US Cities - Crowned the best in the world?

[blueheretic]

https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/these-19-u-s-cities-were-just-crowned-the-best-in-the-world-in-a-new-ranking-110525?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

I've traveled all over the world and my best experience were in smaller places, less populated with a more authentic, intimate feel.

New York is just a city full of concrete and glass with a bunch of people who aren't from there. lol I don't know.

Just not that impressed with these big cities.

Fave city that I've visited is Luang Prabang.

[blueheretic]

Luang Prabang

One of the most beautiful places on the planet.

https://faheyjamestravel.com/things-to-do-in-luang-prabang/

[capcat]

https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/the...x-newtab-en-us

I've traveled all over the world and my best experience were in smaller places, less populated with a more authentic, intimate feel.

New York is just a city full of concrete and glass with a bunch of people who aren't from there. lol I don't know.

Just not that impressed with these big cities.

Fave city that I've visited is Luang Prabang.

I agree with you about smaller places, more authentic feel. Big cities, like Austin, weren’t always big, and I remember some of that. I would like to see more emphasis on what was. Yesterday, I went to DQ for my occasional hot fudge sundae. Sitting at that intersection, I was reminded of the oil crisis of the early 1970s and what the gas station next door looked like back then. Different architecture than the boring look it has now, cars lined up for gas by a “pumps closed” sign. Even the make and models of the cars would be interesting to see, if photos were placed in view at the site. I think Austin looks, and maybe is, less authentic without those memories in mind.

[Matt Dillon]

That's one of the things I love about eastern, southeastern and southcentral Ky. There are several towns, and probably a lot more that I don't know about in the area, that it's almost as if time has stood still for them.

[capcat]

That's one of the things I love about eastern, southeastern and southcentral Ky. There are several towns, and probably a lot more that I don't know about in the area, that it's almost as if time has stood still for them.

They tear down things here and build anew without much of a thought of preservation or style it seems. Businesses and homes.

[Matt Dillon]

They tear down things here and build anew without much of a thought of preservation or style it seems. Businesses and homes.

Sad.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Washington DC and Chicago are my two favorite US cities.

Boston and Austin are up there for me as well.

I have no use whatsoever for Vegas, Atlanta or Orlando.

The only 2 US cities on the list I haven't been to are San Jose and Miami.

I haven't traveled too much internationally, but Rome for me was as good as my favorite US cities. And Prague wasn't bad either.

[Jaxcat]

These lists are pretty funny to me. NYC is a crap hole - too expensive, very violent, crap weather and the city's only going to get worse with the new mayor, imo. LA - too expensive, too much planning your entire life around traffic, weather can be great but wildfires, earthquakes, etc., horrible city management. San Francisco is #28? You've got to be kidding me! Homelessness, rampant crime, very expensive, tent cities in the streets, horrible city management.

I've lived in some big cities (San Antonio, Houston, Denver) and big cities have no appeal to me any longer. So much that a big city offers is outrageously expensive - theater, sports, concerts, fine dining. If you happen to have millions, then, yeah, living near Central Park would be grand. If you're struggling to make ends meet and live > hour from the city in Brooklyn - not so much. Plus, once you've commuted for > an hour each way every day for 5 days, the last thing you want to do is grab a train and go into the city on the weekend to enjoy some of the nice things about NYC (having lived in Houston for 6 years, I NEVER went into downtown on the weekend as I was drained from driving an hour and 15+ mins each way to and from work each day). Denver has tons of traffic problems. Yes, you live near world class ski resorts. But, during the best months to ski, it will take you 2-3 hours on a weekend to go from Denver to Summit County to ski each way. Summer traffic is somewhat better but you can still get stuck in stop-and-go traffic going to/from the mountains.

If you've got Eff You money, pretty much anywhere in the world can be exquisite. If you're more like middle to upper middle class, cost of living is prohibitive in many of these cities, forcing one to live quite a distance from the city itself. My son and his family live outside Boston about 10 miles from Logan Airport. Between the 2 of them they make $200-225K. While they say they live in Boston, they almost NEVER go into the city as it's just too much hassle. And it's laughable how much real estate costs within 10 miles of Boston. 90-year old homes with 1600 sq ft, a detached 1-car garage and needing work are always >$1M. It's truly insane.

[CATHYnKY]

My grandson lives in San Antonio. I love it. Would love to spend a month there in the winter rather than Florida if I could.

[Jaxcat]

My grandson lives in San Antonio. I love it. Would love to spend a month there in the winter rather than Florida if I could.

San Antonio in the winter is pretty nice. It will get cold a few days but, generally is pleasant. Summers are HOT, like > 100 degrees day after day. When we lived there ('07-'11), population was around 1.9M. It's now almost 2.9M and exploded. When we were looking at places to retire, we considered SA as we thought it was a very cool city. But, it's growing into Austin and the area between the two is just concrete, shopping centers and subdivisions - not a lot of charm in those places for me. Friends that live there told us the crime has gotten much worse, traffic is tough to navigate and they constantly face water restrictions every summer. Love the culture and vibe and 'feel' of the city but we opted not to live there again. One of the big downsides, we felt, was SA is not near the ocean and many, many places in Florida are within an hour's drive. Different strokes, of course.

[capcat]

My grandson lives in San Antonio. I love it. Would love to spend a month there in the winter rather than Florida if I could.

Cathy, I’m with you on San Antonio. There’s no town like it (in Texas). I can’t describe the difference that is San Antonio without mentioning the architecture and diversity. Walking down the Riverwalk is like being in Europe — so many languages spoken. It’s surely an international destination. And then the culture of San Antonio itself.

It’s still more affordable than other big cities in Texas. Only place I’d like to go outside of it is Gruene Hall. Last time I passed that up happened to be the night Merle Haggard made a surprise visit. George Strait did the same. “Amarillo by Morning” would’ve been unforgettable. It’s hot, yes. Texas is hot. Water rationing is common. Just stick to your day. I promise, it’s doable. I’ve been here 57 years. We liked to visit San Antonio at Christmas and stay at the Menger Hotel (right across the street from the Alamo). It’s historic and beautiful.

[Pete Hogwallop]

My grandson lives in San Antonio. I love it. Would love to spend a month there in the winter rather than Florida if I could.

The only time I was in San Antonio, it snowed! Only a few tiny flakes that didn't amount to anything at all, but they said it was the first time it had snowed in I forget how many years. I was there in mid-November. I think this may have been 2014.

[capcat]

The only time I was in San Antonio, it snowed! Only a few tiny flakes that didn't amount to anything at all, but they said it was the first time it had snowed in I forget how many years. I was there in mid-November. I think this may have been 2014.

I believe I remember snow in about that year. Since then and occasionally before, there have been a few episodes. Snow and ice storms, but it’s certainly not usual. San Antonio seems to get the rain we’d like during drought years. It’s like Austin has a bubble around it during those times.

[TrueblueCATfan]

My grandson lives in San Antonio. I love it. Would love to spend a month there in the winter rather than Florida if I could.

My Hubby used to travel there for work..He always says its a great city and loved going there

[Jaxcat]

Cathy, I’m with you on San Antonio. There’s no town like it (in Texas). I can’t describe the difference that is San Antonio without mentioning the architecture and diversity. Walking down the Riverwalk is like being in Europe — so many languages spoken. It’s surely an international destination. And then the culture of San Antonio itself.

It’s still more affordable than other big cities in Texas. Only place I’d like to go outside of it is Gruene Hall. Last time I passed that up happened to be the night Merle Haggard made a surprise visit. George Strait did the same. “Amarillo by Morning” would’ve been unforgettable. It’s hot, yes. Texas is hot. Water rationing is common. Just stick to your day. I promise, it’s doable. I’ve been here 57 years. We liked to visit San Antonio at Christmas and stay at the Menger Hotel (right across the street from the Alamo). It’s historic and beautiful.

When you were in SA, did you ever make to Floore's Country Store in Helotes? It's the 2nd oldest honky tonk in TX (Gruene Hall being the oldest) and Willie Nelson was a regular there for many years as that's where he hung out once he got run out of Nashville a long time ago. Saw a LOT of top talent, Red Dirt country, etc. and most of the time the tickets were maybe $20. Inside shows seated about 250 and you could walk up and touch the band or buy them a beer after their set. Very laid back. Saw Willie himself at Floore's on the outdoor stage, maybe 600 people, and it was a good show although, even then, he was OLD and didn't sing as much. The inside of Floore's looks like a movie set - has all kinds of TX/Cowboy stuff attached to the walls, hanging from the ceiling, etc, with concrete floors which someone invariably throws a little sawdust on periodically to make 2-steppin' that much easier. What a great venue.

We went to the Riverwalk multiple times the first year and then, generally, only when we had guests in town. The holiday lights are spectacular and not to be missed. A lot of things to do - bars, restaurants, shopping, comedy, live music. Funnily enough, I never thought the food on the Riverwalk was nearly as good as many places we ate that weren't on Riverwalk. Natives said that the food is for tourists who possibly wouldn't like authentic Mexican food and I found that to be true.

It is a unique city and we enjoyed living there. It's changed quite a bit in the 14 years since we left and, sadly, seems to have many of the 'big city' problems it didn't have when we lived there.