Detroit Named Must-Visit Destination for 2024
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Whether travelers are looking for good food, arts and culture, a brush with history, fun festivals, or a lively sporting event, Detroit has something to offer visitors of all ages.
The results are in and the Motor City’s diversity has been spotlighted again as it was recently named one of the Best Places to Go in North America and the Caribbean for 2024 by Condé Nast Traveler.
CN Traveler singled out Detroit’s fresh digs, stylish downtown, and transformed waterfront as the Motor City is creating a successful blueprint for urban renewal that’s drawing in travelers from all over.
“The Motor City is making a comeback. In 2024, Detroit will welcome a host of new hotels, green spaces, and cultural attractions—not to mention the NFL Draft, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The highly anticipated Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park project, which the state likens to Chicago’s Millennium Park, will introduce new ways to play along Detroit’s western riverfront. Walking trails, a water garden, expansive playgrounds, and a sports center are among the park’s many features. Its goal — to give more Detroiters access to the outdoors — could be realized as soon as summer 2024.”
Stephanie Vermillion, Condé Nast Traveler
CN Traveler highlighted the new AC Hotel as an example of the city’s commitment to fresh digs and giving travelers a good experience. The AC Hotel will open in Detroit’s midtown next year ahead of the NFL Draft and the historic Bonstelle Theater will reopen alongside the hotel as a bar and event space.
Additionally, Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, which includes trendy restaurants and bars, has upped its game with the opening of the Godfrey Detroit, Curio Collection by Hilton this August.
Travelers who want a view of the Detroit waterfront can’t do much better than visiting and walking along the award-winning Detroit Riverwalk. More than three million people visit the Riverwalk each year and it offers something for everyone with residential areas, restaurants, retail shops, a marina, and more.
Detroit’s revitalization has made the city even more of a must-see destination. From sports arenas to both trendy and low-key food spots to scenic parks and much more, Detroit has it all and it’s no surprise it was named a must-visit city for the new year.
Explore More Must-See U.S. Cities
Condé Nast Traveler’s other U.S. selections for best places to visit include:
Barrio Viejo, Tucson, Arizona
This historic, scenic neighborhood is renowned for its cultural programming, historic adobe buildings, and diverse, delicious dining options.
Tucson has historically been a popular spot for travelers in search of adventure and boasts a revitalized downtown, a historic performance theater, lively restaurants, and bars, all of which are within reasonable walking distance. Some of the adobe buildings, which date back to the 1880s and retain their original style, have been converted to all-day restaurants and cafes, giving residents and visitors alike great places to socialize.
Barrio Viejo is set to receive a designation as a National Historic Landmark next year, ensuring its importance as a historic place and must-visit destination.
Big Sky, Montana
For 50 years, Big Sky Resort in Montana has been beloved for its hundreds of ski runs, its apres-ski dance parties, and for having the nation’s most technologically advanced lift network.
The resort is also set to add the Lone Peak Tram, which will traverse Big Sky’s iconic summit at more than 20 miles per hour, giving visitors a most incredible view when they reach the top.
Besides skiing opportunities, Big Sky’s downtown has undergone major renovations in recent years as hotels and restaurants have adapted to accommodate customers. Big Sky is a perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts and offers a truly unforgettable experience.
Mobile, Alabama
The coming year is set to be one of celebration for Mobile. For the first time since 2005, passenger trains will roll through town as part of Amtrak’s new Gulf Coast Service, which will connect Mobile to Mississippi as well as New Orleans.
The new year also gives residents and visitors a chance to learn about and celebrate Mobile’s African-American history. In July, Clotilda: The Exhibition opened, a show which tells the story of the last slave ship to carry slaves to the U.S., and the survivors of the journey as well as the town they built, Africatown.
The Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park is also set to open in early 2024 and will feature several public artworks honoring Civil Rights leaders. Additionally, Remembering the Avenue, an exhibit showcasing the history of Black Main Street runs in Mobile through 2024.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
New Mexico was all over the news in 2023, thanks to the summer blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” but the state capital made Conde Nast’s list because big things are in store for 2024.
As one of the nation’s oldest cities, Santa Fe is well known for its adobe-style architecture, art museums, and vibrant mix of cultures. Not only does the city have plenty of cultural programming planned for 2024, but it will also mark the 100th anniversary of the Burning of the Zozobra.
This beloved tradition sees a 50-foot effigy named Old Man Gloom — stuffed with a wide spectrum of “glooms,” including speeding tickets and divorce summons — brought to mock trial and then burned as a way for attendees to start fresh by releasing their worries.
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital is an exciting place to visit any time of year, but it makes Conde Nast’s list of must-visit cities for 2024 as a city of delectable culinary delights.
This year saw Washington’s transformation into a vibrant, exciting culinary destination. Not only did renowned chefs open restaurants, but the slate of new eateries includes just about anything hungry want to eat.
The past year saw the opening of restaurants serving American classics, sushi, gumbo, tacos, oysters, and more. Plans are also in the works to bring a New York City hotspot to D.C. as well as a restaurant and rooftop bar and a new dining concept at a waterfront eatery.
Explore New Destinations in 2024
Are you ready to explore the best places in the US in 2024? Catch a flight to or from Detroit Metro (DTW) and discover some amazing destinations in your backyard and beyond.