Best "walking" cities in the US
 

I'm am looking at doing a trip in January for a weekend and I realized I am always wondering what cities have neighborhoods that can be done on foot (Im thinking along the lines of New Orleans/French Quarter ease). I would love to compile a list of cities that are great to visit on foot. PS I know MOST cities have areas that can be walked in a couple hoursbut I am looking more for larger areas than just small shopping areas.
Any help is appreciated, Thanks!

Boston is the best, I think. But probably not in January.

New York City!

New York is the only big city in the US that has no "breaks" between neighborhoods, they just flow into each other. Boston and Washington DC would be next on my list. As great a place to visit as San Francisco is, you still have to "hop" from one neighborhood to another (yes, you can walk, but you'll be walking through a lot of areas that are strictly residential, and up and down a lot of hills).

Look at walkscore.com
http://tinyurl.com/6nky9n
for rankings, ratings, and best neighborhoods of "America's Most Walkable Neighborhoods"

Philadelphia, Boston.

Definitely Philadelphia - we're a city of neighborhoods. We have 18th and 19th century historic walking (complete with cobblestones), modern city walking, quaint neighborhood walking, and the largest landscaped park in the US for nature walking.

Charleston, SC, Boston, Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, San Diego I am looking forward to seeing your list.

All the cities mentioned are walkable to some degree (not sure about San Diego), but in January, if you want nice weather, you're somewhat limited to New Orleans, Charleston, Miami Beach perhaps...

I think your original choice of New Orleans is perfect. It's downright balmy compared to other cities that time of year...

Not to sound defensive, but since I raised the mention of San Diego, I'll elaborate. I spent a week there in Jan 2008 and another in Nov. 2008. I did use public transportation to get to Fashion Valley and a cab for La Jolla, but otherwise I walked everywhere. The Gaslamp District and the waterfront were great walking areas. And the weather both visits was very nice.

Best walking citie sin the US:

New York - hands down
DC
Boston
San Francisco

But I wouldn't try any of the first 3 in January.

Denver is another easy to walk downtown or use the free 16th St. Mall shuttle. Hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the 16th St. "mall" which is actually a pedestrian area -not a shopping mall. You didn't say if weather was a factor. It will be cold there in January too.

Another vote here for Philadelphia: lots and lots of walking tours at www.gophila.com and I've loved walking the city for a long time now. (There are some pictures here of one day of walking:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/334838255hjfcWf ) January can be snowy and slushy, but can be pretty nice, as well. Your walking tour can be historic, architectural, botanical, ethnic...the list goes on!

Have just returned from Portland, Oregon, and would like to add it to this list. A lovely town for walking, with lots of parks and public spaces, great architecture...and a river runs through it!

St. Augustine is small, but a nice walkable city in the winter.

Trying to come up with not so obvious answers, I enjoyed walking in Santa Fe and Austin.

Seattle! but not in January.

Savannah--the squares are meant for walking. As is the Riverfront.

On a much smaller scale, I can spend hours walking the back streets of Old Town in Key West. Lovely history and architecture, art galleries, small bars and restaurants.

I haven't been to that many cities in the US, and walking pleasures are relative to your level of fitness and what you enjoy. BUT, my favorites for walking:
SEATTLE
SAN FRANCISCO
NEW YORK CITY