March 2, 2007

There are over 34 million Irish Americans living in the U.S., making St. Patrick's Day one of the most widely celebrated holidays in America. Yahoo! Travel scoured the states for the biggest and best ways to commemorate this iconic holiday without a passport. So grab your favorite wool sweater, raise a pint of Guinness, and shout, "Erin, go bragh!" Photo by: sor Boston Photo by: Associated Press Geographically, Boston is one of the closest major U.S. cities to Ireland. And it sure shows when it comes to St. Patty's Day cheer! An estimated 850,000 people are expected to visit the city in 2007 for the weeklong St. Patty's Day celebration. "Pahk ya cah" early if you want a good spot to see South Boston's 106th St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 18. Fans of Irish cuisine won't want to miss the second annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, being held at the Hotel Commonwealth. For reservations, call 617-532-5063. Chicago Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off with the dyeing of the Chicago River green at 10:45 am, a tradition that started in 1962. The dye actually goes into the river orange, and (some say) gets a leprechaun's help to turn into its true shade of Kelly green. Public transportation is the best way to get there. For more information visit the official website. Afterwards, swing by the Forever Green St. Patrick's Day Party at Navy Pier's Grand Ballroom. Tickets range from $30–$70. Photo by: Associated Press Los Angeles Photo by: Associated Press Los Angeles is known more for its Hispanic influences than Irish ones. So imagine the array of culture at the city's St. Patrick's Day parade! This year's parade through downtown Los Angeles will take place on March 16th and runs from Pershing Square to Olvera Street. The biggest Irish event of the month is the LA County Irish Fair and Music Festival on March 10 and 11. The event includes carnival rides, several stages of Irish music and dance, sheep herding demonstrations and athletic competitions like the barrel toss. For more information visit www.la-irishfair.com New Orleans N'awlins residents can always find a reason to celebrate. Who can blame them? The city knows how to throw a good party around any theme. And at their St. Patrick's Day parade, watch out, because it's not just beads they're throwing - you'll be dodging cabbage, carrots, and other veggies! After you've finished reveling in the festivities in the streets of New Orleans, make sure to hit Parasol's Pub in the Irish Channel district, where they'll be serving green beer and Irish fare throughout the weekend. New York City Photo by: thenestor New York was the first vision of America for almost every ancestor of the Irish Americans living in this country today. It's no wonder the city continues to have such strong Irish traditions to this day. On St. Patrick's Day in New York, bagels, beer, and the lights on the Empire State Building are green as shamrocks. New York is also home to the world's largest St. Patrick's Day parade, which attracts more than 2 million people each year. Related Links Find Irish restaurants in your neighborhood on Yahoo! Local Browse users' trip ideas for Ireland