I understand what the OP is going for, and I agree that it doesn't exist, although I don't see the need to be quite so scathing about it.

(The defensiveness and parochialism of New Yorkers never ceases to amaze me. You live in what is often called the greatest city in the world, but you have such thin skins.)

Anyway, Rigarama, there never was one quintessential version of America. I know you said that you wanted to leave the East Coast, but I second the idea of Portland, Maine because you can have an enjoyable visit without a car and see one kind of "real America", the New England version. And it's very different from New York.

A lot of people seem to think of the Midwest as quintessentially American, maybe because of the sentimental marketing term "the heartland", but its cities, as you've said yourself, are characteristic more of cities in general than of the American Midwest, and the rest of the region is impossible to navigate without a car.

Another idea is Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Quintessentially American? Yes and no :-) The heat might put you off, but Santa Fe is easily navigable without a car. OTOH, you'd be missing out on some of the iconic landscapes unless you hire a driver for a day or two.

Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and San Francisco are wonderful places to visit without a car, but might be beyond your preferred flying distance.

Any place in Florida is going to be tough without a car, not to mention hot, rainy and humid in August.

Sorry to go on and on, but rereading my post, the list of

Portland, ME
New York City
Santa Fe
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
San Francisco, CA
Florida
the Midwest

illustrates in and of itself the impossibility of finding the Real America :-)

I don't care for Asheville, btw. Twee, and overrated, IMO.

<i>Are there any particularly evocative sporting events in the offing or interesting arts festivals?</i>

Arts festivals and evocative sports events tend to be located in larger towns; you could easily be in danger of asking for too many things out of one destination - proximity, public transportation, small size, cultural attractions...

But going back to the state fair idea, what about taking the Amtrak Cardinal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_%28train%29 - ostensibly one of the most beautiful train routes in the country - to Indianapolis, arriving in time for the signature "world's toughest rodeo" that's part of the fair? Doesn't get much more American than that. http://rodeosusa.com/rodeos/worlds-t...er-horse-fair/

You could continue on to Chicago for various music activities, or turn around on the Cardinal but get off this time at Charlottesville VA, a gorgeous college town (campus designed by Thomas Jefferson, whose home, Monticello, is outside the city.) Charlottesville is a perfect small city with all of the features you're looking for. Then back to NYC and off you go. http://gardyloo.us/20110423_38as.JPG and http://gardyloo.us/20110424_17as.JPG

NewBe - I'm a new Yorker and I suggested Mass.

Tell us where we can go for the "real Ireland" and then maybe that will help us understand what you're looking for.

Again many thanks for the suggestions and the other views. The state fair idea is growing on me and Gardyloo's suggested itinerary looks really good.

It is possible that I fell for the clichéd view of the mid-West (thanks Hollywood!) but as I grew up in a town of 7,000, I have no illusions that small-town Ireland (or America) has as many limitations as it has charms. That is why I put an estimated population size of 100,000 in my OP.

I sometimes use a different definition for scale : does the place in question have a suburban bus service and is it possible to go to the cinema in the afternoon on weekdays? If yes, its big enough.

I'd also be very happy to offer advice on the "real Ireland" or, as we are learning from this thread - the "real IrelandS". Again probably from my own background, I'd suggest locations outside of Dublin. (But as most visitors use it for access, you get exposed to Dublin by default.) By and large, I'd recommend a triangular itinerary (not using the Motorways) of Dublin - Ennis - Cork - Dublin. But that may be for another time.

Again many thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully by Thursday I will have a full palette to chose from (and a definitive view on Asheville!)

Tim

If you're flying out of New York and don't want to go too far, you may be able to find what you're looking for by spending some time in Mercer County, NJ and Bucks County, PA.

You've got the very quaint, relaxed, tourist friendly towns of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA directly across the river from each other.

You've got the university town of Princeton, which has its own merits and draw even when school isn't in session.

And for a city that is certainly "Real America" but of a different kind than say these quaint little towns, Trenton NJ is the state capital of about 84K, but is complex, diverse, and in a state of transition.

Pairing these places together is pretty easy with NJ Transit trains and buses, and you might get a more holistic look at this "Real America" thing.

And certainly in Trenton and Princeton, you can take a suburban bus and go to a movie on a weekday afternoon.

The point remains that there is no such thing as real America. There are countless varieties of America. And to pick one makes no sense although it might satisfy some need that has been found.

Have you visited Boston? It seems to fit your criteria.

Thanks "Inspired Ex". Could be a good idea. Do you happen to know if there is any resonance of the writer SJ Perelman who decamped to Bucks County at one stage?. Thanks also to Basingstoke2. I have indeed visited Boston but not since 1999. When family return to NY, we may well revisit.

Thanks all.

"And for a city that is certainly "Real America" but of a different kind than say these quaint little towns, Trenton NJ"

Are you insane? No one has gone to Trenton on vacation since the Constitutional Convention.

"The point remains that there is no such thing as real America."

I think the OP knows that. He's looking for a contrast to NYC (which, in my opinion, is more international than American).

Trenton? Seriously? I live 11 miles away and everyone has told me NOT to park my car there and ride into NYC. So I drive 16 miles to a "safer" location.

I live in NC. There are plenty of places here that might fit the OP's criteria. But I agree with others-not having a car could be a problem. Public transportation in the northeast is so great. But it is not at ALL like that down here.

Asheville is a tourist town full of transplants. I like it but I don't think it's emblematic of real anything.

<Trenton NJ is the state capital of about 84K, but is complex, diverse, and in a state of transition.>
That is phrased so kindly as to be misleading, lol. Trenton is no place for a tourist when so many better options exist.

Suewoo

The irony is that transplanted Americans are as American as you can get. If you look at the growth of your state, FL, AZ, and CA, for instance, they are basically people from other states.

All good stuff. I'd be curious about Trenton and I think I can pick up the subtle hints. Its also handy to reach, so maybe a day-trip or a week-end might be best.

The tide is going out on Asheville, I'm afraid, but I'll have a look into Bucks County and Charlottesville Va. The list is getting longer all the time!

Thanks.

Tim

Your dates are too early. but I would have suggested going to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

You could fly to Portland, Maine, enough to do there for a few days, as said above, then take the train to Boston for the rest of your time. Unfortunately the Red Sox are out of town your week but return on the 14th. From Boston, take the train back to NYC.

From Boston, you can go to Salem for a day, and take the fast ferry to Provincetown another day.

OK, stepping aside from the epistemological issue of what constitutes reality....

Burlington, Vermont: yes, it's got a lot of what OP is looking for. I live here half the year. Come visit.

Some of my faves in the category of big town/small city with good stuff going on, which I think is what the OP seeks (and they all have airports):

Bozeman, Montana
Boise, Idaho
Flagstaff, Arizona
Portland, Oregon

Good luck, enjoy your travels!

Rather than choosing one old town for a week how about touring around an area.
Central NC could work--and include Mt. Airy, the home of Mayberry. How "real" is that!! Winston Salem, Hillsborough, even Chapel Hill.
You could pick almost any state and find this--largish cities surrounded by small towns.
My home town in Ohio still has the town square and the two story business buildings surrounding it. Imagine, an escalator (!!) to get to that second floor! But now upscale bakery, restaurant, book store, etc. instead of the "office supply store" where you bought paper clips, rubber bands and carbon paper for your typewriter.
Think about it.