Skip to main content

Best U.S. Destinations to Celebrate Black History Month

Peel yourself away from the mania of Valentine’s Day, because February matters for an altogether different and far more important reason. If you haven’t yet made plans to celebrate Black History Month, there’s still plenty of time to plan a road trip or a weekend getaway to a variety of relevant destinations in the United States. From New England through Virginia and down to Mississippi, here are four great places to honor Black History Month.

New Haven, Connecticut

black history month new haven amistad
AFP / Stringer / Getty Images Image used with permission by copyright holder

In 1839, hundreds of slaves aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad revolted and desperately steered toward land in the hope of being rescued. While they successfully made it to solid ground, 53 were subsequently captured and taken to New Haven to be tried for mutiny, piracy, and murder. Two years on, after successfully arguing their case, the U.S. Supreme Court (under former President John Quincy Adams) set the entire group free. Today, a 136-ton replica of the Amistad sits in port in New Haven, where visitors are welcome aboard to better appreciate the struggles of slavery by “becoming” a modern-day abolitionist.

Alexandria, Virginia

black history month alexandria museum
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since it was founded in 1749, Alexandria has been deeply intertwined with our country’s colonial past, in general, and with African-American history, in particular. The Alexandria Black History Museum was the one-time segregated library for the city’s African-American residents. Today, it preserves that history with numerous exhibits, documents, and speaking events. Beginning February 11, the Manumission Tour Company will also host a 90-minute walking tour of the city titled Freedom’s Fight in Alexandria: Urban Slavery and Abolitionism. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history with urban slavery, and — more importantly — the slaves who resisted and overcame it.

Norfolk, Virginia

black history month norfolk attucks theater
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to being the home of the world’s largest naval compound, Norfolk also boasts a substantial African-American history. Today, the city features numerous points of interest dedicated to honoring that history. The nearly 100-year-old, beautifully restored Attucks Theatre has the distinction of being the country’s oldest remaining theater of its kind that was entirely designed, financed, constructed, and run by African-Americans. It’s been called the “Apollo Theatre of the South,” and its namesake honors Crispus Attucks, a black man who was the first American to die in the Boston Massacre.

Natchez, Mississippi

black history month natchez hop on hop off
City Sightseeing Natchez/Facebook Image used with permission by copyright holder

The history of African-Americans in Natchez is long, complex, and sordid. It would take a lifetime to fully appreciate the gravity of what happened in this Mississippi River town, given how tangled it was in the slave trade. The Hop On Hop Off To The Narrative of A Natchez Slave double-decker bus is a great place to start as it takes guests on a historical tour through the city’s past. It starts at the Natchez Visitors Center, includes narratives by William Thompson and Lilly Ann Granderson (both enslaved in the Antebellum Era), and ends at the Forks of the Road Slave Market, the largest market of its kind at the time.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Are you a top shredder? These incredible U.S. ski resorts are for you
Head to one of these first-class resorts when you're ready to take on your biggest skiing challenge yet
Skiiers look down couloir from the edge

So you think you're quite the ripper, huh? Do you carve around ski resorts, shredding any groomer in your path or pounding the pow-turns repeating the mantra "no friends on a powder day" every time you leave your crew behind? Are you first in line with your snowboard in the morning and the last one off the mountain at night? Do you spend your evenings meticulously waxing your skis or looking for ways to update your snowboarding equipment to get the edge?

Perhaps not. Heck, some of the best shredders I know have never waxed a snowboard in their life, and don't even mention the idea of new gear to them — they're barely able to afford breakfast. Great skiers and snowboarders come from all walks of life, but one thing they have in common is their love of great lines. Some love steep, some want deep. Bowls, couloirs, gulleys, drops, kickers, trees. You name it, we want to ride it. The best skiers demand the best ski resorts with the most vertical meters, varied terrain, and of course, the best off-piste parties going. Here, then, are the best ski resorts in the U.S. for experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Read more
The most beautiful bars in the U.S. (for those extra Instagram-worthy drink photos)
Some bars are so beautiful we can't help but talk them up. Here are the tops in all the land
The Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland has one of the largest selections of rare whiskeys in the nation.

With all respect to dives, haunts, and lounges, there's something to be said for a beautiful bar. The most attractive ones are feats of bar design and places we not only want to imbibe in, but ones where we stare in awe at the many comforting details. With so many great options, deciding on the most beautiful bars in America was not easy.

What separates the elites from the rest? Well, the best bars in America wow us with a combination of outstanding drinks and remarkable service. They tend to excel at those things and offer a certain ambiance you just can't find anywhere else. From the architectural details of an old, perfectly maintained structure to brilliant design approaches, these beautiful bars sing — visually, anyway.

Read more
Plan a trip to see some incredible fall foliage: 7 stellar spots across the U.S.
The fall colors will be gorgeous in these travel destinations
A pop of fall color in Oak Glen, California (in the San Bernardino Mountains).

The weather is cooler. The nights are longer. The tree leaves are starting to change colors. Finally, fall is here. And now, we have to think about where to go to find the best fall foliage.

Whether you need a quick weekend getaway, a nice change of scenery as you "work from home", or another good reason to travel for great fall foliage, we have you covered. As we enter into a new season, let’s discover some new ideas for fall travel. Come for the colorful fall foliage, and stay for the stunning mountain views, the friendly locals, various pleasant surprises, and a whole lot of good vibes. 

Read more