Rising cities: travellers from the USA

Travel is often associated with change and rejuvenation. So for travellers seeking new beginnings, we decided to look into the destinations around the world that have recently enjoyed something of a renaissance themselves. Thanks to periods of economic boom, artistic injection and favourable political landscapes, these cities have been catapulted into the travel-loving public’s conscience.

Continuing our series, we’re turning to North American travellers and the cities increasingly on their radar.

Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Hafnarfjörður is Iceland’s third-largest city, located just south of the capital, Reykjavík. It’s a booming port town and one of the nation’s largest fishing centres, and has held onto its maritime sensibilities while riding the momentum of Iceland’s rise as a travel destination. Hafnarfjörður has its own distinct feel, courtesy of a rather mystical undercurrent; the city is built on lava fields dating back over 7000 years, and local legend suggests that there’s an elvin world which resides among the rocks below. And tour guides are available to those looking to learn more about the alleged elvish population and Hafnarfjörður’s history.

Head out for a stroll here and you’ll be greeted with a toytown-like collection of colourful timber homes. Pick up a golden cinnamon roll from artisan bakery Brikk for a classically Nordic afternoon, and follow any walk with a traditional feast at the aptly named Viking Village. And while most travellers use the city as a base from which to explore the outdoors, there are also geothermal pools in the city like Suðurbæjarlaug, which will be a welcome start and finisher to your day – as is this cabin hiding among the pines.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Philadelphia is one of the most historically significant cities in the USA and now is the time to visit. Having long charmed visitors with stately streets and historic sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Philly’s current pull is largely down to its creative spaces and burgeoning food scene (going above and beyond the Philly cheesesteak). Exciting BYOB restaurants are opening up across the city in light of Pennsylvania’s notoriously strict liquor license laws – head to Will BYOB, a café where the head chef rustles up modern European fare – think chilli- and almond-laced grilled Spanish octopus followed by wildflower and honey-roasted duck breast – paired with a wine you’ve picked out yourself. The city is also embracing its ethnic diversity, with sensational eateries like the Mexican South Philly Barbacoa (featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table), which is definitely worth a visit. For dessert, deviate from the contemporary and head to old-school ice cream parlour The Franklin Fountain, with its menagerie of flavours and bow-tie wearing staff.

Getting around Philadelphia has never been easier too, courtesy of a bike scheme started back in 2015. Find yourself a pair of wheels and cycle towards Fishtown, a neighbourhood that’s been revived with the influx of industrial-style coffee shops and an assortment of boutiques. For art-lovers, the revamped FringeArts building (once a fire truck pumping station) plays host to left-field dance performances, ideally followed with a beer in Spruce Street Harbor Park’s breezy garden. Peddle back to the Lokal Hotel Old City, which combines a clean Scandinavian design palette with industrial furnishings.

Kigali, Rwanda

The Rwandan capital of Kigali has in recent years experienced substantial growth in GDP and a drastic fall in unemployment, morphing into what some have dubbed Africa’s answer to Singapore. It’s a city home to strict sustainability policies (plastic bags are outlawed across the city and country), and offers a vision of the future with newfound global appeal. It’s easy to fall for too; wedged in between densely green mountain ridges, the city is home to looping roads and tree-lined boulevards that cut through its centre past glassy high-rises, frenetic marketplaces and aromatic coffee roasteries.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is an obligatory stop, where you’ll be taken on a sobering tour of the devasting events of 1994. It’s a fascinating but harrowing experience, so steel yourself beforehand. After a day spent out, get a glimpse of the cityscape from the rooftop at Onomo Hotel Kigali.

Sonora, California, USA

One of a cluster of Gold Rush towns located on the fringes of Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora is earning itself a reputation as much more than simply a stepping stone to California’s great outdoors. It’s experiencing a cultural revival, hosting operas, sci-fi fairs and exhibitions of local artists, while prim boutiques and sultry bars have started springing up, too. The town is located in a woodland clearing and is very, with verdant trees, low-rise architecture and curling roads dusted with the perennial glow of the California sun.

Amble through the town’s sleepy central thoroughfare (once part of the Gold Country Highway) to Legends Books Antiques to explore stacks of wonderfully old books and creaking antiques. This bookshop is housed in an old mining shaft, and has a café upstairs where you can enjoy a towering sundae topped with dollops of whipped cream, sitting at the lengthy mahogany bar. Next, opt for a walking tour of the downtown area, during which you’ll be provided with plentiful knowledgeable nuggets regarding Sonora’s mining history. The area is also renowned for its cider works, so pop by Indigeny Reserve to try golden glasses of tart cider and local offshoots like apple brandy. Take some to go and drink it back on the delightful terrace at Bradford Place Inn.

Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Jackson isn’t a city shy of making headlines. In 2017, its newly elected mayor announced it would become ‘the most radical city on the planet’. But even before this bold statement, Jackson had already begun to rebrand itself as a cultural hub, with artists flocking to the town, reclaiming disused spaces and breathing life into the community. Fondren is one of the neighbourhoods that has seen the biggest change; now home to locally-owned restaurants, cafés and galleries, there’s a focus on homegrown talent here. Head to the Fondren Art Gallery, which showcases a collection of Jackson-based artists’ work, before stopping off at Saltine Restaurant for a medley of southern seafood classics like shrimp and grits and fried catfish.

For more art and culture, the Museum of Mississippi Art in Downtown is home to a host of contemporary pieces, while Midtown is where the more eclectic cultural offerings can be found – think Offbeat, a comic book and record store, and The Soul Wired Cafe, championing a mix of poetry, art and music. End the day with a gig (Mississippi is, after all, the birthplace of the blues) at atmospheric hideout, F. Jones Corner. Afterwards, wander back to the Fairfield Inn & Suites while whistling a few memorable numbers.