For those of us who travel for work, we know it can be annoying at times … maybe even every time. Leaving your kids. Leaving your spouse to pick up the slack. Leaving the warm comforts and security of your home. So, when you have to jump in the car or hop a flight for job reasons, it helps if you’re going someplace you actually enjoy. Whether it’s the food for which the city is known or a sightseeing detour you can plan to sneak in — time permitting, of course. Here now are my Top Five Business Travel Destinations (and one honorable mention) for work trips I’ve taken throughout my career.
New Orleans
First and foremost, please know I placed this list in alphabetical order; not by how I’d rank each location. But, had this list been 1-5 and not A-Z, New Orleans would likely still be the first city listed. For the food. For the fun. For the famous (perhaps better stated, infamous) atmosphere. There’s nothing quite like the raw energy and culture of Nawlins. Everyone knows that for good eats, you can hit up one of the legacy establishments, such as Acme or Felix’s (both are conveniently located across the street from one another). However, my personal faves are Royal House and Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House. If you’re looking for entertainment, whether you want to wind down or turn up, make your way to The Carousel Bar & Lounge — a classic watering hole that slowly revolves, with the perfect ambience to set the mood. And while the French Quarter is the highlight, attractions like the National WWII Museum and St. Louis Cathedral offer history and majesty to round out the trip. If New Orleans is on your job calendar, consider yourself fortunate, regardless of your job purpose.
Phoenix
Phoenix can be downright brutal in the summer. Anyone who’s been can attest. Which, with the exception of one May business trip I’ve taken, is why I prefer to go in the winter … when much of the rest of the country is bitterly cold. That’s when the temperature in Phoenix is at its best. And though the expansive nature of the city isn’t exactly ideal — everything feels so spread out; there’s no main local area like the French Quarter in New Orleans or the Riverwalk in San Antonio — there’s still plenty to see and do. If you have extra free time, try hiking Camelback Mountain. Not looking for that level of workout? Not an issue. Head out to one of the many Major League Baseball spring training sites (the Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers, Athletics, Giants and a few others make their spring home in the greater Phoenix area) for a laidback afternoon of some light baseball. Not to mention Phoenix offers some of the best golf courses in the nation. If nightlife is your vibe, it’s tough to beat the hip, electric feels pumping out of Scottsdale; a city that’s just a hop, skip and a jump from downtown Phoenix. Good food is also a plenty across the metro; too much to name. However, if you’re searching for pageantry to match the eatery, visit Durant’s steakhouse. The aura and décor appear to be plucked from out of a gangster film. Inviting guests to the same location as it first opened in 1950, every look and feel seems preserved from that era — from the prominent red seats to the Rat Pack-style bar. So, grab a martini or Manhattan and relax to the sounds of some blues, swing, and jazz. Just be sure to enter through the kitchen door when you arrive.
San Antonio
Similar to Phoenix, San Antonio is perhaps not the place you want to be in the dead of summer. Worse yet, it’s a humid climate, as opposed to the dry heat found in Arizona. So, if you’re like me - that is a persistent perspirer - then this is known as two-shower season. As in two daily showers. All that aside, San Antonio is a very nice place to be, assuming you’re not stuck in meeting rooms or a convention center. The star of the show, no surprise, is the renowned River Walk. Below street level (no cars!) and lined with bars, restaurants and shops, it’s a first-rate place to unwind after a long day. If nothing else, just taking a simple stroll along the banks is a relaxing way to spend an evening. Speaking of a leisurely good time, if you have a minute, make your way over to The Alamo. It’s not the most awe-inspiring exhibit you’ll experience. But, when you factor in the history and the stories of these brave men, it’s still wholly captivating. Most other attractions in the city require a bit of time; time you may not have when your job responsibilities are the number one priority. But if I were to pick one I’d like to do (note: I haven’t yet done it myself), the Natural Bridge Caverns would likely be my choice. This guided excursion promises a tour of rocks, minerals & rough-cut gems, as well as the thrilling Twisted Trails Zip Rails and Rope Course aerial adventure rides.
San Diego
If New Orleans is number 1, San Diego for sure is 1B. Easily. And while it doesn’t have the same distinctive culinary scene or radiating culture as Louisiana’s finest, it has everything else. Year-round gorgeous weather (best in the U.S. in this writer’s opinion), convenient access to nightlife, beaches, golf courses, and, though not Cajun cuisine, San Diego has its own array of amazing eateries — everything from delectable pasta in the city’s famed Little Italy, to quaint restaurants with well-crafted menus curated by a Top Chef winner. If you’re interested in the latter, be sure to check out Juniper & Ivy, owned by Richard Blais, the Season 8 champion of Bravo TV’s hit reality competition show. Aside from great bars and even greater bites, the thing that sets San Diego apart from the rest on this list is the family dynamic. It’s the best destination to tack on a trip with the wife & kids; either on the front-end or back-end of your business travel. That’s all due to the aforementioned beaches, as both Mission Beach and Pacific Beach offer fun in the sun for all ages. Beyond that, with some of the country’s best amusement parks nearby — Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, and LEGOLAND just to name a few — you can check off your professional to-do's and personal to-do‘s all in one trip. What could be better than that?
San Francisco
Maybe it’s a California thing, because San Fran also has the two-for-one appeal: If time isn’t of the essence, Napa & Sonoma are just a stone’s throw away … relatively speaking. But if you don’t have time to make your way to the Valleys, the greater San Francisco metro area still offers plenty of enjoyment in-between your meetings or trade show. As non-descript as it may be, for me the Golden Gate Bridge will always take the cake. I love to look at it. I love to drive over it. I love everything about it. Can you tell I highly recommend squeezing it in while you’re there? And while I haven’t done Alcatraz, personally, it’s definitely something you should consider. Now, one thing I have done — but don’t suggest you do — is Lombard Street. Owing its lore to being in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most crooked road, Lombard is perhaps one of the more overrated sites I’ve come across. But if you simply must see it, my proposal to you is to traverse it on foot. I enjoyed that experience more than driving down it. Lastly, no visit to San Fran is complete without a tour of Fisherman’s Wharf. Tourist trap? Absolutely! But that doesn’t make it any less satisfying. Plus, you can grab some mouthwatering Dungeness crab while you're there. That alone is worth a quick pit stop.
Nashville - Honorable Mention
Though it didn’t crack my Top 5, I do want to give a shout out to Nashville — or, as the in-crowd call it, Nash Vegas. Fewer spots are as much fun as Downtown Nashville. And the Gaylord Opryland Resort is far from a bad spot to stay for a conference. Additionally, for those that enjoy country music, you can head over to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There’s also the Grand Ole Opry that draws huge crowds each and every year. Why, then, did it not make the cut? Because country music isn’t my cup of tea, sorry to say. So, what Nashville does so, so very well … well, I frankly could care less about. That's just me. But, if you’re into country music vibes, it’s hard to top this as a premier travel destination.
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