This Memorial Day weekend, Americans can visit a number of cities across the country to honor our fallen heroes.
A study by SIXT ranked the top 10 of those travel destinations based on the number of war memorials and veteran-owned businesses in each city. Based on their findings, the top destinations were located largely in the Northeast, with a few in the Midwest and the Southeast.
Here is what they found, along with the kind of weather travelers may expect to see at those locations this weekend.
The capital of Virginia rose to No. 1 as the city with the highest number of war memorials at 17. Some of the experiences SIXT listed were the Virginia War Memorial, Richmond Cemetery and the American Civil War Museum.
Travelers going to Richmond this Memorial Day weekend will experience highs in the high 60s and low 70s, with a 70% chance of showers on Sunday and Monday, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
The nation’s capital took second place on the list with 16 war memorials. Memorials dedicated to the heroes of World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War and other campaigns can be found throughout the city. Visitors can also take in the Memorial Day parade that runs along the National Mall and visit any of the more than 8,000 veteran-owned businesses in town.
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This weekend, visitors to Washington, D.C. can expect to see highs in the low to mid-70s with only a 25-40% chance of showers on Sunday and Monday.
The City of Brotherly Love is home to 12 war memorials, such as the American War Mother and Her Sons and the Korean War Memorial. As one of the former U.S. capitals, Philadelphia has a number of sights for any travelers interested in American history, along with almost 5,500 veteran-owned businesses.
The Pennsylvania city will be basking in sunshine over Memorial Day weekend with temperatures rising to the upper 70s and low 80s.
Back in Virginia, the coastal city of Newport News ranks fourth on SIXT’s list with 12 war memorials and nearly 3,000 veteran-owned businesses. One example of a Newport News war memorial is the Victory Arch, which was built over a century ago to welcome home WWI troops.
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The weather in Newport News over the holiday weekend may be a little wet, as the chances of rain rise to 77% on Sunday and 66% on Monday while a large area of low pressure swirls off the southeastern Atlantic coast. Temperatures will be mild, rising to the high 60s and low 70s.
Coming in at No. 5 with 10 war memorials is the largest city in New York. As the first U.S. capital, New York City is home to memorials such as the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, which represents thousands of Colonial soldiers who fell during the American Revolutionary War. The city also has nearly 16,500 veteran-owned businesses – the highest number on SIXT’s top 10 list.
Much like Philadelphia, New York City will have a beautiful and sunny Memorial Day weekend. Temperatures will be in the mid-to-upper 70s.
Rounding out the next five were Alexandria, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Florida, and Memphis, Tennessee.