If you only had a week in the US, which city (or nearby combo) would you choose and why? Looking for something with good food, sightseeing, and walkability.

I would combine New York with either Boston or Washington DC. Actually there's enough to do in each of these cities (maybe slightly less in Boston) to make one stop more than enough.

To answer your other questions -- a car would be an expensive hindrance in any of the cities. You can travel between them by train or bus.

You have three threads going. "About 2 weeks" on one thread. "5-7 days" on this thread. What is the actual plan?

A week on the East Coast makes sense if you're coming from, say, Europe. Not so much if you're coming from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

I agree with Jean -- time and place of origin matter!

When you have a chance to answer these questions, click on the orange triangle by any of your posts to ask the moderators to merge your threads.

San Francisco could be seen in a week and has walkability, great food, and plenty of sightseeing. So does New York. Or Chicago. Or Boston. Or Seattle. Or New Orleans.

Off the top of my head the one place that is interesting but not walkable is Los Angeles. There you really need a car.

Is your trip 5 days? 7 days? Or 2 weeks? You've mentioned each of these.

If I only had a week I would not go to any cities, at all, but rather take the time to explore some of the natural beauty.
If would also focus on "what experineces do I personally want to have", and plan a trip to match that...

Fly into New York. Sightsee for 3 days, then take the Acela train to Washington, DC. Sightsee for 3 days and take the train back to NYC. More exotic cities would be New Orleans and Charleston, SC but you would have to fly between the two. .

Welcome, davidpough3011! Also, what are your interests? Hiking? Art? Music?

We can't answer. Maybe they aren't interested in 'nature'? They have only mentioned city visits.

New York and Boston could work in a week. if you are trying to pair up two places.

Seven night round trip Alaska cruise departing Vancouver BC. Unpack once, and the phenomenal scenery comes to you.

Go to Yellowstone National Park as a side-trip from San Francisco.

New York City any time of year. And if the budget allows. Chicago can be considered if it's not winter.

I would not split up my time between cities. Both of these places have enough sites of interest within the city and in the immediate surrounding area.

I've lost track. Do we know where this person lives, where is the trip starting?

Because if they are in UK or Europe and only have 5 days, going to the east coast of the US makes a lot more sense than trying to come out to the mid-west or west coast.

For example, London to New York City in 5-7 days is fine, maybe even squeeze a couple days in Boston and back. But Europe to various US national parks, Pacific Northwest region, an Alaska cruise (which is a great idea btw!) probably doesn't work in such a short timeframe.

suze, seattle

London to NYC is about 8 hours nonstop
London to San Francisco or Seattle is about 10 hours nonstop

That travel time difference is not enough for me to choose an east coast destination over a west coast destination that I would prefer to visit. But this OP has given no preference to any of the suggestions.

>> Go to Yellowstone National Park as a side-trip from San Francisco
s/b
Go to Yosemite National Park as a side-trip from San Francisco.

I'm afraid they are just another hit and run poster who never checks back to see the answers.

You don't know that. Why not give a new person a chance? No need to be rude.

I think it's rude the poster hasn't said something like, "Thanks for all of the ideas".

I think it's rude the poster hasn't said something like, "Thanks for all of the ideas".

Get over it. This is the internet. People use it as they choose. No one has to come back and say Thank you.

True, but too many people carry that attitude over to their offline, aka "real" life.

Suggestions for five to seven days:
Chicago
Philadelphia (esp with the 250th celebrations)
Charleston and/or Savannah
Boston and Portsmouth, NH

The decision should be based on the OP's interests, budget and tolerances (for example, we would be fine with Chicago in winter; July/August in Charleston, not so much)