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Sin City has been burnishing its reputation as a foodie paradise ever since Wolfgang Puck opened a next to in 1992. Soon, casinos began competing for diners as well as gamblers, kicking off an arms race that has resulted in Michelin star–earning eateries, at least , and frequent mentions among rankings of the country's best food cities. As Las Vegas's tourism industry has come roaring back from the pandemic, its dining business has as well, with restaurant rides jumping 12% over the past year.Ìý

Las Vegas' food offerings are so vast and varied that no one restaurant or cuisine can claim credit for the uptick. Diners flocked to casual joints like and swanky newcomers like by Todd English. They visited celebrity chef restaurants like 's and the all-you-can-eat by some lesser-known geniuses. Best of all, many of them hopped in a car to explore food away from the Strip — including the highly regarded in the Arts District and the Bavarian near the airport, which proudly offers to visitors with a wooden paddle if they so request. Hey, you know what they say about what happens in Vegas!

Since in 2013, Detroit — the and also (disputably) early and — has leveraged and promoted its musical legacy to attract visitors. And it's paying off. Over the past year, after-midnight rides to hotels, bars, and clubs increased by 30%. Late-night revelers were drawn to last May's , which featured electronic-music legends like Carl Craig and Moodymann. They also hit venues like and "intimate disco oasis" , which saw their late-night ride activity nearly double.Ìý

The Motor City shows no sign of taking its foot off the gas. Detroit launched three last year ahead of April's NFL draft (which drew of visitors) — and the hospitality industry will keep booming next year. So if you want to spend your summer dancing into the wee hours, you know where to head.

Last year, National Geographic declared 25 places as "" travel destinations. The list was filled with exotic locales — Laos, Botswana — but also included a surprising entry: Milwaukee.

Well, maybe not so surprising to American travelers, who have been visiting the city in record numbers in recent years. They have particularly flocked to outdoor attractions and venues. Summertime Lyft riders were most likely to visit waterfront destinations like , located on a peninsula in Lake Michigan, and , a sandy strip just . But it wasn't the lake alone that drew the crowds. In summer 2023, Milwaukee earned its moniker as a : Veterans Park hosted Independence Day fireworks and the , a four-day festival with motorcycle parades and music (last year, Green Day and Foo Fighters headlined); Bradford Beach held , Milwaukee's first Latin Beach festival; and the (Lyft riders' #3 destination in the Milwaukee area) drew folks from all over the region. All told, Lyft rides to outdoor activities in the city increased by 43% over the past year.

In 2023, the , after instituting meant to speed up the game. One team in particular reaped the benefits: the Philadelphia Phillies, which saw a 34% increase in rides to its home, Citizens Bank Park. (Its against-the-odds appearance probably didn't hurt either.)Ìý

But Philly fans didn't just turn out for baseball. The 76ers have every home basketball game for the past six years. A massive crowd turned out for the event at the Wells Fargo Center this spring. And last July's bump in sports-related rides coincided with the Premier League Summer Series, where the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, and other English soccer teams took to Lincoln Financial Field, drawing over two days. So if you want to be where the fans are this summer, Philadelphia is chanting your name.

Chicago has been associated with gambling since the days of , but until recently, the only legal casinos could be found on — or over the city border in Des Plaines or Peoria. That all changed in September, when a long-awaited in a temporary location within the city limits and sent casino drop-offs soaring 60% over the past year. (Need more evidence that Chicago is the latest gambling hotspot? The American Gaming Association now it the third-largest gambling market in the U.S., behind only Las Vegas and Atlantic City.)Ìý

It's unclear whether Chicago will maintain its status. Critics say the casino has contributed than expected, and the plan to build a permanent complex in River West has reportedly . Then again, what would a new gambling mecca be without a little risk?

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