Top 5 Family Destinations for St. Patricks Day

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the bend, I figured I’d take the opportunity to paint shamrocks all over the van and take the family somewhere. I’d never really thought of St. Patty’s day as a road tripping opportunity before,  but after a little research, I realized that there are plenty of awesome destinations across the US with family friendly activities for adventure seekers large and small. I’ve compiled a list of my 5 favorite top destinations for a road trip with my family this St. Patrick’s day. I hope this information finds you well and you have a blast with your loved ones on the road this March.

1. San Fransisco, California
   Year round, San Fransisco is one of the most beautiful, colorful and culturally rich cities in the country. Imagine it on St. Patrick’s day! Live music, festivities everywhere you look, and the biggest parade on the west coast and FREE cab rides in one of the most historically significant cities west of the Mississippi! San Fransisco turns green for a day with a family friendly parade that follows the historical trolley tracks through the city, drawing millions of people each year! Live Irish bands, Irish dancing and more bag pipes, pan flutes and fiddles than you can wag a shamrock at. A beautiful destination with rich culture and fun for the whole family.

1. New York City, New York
   With the third oldest St. Patty’s day celebration history (NY, NY joined the party in 1762), the big apple almost literally paints the town green. The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is advertised as the oldest, biggest and best in the world! Every year, several millions of people populate the streets in high spirits and cultural pride in an even that’s not to be missed. The parade features over 150,000 marchers, bag pipes, dancers, jugglers, jesters and human shamrocks, plenty of green beer and no motorised vehicles, this historic parade is truly a spectacle to behold.

1. New London, Wisconsin
   The only city to annually change its name for a holiday. For a whole week every year, New London, Wisconsin becomes New Dublin. Now that’s dedication! Every March, the entire town becomes a huge family friendly party with cultural reenactors, traditional music and foods like corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing and activities for boys, girls and leprechauns of all ages. While you’re there, make sure you don’t miss the enactment of Finnegan’s Wake before the parade!

1. Chicago, Illinois
   Chicago, Illinois doesn’t hold back when it comes to the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day. They even color the Chicago River florescent green! It’s one of the wildest thing’s I’ve ever seen. The windy city features not one, but TWO Saint Patrick’s Day parades with more than 300,000 attendants at each. The dual parades have been an annual tradition since before the Civil War! Shamrocks, plaid, green top-hats and smiling faces as far as the eye can see, the traditions and celebrations in this city are things of legend that are a must see!

1. Boston, Massachusetts
   This is the oldest and grandest St. Paddy’s celebration you’ll find anywhere in the U.S. The city of Boston, Massachusetts first recognized the holiday in 1737, and it’s been improving on its Irish party ever since. As one of the original predominantly Irish cities in the colonial US, bout 850,000 people attend the festivities in this town that’s currently about 16 percent Irish. Live music, dancing and laughter around every bend, this city is my favorite all time family- friendly destination for St. Patrick’s Day. When it comes to high spirits, tradition and history, this old Irish city simply can’t be beat and that’s no blarney!