Last time we started exploring the cities with the largest Asian communities. Today, we go on widening our list with more travel destinations and more ideas for Asian tourists. If you haven’t read Part 1, you can check it here.
6. Garden Grove, CA
Garden Grove, with its 40% of Asian Americans, is the sixth item on our list of cities with the largest Asian population. The Asian population is growing here though at a relatively slow pace. The city has big Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese communities, which started to form here back in the 1970s. You will find a wide choice of Asian restaurants, bakeries, and even supermarkets. The city itself is well-known for its food, oranges, peppers, walnuts, and strawberries. If you like strawberries, visit Garden Grove for their annual Strawberry Festival. Take a walk along the main street and pop in antique shops, full of vintage things.
7. Bellevue, WA
The next one on the Asian top of American cities is Bellevue with its 33% of Asian citizens. One of the gems of Bellevue is its botanical garden. Though it’s free to enter, it is very beautiful, especially, in fall. If you are a romantic person, catch a sunset in the Meydenbauer Bay Park while strolling along the beach. More adventurous hiking (and more rewarding at the same time) will take you to the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest. Every level of tourist will find a good trail choosing out of hundreds of them. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful lights of the old Bellevue. And if you are more about spending time surrounded by people, the city offers also great shopping at the Braven which sells a variety of well-known luxury brands.
8. Torrance, CA
Torrance is the eighth city in the US judging by the size of the Asian population. Torrance can bring you a lot of fun if you like water sports and beaches. One of the nice things to do here is to take a bike ride. The Bike trail goes along the coast, giving you wonderful views and a perfect sea breeze. The beach itself is also a local gem. It feels not as crowded as the city and lets you enjoy the views of the Palos Verdes peninsula. All car lovers should visit Torrance at least for the Toyota car museum, where you can take a look at vintage cars and listen to their history. People who are interested in Asian art will also find what to explore here in the Chinese Art gallery. Some exhibits count 5000 years and are definitely worth seeing. If you feel hungry for shopping, go to the Del Amo Fashion Center which is the home to numerous retailers and cafes.
9. San Jose, CA
San Jose is the biggest city in California that also has a large Asian population (34%). San Jose is situated at the heart of the Silicon Valley, the motherland of Apple Computer, PayPal, eBay, IBM, Adobe Systems, and many other famous tech brands. In this regard, we recommend you check the Tech Museum of Innovation which shows the development of technology in an interactive way. Two more interesting picks for art lovers are the San Jose Museum of Art and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum which gives you a feeling of going to Egypt. Alum Rock Park will become a nice destination for a relaxing family weekend. The park has several kinds of trails for different tourists. Those who are interested in Japan and want to plunge into its culture for a moment can go to the Japantown. The community is over 125 years old, and here you can find authentic restaurants, theaters, shops, and galleries created in the Japanese style.
10. San Francisco, CA
With about 30% of the population represented by Asian people, San Francisco is the 10th Asian American city on our top. The first thing to visit in San Fransico is of course the Golden Gate Bridge, the most famous one in the world. A cute and strange Lombard is also worth a visit for its zig-zag shape. Of course, if we mention cute and nice buildings, we can’t miss the Painted Ladies, colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses. San Fransisco has a big community of Chinese migrants. Chinatown starting after you pass the Dragon Gate is the place where many historic Chinese buildings are located. This place is also considered the birthplace of American Chinese dishes, such as fortune cookies and chop suey.
That’s it for today. Feel free to comment below and stay tuned for more posts.