Year in Review: American Weekender's Top Stories of 2024
From a tour of Maine's seafood shacks to a cozy Wisconsin getaway, here are your favorite stories of the year.
Thank you for reading American Weekender!
As we look back at 2024, we’re reflecting on the hundreds of restaurants and bars from around the country we’ve written about this year. Our top 10 stories offer a great cross section of our weekly newsletter. Every Friday, we bring you interviews with top chefs and bartenders, inspiration for weekend getaways, itineraries for carefree bar crawls, and overnight stays that hit all the highlights.
This year’s top stories include visits to Maine lobster shacks, cozy getaways to the Wisconsin woods, drinking tours of Cleveland, and more trips that explore the best places to eat and drink in America. We hope you are enjoying the holidays and wish you good cheer in the New Year.
Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
American Weekender
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NO. 10: SEASIDE SIPS
Our Favorite Bars in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine may be best known for its restaurants but its bar scene is also top-notch. Our itinerary takes you to some of our favorite bars for beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and more, plus we’ll get some snacks along the way.
NO. 9: A TOP-TIER COLLEGE TOWN
Oxford’s Dining Scene Defies Expectations
Oxford is one of our favorite college towns. Home to Ole Miss, Oxford has a stellar food and drink scene — come along as we spend a few days eating our way through the best restaurants in town.
NO. 8: CANNIBAL SANDWICHES AND BURGER BOXES
Cordelia: One of America’s Best Restaurants
At the Cleveland restaurant Cordelia, helmed by a James Beard-nominated chef, the convivial kitchen staff serves up a fresh take on Midwestern fare.
NO. 7: DRINK UP IN ANN ARBOR
Ann Arbor’s Cocktail Hot Spots
If you’re seeking great cocktails in Ann Arbor, you’d do well to head to The Last Word and Peridot, where Giancarlo Aversa and his team serve memorable drinks.
NO. 6: DRINKING IN THE LAND
Seeking the Best Drinks in Cleveland
Cleveland’s bar scene is filled with gems — we’ll take you to some of our favorite cocktail bars, breweries, dive bars, and more.
NO. 5: A RELAXING LAKESIDE ESCAPE
Classic Summer Fun in Saugatuck
We’re heading back to the Lake Michigan beach town of Saugatuck to see what’s new this season — and new to us, including coffee, brunch, tacos, a great new dinner option, and more.
NO. 4: A COZY GETAWAY TO THE WOODS
Rural Relaxation in Wisconsin
Escape to Viroqua, Wisconsin, a small town two hours west of Madison. Our overnight itinerary includes maple lattes, a terrific tavern burger, a destination dinner spot, a must-stay cabin, and more.
NO. 3: WHERE RETRO MEETS NEW
Exploring the Best of Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s dining scene is the perfect blend of old-school favorites and newcomers making their mark.
NO. 2: A BEAUTIFUL BERKSHIRES RETREAT
A Quiet Weekend at Tourists
Tourists, a renovated motel in the small town of North Adams in the Berkshires, is a lovely destination any time of year. We check in for a stay and scope out the dining options at the hotel and nearby area.
NO. 1: LOBSTER ROLLS FOR ALL
Five Great Seafood Shacks
The drive from Portland, Maine, to the southern tip of the state is dotted with seafood shacks featuring some of the area’s best lobster rolls, fried clams, and more. This week, we dive into five of our favorites from Kittery to Cape Elizabeth.
That’s a wrap on 2024! We have more great destinations planned for next year. Reminder: Our paid subscribers this month get a code to download complimentary copies of any of our 16 American Weekender Field Guides. That’s a $175 value! Sign up today and we will see you in the new year.
Want more? Download our Field Guides, check out our archives, or follow us on Instagram @americanweekender. We’ll be back next week.
Great stuff, thanks for sharing and in case anyone is interested, my book 50 Shades of States (+D.C.) has just been published: https://www.amazon.com/50-Shades-States-D-C-through/dp/B0DPMT67KF