When thinking of New Year’s Eve Destinations in America, New York City and Los Angeles usually get all the glory. Yet, from midnight cruises to balcony bashes, there are lots of ways to celebrate the new year in America’s smaller cities.
Spending New Year’s Eve on Hawaii’s biggest island comes with big perks. On the Star of Honolulu’s® Celebration Cruise, enjoy a decadent three-course meal that includes delicious Maine lobster and tender, tenderloin steak. Watch hula dancers and cruise past the Honolulu skyline. Or, attend Rock-A-Hula, held in the Royal Hawaiian Theater, which combines entertainment with food, and includes a luau buffet dinner with a whole luau pig, champagne, party favors, and fire knife dancing.
Infamous for their Mardi Gras parties, New Orleans continues to be the city of public revelry during New Year’s Eve. Head to historic Jackson Square to see the fleur-de-lis drop, followed by festive fireworks over the Mississippi River, all while listening to live music. But if you’re looking for a true New Orleans’ celebration, go to the French Quarter for balcony bashes on Bourbon Street, where you’ll be able to command one of the balconies overlooking the street while participating in food and libations.
Atlanta has been hosting the giant 800-lb. peach drop since 1989, and with a large fireworks display, it is not one to be missed. Atlanta has many New Year’s Eve parties, ranging from Bonnie and Clyde to Great Gatsby-themed, giving you plenty of chances to dress in style. If you’re looking for a concert-vibe, attend Widespread Panic’s New Year’s Eve concert, a unique, three-day event that offers rooftop terraces, dinners, five bars, and has been an annual tradition for more than 30 years.
Rock out in Nashville, the Music City, and countdown to the midnight “Music Note Drop®”! Jack Daniels’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash is outstandingly free, and with headliners like Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, and many more artists, you’re guaranteed a concert that will end the year with a bang. Gates open at 4 p.m. at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, and with a live camera crew filming the event, you might be lucky enough to get on TV.
Ring in the New Year at the largest dance party in Miami – Bayfront Park’s New Year’s Eve. Ranked as one of the “Top 10 Places in the World to Ring in the New Year” by USA Today, this humongous street party is filled with music, concerts, parties, and cruises. Watch the “Big Orange” drop from the sky as the fireworks illuminate the shores of Miami.