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