American Weekender's Top Stories of 2023
From Great Lakes getaways to New England seaside retreats to the low country cuisine of South Carolina, here are your favorite stories of the year
Dear Weekenders,
Welcome to the weekend! When we launched American Weekender last summer, the newsletter was the product of years of brainstorming sessions by the shores of Lake Michigan, lengthy discussions over cocktails, and obsessively poring over our favorite travel magazines.
Like many ideas, American Weekender was born out of the pandemic in 2020 — a time when our wanderlust was tempered by the realities of the day but our consumption of travel journalism was off the charts. In 2021, we started our American Weekender Instagram — a place to put some of our favorite travel photos. In 2022, we launched americanweekender.com with our first Field Guides filled with our favorite travel itineraries. And this summer, after years of over-thinking, the American Weekender newsletter went out to our first subscribers.
We want to extend a thank you to everyone who has added their name to our mailing list, bought a subscription, downloaded a guide, or just liked a post. Your support has meant the world to us. We would also like to offer a special thank you to our American Weekender Explorers. Your contributions to American Weekender make this newsletter possible.
For our final issue of 2023, we’re taking a look back at some of your favorite stories of the year. From Great Lakes getaways to New England seaside retreats to the low country cuisine of South Carolina, we’re thrilled you’ve enjoyed reading our stories so far. Please join us in raising a glass to what’s to come in 2024.
— Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
NO. 10: AN INTERVIEW WITH A FAVORITE SMALL-TOWN CHEF
NO. 9: THE BAR SNACK TREND OF THE YEAR
NO. 8: A BEAUTIFUL NEW ENGLAND GETAWAY
NO. 7: A CLASSIC, AWARD-WINNING MAINSTAY
NO. 6: A BELOVED SUMMER RETREAT
NO. 5: COLLEGE NOSTALGIA ON A HOAGIE ROLL
NO. 4: A FOND FAREWELL
NO. 3: FINE DINING SIMPLIFIED
NO. 2: HAM BISCUITS, HOT DOGS, AND PEPPERONI ROLLS
NO. 1: YOUR FAVORITE STORY OF THE YEAR
This month, paid subscribers to American Weekender received our newsletter featuring some of our favorite spots in New York’s Hudson Valley. You can download all of our picks for the area in our Field Guide to the Hudson Valley, a 24-page digital dining guide formatted for your phone. During the month of December, paid subscribers can snag a complimentary download on our website using the code found in this month’s Featured Destination newsletter. (Paid subscribers also get 50% off any other Field Guide they’d like!) Upgrade your subscription today and get your free Field Guide to the Hudson Valley.
Want more? Download our Field Guides, check out our archives, or follow us on Instagram @americanweekender. We’ll be back next week.