’s still inside, caught between two worlds: a ghost that can’t leave. RECOMMENDED: The most haunted Airbnbs in AmericaAmerica's most haunted hotels

What is the Golden Gate Bridge? Built in 1937 to connect San Francisco with the Marin headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most universally recognized landmarks and most photographed bridge in the world. Visitors stand in awe of its 746-foot tall towers and bold International Orange color, which is repainted year-round. Is the Golden Gate Bridge worth visiting? The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one landmark in San Francisco—don't miss a chance to witness its stunning architecture, be it heading across the bridge or taking in views from San Francisco or Marin. Whichever way you choose, just don't forget a jacket—Karl the Fog is often looming nearby.  What's the best way to see the Golden Gate Bridge? Visitors often choose to experience crossing the bridge by foot, bike or car. Bikes and cars are permitted access 24 hours a day, while walkers can cross using the east sidewalk between 5am-6:30pm (5am-9pm during Daylight Savings Time).  Looking for a good viewing spot instead? You'll have plenty of options, including Crissy Field, Fort Point, Baker Beach or our favorite, the brand-new Presidio Tunnel Tops. What's good to eat near the Golden Gate Bridge? There aren't a lot of options directly near the base of the bridge on either side. On the San Francisco side, your best bet is in the Presidio—try Il Parco for a casual option in the Presidio Tunnel Tops park or Dalida, a buzzy new Mediterranean restaurant. On the Marin side, we continue taking in the views from Farl

You can hear the Napa Valley Wine Train before you see it. Starting in Downtown Napa at the McKinstry Street Station, the train rumbles through towns like Yountville and iconic vineyards like V. Sattui on a 36-mile round trip journey to St. Helena and back. The cavalcade of railroad cars were built in 1951 by the Pullman Standard Company and  refurbished for the modern era with details nodding to the original time period such as plush booths and mahogany paneling. Passengers can choose from a variety of dining journeys, including the Gourmet Express (a multi-course meal), Romance on the Rails (dinner and wine in a private booth on the train's Vista Dome) and Murder Mystery (a murder-mystery– themed dinner). One of the most intimate option is the Champagne Vista Dome experience, which guarantees you a private table. This car features curved glass windows in the observation-style dining car that give even more expansive views of Napa's lush countryside.  The three-hour lunch and two-hour dinner rides generally stick to the rails, but if getting off and exploring the vineyards is more of your thing, opt for one of the winery tours; most go to a few wineries and include lunch or dinner on the train.

Since 1994, the old stone cottage in the heart of wine country that houses the French Laundry has stood among the holiest of holy grails not only for destination diners, but aspiring industry pros around the world. Chef Thomas Keller’s influence on the culinary world is inestimable; without him, there’d be no Noma, Alinea, Benu or Frasca Food and Wine, to name just a few iconic restaurants his mentees have gone on to open. The pilgrimage to this intimate, 17-table Napa Valley institution remains at the very top of foodies’ bucket lists. Reservations open a month in advance, with seatings occurring daily from 4pm to 8:15pm. Every meal begins with a crisp salmon tartare cornet paired with a glass of champagne. From there, diners select one of the two prix fixe menus (one for meat eaters and one for vegetarians) and are then promptly taken on a three-to-four hour culinary journey. Dishes consist of classic and refined, yet unstuffy, French cuisine that showcase California-fresh produce sourced from the culinary garden across the street. The French Laundry has served as the pinnacle of fine dining for 25 years, with hospitality as unwaveringly pristine as the food. The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars every year since the first Michelin guide to the San Francisco Bay Area was issued in 2007, making Keller the only American chef to have two three-star restaurants at the same time (the other being Per Se in New York.)  The restaurant recently underwent a stunning $1

Think of San Francisco’s largest Halloween pub crawl as trick-or-treating for adults. Thousands of costumed revelers take over Polk Street for drinks, music and dancing, and costume contests. This year, whether you show up on foot or via the San Francisco Party Bus, you’re sure to be in spooktacular company at 20 haunted watering holes including Mayes, Nick's Crispy Tacos, Del Mar, and Wonder SF. It’s free to join the festivities.     

Napa Valley’s BottleRock festival is back this year for its first “normal” event since 2019. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and, in 2021, it was delayed until the fall and had pandemic precautions in place. This year, BottleRock is back in all its glory in its usual slot, Memorial Day weekend, with big-name headlining artists from Pink to Metallica and Luke Combs. Other performers include Twenty One Pilots, Kygo, Pitbull, Alessia Cara, Vance Joy, and Amos Lee. The event will also host a slew of other activities from famous chefs and celebrities on the culinary stage to an impressive food and drink line-up and a series of more intimate performances outside of the main event.  We’ve rounded up answers to all of your questions to give you everything you need to know about BottleRock 2022. We also have you covered on where to go, eat, and sleep in Napa Valley should you want to explore more.  What is BottleRock?BottleRock Napa Valley, presented by JaM Cellars, is a three-day music, wine, craft brew and culinary festival that started in 2013.  When is BottleRock? BottleRock 2022 will run Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, in downtown Napa at the Napa Valley Expo fairgrounds. How do I buy BottleRock tickets? Three-day tickets are sold out, but one-day general admission tickets for Friday and Saturday are still available through the BottleRock website. You can also still buy sold-out passes through the official ticket exchange Lyte. How much are BottleRock tickets?

What is Alcatraz? Alcatraz was once host to the first lighthouse on the West Coast, but it is most famous for serving as a former maximum security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. A small island situated in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the formidable fortress was home to some of the 20th century's most notorious criminals. Today, the site is run by the National Park Service, and you can visit “The Rock” on a reserved tour. After taking a ferry departing from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, you'll receive a headset that allows you to take a self-guided audio tour of the prison.  Is Alcatraz worth visiting? A trip to Alcatraz is worth it both for the scenic ride out and back—where you can take in sweeping views of the bay and cityscape—and for the enthralling tour of the abandoned prison. Narrated by former inmates and guards, the audio tour will tell you stories of harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. What's the best way to see Alcatraz? There is only one way to visit Alcatraz: book a tour (which often book up in advance, so look early.) The site is operated by the National Parks Service and only one ferry company — Alcatraz City Cruises — has a contract to transport people to and from the island. Tours are offered year-round, and ferries depart every half an hour throughout the day. To get a more creepy bang for your buck, opt for a night tour. Plan to spe

The local coffee scene across American cities has exploded in recent years — but which city loves its coffee the most? That would be the City by the Bay, at least according to one recent report. San Francisco is the number one coffee city in America, ranked by a survey from the personal-finance website WalletHub. The calculation compared the 100 most populous cities across the US using 12 key metrics, including the average spending on coffee per household, the share of homes with coffee makers, the number of coffee shops and manufacturers per capita, and the number of coffee-centric events.  After San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Honolulu, and Portland rounded out the top five coffee cities.  Source: WalletHub Coffee has played an important role in San Francisco's history: the first cup of restaurant coffee in the West was served there, large coffee brands such as Hills Brothers and Folgers started in the city, and the Italian espresso houses of North Beach were popular meeting spots for famous Beat poets. Today, the "third wave" of coffee shops has meant a coffee boom.  San Francisco's top coffee shops are independent, full of local personality, and spread throughout the city. Favorites include Ritual Coffee, Andytown Coffee Roasters, and Farley's. A few of the factors for SF's number one rating — it had both the highest number of affordable coffee shops and cafes rated 4.5 stars or above per capita, as well as the highest number of manufacturers. It also ranked number on

Add another must-do to your San Francisco bucket list: the Presidio Tunnel Tops, a project 30 years in the making. The new federal parkland is now officially open, offering 14 acres of space to play along the bay and take in stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Tunnel Tops, located within the Presidio, a national park formed out of a former military outpost, debuted on July 17 to an outpouring of crowds eager to see the city's newest national park destination. It is a creative solution to creating usable green space in a densely packed city, located on top of the busy Presidio Parkway highway tunnels and connecting the center of the Presidio to the park’s Crissy Field waterfront. The unique design feat was a perfect fit for James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York City's High Line, which also found ways to connect urban streets to more peaceful, nature-focused settings.  The park is already a hit with locals and visitors alike, featuring picnic sites, a campfire circle, trails, native plant gardens as well as the Outpost, a sprawling two-acre, nature-inspired play area for children.    Photograph Courtesy of the Trust for the PresidioTunnel Tops   Getting to the Tunnel Tops is easy from most places in the city. Several of the city’s MUNI lines stop at the nearby transit center and there's a free PresidiGo shuttle from downtown.  If you get hungry, you can count on a variety of food trucks and carts nearby, in addition to a slew of eateries offered with

イギリスの金融商品比較サイト、Money.co.ukは新しい分析調査を実施し、LGBTQ+コミュニティーに最も友好的な世界の都市ランキング『The most LGBTQ+ accepting cities』を発表した。 分析に使われたのは、さまざまなデータ。例えばSocial Progressから入手した各国の受容度に関する世界的な指標、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数を示すTripadvisorのデータといったもの。出生証明書や運転免許証の性別表示変更が州相当レベルでどれだけ容易か、成人におけるLGBTQ+自認の割合、子育てをしている25歳以上のLGBTQ+成人数なども含まれている。 その結果、世界で最もLGBTQ+の人々を受け入れていのは、アイスランドのレイキャビクとなった。同地のLGBTQ+受容度スコアは満点の10ポイント。LGBTQ+専用のバーやクラブが最も多くあり、それらの質も高いことが結果に反映されたようだ。 2位、3位はオランダのアムステルダム、ロッテルダムが続いた。アムステルダムは、惜しくもレイキャビックにトップの座を譲ったが、スコアの差はほとんどない。受容度も9.8ポイントと非常に高く、ナイトライフについても数、質ともに大差がなかった。ロッテルダムは、LGBTQ+向けの施設の数が上位2都市に比べると少ないため、この順位になったようだ。 4位に入ったのが、アメリカのサンフランシスコ（アメリカの都市として1位）。同地は、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数が全都市中2番目に多く、それらのTripadvisorの平均評価も星4.2つと高い。サンフランシスコが高順位になったことは、この都市がLGBTQ+コミュニティーにとってリベラルで進歩的な避難所であるという長年の評判や、LGBTQ+運動の歴史を考えると大きな驚きではないだろう。 このランキングのトップ20を見てみると、、アメリカからはボストン（11位）、シアトル（12位）、ロサンゼルス（16位）、シカゴ（17位）の5都市がランクインしている。 ただ、同時発表されたアメリカの州別ランキングで1位になったのは、カリフォルニア州ではなく、ハワイ州だった。同州では人口の4.6％がLGBTQ+を自認。労働安全や出生証明書の性別表記を変更する手続きなどでも高い評価を受け、LGBTQ+コミュニティーで子育てをしている割合が30％と、上位5州の中で最も多い。ハワイに続く2位にはメイン州、3位にはバーモント州がランクイン。カリフォルニア州は4位となった。 ランキングと分析内容は、Money.co.ukの公式サイトで確認できる。 原文はこちら 関連記事 『ブライダル大手が同性婚のためのウエディングプランを紹介』 『東京、学びのクィアスポット6選』 『日本のジェンダー観や婚姻制度のあれこれ、もう一度社会の前提を疑おう』 『ニューヨーク歴史協会がLGBTQ+博物館の設立を発表』 『6年で日本は「ジェンダー平等」に近づいたのか、公平な制度の実現へ』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら

A new study shows which cities around the world are the most friendly toward the LGBTQ+ community, and we're not that surprised at the winners.  The study, conducted by Money.co.uk, analyzed cities based on a variety of criteria, including a worldwide indicator sourced from Social Progress on the level of acceptance in each country, Tripadvisor data showing the number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people, as well as how easy it is at the state level to change the gender marker on your birth certificate and driver's license, the percentage of adults who identify as LGBTQ+, and how many LGBTQ+ adults over 25 are raising children, among other factors.  In the United States, San Francisco came out on top as the number one most accepting city in America, and fourth in the world. The city has the second-highest number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people and has an average rating of 4.2 stars.  San Francisco coming in the first place isn't a huge surprise, given the city's long reputation as a liberal and progressive haven for the LGBTQ+ community and its history of LGBTQ+ activism. Out of the top 20 most accepting cities, five are based in the US: Boston ranked 11th; Seattle ranked 12th, Los Angeles placed 16th and Chicago came in at 17th. At the worldwide level, Reykjavik, Iceland was number one. That was followed by Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.  In terms of states in the US though, California wasn't number one. It came in fourth. Hawaii actually cam

Napa Valley is a bucket-list destination for every wine lover – the rolling vineyard hills, award-winning wineries, and gourmet California cuisine make it a foodie mecca that people around the world flock to. And one of the most magical ways to take in all that wine country has to offer is aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.  The wine train is an iconic piece of Napa that’s been operating for more than 30 years, running directly through the valley on a rail line originally built in 1864. It was on a long hiatus during Covid, but officially re-opened in May. And now it's bringing back its popular Murder Mystery rides starting this month through October. The themed rides include 'Crime and Punishment,' 'Death of a Gangster' and a 'Wizards and Witches' tour that sounds perfect for Harry Potter fans (wizarding robes and hats are highly encouraged).  Photograph: Courtesy Napa Valley Wine Train While aboard the refurbished 1951 Pullman coaches, guests will have two hours to solve a murder (all while being served a multi-course fine-dining experience). On the Wizards and Witches tour – which takes place October 2, 9, and 16 – feel free to dress up as your favorite Hogwarts character and imagine you're aboard the Hogwarts Express!  Not into dress-up? The train offers a variety of other tours. Choose from various experiences and times, including daytime and evening rides, an intimate meal in the Champagne Dome, as well as those that includes stops at wineries and special ones like j