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.

As WC Fields once rightfully remarked, "Once you leave New York, everyplace else is Philadelphia."
Also on his tombstone(this is true), is engraved " I'd rather be in Philadelphia."

LOL! WC Fields apparently had a similar attitude as my grandfather (he moved out of NYC in the 1940's and never moved back) but made similar comments.

Hmmm...
A quick tally shows the leading three:

NYC (16)
San Fran (8)
Boston (7)

The next three have 4 or 5 votes at this time:

NOLA
DC
Chicago

Interesting thread!

1. New Orleans
2. Chicago
3. Nashville, TN

Boy, just 3?

New York
DC
San Diego

But Miami, New Orleans, and Boston all tie for my next favorite places to visit. Oh, I can't leave out Chicago, my kinda town ((l))

New York, New York, and New York.

#1 - New York City
#2 - Chicago
#3 - San Fran

Runner Up - Los Angeles area

New York is such an obvious choice, that I can't even vote for it! So, since I'm giving NYC a bye, my top three would be: 1. New Orleans
2. Seattle
3. Charleston

NYC, SF, DC

I don't think you could do anything to pollute that thread...but here goes:

1. San Francisco (best all around city)
2. New York (cuz it's New York)
3. Miami (the American Riveria)

(Runner Up: My hometown, Chicago)

New York
Boston
San Fran

New York is my number 1 just because it is the greatest city in my opinion. I have had many wonderful trips to Boston. I am going to SanFrancisco in the spring and can't wait!
I would love to see Chicago.

My top would be: Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Yet to visit:New York, Washington D.C, and New Orleans

Living in Europe, I've learned a lot about what Europeans want to see in the U.S. For the French, the top picks seem to be NYC, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon. The Brits like NYC, Las Vegas (everyone loves the new slogan: what happens here, stays here) and Orlando.
The Europeans I've met weren't planning to go to Chicago. But when sent there for a convention, they come back LOVING the city. One of my Italian colleagues made her first visit there in November. She kept saying, this city is such a gift, it's so wonderful, I want to move here!
Philadelphia surprises them--it's more European than they expected (which they appreciate, but on the other hand, it makes the city less of a draw for a repeat visit--they can get Europe at home). Older Brits enjoy driving trips through New England, especially during leaf peaping season. Connecticut is a surprisingly big draw for Brits over the age of 40.
The few Europeans I know who've been to Texas found San Antonio boring (they don't get into the Alamo and think River Walk all that impressive) and ditto for Dallas, Houston horrible, and Austin interesting for its music scene and hill country, but not worth a repeat visit. For a taste of the West, they'd rather go to Santa Fe.
Many of them have said they "should" visit the Pacific NW, but they just haven't gotten around to it. They're more likely to visit Vancouver and Whistler than Seattle. Whistler is becoming a very hot destination for Europeans, esp. if the snow in the Alps is sub-par.

My hometown Chicago!
NYC
San Francisco (the city I would loe to settle in when I return to the US)

Maui is my fourth runner up as i got married there.

SF
Boston
DC

Looking forward to seeing NOLA some day and I really, really dislike NY but I'm a small town NE girl.

NYC, SF, Miami/ New Orleans (tie)

Number one would have to be Milwaukee, then Detroit and St. Louis. All three would be way ahead of a city like, say, Dallas.

NY, Chicago, LA.

I lived in San Francisco for 10 years but still would have to choose LA for my west coast city. It has more to offer, generally better weather, and I agree with an earlier poster who had the opinion that San Francisco seems to have lost some of its charm. It makes me sad to admit it, but it's very true.

WIth these three cities, you would see the east, midwest and west. Personally I would prefer New Orleans to Chicago for a vacation, but it's such a crazy place that I'm not sure it's representative of the US, if that's the goal.

1. Honolulu
2. New Orleans
3. Seattle