Boston

Reasons to Drive

Visit these small and growing cities across the country just hours from major local markets. You may be surprised to find the best restaurants, hikes, beaches, and more are found here.

Reasons to Drive: Travel Guides to Local Cities in the U.S.

via Getty Image

Travel

Explore adventure guides and design a custom itinerary for the destination of your choice in and around the city.

Best Travel Guides, Cool Hotels and Interesting Events - Thrillist

The soothing clop, clop, clop of horse hooves echo through the snowy village of Jackson, New Hampshire, where horse-drawn Austrian sleigh rides and handmade chocolate delights await.

On the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour, Dash Through the Snow Stopping for Festive Treats Along the Way

Dallas

Austin

Houston

Holiday Festivals

Thrillist's 'Holiday Festivals' showcases some of the best holiday-time festivals across the globe, detailing where they are located and when they run.

Holiday Festivals: Seasonal Celebrations to Visit Around the World

Visit San Antonio

The holidays are overrun with obligations, including decorating your home, shopping for gifts, and attending parties.

13 Christmas-Obsessed Texas Towns to Visit This Holiday Season

Nashville

Scott Heaney/Shutterstock

With Nashville being as popular as it is, it’s probably best to get to the airport a little earlier than usual before you depart in case you have to deal with any travel snafus or long lines at security.

The Ultimate Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Killing Time at Nashville International Airport

Nation

Chicago Transit Authority

Vintage trains have long been a beacon of the holiday season, from the rise of the railways that made for easier family visits in the 19th century to detailed model trains chugga-chugging around the Christmas tree and Chris Van Allsburg’s iconic story, The Polar Express.

Hop Aboard the Country's Most Festive Holiday Train Rides

Phoenix

Thrillist Weekend Guides

Thrillist's guide to everything you can do this weekend and this month—from hot new restaurants to art exhibits to outdoor activities.

Thrillist Weekend Guides: Everything Happening This Weekend and This Month

Courtesy of Phoestivus

Events

Phoenicians make the most of their desert climes by knowing when to get outdoors and when it’s time to stay cool inside.

Hit a Holiday Craft Market and Stop By an Olive Oil Fest in Phoenix This December

Chicago

Christkindlmarket Chicago

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with These Weekend Events in Chicago

Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Moment/Getty Images

Between Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italian cities are beloved by tourists.

Italy’s Most Stylish City Is a Paradise for Art Lovers and Shoppers

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Santa doesn’t always travel by sleigh—sometimes he travels by boat.

The Best and Brightest Holiday Boat Parades Around the World

New York

Photo by Chris Coe

Lifestyle

In case you somehow missed it, we have life-changing news for you: New Yorkers can now light up legally.

Your Guide to Every Weed Dispensary in NYC

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Your Guide to a Totally Festive and Super Fun December in Nashville

SusanWoodImages/E+/Getty Images

These Breathtakingly Beautiful Small Towns Will Make You Want to Go Off the Beaten Path

Weed

Everything You Need to Know About Legal Weed, Smoking, Edibles, CBD and More

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

It’s hard to imagine now, but legal cannabis only became a thing in the US in 2012, when Colorado blazed the trail to more enlightened legislation.

The Best Cities in America for Next-Level Cannabis Experiences

The Lakehouse Waterfront Lounge

Kick back and enjoy food and drinks at the best waterfront restaurants and bars Dallas-Fort Worth has to offer.


Hula Hut Little Elm


During the summer, every instinct tells you to dive into the nearest body of water. But, since barbecue and tacos are difficult to eat neck-deep in a lake, you’ll have to settle for eating beside water, not in it. Though Dallas-Fort Worth is conspicuously missing a coastline, the metroplex still provides plenty of options for waterfront dining on lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals. These are 10 of the best waterfront restaurants in DFW.

During the summer, every instinct tells you to dive into the nearest body of water. But, since barbecue and tacos are difficult to eat neck-deep in a lake, you’ll have to settle for eating beside water, not in it. Though Dallas-Fort Worth is conspicuously missing a coastline, the metroplex still provides plenty of options for waterfront dining on lakes, rivers, ponds, and canals. These are 10 of the best waterfront restaurants in DFW.

Tim Love’s ode to smoked meats and woodfire cooking sits on the banks of the Trinity River. There’s a dining room and bar inside, but the best seats are on the spacious patio, which overlook the water and the adjacent trail. There you’ll see runners gazing in envy at your table full of pork ribs, lamb brisket, and a massive open-fire paella loaded with shrimp, mussels, sausage, and smoked game hen. Be sure to wave. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Woodshed Smokehouse


Suburban Yacht Club bills itself a “coastal cantina,” which makes sense if you consider a pond-facing boardwalk a coast. (We’ll allow it.) The space is inspired by Southern California, with green plants, breezy vibes, and a glass door that opens to the patio. The menu features all the things you want to eat in such environs, like ceviche, tuna tostadas, and fish tacos, and drinks include a handful of frozen cocktails, like an icy Cuba Libre and Watermelon Frosé. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or join the waitlist via <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/suburban-yacht-club-plano?uid=Qpc1KW-P4Ugv3KXa5iLIOA&amp;utm_source=ishare" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Yelp</a>.

Suburban Yacht Club


Located next door to Suburban Yacht Club, Union Bear gives you an easy one-two punch of plans that will take you from afternoon snacks into evening drinks. Those drinks include house-brewed varieties, like the Saison, Pale Ale, Blonde Ale, and New England IPA, which are available by the glass or growler. The food menu is an upgrade over the typical brewery fare, with salads, flatbreads, and sandwiches alongside larger plates, like Mesquite-Grilled Texas Quail and Smoke-Roasted Pork Chops. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Union Bear Brewing Co.


Union Bear Brewing Company

Pacific Table is chef Felipe Armenta’s ode to Pacific Northwest cuisine, with a menu featuring oysters, seafood, grilled steaks, oven-roasted chicken, sandwiches, and salads. It’s located at the Water Street development on Lake Carolyn, so the best views come from the waterside patio. Start with some sushi or shrimp cocktail before moving to the fan-favorite Miso Salmon, Cioppino, or Short Rib braised in a red wine sauce. A thoughtful selection of wines, sakes, and cocktails are there to do the rest.

Pacific Table Las Colinas


Pacific Table

If summer plans bring you to Lynn Creek Marina on Joe Pool Lake, stop into Blue Sunshine for food, drinks, and live music. The dining room has large glass doors that roll up to the outside, and the patio sits right on the water, so those arriving by boat can dock at the restaurant and enjoy their first drink within minutes. The menu features classic American dishes like burgers, sandwiches, salads, a variety of fish and seafood options, including catfish, mahi mahi, and oysters, plus a fried alligator appetizer. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Blue Sunshine Patio Bar and Grill


Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill

The Cypress Waters development is centered around a 300-acre lake, which gives residents and visitors plenty of opportunities to hangout by the water. For starters, head to the casual Flying Fish for oysters, crab, catfish baskets, grilled salmon and trout, po’boys, and gumbo, all washed down with cold beers. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Flying Fish


Double down at Cypress Waters, and turn your Flying Fish lunch into a Rodeo Goat dinner—the <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/dallas/best-burgers-in-dallas" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">great burger joint</a> is situated next door. The menu ​​offers more than a dozen creative burgers, plus the ability to customize each with your choice of ground beef, chicken, turkey, or an Impossible patty, so that’s a lot of permutations. When in doubt, try the Chaca Oaxaca, which pairs a beef-chorizo patty with avocado, pico de gallo, a fried egg, queso fresco, and Tabasco mayo. And don’t forget a side of cheese fries. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Rodeo Goat Cypress Waters


Rodeo Goat

The Omni Las Colinas Hotel sits right on the Lake Carolyn shore and provides easy access to the Mandalay Canal. The best food comes via LRH Restaurant &amp; Bar, which sports a handsome dining room, bone-in ribeyes, and wagyu skirt steaks, but the best views come via the nearby Lakehouse Waterfront Lounge, with its lakeside pool and bar. Find a sunny lounger or claim a cabana, then dive into spritzes, highballs, and frozen cocktails, plus dishes like street tacos, burgers, and a club sandwich. How to book: Call ​972-556-0800 to book.

Omni Hotels & Resorts


This longtime Austin favorite made its way to Lake Lewisville in 2015, bringing its trademark mix of Tex-Mex cuisine with a Polynesian twist. That means a dining room decked out in torches and bamboo walls, grass-thatched bars, and a spacious patio with umbrellas and views of the water. The menu is loaded with tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas, plus “luau dinners” (BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Hawaiian Chicken), Pupu platters, and tropical cocktails. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Hula Hut

Hula Hut - Little Elm

Primo’s sits right on Lake Ray Hubbard, providing a comfortable perch for eating, drinking, and boat-watching. Request a table on the patio for the best views, then treat yourself to cold beers, nachos, tacos, enchiladas, and fajitas. Swing by during its generous weekday happy hour, and you can cool off with half-price Margaritas from 3 - 6 pm. How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Primo's Tex-Mex Grille


Primo’s MX Kitchen

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/kevin-gray" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Kevin Gray</a> is a freelance writer and editor covering all things food, drinks, and travel. He’s written for&nbsp;The Dallas Morning News,&nbsp;Forbes,&nbsp;Liquor.com,&nbsp;Men’s Health, and&nbsp;Wine Enthusiast, and his extensive home bar is turning into a real&nbsp;Hoarders&nbsp;situation.

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

Outdoor Dining

10 Great Waterfront Restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth

Best Waterfront Dining in Dallas: Outdoor Restaurants & Bars for Summer

Where to Eat and Drink on the Water Around Dallas-Fort Worth

During the summer, every instinct tells you to dive into the nearest body of water.

The Lakehouse Waterfront Lounge

Featured In

10 Great Waterfront Restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth

More From Thrillist

On the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour, Dash Through the Snow Stopping for Festive Treats Along the Way

At the village of Jackson, New Hampshire, glide from inn-to-inn for sweets doled out by innkeepers.

13 Christmas-Obsessed Texas Towns to Visit This Holiday Season

Festive Christmas road trip destinations in Texas for holiday fun.

The Ultimate Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Killing Time at Nashville International Airport

A concourse-by-concourse guide to the best pre-flight meals and activities.

Hop Aboard the Country's Most Festive Holiday Train Rides

Santa visits, holiday lights, and… cocktails?

Hit a Holiday Craft Market and Stop By an Olive Oil Fest in Phoenix This December

Here’s your weekend guide to fun things to do in Phoenix this month.

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with These Weekend Events in Chicago

These are the must-hit festivals, openings, concerts, events, and general happenings to check out in Chicago.

Italy’s Most Stylish City Is a Paradise for Art Lovers and Shoppers

Milan is so much more than fashion week.

The Best and Brightest Holiday Boat Parades Around the World

Santa doesn’t always travel by sleigh.

Your Guide to Every Weed Dispensary in NYC

Check out our city’s crew of hyper-aesthetic cannabis dispensaries.

Your Guide to a Totally Festive and Super Fun December in Nashville

These are the must-hit festivals, openings, concerts, events, and general happenings to check out in Nashville.

These Breathtakingly Beautiful Small Towns Will Make You Want to Go Off the Beaten Path

Go ahead and get lost.

The Best Cities in America for Next-Level Cannabis Experiences

Because there's no better travel companion than Mary Jane.