Top 3 American Cities (from a visitor perspective)
 

On a different thread, an interesting topic came up regarding what makes a city good to visit. Instead of pollute that thread with a non-relevant topic, I thought I would start a new one.

I’m curious what everyone’s top 3 cities are in the USA. Where did you visit and have a great time? Which cities did you see and you just keep going back, or want to go back for more? If you could only visit 3 american cities in the future, where would you want to go?

Almost didn’t reply to my own message. Mine would be:

NYC
Washington DC
San Fran

SF, NYC, and New Orleans.

Already been to or would want to go to? Or all six?

3 best for great things to do:
New York City
Boston
New Orleans

Others with not as much to do but great places:
San Diego
San Antonio
Seattle
Napa/Sonoma

Three is hard. Maybe NYC, Seattle and Portland. Or switch one of those for Boston.

Without a doubt, NY is at the top of the list. Incredible number and diversity of things to do, and there's no other American city on this scale.

DC is a must see for all of the museums, memorials, and government.

Quebec is great. Very old European feeling.

I've spent time in lots of other great places: SF, Boston, San Antonio, San Diego, Chicago (in summer), it goes on and on...

NYC, Charleston, and Miami.

Top 3 cities I've been too (at least once) that I think are worth multiple visits (I've not traveled west at all in the US, that is something I intend to rectify as soon as possible)

NYC
Boston
Chicago (doesn't really count, I live here ;)
... I've visited various other cities in the midwest and on the east coast, but they dont' quite qualify as a cities I'd visit over and over again except for compelling personal reasons.


Top 3 cities I'd like to go to (or go to again).

NYC (I can't see how one could get tired of visiting that place)
San Francisco (it just looks beautiful, I'm hoping to go this year, I can't wait)
(tie)Seattle/Miami/Los Angeles/Boston

Top 3: NYC, San Francisco, Chicago and I have to throw in a 4th: Boston

I visit NYC all the time but would go back to San Francisco in a heartbeat - I think it's my all-time favorite city!

San Francisco,Chicago,NYC

L.A.
San Diego
New York City

I actually think I'd turn my answer around a little bit from something I thought earlier.

NYC
San Francisco
Boston (with Chicago close behind)

NYC - Most cosmopolitan
SF - Most scenic
Boston - Most historic

NYC, DC, then about a 6-way tie among cities whose merits have already been mentioned.

Boston
New Orleans
San Francisco

Each has a truly unique flavor and feel.

All those mentioned are great for visits, but if I were going to spend a month at a time in a city (and I do), the first three cities would be:

New York
Los Angeles
San Francisco

Best three for a few days of fun?
New York
Las Vegas
New Orleans
(and if I didn't already live in Florida, I'd change New Orleans above to Miami.)

New York
Washington DC
Boston

(live near LA, but wouldn't put it in the top 5!)

Chicago
New Orleans
New York

My top 3 used to include San Francisco but it's not as charming to me as it used to be.

Cities I've been to once, and can't wait to go back:

San Diego & New Orleans

Cities I love to frequent:

Boston & Philadelphia

Cities I cannot wait to visit!

Miami & Charleston & Santa Fe

If I could only visit three cities in the future, I think I'd rather pick ones I haven't been to, than ones I had.