Best Cities for Black Travelers Looking to Have A Great Time

One of the main reasons people travel is to experience. Whether it be to immerse themselves in a new culture, try new cuisines, or explore the city’s cultural roots, the adrenaline and excitement of trying something new or embracing change is enough for someone to book a flight and hotel for a vacation.

 If you’ve been itching for a weekend getaway and want to experience Black culture at its finest, then the cities I’ve provided below should be considered. 

Houston, Texas

From personal experience, if you are looking to surround yourself with the culture, Houston should be on your bucket list. Last year, my best friend and I took a weekend trip to Houston, and had a time from that Friday until hours before our flight on Sunday. I remember my first thought being “I’ve never been in one spot with so many Black people” as we walked into Grooves of Houston. I felt at home. Speaking of Grooves, if you want to get your weekend started, this is the place to be. Compared to LA, everything is expensive. Grooves has reasonable prices on drinks, and the food is quite delicious. Side note: Grooves is still messaging me to this day about their happy hour specials. Talk about #FOMO! 

Everyone there was super friendly, and we ended up meeting some other out-of-towners who would invite us to our next destination, The Address. Boy, did we have a time. Not to mention, the kitchen closes late. If you plan on indulging in some adult beverages, they ensure that you are fed to soak up the night’s activities. The next day we ended up at James Harden’s restaurant, Thirteen Restaurant, and then to his nightclub downstairs, The Basement. Before heading back home Sunday, we had to try out one of Houston’s hottest spots, Kamp. This is a restaurant, but gives day party/club vibes. As you are eating your shrimp and grits, everyone is dancing and having a good time to the music provided by the DJ for the day.

Overall, I give this experience a 10/10 recommendation.

Washington, DC

While I have never been to Washington, I have heard nothing but good things. This is the home to African American history and culture. After doing a bit of research, a day vibe could include visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, historically Black university, Howard, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and more. After you’ve engulfed in the history of DC, the next stop would be back to the hotel to change and get ready for a night out. Popular stops could be Saint Yves, Throw Social, Citizens Rooftop, District Alley on H, and much more. If you’re thinking about taking a visit, searching “things to do in Washington, DC while Black,” will fill your page with endless spots.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta…another city with so much to do. Earlier this year, in January, my friends and I took a trip to the A-town. After spending the night in the airport due to our flight getting delayed, we were ready to experience all that Atlanta had to offer. That Friday night we went out to a nice dinner at MCK Restaurant and Bar. The next day we would dedicate ourselves to nothing but sightseeing. We visited Martin Luther King’s birth home; if you ever plan to make a visit to ATL, I would highly recommend going here. We couldn’t go inside of the house due to damages from a fire, but there was a gift shop where you could purchase special memorabilia. It was extremely quiet and peaceful as visitors took pictures and embraced the legacy Martin Luther King Jr. left. Our next stop would be to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. The architect and the art is a must see.

The Trap Museum is the world’s first hip-hop museum, and if you are reading this right now, purchase your tickets! If you want to experience what the rappers talk about in their music videos about the “trap life,” I highly recommend this museum. As far as the food goes, I would be lying if I didn’t say my first experience eating a seafood boil wasn’t in Atlanta. Pirate’s Bowl has one of the best seafood boils I have ever been to. Other food places we indulged in was Boogalou Restaurant Lounge, Southern Kitchen - which was one of the best soul food places I’ve eaten, and the Hive Buckhead.

New Orleans, LA

The dialect alone makes me want to visit New Orleans (NOLA). This is home to some of hip-hop’s greats Little Wayne, Master P, Webbie, and so much more. If you are a lover of jazz music, visit a place like NOLA where this genre is deeply rooted in the city’s history. The infamous ‘Mardi Gras’ festival takes over Bourbon Street once a year happens before Ash Wednesday. Speaking of Bourbon Street, it is filled with bars, clubs, and street performers. If you want to get the full New Orleans experience, Bourbon Street is a must on your list.