Baltimore, for many years now, has been shining a little bit more of its unique edge. It’s absolutely a city for black travelers and has a large young black professionals community. There are so many creators and black businesses there as well. Quiet as it’s kept, I would say the food scene is giving DC a run for its money. I went to work remotely at a black-owned cafe called Swill, where I ordered a Brown Sugar French Toast with Everlasting Life soup based with pumpkin broth and topped with herbs and root vegetables. Heaven! A friend suggested I check out Vinyl & Pages, a black-owned book/record store located in the Bromo Arts District. I was there for almost two hours. The records they were playing in the store gave a retro vibe to the whole place. Baltimore’s scene is slept on and there are some really great gems if you look in the right places. https://vinylandpages.com/ https://www.swillapothecafe.com/

This was my first time visiting Harlem since childhood! I can definitely say there’s no question about it being a great place for black travelers. There’s so much diversity, richness in culture, great food, and lots of places to shop. One restaurant you must check out is called Angel of Harlem, located right on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. It had a fusion of contemporary American, Latin, and Caribbean food with portions that were comforting and filling! We stopped there for brunch and I ordered the Tropical French Toast, topped with sweet plantains and strawberries, drizzled in caramel sauce with a side of scrambled eggs. After Angel of Harlem, we decided to check out the Go Africa Carnival, which was nearby on 116th street. Live music, vendors with vibrant African prints, clothing, jewelry, accessories, and of course street food! I did a little bit of shopping and it was hard trying not to spend all of my money. It was all just lovely. Afterwards, we went to Skinny’s Cantina on the Hudson and it was a whole day party. Music was jumpin’, black people looked gorgeous, and the whole ambiance passed the vibe check. Harlem has definitely boosted itself up to one of my favorite cities to visit. Black history, black relevance, and black culture is all up and through there. Since I live in Maryland, I will definitely visit more often because it is only a 4.5 hour drive away.

Asheville, NC is a small but vibrant, quaint but convenient town located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. I encourage more black people to visit! It is a growing city with a fusion of art, a little bit of history, evolving culture, natural adventure, and gastronomy. You'll find that there is a local presence of black Americans along with an LGBTQ community although we are the minority. Downtown Asheville is pretty walkable but there are certain areas at night that you don’t want to find yourself wandering into. The food scene was absolutely amazing and was perhaps my favorite part about being there. Pack’s Tavern, Chestnut, and White Duck Taco are a few restaurants that serve delicious food with incredible service! I was also fortunate enough to join a private dinner that was hosted by a local cooperative. All of the veggies - carrots, leafy greens, and corn - were grown and locally harvested. I have never had cornbread so good in my life! For some adventure and nature, I got the chance to go forest bathing at the North Carolina Arboretum, roughly twenty minutes from downtown Asheville. The trip was led by a company called Asheville Wellness Tours and our guides were absolutely amazing. The tour lasted about two hours and at the end, our guide served us white pine tea. Add Asheville to your list if you haven’t been. It’s fun, in a beautiful city, and I would also say a great place for black people to go and explore!

In the soul of Ward 1 of Washington, DC, there are several restaurants that vibrantly line 14th street with various cuisines. You can find anything from Thai, Moroccan, Lebanese, Mediterranean, and several other options that fit the preferred palate. The ambiance of 14th street - over near U Street and Howard University - is a bustling corridor, particularly during the summer so finding delicious food is never a problem. There is one particular restaurant that one must try and that is St. James - Modern Caribbean. The atmosphere is super chill with afrobeats music and a welcoming staff. The service was exceptional and our needs were met with care and professionalism. The energy of St. James is very much giving Caribbean Sunday comfort dinner and I guarantee you will leave full & satisfied. The food *chefs kiss* was soulfully island-inspired and cooked with love. The fried snapper was seasoned to perfection and large enough to feed a party of 4. The cassava fritters were bussin so hard, I almost felt like getting up to whine my waist, while the coconut rice made me rethink how I've been eating rice my entire life. St. James Modern Caribbean is also black-owned, which is gratifying to see as a business thriving in an area where our demographic has gotten pretty diluted, if you know what I mean. Check out their menu on their website and make a reservation if you’re ever in the area. Support black restaurants that are paving new grounds in Washington, DC., trust me, you won’t regret it! https://stjames-dc.com/ 2017 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009 202 - 627 - 2981 info@stjames-dc.com