RandyK

You can have all of DC and its suburbs!

mindforms

I grew up in the DC area in the 50's when it was a great place to be or visit. Other than the national monuments it's a cesspool now- my least favorite large city. Favorite large cities are San Francisco, New Orleans. Favorite mediums are Savannah and Charleston. Favorite smalls are Asheville and Beaufort, SC. If you were "beamed" to any of my favorites, you could never mistake them for every other city in the US. Each is unique. That's what I like.
Phoenix is close to DC as least just because it's a manufactured home of a city... imported palms and orange trees to make it seem habitable.

Cassandra

Still wish we could get a (running?) tab on this....

But it's interesting to have people specify when as well as where, especially for NYC. I would love to have been a wealthy adult in NYC in the 50s; would have hated being poor there in the 30s.

Loved being in Boston in the 60s, find it more intimidating and "colder" now.

DC has been through some big changes, and you could almost date when lobbying became the dominant industry by the jump in population in upper tax brackets. Also we arrived in the early 70s before the Metro opened, and once it did, things began to change.

The other thing that's changed so many of the older cities is the heyday vs. the demise of the train system. Think of the area around the main train station in so many cities -- used to be bustling, important, interesting (sometimes with a Grand Hotel nearby). Now, it's usually pretty seedy and sad.

Cassandra

correction: lobbying and gov't contracting, both dominant industries

hairydoginparis

Oh, you Reno scoffers! While I have to agree that Reno is no Las Vegas, it certainly has its hidden pleasures. The art museum is small, but still manages to get the kinds of shows that would be seen in cities like Denver. Reno's close to Tahoe without the Tahoe hotel prices. Plus, Reno offers hiking, biking, and a great parks and rec department.

Still, though, its not a great destination, I know. Topping my list for favorite: San Francisco. I love that you can walk everywhere.

Bottom of the list: Branson, Missouri. So much tacky and traffic shoved together. Will never go back.

marleneawe

My favorite is New Orleans, and my least favorite is New York.

nanabee

My favorite city is Portland, Oregon.

Least favorite - well, I can't say.

I love traveling and seeing new places but probably won't vacation in Yuma or Riverside, CA.

Pappy

I love Palm Springs/Palm Desert. You won't catch me dead in Detroit or Amarillo.

BTilke

Favorites: Portland (OR), Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Charleston (in that order)

Least Favorite: Houston, Dallas, Cincinnati (also in that order)

ORDgirl

I grew up in Chicago, have lived in Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles, and fought hard to get a transfer back to Chicago. I always say that it is a good thing that the winters can be so cold because otherwise there would be too many people moving here.

So, besides Chicago, I love NYC and LA. Both have so much to offer a visitor or a resident. Great art museums and so many interesting little cafes and small shops that have stuff you will not see anywhere else. Boston is a nice place to visit for the history, but after living there, never again. Atlanta is great to live in, but not much of a destination. Both places lack a compelling night life although I found a great little jazz bar in Boston.

Love Charleston and San Francisco. For small towns, I love Montana. Give me a Moose Drool at the Sip and Dip Lounge in Great Falls and let me soak up the midcentury tiki atmosphere! People in Montana are so friendly...I was invited by my waiter at breakfast (Missoula) to join in a softball game!

Hate Jacksonville. I had to go there many times on business and never found anything interesting to do. In fact, the only thing nice I can say about the whole state of Florida is that they have nice weather in winter and some of the beaches are lovely, but I would rather go to Mexico or Hawaii for a beach vacation. Too bad my folks live in FLA because I have to go there to see them when I would rather go elsewhere.

Santa Fe is a tiny place, but there are great spas, interesting art museums, lovely nature and fantastic food.

Vegas--I hope I never have to go back there ever again.

Thanks for this thread. I am thinking I need to check out Seattle and Portland. I have only had airport stops in each, and since they rank so highly with you all, I am going to have to plan a trip.

euclid

Favorites:

san francisco
santa fe
washington dc
new york city

Not likely to return:

detroit
las vegas
kansas city
anywhere in new jersey

hulajake

Not likely to return:

detroit
las vegas
kansas city
anywhere in new jersey

euclid does this mean you're not a BBQ fan if don't want to go to KC?

emily71

Chicago-Was born and raised there and though I moved to a warmer climate, I still think it's one of the best. Great museums, restaurants, friendly people(Midwesterners) and more "livable" than NYC. Still miss the sound of the EL going by.

NYC- Great to visit and live if you have $$. Everything 24/7 and mom and pop shops all over.

Least favorite:

San Jose:Ugly, sprawling with no city feel.

Orlando: strip malls..more strip malls.

newboldphilly

favorite big cities - chicago, philadelphia, boston, DC, NYC, Seattle, Pittsburgh (in that order)

Fav. smalls - Asheville, Charleston, Columbia, Savannah, Burlington.

Places i haven't been but will probably love -
San Francisco and Portland

mrt

Based on the reponses, perhaps attempting to send a couple of days in each city would be worthwhile.

danielle151

wow- i'm a little surprised that everyone dislikes CO- but i am a biased native and just think its gorgeous and sunny (but yes, cold)

ok:
Faves: NYC, San Diego, Las Vegas

Least Faves: Tampa, Cleveland, Oklahoma City

GailLK

To answer authori LEELY in older post:
Quebec City is perfect for a long weekend trip! Very "french" quaint, cozy ,city, especially in winter. If you go in winter, don't miss the Winter Carnival and the ICE HOTEL (tour/transp offered through hotels). Plan to bring winter/ski clothing, it will be cold!

So here's my choices:

FAVS: San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago (in warm weather only), and Quebec City (even though not US city) Hope to add Seattle when I finally visit for first time.

LEAST FAVS: Tampa, Anaheim, CA

Florida1

Favorites:
NYC
New Orleans
Miami esp. Miami Beach (I live here and love it!)
Boston
Charleston

Least Favorites:
Seattle (I think I'm the only one with this opinion!) I loved Olympic National Park, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier, but didn't find anything to interest me in the actual city of Seattle. I hope I don't have to go back there. I just don't understand people's fascination with it. I know I'm in the minority here!

Atlanta - I lived here for a few years. No real "personality" to the city, if that makes any sense. I prefer places with some kind of distictive personality. Also, too much sprawl. Ugh.