There are quite a few places across Canada and the U.S. that are known for their party scene. Las Vegas, Montreal, New York City and New Orleans come to mind, as well as Austin and Los Angeles. But those aren’t the only spots where you can stay out late and have fun. We’re sharing some lesser-known party spots in North America well worth checking out.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Often overshadowed by Montreal, which is world-renowned for its party scene, Toronto is no slouch when it comes to showing people a good time. Diverse neighbourhoods, a thriving live music scene, an eclectic mix of bars and a growing reputation as a foodie destination all make Toronto a great place to go if you want to have fun well into the night.
Palm Springs, California, United States
When you think of Palm Springs you probably think about golf and tennis before you think about night life. But the once sleepy desert city is waking up. A younger generation is being introduced to the area thanks to music festivals like Coachella and Joshua Tree Music Festival and the slower pace is picking up due to the spate of boutique hotels and trendy bars and restaurants opening up.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, San Juan is a great place to be for lively night life. That’s thanks to friendly people and good food, but also because of the thriving salsa dancing scene. Whether you go to watch or participate there’s a good chance you’ll be out all night. When you’re not dancing you can relax on the beach or explore charming Old San Juan with its cute shops and cobblestone streets.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
This small east coast city in Canada has an enviable live music scene that makes it an ideal place to be if you want to let loose. In addition to live music at smaller venues, Halifax also plays host to several popular music festivals like Halifax Pop Explosion, which takes place in October. Halifax is also home to many bars, clubs and pubs that add to its reputation for being an ideal place for a good time in Canada.
Portland, Oregon, United States
Known more for being laid back, friendly and somewhere you can get great coffee rather than for nightlife, it is possible to party in Portland. First off, Portland is jam packed with microbreweries meaning there’s a seemingly endless array of places to drink good beer. Portland is also known for taking happy hour seriously and most bars offer one every day. In addition, the city also has many live music venues and an array of bars and pubs to choose from.
San Francisco, California, United States
Los Angeles gets most of the recognition when it comes to where to party in California, but San Francisco should definitely not be discounted in that department. The city’s diverse array of neighbourhoods each have their own unique nightlife and party scene meaning you can get a different, but equally exciting experience everywhere you go. No matter what you’re looking for, from dive bars to larger clubs to live music venues – you’ll find it in San Francisco.
Savannah, Georgia, United States
We wouldn’t be surprised if you were scratching your head as to why Savannah made our list, but the southern city does have a right to be here. Savannah’s lively historic district is packed with bars, pubs and restaurants, and River Street was made for bar hopping. The best part is that you can take your drinks with you from bar to bar as long as it’s in a plastic cup since there are no open container laws in Savannah.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
This city in Canada’s prairies might be a world away from other well-known party-centric cities, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own where having a good time is concerned. First off, Saskatoon has a growing live music scene making it a great place to catch up-and-coming acts in an array of music genres, both local and from out of town, and its growing culinary scene and eclectic mix of bars round out the reasons why Saskatoon is a good place to party.
Denver, Colorado, United States
You might associate Denver more with outdoor activities than nightlife-related activities but Denver is actually a party-friendly destination. LoDo, also known as the Lower Historic Downtown District, is a particularly good area to go for lively nightlife and an wide selection of bars and restaurants worth coming back for.
Featured image: TheArches, Nicolas Jaar and band live at Rex Club, Paris via Flickr CC BY 2.0
