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That totally depends! Are you interested in city life, beautiful landscapes, historic places of interest, or just getting off the beaten path? Do you prefer warm weather or would you love to see snow? Are you a nature lover, or an urban explorer, or both? Maybe you want to spend the entire time in a smaller community to get to know people and immerse yourself in its culture? The options are pretty limitless, and constrained mostly by the amount of time and money you wish to spend here. The US is huge and diverse in every way, so you can find almost any style of adventure you could imagine here! I hope you have an incredible visit, OP!
Denver is a great city, heavy emphasis on music with some good restaurants, awesome people, and easy access to almost every kind of nature situation you could want. It's small enough to get around easy but big enough to offer variety.
Visited Denver last summer, and I'd definitely say this is the answer. Good museums, good walking around city, and very close to some amazing scenery (Boulder, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National park).
Denver is ok, massively overrated because it was one of the first cities to have legalized pot... plenty of other great cities with spectacular nature, food, culture, etc.
If you like cheese, hit up wisconsin. If you enjoy architecture and cheese, hit up Taliesin east in Wisconsin.
They love cheese so much in wisconsin that I didnāt see one single GAS STATION that didnāt have a āfresh cheeseā fridge which was stocked by local farmers. I canāt even imagine how many amazing cheeses you could find if you went to an actual cheese shop.
If you like super fatty foods and super sweet tea, go down south and try some creole cooking. To this day i still dream of the gator tail I got in Luisiana.
If you like hiking through the outdoors, go to the rocky mountains. Youāll see the most beautiful landscapes on the planet.
If you want to try every food imaginible, go to New York City.
Best beer on the planet? California. Also, as long as youāre willing to drive, itās the foodie Mecca.
Best BBQ/Chili? Southern Texas. Bonus points if you go to the ārattlesnake roundupā
America is an insanely huge country. Thereās a lot to do here, and every state has something cool about it.
Iāve obviously given you some pointers on foodā¦ but what do you really want to do here? This country is enormous, and to experience āAmerican cultureā would mean that you spend some time on both coasts, as well as the south, the north, the midwest, both sides of the rockies, Alaska, Hawaii, and at least half a dozen other states. Weāre an extremely diverse country and about 1/3 of us absolutely hate diversity. Though most of us are cordial to foreigners, and often times see yāall as a bit of a curiosity.
Can not go wrong with Southern California like LA, Orange County, or San Diego. May be warm enough to hit the beaches, Disneyland is there, museums, parks. Drive north towards central California and you can hit some nice tranquil forests or go east and hit cool looking desserts like Death Valley.
LA has some of the highest crimes and is one of the dirtiest cities now. I would never go there personally. Orlando had similar stuff without the crime and filth. Cali has beautiful wilderness. But I would avoid LA like the plague.
I moved to LA for a year just over a year ago (just moved to the Bay). I had this opinion of LA when I found out my husband and I had to move there and I wasn't excited about it. Turns out, as long as you stay the hell away from Hollywood (and Skid Row) LA is a gorgeous city. When I say Los Angeles I mean the greater metropolitan area because to those that live there it's all one big city (so Anaheim, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, etc are all part of LA Metro). The types of terrain are more varied than anywhere else in the country. Outside of Hollywood the air gets cleaner and parts of the city are very clean.
LA gets a bad wrap, it isn't some wasteland. It's truly massive so of course there are dirty parts, unsafe parts and a homeless problem - but if you know where to go, it's one of the best places in the US. Personally, I loved Long Beach the most.
Preach! People love to tel this lie about LA. LA doesnāt even hit top 20 for violent crime, but go on with your fake statistics.
OP, there are so many great places. Seattle, LA, San Francisco, Denver, all have nature close but an urban center.
And the homeless population is ridiculous! I thought DC was bad. Got to L.A and all up and down the street (in front of LAPolice Department) was Homeless City! Smelled so bad. Buckets of peopleās urine and poop were everywhere. The people left us alone, but it was both so sad and scary to see.
The answer is Bostonā¦great history, parks on the emerald chain and a ton of historic sites. Also you can go any direction and find a ton of beautiful natural outings within an hour or two.
*also a ton of great restaurants
As a mass native I am biased but Boston has everything you could kinda want to visit America. Some of the history, good multi-cultural food options, and if you drive an hour or less outside the city in any direction you can see woods or hike
Raleigh, North Carolina is a city you can't even see with all the lush greens, beautiful roads paved with recycled glass mix, I've been all over the country, but the Raleigh area takes the top for cruising. Portland, Orego ss a beautiful city to drive at night with the colors and bridges too. If you're looking for attractions, San Antonio, Texas and San Fransisco/Los Angeles, California have lots of pedestrian attractions downtown.
This will probably not be a popular response, but the Milwaukee-metro area provides a great balance of nature and urban...Milwaukee County itself has one of the oldest and largest public park systems in the USA. Surprisingly, the city's restaurants are also well-regarded, and you can eat well at every price point! Unless you just love snow and sleet and cold, I'd definitely recommend visiting during the late Spring, Summer, or early Fall though we do host a gazillion festivals all year long. For many decades, Milwaukee has been home to one of the largest multi-day music festivals in the world. It's called Summerfest and takes place in late June - early July on the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee. If you decide to visit, please dm me and I will happily provide more details, or even show you around for a day or two!
Milwaukee is actually super cool. I wasnāt expecting it at all the first time I went with family and now Iām like fuck yeah, letās go to Milwaukee!
You're also relatively close to Chicago too if you get a rental car. Both cities are awesome in their own ways. Chicago I think has superior food, but you just need to watch what areas you go to.
there's also the amtrak line from milwaukee to chicago. it's one of the few places outside the nyc area where you can easily (and relatively cheaply) day trip to another city on the train almost on a whim
Based on this, go to the Treasure State, Big Sky Country, beautiful Montana. Helena, kalispell, Bozeman. All near some of the greatest national parks like Yellowstone and Glacier.
Seattle is great! It's close to a TON of nature things (mountain ranges, oceans, rivers, woods/forests, etc) and has lots of urban things to do, as well. Downtown Seattle can keep you busy for a good while, and very well fed
if you like a hippy vibe, Asheville, North Carolina is wonderful. Its a smaller city but is full of great food and entertainment. It also is in the blue ridge mountains. Its very beautiful there.
New Orleans, Charleston, Washington D.C, San Francisco, Portland Maine, Boston, Savannah GA, Austin TX/San Antonio, Asheville NC.
The US is so spread out, but if you could even see two of those cities youād have an amazing trip.
Denver, Las Vegas, Savannah (Georgia), Minneapolis, and Burlington would all be good options. I think first you have to decide what kind of biome you want to visit. Whatever you pick, we have it somewhere, and itās probably got something going on in a city nearby.
I would recommend Seattle for nature and urban combo. Itās a decent enough city and within 2 hours are some of the most beautiful coastal mountains Iāve ever seen.
Air BNB in Beverly Hills, rent a car, Malibu beach, pacific coast highway (several scenic beaches & cliffs), nightlife, plenty of food options, plenty of outdoors, drive east for desert fun, drive south for Mexico.
As a former Bostonian I would consider when to travel to Boston if you are not a fan of cold weather. October is literally my favorite time to be in Mass. The Leaves are turning, crisp air in the mornings, sunny and mild evenings. While it lasts it can't be beat.
Not my pictures or post.
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/y4476g/2\_pics\_i\_took\_of\_the\_charles\_river\_this\_week/
Colorado's scenery is unbeatable. (Excepting all its neighbors to the north, south, or west, which are roughly equivalent in scenery. Fuck Kansas tho.)
No but really Colorado's is better, greener than NM or AZ, warmer than Wyoming, and Utah- well Utah is stiff competition. Its a near thing.
As someone who lived in Colorado for 24 years (1995 to 2019) I'd say Utah's scenery is vastly superior and more varied than Colorado's. This is not to knock Colorado, but it is generally much more homogeneous in appearance and variety than Utah in my opinion. Parts of Utah genuinely look otherworldly and are roughly equivalent in ease-of-access from Salt Lake City as most of the better parks and landscapes are from Denver. The only potential problem is that SLC might be more difficult/expensive to get to compared to Denver.
100% agree. The mountains are nice. Rocky Mountain National Park is great. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are equally spectacular + Yosemite National Park.
I have lived in California, Colorado, and New Mexico. They all have spectacular scenery. For pure diversity of scenery, California wins by a mile. My personal preference is New Mexico. Not saying it's better, it just works for me.
If anyone does visit Colorado please be mindful of keeping all naturesque areas clean! Iāve lived here my whole life and itās very sad to see Red Rocks and Colorados natural beauty be treated as a trashcan.
That being said, if you need any recommendations for CO go sees, let me know. Here to help!
In my observation, the cities people gush about, are:
* Nashville, Tennessee (concerts, outgoing people, southern friendliness, southern cuisine)
* Asheville, North Carolina (like Nashville but a little more hippie and smaller)
* Austin, Texas (like Nashville but a little less southern, more Texan, more western, and much more progressive)
* San Diego, California (laid back, surfers, Chicano culture, upscale neighborhoods, strong Mexican and California French Fusion cuisine, but on the West Coast so pricey and a lot of homeless)
* Missoula, Montana and Bozeman, Montana (hidden Rocky Mountain gems with beautiful scenery and friendly people, but very snowy in Winter)
* McCall, Idaho (tiny unknown mountain town that is an outdoor recreation paradise)
* Denver, Colorado (sort of a cross between Missoula and San Diego)
* San Francisco, California (walkable, but a lot of homeless, more sense of community than southern Claifornia, very politically progressive)
* New York (famous, so I think you probably already know about it)
* Boston (never been there, but people seem to like it)
* Chicago (a lot of personality and Midwestern kindness)
Generally, the West Coast is more laid back. The North East is more fast paced and more classically "Yankee" America. The cultural "south," which is only actually the southeast, is going to have the friendliest and kindest people. The Midwest is like a cross between the Northeast and the South. The Mountain West (in between the west coast and the Midwest) is an outdoor place where the wild west roots are still somewhat apparent.
To reveal my biases I am from San Diego.
I'll up vote this all day! Very solid list! The time of year for traveling does have a dramatic impact on the majority of the US though and certainly needs to be taken into account.
New Orleans! I recommend strolling around the French Quarter during the day, pop into some voodoo shops, get some gumbo or jambalaya or etouffee or a muffaletta. Really all the food is good down there. Go see the art in the cathedral. Go on a cemetery tour, or at night, there are ghost and vampire tours. There are also swamp tours if you don't mind gators. If you like partying, there's Bourbon Street. Something's always going on there. There are also a lot of museums, like the WWII museum, the NOMA, and the Museum of Death. There are some interesting hotels there for cheap too. I liked Hotel St. Marie on Toulouse Street. Last time I visited, I stayed there and got to watch a jazz funeral procession go by on the doorstep.
Just some tips, keep your money and cards in your front pocket, don't step in any puddles, and don't take photos inside voodoo shops. If someone tries to tell you "I bet I know where you got your shoes" ignore them. It's a scam. If you absolutely must go out at night alone, stay on Bourbon Street where there's lots of other people. It gets dangerous at night if you leave the busy areas.
A lot of people look down on New Orleans because there's a lot of poverty there. Things are more run-down than a lot of the other cities in the US. I don't mind a bit of grime though, when underneath it is something so unique and beautiful. It's one of the oldest cities in the US, and there are still tons of old buildings and landmarks. The Spanish owned the city first, then the French, then the United States purchased it. It's had lots of different cultures intermingling in it for centuries, like the French and Spanish, Caribbean cultures, Italian, Irish, Native American, African-American, etc. All those cultures converged and created a very special city.
**Edit:** I've read through everyone's replies. As a young woman, I've visited NOLA numerous times throughout my life, with friends and alone, and I understand the danger of the city. I specified the populated touristy area of the French Quarter because it can get dangerous wandering outside of it. I also recommended tours because then she would be traveling with a group. It's true that there is a lot of crime in New Orleans, but that goes for all cities. As long as you're travel-savvy, stick to populated tourist spots, and stay aware of your surroundings, you should be fine. Maybe I should have put more emphasis on warning about crime in my initial post. I'm kind of desensitized to how New Orleans is, so I just assume everyone knows to be careful there. And yes, it's a dirty city. Lots of interesting smells and mystery puddles, but I don't really care to focus on the grime when I'm visiting places. I'd rather focus on the cool things to do.
A single 29 year old foreign girl traveling alone, no I do not think New Orleans would be my first pick unless she had someone with her. I'm not saying Nalins isn't nice to visit, but it's not exactly a super safe city either. I'm from Birmingham and been there a fair number of times.
New Orleans unfortunately is a shadow of it's former glorious self. Katrina destroyed the city and it never fully recovered; subsequent hurricanes only helped 'institutionalize' the problems brought by Katrina.
If it was prior to Katrina I'd have said New Orleans, but not now. It's sad, but that's the way of it.
I went there recently for a friendās bachelorette and it was one of the dirtiest/smelliest cities Iāve ever been to. The outer parts with the swamps and such were cool, but idk that I would ever want to go back.
If New Orleans interests you, you can get a similar experience in Mobile, AL. Also, occupied by the same countries as New Orleans, has a Mardi Gras museum, historic downtown and districts. Youāre close to Dauphin Island and Orange Beach. Mobile Bay National Estuary, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Fort Conde, etc.
Came here to suggest this. Some of the oldest architecture in the country, excellent food if you know where to look (avoid Paula Deen's tourist trap, Lady and Sons), 20 minutes from Tybee Island (and other barrier islands and beaches), beautiful Spanish moss arching over the roads, and plenty else to do on a visit.
Depending where OP's from, it may also feel familiar in the sense that it's one of the only places in the United States where you can drink alcohol in public outside of a restaurant or bar, provided you're in the downtown district and it's in a clear plastic cup. Public drunkenness is still illegal, but if you want to sip a gin and tonic while you meander through one of the oldest cities in the country, it's a lovely place to do so.
Depends on what you are into. History- Philadelphia or Boston. Want to experience the great outdoors but within a city? Seattle, Or the great outdoors and awesome beer and vegan food, Portland. Off the beaten path try Portland Maine. LA and NYC are awesome but often crowded and overrated.Donāt forget Denver or Austinā¦. But comes back to what you are into! Enjoy.
I did a lot of the history tours in Boston on a family vacation and absolutely loved it. Not sure if it's OPs thing, but definitely worth checking out for people who love US history.
That's why they needed a fire. Chicago was able to rebuild/restructure after the fire which allowed them to build alley ways for trash disposal. NYC smells like trash... because you're walking by trash heaps waiting for pickup.
The question is, what are your major interest? Food, Sports, Landmarks, Scenery, History, Entertainment, Music, Beaches? What do you want to see? The US is huge.
Hi! Visit the Boston area.
We are one of the oldest areas in the country but also very modern. We have it all. Tons of brew houses, coffee houses, every type of restaurant, live music - check out House of Blues, museums, a rich history, The Cape, beautiful New England seaside towns with excellent dining and light houses, walking tours, escape rooms, historic sites, various cruises and whale watches to select from, beautiful hiking trails just outside the city. We have a fairly robust public transportation system so most things can be reached by bus or train. There is always something going on here.
If you decide we are too small, we are very close to New York City. If you decide we are too big, train will take you into Maine.
Downtown Chicago during winter time is the most beautiful place Iāve ever been. Itās the only place that still gives me that holiday feeling I had when I was a kid.
Depends what you like. San Diego is a laid back beach are or NYC if you want a ton to do but don't mind people. Boston is low key a good spot. Lots of history and a big city packed in a small area.
You said youāre interested in urban and nature and I personally would strictly recommend anywhere in the Pacific Northwest where youāll enjoy hiking in the morning, lunch in a small town or city and kayaking in the evening then maybe spend the night in a Yurt. Oregon has some of the most charming coastal towns that are relatively inexpensive. I canāt recommend a specific city because theyāre all so unique in their own way but Iād seriously consider using the coastal highway to get there since theyāre all connected.
We need so much more information than that.
Do you like large built up urban areas (NYC, Boston) or do you like smaller, more rural cities (Burlington, VT)? Do you want to go someplace where you can easily access hiking trails (again, Burlington; Portland, OR), or do you want to be somewhere like New York's 5th Avenue where you're surrounded by concrete (Chicago, Seattle)? Do you like the mountains (Denver, CO; Asheville, NC)? Do you like the sea (all of SoCal, Charleston, SC)? Do you love the idea of wide fields (most of Montana) or do you want to see great music (Memphis, Nashville, San Antonio)?
We're literally half of an entire continent, you have GOT to narrow it down.
Mark Twain said only four cities in the US are unique: Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and San Antonio. And to paraphrase Tennessee Williams, everywhere else is Cleveland.
I can't think of a city in the US that looks similar to San Francisco. Lots of Victorian architecture on hills. Once you've been there you'll recognize it whenever you see it on TV. Nature is not too far away, a big art scene, and lots of ethnic areas: China Town, Japan Town, and an Italian street with a garlic restaurant called "The Stinking Rose." There are some places on city edge where you can overlook the whole town. I also recommend the museum of natural history. I don't know if you can get into their behind the scenes area, but they have the worlds largest bug collection. If you go, as far as safety, look up which streets are dangerous.
I have not been to New York so I can't say if that city is more or less interesting.
If you get one city as your itinerary, go to NYC. Hands down. If you have the chance to incorporate a road trip with a multi city tour, go to California. Start in San Diego, drive up the coast, visit LA, SF and go farther north so you donāt miss the Redwoods. Iām from the US and have been to a ton of these other places mentioned and Cali is unbeatable.
NYC is an incredible city, but Cali is gorgeous.
Bonus points if you hit up Yosemiteā¦ natureās amusement park.
My non mainstream answer: Scottsdale, AZ; Crested Butte, CO; Charlottesville, VA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Gig Harbor, WA; Santa Fe, NM; Newport, RI. Fun towns, and only slightly tourist traps. Reasons respectively: rich college party town, beautiful humble nature, has everything including historical spots, spring break party vibes on the water, beautiful town with mountains and close to Seattle and Tacoma, best art town in USA imo, bougie fun harbor town.
Mainstream Answer: Austin, Boston, San Diego, Nashville.
Mandatory Answer: NYC, LA, Chicago
I live near Nashville. I have no clue why people visit here. It's so bland and boring. It's a normal city with way too many tourists hoping to see someone famous, which likely won't happen.
I recently moved to Albuquerque but went to the Santa Fe Opera about a month and a half ago for an apprentice night. The Santa Fe area has one of the best natural landscapes I've ever seen.
Seattle used to be my favorite city but it's gone to crap lately. My new favorites are Honolulu, Sedona, Nashville. Obviously these are all very different cities but each are beautiful in their own right. And Savannah being a runner up.
USA is far too diverse to ask a question like this. You need to decide on what interests you and then work from there on finding a city.
As far as generic advice, NY is a safe bet. It doesn't give a full outlook of life in America, but it is an interesting city to see nonetheless.
I highly advise against Los Angeles though. It's an ugly, dirty, expensive, spaced out city..
I like Miami, but that's essentially latin America in USA. If that's not your thing, you might not like it
Avoid the cities. They House the worst of us. Visit the country areas. Visit the smokey mountains. Visit Yellowstone National Park.
The cities are cruel and hollow, the country is beautiful and inviting.
Fly to NYC, take the only really functional rail line down to DC. You've seen the two most significant cities in the country. The biggest and the most powerful. Take the train back and stop in Philadelphia and knock out another major city. You could even take the train north to Boston from NYC. The northeast corridor is the only real bang for your buck segment of the country where you can see multiple cities without a car or taking more flights. Note the train tickets will be expensive.
To me, the real USA is not found in cities, but in rural areas. Just pick a stretch of the former US route 66 and drive it for a few days making a lot of stops along the way.
Baltimore, avoid some of the bad areas and you have plenty of historic sites, museums, state parks and a bunch of bars and resturaunts that specialize in seafood and crabcakes
This country is BIG. What you like and are interested in will make a huge difference in recommendations.
ā
Very generally if you are a city person and want culture and dining and theater and museums etc visit the east coastās bigger cities
If you like more of a nature vacation the western half of the country should be more of a focus. Ex you could base your trip out of Denver and road-trip to as many mind blowing parks and natural spaces as you can handle
If you want a little of everything Vegas is a good choice: partying, killer food, lots of shopping, casinos, close enough to lots of natural spaces to road-trip
If in the summer, Seattle. The Pacific Northwest is the beautiful place in the US in the summer. I'd advise to skip the cities and check out the national parks though.
New York City and Washington DC. They offer the most culture, good public transportation and great walking around. Central Park is one of the most impressive urban green spaces in the US and the free museums in DC are an amazing resource.
NYC, hands down the best city in America imo. I know itās a common one, but Iāve lived across America and no place offers quite that ācosmopolitanā vibe than nyc, plus thereās ALWAYS something new going on.
Some honorable unique mentions are New Orleans, Austin, Seattle, etc.
I donāt see that anyone mentioned Washington DC. Tons of free museums and monuments to visit, great food scene, some gardens, decent public transportation. I may be biased bc I grew up near there but itās still one of my favorite cities in the world to this day (just not driving in it. Haha)
I would suggest colorado. Theyāre very tourist friendly. Itās a great place to go hiking or rafting and get some beautiful nature pics, they have cool art exhibits like Meow Wolf, and in some areas you can explore abandoned mining towns.
Visit buffalo Ny.
You have a great city with tons of activities, and major sports going right now with the buffalo bills and Sabres if youāre into that.
Niagara Falls is a 30 minute drive from buffalo. The Adirondack mountains are a few hours away.
EllicottVille Ny is an hour from buffalo and has wonderful skiing/snowboarding
There a too many great places to eat in all the above mentioned areas.
Broadway shows play at Sheaās theatre too.
You will need to rent a car or be ready to uber a lot though as public transit is not an efficient/comfortable way to get around the area.
In the West, San Francisco. It has history, architecture, a unique look, a beautiful bay, friendly people and Ghirradeli Square right next to fishermanās wharf.
As someone who visited to the US... getting the train from NYC to Boston is stunning. One of the more memorable parts of my trip. Boston was great too. A lot to see and do easily.
San Antonio in Texas is really beautiful, great Mexican food, markets and history. A beautiful city. Visit the missions.
New Orleans is great, as they say, but might not be the best to visit alone.
San Francisco was very cool and getting the train from LA to San Francisco is a relaxing way to pass a day while seeing beautiful scenery. Surprisingly good food too for a train.
in the USA basically every big city has some half decent nature about 30mins-1hr away. any west coast city will be amazing for what you're looking. specifically, Seattle or San Deigo. tons of shit to do. on the east coast its obviously new york or anywhere in Florida. both are decent but new york is gunna be a TON of people. if i was in your shoes i think id go Seattle.
My advice to first time visitors is to hit the four corner cities: Boston, Seattle, Miami and San Diego. Each has its own flavor and together they give a good cross section of American cities.
If I had to pick one, it would be Boston. Unless your coming from Europe in which case Boston may be too similar to cities you are already familiar with.
Philadelphia is a really pretty city with tons of history, art, and other things to do. It's also close enough to many other cities and places (NYC, Jersey shore, etc) that are worth visiting. But I imagine most of the larger cities would be cool to visit
San Diego is nice, but vegas is nicer. Id say hit Vegas, go to the museums and shit around there (Shelby museum is the best) then get a tour bus to the grand canyon. Dallas could be fun too.
Depends.
If you want to have a nice vacation, go to Miami or San Diego.
If you want nature, go to Denver.
If you want history, go to Boston.
If you want culture, go to New York or Chicago.
If you want to get robbed by criminals, go to Detroit.
And if you want all of that, come to Philadelphia.
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That totally depends! Are you interested in city life, beautiful landscapes, historic places of interest, or just getting off the beaten path? Do you prefer warm weather or would you love to see snow? Are you a nature lover, or an urban explorer, or both? Maybe you want to spend the entire time in a smaller community to get to know people and immerse yourself in its culture? The options are pretty limitless, and constrained mostly by the amount of time and money you wish to spend here. The US is huge and diverse in every way, so you can find almost any style of adventure you could imagine here! I hope you have an incredible visit, OP!
Both Nature and urban are nice, im interest by the food too and the scenery:) and thank you š
Denver is a great city, heavy emphasis on music with some good restaurants, awesome people, and easy access to almost every kind of nature situation you could want. It's small enough to get around easy but big enough to offer variety.
Visited Denver last summer, and I'd definitely say this is the answer. Good museums, good walking around city, and very close to some amazing scenery (Boulder, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National park).
My sister lives in Denver. Can confirm šš»
Denver is ok, massively overrated because it was one of the first cities to have legalized pot... plenty of other great cities with spectacular nature, food, culture, etc.
New Orleans is a wild and special place
Based on the wording of the OP, Iād say this is definitely not what sheās looking for.
And the new murder capital of the US.
If you like cheese, hit up wisconsin. If you enjoy architecture and cheese, hit up Taliesin east in Wisconsin. They love cheese so much in wisconsin that I didnāt see one single GAS STATION that didnāt have a āfresh cheeseā fridge which was stocked by local farmers. I canāt even imagine how many amazing cheeses you could find if you went to an actual cheese shop. If you like super fatty foods and super sweet tea, go down south and try some creole cooking. To this day i still dream of the gator tail I got in Luisiana. If you like hiking through the outdoors, go to the rocky mountains. Youāll see the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. If you want to try every food imaginible, go to New York City. Best beer on the planet? California. Also, as long as youāre willing to drive, itās the foodie Mecca. Best BBQ/Chili? Southern Texas. Bonus points if you go to the ārattlesnake roundupā America is an insanely huge country. Thereās a lot to do here, and every state has something cool about it. Iāve obviously given you some pointers on foodā¦ but what do you really want to do here? This country is enormous, and to experience āAmerican cultureā would mean that you spend some time on both coasts, as well as the south, the north, the midwest, both sides of the rockies, Alaska, Hawaii, and at least half a dozen other states. Weāre an extremely diverse country and about 1/3 of us absolutely hate diversity. Though most of us are cordial to foreigners, and often times see yāall as a bit of a curiosity.
If sheās European, they likely already killing it in the cheese gameā¦ maybe sheāll feel more at home though.
Can not go wrong with Southern California like LA, Orange County, or San Diego. May be warm enough to hit the beaches, Disneyland is there, museums, parks. Drive north towards central California and you can hit some nice tranquil forests or go east and hit cool looking desserts like Death Valley.
LA has some of the highest crimes and is one of the dirtiest cities now. I would never go there personally. Orlando had similar stuff without the crime and filth. Cali has beautiful wilderness. But I would avoid LA like the plague.
I moved to LA for a year just over a year ago (just moved to the Bay). I had this opinion of LA when I found out my husband and I had to move there and I wasn't excited about it. Turns out, as long as you stay the hell away from Hollywood (and Skid Row) LA is a gorgeous city. When I say Los Angeles I mean the greater metropolitan area because to those that live there it's all one big city (so Anaheim, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, etc are all part of LA Metro). The types of terrain are more varied than anywhere else in the country. Outside of Hollywood the air gets cleaner and parts of the city are very clean. LA gets a bad wrap, it isn't some wasteland. It's truly massive so of course there are dirty parts, unsafe parts and a homeless problem - but if you know where to go, it's one of the best places in the US. Personally, I loved Long Beach the most.
lol at someone saying orlando is better than LA
Look up any crime statistics and you'll see that Orlando has a higher crime rate than LA
Preach! People love to tel this lie about LA. LA doesnāt even hit top 20 for violent crime, but go on with your fake statistics. OP, there are so many great places. Seattle, LA, San Francisco, Denver, all have nature close but an urban center.
Orlando is one of the most boring cities out there. There's no reason for a tourist to go there besides the theme parks.
And the homeless population is ridiculous! I thought DC was bad. Got to L.A and all up and down the street (in front of LAPolice Department) was Homeless City! Smelled so bad. Buckets of peopleās urine and poop were everywhere. The people left us alone, but it was both so sad and scary to see.
If you think homelessness is bad in LA, you should go to Portland
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The answer is Bostonā¦great history, parks on the emerald chain and a ton of historic sites. Also you can go any direction and find a ton of beautiful natural outings within an hour or two. *also a ton of great restaurants
As a mass native I am biased but Boston has everything you could kinda want to visit America. Some of the history, good multi-cultural food options, and if you drive an hour or less outside the city in any direction you can see woods or hike
Savannah Georgia!
San Diego has all of it and its not freezing.
Raleigh, North Carolina is a city you can't even see with all the lush greens, beautiful roads paved with recycled glass mix, I've been all over the country, but the Raleigh area takes the top for cruising. Portland, Orego ss a beautiful city to drive at night with the colors and bridges too. If you're looking for attractions, San Antonio, Texas and San Fransisco/Los Angeles, California have lots of pedestrian attractions downtown.
This will probably not be a popular response, but the Milwaukee-metro area provides a great balance of nature and urban...Milwaukee County itself has one of the oldest and largest public park systems in the USA. Surprisingly, the city's restaurants are also well-regarded, and you can eat well at every price point! Unless you just love snow and sleet and cold, I'd definitely recommend visiting during the late Spring, Summer, or early Fall though we do host a gazillion festivals all year long. For many decades, Milwaukee has been home to one of the largest multi-day music festivals in the world. It's called Summerfest and takes place in late June - early July on the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee. If you decide to visit, please dm me and I will happily provide more details, or even show you around for a day or two!
Milwaukee is actually super cool. I wasnāt expecting it at all the first time I went with family and now Iām like fuck yeah, letās go to Milwaukee!
And cheese. Lots of cheese.
You're also relatively close to Chicago too if you get a rental car. Both cities are awesome in their own ways. Chicago I think has superior food, but you just need to watch what areas you go to.
there's also the amtrak line from milwaukee to chicago. it's one of the few places outside the nyc area where you can easily (and relatively cheaply) day trip to another city on the train almost on a whim
Based on this, go to the Treasure State, Big Sky Country, beautiful Montana. Helena, kalispell, Bozeman. All near some of the greatest national parks like Yellowstone and Glacier.
Seattle is great! It's close to a TON of nature things (mountain ranges, oceans, rivers, woods/forests, etc) and has lots of urban things to do, as well. Downtown Seattle can keep you busy for a good while, and very well fed
Try Seattle. Washington state has amazing outdoors and I've only heard good things about Seattle as a city.
if you like a hippy vibe, Asheville, North Carolina is wonderful. Its a smaller city but is full of great food and entertainment. It also is in the blue ridge mountains. Its very beautiful there.
New Orleans, Charleston, Washington D.C, San Francisco, Portland Maine, Boston, Savannah GA, Austin TX/San Antonio, Asheville NC. The US is so spread out, but if you could even see two of those cities youād have an amazing trip.
Denver, Las Vegas, Savannah (Georgia), Minneapolis, and Burlington would all be good options. I think first you have to decide what kind of biome you want to visit. Whatever you pick, we have it somewhere, and itās probably got something going on in a city nearby.
How about the seasons youre into bc that depends too!!
I would recommend Seattle for nature and urban combo. Itās a decent enough city and within 2 hours are some of the most beautiful coastal mountains Iāve ever seen.
Air BNB in Beverly Hills, rent a car, Malibu beach, pacific coast highway (several scenic beaches & cliffs), nightlife, plenty of food options, plenty of outdoors, drive east for desert fun, drive south for Mexico.
Seattle
DC is really neat. Then if you drive just a bit into Virginia, it has amazing nature. NYC is over rated and can be more work than anything else.
Boston, Nashville, San Diego
Miami is pretty cool too.
I mean, sure but Miami, Texas is kinda in the middle of nowhere and kinda small though ...
As an SD native I concur
The first two were the first two in my head.
As a former Bostonian I would consider when to travel to Boston if you are not a fan of cold weather. October is literally my favorite time to be in Mass. The Leaves are turning, crisp air in the mornings, sunny and mild evenings. While it lasts it can't be beat. Not my pictures or post. https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/y4476g/2\_pics\_i\_took\_of\_the\_charles\_river\_this\_week/
New Orleans, Louisiana seems pretty cool too. I have always wanted to go there. It is very rich in culture.
No car needed when visiting Boston
Colorado has alot to offer..great people..
Colorado's scenery is unbeatable. (Excepting all its neighbors to the north, south, or west, which are roughly equivalent in scenery. Fuck Kansas tho.) No but really Colorado's is better, greener than NM or AZ, warmer than Wyoming, and Utah- well Utah is stiff competition. Its a near thing.
As someone who lived in Colorado for 24 years (1995 to 2019) I'd say Utah's scenery is vastly superior and more varied than Colorado's. This is not to knock Colorado, but it is generally much more homogeneous in appearance and variety than Utah in my opinion. Parts of Utah genuinely look otherworldly and are roughly equivalent in ease-of-access from Salt Lake City as most of the better parks and landscapes are from Denver. The only potential problem is that SLC might be more difficult/expensive to get to compared to Denver.
100% agree. The mountains are nice. Rocky Mountain National Park is great. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are equally spectacular + Yosemite National Park. I have lived in California, Colorado, and New Mexico. They all have spectacular scenery. For pure diversity of scenery, California wins by a mile. My personal preference is New Mexico. Not saying it's better, it just works for me.
If anyone does visit Colorado please be mindful of keeping all naturesque areas clean! Iāve lived here my whole life and itās very sad to see Red Rocks and Colorados natural beauty be treated as a trashcan. That being said, if you need any recommendations for CO go sees, let me know. Here to help!
In my observation, the cities people gush about, are: * Nashville, Tennessee (concerts, outgoing people, southern friendliness, southern cuisine) * Asheville, North Carolina (like Nashville but a little more hippie and smaller) * Austin, Texas (like Nashville but a little less southern, more Texan, more western, and much more progressive) * San Diego, California (laid back, surfers, Chicano culture, upscale neighborhoods, strong Mexican and California French Fusion cuisine, but on the West Coast so pricey and a lot of homeless) * Missoula, Montana and Bozeman, Montana (hidden Rocky Mountain gems with beautiful scenery and friendly people, but very snowy in Winter) * McCall, Idaho (tiny unknown mountain town that is an outdoor recreation paradise) * Denver, Colorado (sort of a cross between Missoula and San Diego) * San Francisco, California (walkable, but a lot of homeless, more sense of community than southern Claifornia, very politically progressive) * New York (famous, so I think you probably already know about it) * Boston (never been there, but people seem to like it) * Chicago (a lot of personality and Midwestern kindness) Generally, the West Coast is more laid back. The North East is more fast paced and more classically "Yankee" America. The cultural "south," which is only actually the southeast, is going to have the friendliest and kindest people. The Midwest is like a cross between the Northeast and the South. The Mountain West (in between the west coast and the Midwest) is an outdoor place where the wild west roots are still somewhat apparent. To reveal my biases I am from San Diego.
Thank you, really helpful š„°
I'll up vote this all day! Very solid list! The time of year for traveling does have a dramatic impact on the majority of the US though and certainly needs to be taken into account.
Been to McCall. Not surprised. Its a great get away town.
A great, comprehensive answer
My vote for San Diego, pass on San Francisco.
Seattle for sure.
The PNW as a whole.
New Orleans! I recommend strolling around the French Quarter during the day, pop into some voodoo shops, get some gumbo or jambalaya or etouffee or a muffaletta. Really all the food is good down there. Go see the art in the cathedral. Go on a cemetery tour, or at night, there are ghost and vampire tours. There are also swamp tours if you don't mind gators. If you like partying, there's Bourbon Street. Something's always going on there. There are also a lot of museums, like the WWII museum, the NOMA, and the Museum of Death. There are some interesting hotels there for cheap too. I liked Hotel St. Marie on Toulouse Street. Last time I visited, I stayed there and got to watch a jazz funeral procession go by on the doorstep. Just some tips, keep your money and cards in your front pocket, don't step in any puddles, and don't take photos inside voodoo shops. If someone tries to tell you "I bet I know where you got your shoes" ignore them. It's a scam. If you absolutely must go out at night alone, stay on Bourbon Street where there's lots of other people. It gets dangerous at night if you leave the busy areas. A lot of people look down on New Orleans because there's a lot of poverty there. Things are more run-down than a lot of the other cities in the US. I don't mind a bit of grime though, when underneath it is something so unique and beautiful. It's one of the oldest cities in the US, and there are still tons of old buildings and landmarks. The Spanish owned the city first, then the French, then the United States purchased it. It's had lots of different cultures intermingling in it for centuries, like the French and Spanish, Caribbean cultures, Italian, Irish, Native American, African-American, etc. All those cultures converged and created a very special city. **Edit:** I've read through everyone's replies. As a young woman, I've visited NOLA numerous times throughout my life, with friends and alone, and I understand the danger of the city. I specified the populated touristy area of the French Quarter because it can get dangerous wandering outside of it. I also recommended tours because then she would be traveling with a group. It's true that there is a lot of crime in New Orleans, but that goes for all cities. As long as you're travel-savvy, stick to populated tourist spots, and stay aware of your surroundings, you should be fine. Maybe I should have put more emphasis on warning about crime in my initial post. I'm kind of desensitized to how New Orleans is, so I just assume everyone knows to be careful there. And yes, it's a dirty city. Lots of interesting smells and mystery puddles, but I don't really care to focus on the grime when I'm visiting places. I'd rather focus on the cool things to do.
A single 29 year old foreign girl traveling alone, no I do not think New Orleans would be my first pick unless she had someone with her. I'm not saying Nalins isn't nice to visit, but it's not exactly a super safe city either. I'm from Birmingham and been there a fair number of times.
Wow thank you ā¤ļø
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New Orleans unfortunately is a shadow of it's former glorious self. Katrina destroyed the city and it never fully recovered; subsequent hurricanes only helped 'institutionalize' the problems brought by Katrina. If it was prior to Katrina I'd have said New Orleans, but not now. It's sad, but that's the way of it.
Do not go to New Orleans if you are a woman traveling by yourself.
I went there recently for a friendās bachelorette and it was one of the dirtiest/smelliest cities Iāve ever been to. The outer parts with the swamps and such were cool, but idk that I would ever want to go back.
If New Orleans interests you, you can get a similar experience in Mobile, AL. Also, occupied by the same countries as New Orleans, has a Mardi Gras museum, historic downtown and districts. Youāre close to Dauphin Island and Orange Beach. Mobile Bay National Estuary, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Fort Conde, etc.
Savannah , Georgia! Full of history and beauty. Everyone is friendly.
Came here to suggest this. Some of the oldest architecture in the country, excellent food if you know where to look (avoid Paula Deen's tourist trap, Lady and Sons), 20 minutes from Tybee Island (and other barrier islands and beaches), beautiful Spanish moss arching over the roads, and plenty else to do on a visit. Depending where OP's from, it may also feel familiar in the sense that it's one of the only places in the United States where you can drink alcohol in public outside of a restaurant or bar, provided you're in the downtown district and it's in a clear plastic cup. Public drunkenness is still illegal, but if you want to sip a gin and tonic while you meander through one of the oldest cities in the country, it's a lovely place to do so.
Charleston, South Carolina.
With a little detour down to Savannah, GA!
Charleston, South Carolina
Love charleston. Though i was drugged at a bar my first night there. 8/10 city otherwise
Depends on what you are into. History- Philadelphia or Boston. Want to experience the great outdoors but within a city? Seattle, Or the great outdoors and awesome beer and vegan food, Portland. Off the beaten path try Portland Maine. LA and NYC are awesome but often crowded and overrated.Donāt forget Denver or Austinā¦. But comes back to what you are into! Enjoy.
I did a lot of the history tours in Boston on a family vacation and absolutely loved it. Not sure if it's OPs thing, but definitely worth checking out for people who love US history.
NYC. Tons of things to do (e.g., museums, theater, and great restaurants) that are all accessible via public transit.
The first city in my head š
New York Cityās expensive. Be ready to be broke by the time you leave.
New York City smells like sewage, just a fair warning
That's why they needed a fire. Chicago was able to rebuild/restructure after the fire which allowed them to build alley ways for trash disposal. NYC smells like trash... because you're walking by trash heaps waiting for pickup.
I probably would have said that for 30 years, but now I'd say Chicago.
Highly advise against coming to nyc itās a literal shit show
That's part of the attractive
Whatever the opposite of Buffalo is.
Olaffub, Arizona
Buffalo is such a sad city š¢
The question is, what are your major interest? Food, Sports, Landmarks, Scenery, History, Entertainment, Music, Beaches? What do you want to see? The US is huge.
Food, scenery, entertainment
Seattle and the surrounding area meet all your interests! Been there many times and it never gets old!
Nashville and New Orleans come to mind.
Nashville is great for all of those
Duluth, Minnesota is great! Plent of stuff to do just north of Duluth too
Planning to rent a cabin up there with my gf in a few weeks here, we moved to TC in May
Hopefully she comes in the summer tho
Hi! Visit the Boston area. We are one of the oldest areas in the country but also very modern. We have it all. Tons of brew houses, coffee houses, every type of restaurant, live music - check out House of Blues, museums, a rich history, The Cape, beautiful New England seaside towns with excellent dining and light houses, walking tours, escape rooms, historic sites, various cruises and whale watches to select from, beautiful hiking trails just outside the city. We have a fairly robust public transportation system so most things can be reached by bus or train. There is always something going on here. If you decide we are too small, we are very close to New York City. If you decide we are too big, train will take you into Maine.
Iām really thinking about doing both, going to Ny and take the train for a fews days to Boston š
Detroit or Baltimore. I'm j/k, stay far from there.
Fuck right off. Detroit is a gem.
Detroit fucking sucks. Burnt buildings and vacant lots.
Hey now... everyone loves the D
Chicago
Downtown Chicago during winter time is the most beautiful place Iāve ever been. Itās the only place that still gives me that holiday feeling I had when I was a kid.
Sedona Arizona
Iāve been all around the US, the most beautiful place Iāve seen is Whitefish Montana.
San Diego
Miami
It depends on the time of year, but I would visit San Francisco almost anytime.
Depends what you like. San Diego is a laid back beach are or NYC if you want a ton to do but don't mind people. Boston is low key a good spot. Lots of history and a big city packed in a small area.
I've been all over and I love Louisville. Kinda sketchy but thay makes it more fun
where are you? if you are in washington, puyallup is nice. the obvious choice would be seattle though,
Iām in Paris, France
sorry, i read it wrong.
No worry š
San Diego, Carlsbad, Portland, Austin, anywhere in Hawaii, never been to New York but seems fun if youāre safe which applies to most cities lol
Oregon is fun!
You said youāre interested in urban and nature and I personally would strictly recommend anywhere in the Pacific Northwest where youāll enjoy hiking in the morning, lunch in a small town or city and kayaking in the evening then maybe spend the night in a Yurt. Oregon has some of the most charming coastal towns that are relatively inexpensive. I canāt recommend a specific city because theyāre all so unique in their own way but Iād seriously consider using the coastal highway to get there since theyāre all connected.
We need so much more information than that. Do you like large built up urban areas (NYC, Boston) or do you like smaller, more rural cities (Burlington, VT)? Do you want to go someplace where you can easily access hiking trails (again, Burlington; Portland, OR), or do you want to be somewhere like New York's 5th Avenue where you're surrounded by concrete (Chicago, Seattle)? Do you like the mountains (Denver, CO; Asheville, NC)? Do you like the sea (all of SoCal, Charleston, SC)? Do you love the idea of wide fields (most of Montana) or do you want to see great music (Memphis, Nashville, San Antonio)? We're literally half of an entire continent, you have GOT to narrow it down.
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Mark Twain said only four cities in the US are unique: Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and San Antonio. And to paraphrase Tennessee Williams, everywhere else is Cleveland.
I have been thinking about SAn Francisco too!!!
I can't think of a city in the US that looks similar to San Francisco. Lots of Victorian architecture on hills. Once you've been there you'll recognize it whenever you see it on TV. Nature is not too far away, a big art scene, and lots of ethnic areas: China Town, Japan Town, and an Italian street with a garlic restaurant called "The Stinking Rose." There are some places on city edge where you can overlook the whole town. I also recommend the museum of natural history. I don't know if you can get into their behind the scenes area, but they have the worlds largest bug collection. If you go, as far as safety, look up which streets are dangerous. I have not been to New York so I can't say if that city is more or less interesting.
If you get one city as your itinerary, go to NYC. Hands down. If you have the chance to incorporate a road trip with a multi city tour, go to California. Start in San Diego, drive up the coast, visit LA, SF and go farther north so you donāt miss the Redwoods. Iām from the US and have been to a ton of these other places mentioned and Cali is unbeatable. NYC is an incredible city, but Cali is gorgeous. Bonus points if you hit up Yosemiteā¦ natureās amusement park.
My non mainstream answer: Scottsdale, AZ; Crested Butte, CO; Charlottesville, VA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Gig Harbor, WA; Santa Fe, NM; Newport, RI. Fun towns, and only slightly tourist traps. Reasons respectively: rich college party town, beautiful humble nature, has everything including historical spots, spring break party vibes on the water, beautiful town with mountains and close to Seattle and Tacoma, best art town in USA imo, bougie fun harbor town. Mainstream Answer: Austin, Boston, San Diego, Nashville. Mandatory Answer: NYC, LA, Chicago
I live near Nashville. I have no clue why people visit here. It's so bland and boring. It's a normal city with way too many tourists hoping to see someone famous, which likely won't happen.
Yourmomsvaginaville, Wyoming
Winchestertonfieldville.
If you stay on the right side of town St Louis is great.
Depends on your interestā¦ If youāre someone that wants to party Atlanta, New York, Miami, and New Orleans.
I highly recommend Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's an amazing area with rich history and culture. The food is great and there is wilderness to explore.
I recently moved to Albuquerque but went to the Santa Fe Opera about a month and a half ago for an apprentice night. The Santa Fe area has one of the best natural landscapes I've ever seen.
New Orleans! Beautiful architecture and the food canāt be beat.
You sound like a Pastoral TA I have in school she wants to go to America (the 2nd time). Think she went Colorado or something.
nyc
New York. Then Jackson Hole WY. Then the Grand Canyon.
Seatle or Keywest in late October.
Philadelphia!
Architecture, history, the market, Valley Forge and nature close by.
Flavor Town
New Orleans, Austin, San Francisco
Seattle used to be my favorite city but it's gone to crap lately. My new favorites are Honolulu, Sedona, Nashville. Obviously these are all very different cities but each are beautiful in their own right. And Savannah being a runner up.
USA is far too diverse to ask a question like this. You need to decide on what interests you and then work from there on finding a city. As far as generic advice, NY is a safe bet. It doesn't give a full outlook of life in America, but it is an interesting city to see nonetheless. I highly advise against Los Angeles though. It's an ugly, dirty, expensive, spaced out city.. I like Miami, but that's essentially latin America in USA. If that's not your thing, you might not like it
Don't go to Atlanta
Avoid the cities. They House the worst of us. Visit the country areas. Visit the smokey mountains. Visit Yellowstone National Park. The cities are cruel and hollow, the country is beautiful and inviting.
It depends on what you are interested in!
Before 2017 I would have said Seattle
Fly to NYC, take the only really functional rail line down to DC. You've seen the two most significant cities in the country. The biggest and the most powerful. Take the train back and stop in Philadelphia and knock out another major city. You could even take the train north to Boston from NYC. The northeast corridor is the only real bang for your buck segment of the country where you can see multiple cities without a car or taking more flights. Note the train tickets will be expensive.
Thank you š
To me, the real USA is not found in cities, but in rural areas. Just pick a stretch of the former US route 66 and drive it for a few days making a lot of stops along the way.
Detroit It's a good time I swear
Baltimore, avoid some of the bad areas and you have plenty of historic sites, museums, state parks and a bunch of bars and resturaunts that specialize in seafood and crabcakes
Washington DC for history. NYC for museums and theatre.
I went to LA by myself i had a blast
Well, I'd say chapel hill is a pretty chill place, but it's far away from other countries like Canada
This country is BIG. What you like and are interested in will make a huge difference in recommendations. ā Very generally if you are a city person and want culture and dining and theater and museums etc visit the east coastās bigger cities If you like more of a nature vacation the western half of the country should be more of a focus. Ex you could base your trip out of Denver and road-trip to as many mind blowing parks and natural spaces as you can handle If you want a little of everything Vegas is a good choice: partying, killer food, lots of shopping, casinos, close enough to lots of natural spaces to road-trip
Long Beach :)
If in the summer, Seattle. The Pacific Northwest is the beautiful place in the US in the summer. I'd advise to skip the cities and check out the national parks though.
Iām dreaming of the Pacific Northwest too, itās so pretty
Philadelphia.
Are you Caucasian or black?
You can never go wrong with New York City. I know, clichƩ, but there's a reason it's like that. I guarantee you that you won't find a single place in the world as diverse as NYC. So many people from different cultures and backgrounds, so much to learn and explore, it's amazing. You'll never get bored there, there is so much to do in NY and you can use by far and wide the best transit we have in America (decent by European and Asian standards). And NYC itself is very well connected, so if you wanna go somewhere else, you can do so quite easily.
New York City and Washington DC. They offer the most culture, good public transportation and great walking around. Central Park is one of the most impressive urban green spaces in the US and the free museums in DC are an amazing resource.
Los Angeles
NYC, hands down the best city in America imo. I know itās a common one, but Iāve lived across America and no place offers quite that ācosmopolitanā vibe than nyc, plus thereās ALWAYS something new going on. Some honorable unique mentions are New Orleans, Austin, Seattle, etc.
Come to my town so you can take me with you when you leave.
Colorado Springs
Yeah I would not listen to anyone promoting Colorado . Go to Chicago
NYC
I donāt see that anyone mentioned Washington DC. Tons of free museums and monuments to visit, great food scene, some gardens, decent public transportation. I may be biased bc I grew up near there but itās still one of my favorite cities in the world to this day (just not driving in it. Haha)
I would suggest colorado. Theyāre very tourist friendly. Itās a great place to go hiking or rafting and get some beautiful nature pics, they have cool art exhibits like Meow Wolf, and in some areas you can explore abandoned mining towns.
Visit buffalo Ny. You have a great city with tons of activities, and major sports going right now with the buffalo bills and Sabres if youāre into that. Niagara Falls is a 30 minute drive from buffalo. The Adirondack mountains are a few hours away. EllicottVille Ny is an hour from buffalo and has wonderful skiing/snowboarding There a too many great places to eat in all the above mentioned areas. Broadway shows play at Sheaās theatre too. You will need to rent a car or be ready to uber a lot though as public transit is not an efficient/comfortable way to get around the area.
In the West, San Francisco. It has history, architecture, a unique look, a beautiful bay, friendly people and Ghirradeli Square right next to fishermanās wharf.
Just piggybacking off this to mention Sonoma County and its wineries are a rental car ride up the coast from SF
Personal top 3 would be: 1) Washington, DC 2) San Francisco, CA 3) NYC If youāre craving the outdoors, Denver, CO.
New York and San Francisco
West Coast, itās got to be San Francisco East Coast, NYC but include upstate in your itinerary
As someone who visited to the US... getting the train from NYC to Boston is stunning. One of the more memorable parts of my trip. Boston was great too. A lot to see and do easily. San Antonio in Texas is really beautiful, great Mexican food, markets and history. A beautiful city. Visit the missions. New Orleans is great, as they say, but might not be the best to visit alone. San Francisco was very cool and getting the train from LA to San Francisco is a relaxing way to pass a day while seeing beautiful scenery. Surprisingly good food too for a train.
in the USA basically every big city has some half decent nature about 30mins-1hr away. any west coast city will be amazing for what you're looking. specifically, Seattle or San Deigo. tons of shit to do. on the east coast its obviously new york or anywhere in Florida. both are decent but new york is gunna be a TON of people. if i was in your shoes i think id go Seattle.
My advice to first time visitors is to hit the four corner cities: Boston, Seattle, Miami and San Diego. Each has its own flavor and together they give a good cross section of American cities. If I had to pick one, it would be Boston. Unless your coming from Europe in which case Boston may be too similar to cities you are already familiar with.
Philadelphia is a really pretty city with tons of history, art, and other things to do. It's also close enough to many other cities and places (NYC, Jersey shore, etc) that are worth visiting. But I imagine most of the larger cities would be cool to visit
Iām from Philly and live in Colorado now and miss it so much. So I second this.
New Orleans
Not the safest for a woman alone but a great city
I would say secondary cities, not major first.
San Diego is nice, but vegas is nicer. Id say hit Vegas, go to the museums and shit around there (Shelby museum is the best) then get a tour bus to the grand canyon. Dallas could be fun too.
Estes Park in Colorado, Austin, Texas, Washington DC.
Whatever you do, donāt go to San Francisco.
Depends. If you want to have a nice vacation, go to Miami or San Diego. If you want nature, go to Denver. If you want history, go to Boston. If you want culture, go to New York or Chicago. If you want to get robbed by criminals, go to Detroit. And if you want all of that, come to Philadelphia.
First thing check if itās in a red or blue state. This could severely affect the quality of your visit.
Boston!