The people are friendly, you get a good feel of the meaning "southern hospitality." There's a beach suited for everyone, and they're all great. The history is better preserved than nearly anywhere else in the US, and the beauty of the entire penninsula is so comforting.
The springtime is especially wonderful--right before the "tourist season," when the flowers start blooming and the days are warm but not oppressive. I love taking a stroll down Meeting or Church Street from the market to the battery when the breeze is in the right direction. The sun is warm, the birds are singing, and you catch the scent of wisteria, honeysuckle, and confederate jasmine mixed in wit the scent of the salt air from the harbor. There's not a better way to start a beautiful spring day!
A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born. Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In the summertime, America's best big city is Chicago. I live here now, but I'm not a native. Chicago has beaches and great weather, baseball, and more street festivals than you can imagine. The large immigrant communities make it diverse, and as a Midwestern city, it's people are 100x friendlier than those of Ney York or Los Angeles. It's museum scene is world class, as is its architecture. Plus, it's relatively cheap. The winters are God-awful, though, and both fall and spring can bring freezing rain and snow.
San Francisco is wonderful at all times of the year. I haven't been to New Orleans since the flood, but it used to be a personal favorite, along side Savannah, Georgia and San Diego. And I can second the Montreal votes. Likewise for Seattle and Victoria, BC.
Posts: 12 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 11 February 2006
As I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday, I looked at my fair City, which was basking in the light sun trying to break through the clouds. And I thought, I dare anyone to tell me that isn't one of the most stunning skylines of a modern city. It was really dramatic and gorgeous.
I've been thinking about this a bit recently and I'd have to say,
San Francisco - What can I say that hasn't already been said. The city by the bay really takes the cake. Beautiful city structure, parks, good nightlife, ocean and bay.
Montreal - Though I've never been to Europe I'd imagine Montreal is the closest thing to a European city in North America. Beautiful people, beautiful views (Mount Royal), great baked goods.
NYC - really the most diverse city in the country, I love being able to walk down the street and hear Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, French... and oh yeah, English as well. There is life to the city. And the architecture is incredible.
Posts: 10 | Location: Western Mass./Northern California | Registered: 17 March 2008
i have to give it to san francisco as well. i shed tears when i left, because i knew i was leaving one of the best places ill ever have the joy to experience.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”"
wow tough choice - having only been in North America for winter its going to be rather one sided but i think my two favourite US cities were Chicago and Nashville both completely different but both captured my heart, for very different reasons.
In Canada well obviously Niagara Falls as i cant seem to leave the place lol but i definately agree with Montreal but i also loved Halifax.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eppyboy: is there any real debate: NYC!
...Granted I haven't been through Big Sky country or from texas through the great plains, but I'm not missing a whole lot...
--Uh, being from the Midwest, I can say you certainly ARE missing a whole lot by not traveling here. That's the misperception the world has about America: that there's nothing to see or do between the two coasts except masses of fast food chains. That simply isn't true. I don't know where you're from but-- I mean, I could go on and on, but there are the American Indian sites and reservations, national parks, early settlements that have been preserved, locations where battles were fought, the log cabins, Mackinaw Island .....type in Michigan or Wisconsin and you'll see. That's only for starters and I've named things off the top of my head....but the information is readily available I'm sure. OK, just wanted to throw that in...
Originally posted by Laura M: ...Granted I haven't been through Big Sky country or from texas through the great plains, but I'm not missing a whole lot...
--Uh, being from the Midwest, I can say you certainly ARE missing a whole lot by not traveling here. That's the misperception the world has about America: that there's nothing to see or do between the two coasts except masses of fast food chains. That simply isn't true. I don't know where you're from but-- I mean, I could go on and on, but there are the American Indian sites and reservations, national parks, early settlements that have been preserved, locations where battles were fought, the log cabins, Mackinaw Island .....type in Michigan or Wisconsin and you'll see. That's only for starters and I've named things off the top of my head....but the information is readily available I'm sure. OK, just wanted to throw that in...
Right on sister. I get super frustrated at American's ignorance of their own country. Assuming that everything but the East Coast and West Coast is an ongoing McDonalds/Walmart/suburbia/trailer park/etc mix is outrageous. Our country has tons and tons of culture in the cities we so often to turn our noses up at.
What about Milwaukee with a vibrant downtown beautifully free on McDonalds?! Instead a host to Carribean, African, Latin-American, French, Turkish, etc restraunts. Milwaukee's culture is food not that plastic people in snarf down at the 100's McDonalds in New York. Not even to mention Milwaukee's diverse museums, shops, architecture, theater, bars and a lengthy public beach. Or weekly cultural festivals in the summer. Or the culturally morphing neighborhoods.
Or what about Montgomery with is rich history and ongoing traditions. Or the small towns of 5 people where the bar owner knows all 4 customers and the next McDonalds is 10 hours away. Or the long standing cultural spiritualism on the sea-islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina. That is all just as beautiful and cultured as any castle and cafe in Europe, or as the neighborhoods of Montreal or New York. Its beautiful and real and most of all largely undiscovered.
Anyhow ranting about the "open minded, adventerous" backpackers who don't really think too far outside the box is always fun.
_________________ "Ich bin ein Weltbürger, überall zu Hause und fremd überall" -Felix Nussbaum
Posts: 580 | Location: Milwaukee, USA | Registered: 02 May 2006
San Francisco. Grew up there, & try to get back at least once a year....redwoods & oceans, all within minutes. Moutains just a few hours away. Incredible food options.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. ---St. Augustine
Posts: 773 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 28 April 2005
I know I'm biased, but I feel like the luckiest person to be a Seattle-ite. I often look around and just marvel at how beautiful it is here. I love the city, I love the coffee everywhere, people are laid back and polite, it rocks.
I feel similarly about Vancouver, BC and Portland. All the northwest is just wonderful.
Posts: 36 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 15 March 2008
What about Milwaukee with a vibrant downtown beautifully free on McDonalds?! Instead a host to Carribean, African, Latin-American, French, Turkish, etc restraunts. Milwaukee's culture is food not that plastic people in snarf down at the 100's McDonalds in New York. Not even to mention Milwaukee's diverse museums, shops, architecture, theater, bars and a lengthy public beach. Or weekly cultural festivals in the summer. Or the culturally morphing neighborhoods.
After reading through this thread I was all ready to jump on and write a passionate defense of my city. And then I saw that someone had very recently beat me to it. *high five Brambles*
Honestly though, I love Milwaukee. How can you not love a summer full of ethnic and music festivals, beautiful lakefront parks and tons of world-class restaurants with al fresco dining. Even during the brutal winter, there's a ton of great places to be entertained (the coffee shops along Brady Street or all the museums come to mind). I used to hate all the Chicago people I knew in college who used to rip on Milwaukee as being Chicago's bastard sibling.
VIVA WISCONSIN!!
"La vida es como la espuma...por eso hay que darse como el mar"
Posts: 53 | Location: Wisconsin, USA | Registered: 13 March 2005
Originally posted by michey_b: wow tough choice - having only been in North America for winter its going to be rather one sided but i think my two favourite US cities were Chicago and Nashville both completely different but both captured my heart, for very different reasons.
In Canada well obviously Niagara Falls as i cant seem to leave the place lol but i definately agree with Montreal but i also loved Halifax.
Mich
You saying u did not like San Francisco! But then you came when it was pouring...well I guess we can't hold that against you.
You can't beat the mile high city in the Spring/early summer! Denver is full of young, fun, active professionals. There is no shortage of things to do. Usually there is live music, dancing in the sun with a beer in hand. Whether you're in Denver or some mountain town, you're sure to meet fun, cool, laid-back, interesting people.
Here's to the Rockies!
DOING is a quantum leap from IMAGINING
Posts: 29 | Location: Denver, CO, USA | Registered: 01 April 2008
Again, I have to qualify this with the "limited experience" claim. But why do people always talk about Portland as if it's the only Portland? What about Maine, guys?! Admittedly I'm biased as a native, but the Maine coast (Castine, more to the north is nice if you can stand the ritziness) is amazing. And the smaller Portland, USA does have something to offer! Go to the Pepperclub (restaurant) and obviously go to the beach. Any of them.
