By: Virginia Gil | From: TimeOut
We asked thousands of you to rank the best cities in the U.S. right now, and these places made the cut.
Time Out loves cities. We love talking about them and guiding you to explore them and, once a year, we even rank them with help from you, our readers. The results of our annual survey—which polls city-dwellers around the world about what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns—give us insight into what makes a city great.
Your views on current culture trends, nightlife, and the things that make you love where you live, such as green spaces and access to beaches, help us compile our global ranking of the world’s best cities and this U.S.-specific list. Below, you’ll find the top 10 places in America, along with insider info from locals on why this year is the right time to visit.
10. San Antonio, Texas
What makes us great:
Although The Alamo and San Antonio are synonymous, there's much more to discover here, including four lesser-known Spanish missions: Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. A 16-mile hike and bike trail connects all five. On a culture quest? San Antonio's Majestic Theater is jaw-droppingly gorgeous inside and out, and the calendar is packed with Broadway shows and other musical performances. The Witte Museum has permanent collections that tell the story of San Antonio's natural history and early settlers, plus a regular rotation of traveling exhibits. The McNay Art Museum houses an impressive collection of art, but the 1927-era Spanish Colonial-Revival mansion and grounds, once a private residence, is as dazzling as the paintings and sculpture. Hopscotch San Antonio is an indoor, immersive experience that combines local art with hands-on activities like frolicking in an LED ball pit for pure, whimsical fun.
From pints and lively piano tunes at Durdy Nellie's Irish Pub to the outdoor dining under Casa Rio's iconic colorful umbrellas, the famous Riverwalk offers infinite spots to eat and drink. The Historic Pearl, once a brewery and now home to the city's finest hotel, is a hub for foodies and is joined by S.A.'s new Creamery District, once a dairy plant in the city's Tobin Hill neighborhood. Both offer decidedly un-Texas options, such as French comfort food at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou and Easy Baby Underground, an underground lounge serving creative libations and spinning an eclectic mix of groovy tunes. The city's biggest party happens every April with Fiesta San Antonio, a 10-day celebration with over 100 events.
Visit now because:
The World Heritage Center, set to open in February, will serve as a gateway to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and provide educational opportunities and information on the community's history, art, and culture. Early this year will also see the arrival of local favorite Chef Jason Dady's Mexico Ceaty, a 21,000-square-foot destination space offering four eateries, a stage for live music and art activations, a marketplace, and more.