Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

Wheels Up and Bottoms Up: 6 Easy-to-Get-to Booze Destinations

Mark Stock
By

An international trip based mostly around imbibing is easier than you think. It’s also fun in a youthful, cross-the-border-to-drink sort of way that will remind you of your younger, more reckless self (or your current you if you’re living your best life, one or the other). Consider it the grown-ass man equivalent of shoulder-tapping.

Life in the States presents many opportunities to dust off your passport, even for a long weekend. Here are a few destinations that are both convenient to large U.S. metro areas and chock-full with some combination of outstanding craft beer, wine, and/or cocktails.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Mark Stock/The Manual

One of the West Coast’s prettiest cities is also one of its most dynamic. Somewhat of a New York of the Pacific, Vancouver touts an endless skyline, incredible ethnic food, and a drinks scene that would make any city envious. The Diamond in Gastown is a great cocktail stop and if you’re feeling nostalgic, especially in a Twin Peaks kinda way, check out The Black Lodge.

The Okanagan is just a short trek away and one of North America’s most exciting wine regions. Toast the drier, higher desert climate and beautiful surroundings with solid estate-grown Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling, and more.

Montreal, Quebec

Getty

A lot of East Coasters will tell you that Montreal is about as far away as you can travel while not going that far distance-wise. The French-minded city has become synonymous with great food and creative drinks. Embrace the Old World-ness of it all, stretch out your meals, and celebrate the afternoon nap. Or, be basic and just eat a lot of poutine and drink some Molson.

Tijuana, Mexico

Getty

Nearly gone are the horror stories involving tourists in Mexico’s popular border town. Tijuana has become safer and more approachable, making it worthy of your drinks radar. Not only will you find access to rare tequilas and mescals, but some interesting craft beers and fascinating wines from the emerging Baja region to the south.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Getty

Another unsung provincial hero, Halifax offers a lot. It possesses many of the Nordic and Scandinavian joys of cities much larger and farther away. The wine and small plates at Obladee are enticing, as are the cocktails and seafood options at Bar Kismet.

Lake Ontario

Getty

Winos should consider Lake Ontario if they haven’t already. The lake spans the Canadian border and is anchored by the charming and aptly named Niagara-on-the-Lake. The town is walkable, set-like in its pristine architectural style, and teeming with tasty wines grown in the fertile land just outside of the city.

Islamorada, Florida

Mark Stock/The Manual

Sure, it’s not technically outside of the U.S. but it might as well be. This Florida Key is beach bum heaven, featuring crawling iguanas, gorgeous weather, and plenty of light beers and satisfying rums to accompany your fresh seafood. There are only so many bars on this small stand of an island but that means a warm atmosphere where everybody knows everybody. Bottoms up.

And if you’re driving down from southern Florida, stop at Robert is Here, one of the best produce stands in existence. Get a fresh smoothie and give it the Hemingway treatment (douse it in rum).

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Here’s what drinks pros have learned from Dry January
How do you extend Dry January all year long? We got some advice from the pros
A pair of mocktails.

A new year is upon us and for a lot of people, that means new healthy habits. It might mean a new diet, pre-bedtime sleep ritual, or cutting back on the booze. Often, the plusses of these lifestyle changes are so significant that you hope to continue them well beyond just January.

There are lots of sober curious people looking to take the merits of Dry January all the way through 2023. But it's not easy, especially with our favorite bars back open, friends always looking for an excuse to get out, and some really good cocktails in the mix. So we solicited some advice from drinks industry pros who've done the Dry January thing and learned from it. Here's some of that valuable wisdom, passed on to the new, 2023 version of you.

Read more
The ultimate Las Vegas bachelor party guide for grown-ups
How to plan an amazing Las Vegas bachelor party
A night at Fremont East in Downtown Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is one giant adult playground with some of the best dining and entertainment options in the entire world, which makes it one of the best places in the United States for a bachelor party. Yet since there is so much to do in Sin City, it’s easy to go too fast and too hard right out of the gate, which will make the second half of your trip less than enjoyable.

If you’re going to throw a bachelor party in Vegas the right way, you have to pace yourself. Meanwhile, you don't have to limit yourself to The Strip, as there's plenty more to see and do across the Las Vegas Valley. Remember to pack plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, and set aside time each day to rest and recharge for the next activity. Follow these simple steps — plus our below recommendations on what to do, see, and eat — and you’ll have the best Vegas bachelor party possible.
Stock up on supplies

Read more
The 5 best low-calorie drinks to order at the bar
Low-calorie drinks: Put down the light beer. You're better than that.
Paloma

It's inevitable. With the new year now well underway, most of us will at least be flirting with the idea of getting back into shape after the sugar-filled holiday season. For better or worse, those cookies were delicious, Mom's gravy was silky smooth and decadent, and the mulled wine was flowing. There are plenty of good reasons to clean up our diets come January, whether the goal is to drop a few pounds, or just cleanse our bodies of all of those sugar plums. Some even opt for a Dry January, entirely abstaining from alcohol for the whole of what feels like the coldest, darkest month of the year. If that's your thing, more power to you! We salute you. But for those of us with slightly less willpower who still want to tidy up our systems, there are other, less extreme alternatives.

Simply opting for low-calorie alcoholic drinks is a perfectly reasonable compromise. Instead of a creamy, whipped indulgence with a candy cane rim, maybe just order a vodka soda. A diet gin and tonic sure feels crisp, light, and refreshing after consuming all of Uncle Marv's eggnog. The trick is knowing these healthier alternatives and being prepared when the bartender heads your way.

Read more