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Philadelphia Ranked A Top 5 City To Visit In 2024

Author Steve Vassalotti

It’s always good to get away, take some time off and recharge. Planning vacations is tough, so any bit of help along the way is good. Choosing a destination can sometimes be the hardest. Lonely Planet is here to help with that step. They’ve released their best destinations to visit in 2024. Now for us, we don’t need this suggestion since we live here, but Philadelphia was ranked a top 5 city to visit in 2024. The list from Lonely Planet is broken into five groups: countries, regions, cities, sustainable travel destinations, and best-value locations.

Mongolia gets the top spot in the country category for its open spaces, adventures, and culture. India is after Mongolia, then it’s St. Lucia and Mexico. The regions that they rank as the best destinations were Montana for their big sky scenery and County Donegal, Ireland for its coastline. 3rd, 4th, and 5th were the Trans Dinarica Cycling Route in the Western Balkans, Kangaroo Island in Australia, and Tuscany, Italy (hell yes).

After the top regions, they listed sustainable destinations, based on the country’s effort to push renewable energy. They also listed their best value destinations where Poland took the top sport and the Mid-western part of the United States followed up in 2nd. That was the only stateside location on the best value list. In the cities category, which is what matters since Philadelphia is a top 5 spot, only 1 other American city made the list.

The cities list starts off with Nairobi, Kenya. An unexpected top city, but Lonely Planet mentions Nairobi is having a moment. It’s like it’s coming out of its shell.

“The city is shrugging off the colonial gaze and embracing its unique rhythms, with an dynamic array of restaurants, food carts and cafes, along with a steady rotation of arts and cultural venues that all fuel a distinct Nairobi cool”

The next 3 spots on the list of cities are Paris, Montreal, and Mostar, Bosnia. Mostar looks like a pretty cool place with a medieval feel to it. Taking the fifth spot on the best destinations for 2024 is Philadelphia, but what sets Philly apart?  The folks at Lonely Planet have a great reason for ranking our city so high.

“At the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers sits the nation’s first World Heritage City, the birthplace of the United States and the ‘City of Brotherly Love’. But in all that historic high-mindedness what can get lost is modern Philly’s kinetic energy – and tectonically shifting cultural core. Between major new openings and milestone anniversary events, the museums alone warrant a trip in 2024 (as do its eateries to keep you fueled).”

It is nice seeing Philadelphia as a top 5 destination in 2024. Click this link because the list they put together is very well done. The explanations given are well written and it can give you a jump start on getting your wanderlust under control.

Steve Vassalotti is co-host of “The Matt Cord Show with Steve Vassalotti” weekday mornings 6a-10a on 102.9 WMGK. He has been with the station since 2015. For WMGK he writes about inane nonsense that surrounds our daily lives, sports, food and other various topics. Steve writes about Philadelphia lifestyle content, the Philadelphia Eagles culture and trending topics.

Pennsylvania Has One of the Most Affordable Christmas Vacations

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S. that are available for a good deal. Even better, Pennsylvania has one of the most affordable Christmas vacations in America.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it’s often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don’t mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That’s true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That’s because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They’ll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won’t break the bank.

Best Affordable Christmas Vacations in the U.S.

  • Frankenmuth, Michigan

    Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it’s a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage’s Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name “Little Bavaria.” Frankenmuth is also home to the world’s biggest Christmas store.

    Clock tower telling the story of the pied piper in Frakenmuth Michigan.

    Getty Images / Michael Deemer

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

    You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn’t think to go to “Sin City” for Christmas. Of course, it’s much less the “sin” part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

  • Charlotte, North Carolina

    Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it’s not as crowded as other times during the year. It’s also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don’t forget the many holiday markets.

    Charlotte, North Carolina, USA Skyline

    Getty Images / Sean Pavone

  • Fort Myers, Florida

    Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that’s doesn’t mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania

    Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It’s a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won’t break the bank.

    Rowhouse in Lancaster, PA

    Getty Images / 2windspa

  • Boston, Massachusetts

    Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It’s a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What’s more, it’s a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won’t have the fight the crowds.

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Author Steve Vassalotti
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