by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:40 AM ET, Mon September 18, 2023
This Hispanic Heritage Month, destinations across the United States are recognizing the important contributions of the Latinx community and offer ways for travelers to learn more and experience parts of the wonderful cuisine and cultures from Latin America.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia is known for its colonial history, but it’s also home to some incredible Hispanic cultural attractions. The city’s Arlandria Neighborhood, which is also called Chirilagua, after a region of El Salvador where many of its residents originate, is a great place to visit for some traditional Latin American pastries, Salvadorian food or even Argentinian gelato.
The neighborhood is also known for its murals. Walking around the neighborhood, travelers will not only hear Spanish being spoken, but also Mam, a Mayan language spoken in both Guatemala and Mexico.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
From food trucks serving Mexican and Salvadoran specialties to Noontunes, a free concert series on Broad Street that will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on September 29, Chattanooga offers plenty of ways that travelers can celebrate how the Hispanic community has enriched our nation.
Florida
The state of Florida offers some incredible opportunities to learn and engage with Hispanic culture year-round.
The Orlando Museum of Art offers plenty of Maya, Peruvian and Incan works of art, while the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center brings Cuban ballet to life.
Historic Ybor City showcases the Cuban and Spanish influence on the history of Florida, while seasonal celebrations like the Florida Day of the Dead Celebration in November, the Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Brazilian Festival of Pompano Beach and the Festival Calle Orange in Orlando are just a few of the ways the state celebrates its own Hispanic heritage.
North Carolina
Like Florida, the state of North Carolina has been celebrating the heritage of its Hispanic communities for decades.
The city of Charlotte is celebrating on October 7 with the Hola Charlotte Festival, with nationally recognized performers. In Asheville specifically, there is a flourishing of Latinx-owned businesses, including Argentinian restaurant, Cecilia’s Kitchen.
San Antonio, Texas
Once part of the Spanish Empire and the colony of Mexico, historic San Antonio offers over 300 years of rich Hispanic heritage and history. The state’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, is a must-visit for those wanting to learn more about this history.
Some of the nation’s best chefs are also located in San Antonio, which is one of only two cities in the U.S. designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy: much of that recognition comes from award-winning Latinx chefs and restaurants specializing in unique blends that combine Latin American cuisines in creative ways.
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo offers a wide selection of annual festivals celebrating Hispanic culture and history. The California Polytechnic State University’s Latinx Center is hosting plenty of the activities, including the State of Latinx event. The Mariposa Festival celebrates the annual monarch butterfly migration, while Fiesta in the Plaza celebrates the day Mexico declared its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810.
The U.S. Virgin Islands
The mainland isn’t the only place in the U.S. that celebrates Hispanic heritage. The U.S. Virgin Islands offer their own celebrations of Hispanic culture, such as October’s Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Friendship Day, a weekend-long celebration. The islands’ histories, cultures and gastronomy are all influenced by the Latinx community.
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